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Quickly, I give him directions to Marrok’s cottage and disconnect the call.
I barely have time to toss on some pajamas and brush my teeth when I hear a soft tap. Marrok, shirtless and barefoot, sword in hand, beats me to the door.
As he yanks it open, I spot a nasty semiautomatic tucked into the back of his low-slung jeans.
He takes one look at my father, then whirls on me. “You invited him here?”
“You don’t want me to go, and I need to talk to him. I figured here would be safe.”
Marrok snorts. “Unless he was followed or brought ‘friends’ from his past.”
“Give the man a chance. I just want his side of the story.”
“Then ask him how he came close enough to Mathias to lure the wizard to his doom.”
What is Marrok insinuating? I face my father, who still lingers in the doorway. “Richard?”
He looks pale and strained and won’t meet my stare. “Invite me in.”
“Why should I?” Marrok leans against the frame, blocking his path.
“Do you really think your mate will be happier if you keep us apart?”
Marrok clenches his jaw. “’Tis for Olivia I do this, not as any favor to you.”
“You want what’s best for her.”
“Do not ever forget that,” Marrok growls. “Come in, then. And explain all of it, not merely the heroic bits.”
“You’re right. Everything.” Richard crosses the threshold with a shiver. “Interesting magic circle. Who drew it?”
“Merlin.”
Richard raises a brow and scans the cottage. I follow suit, trying to see the rough-hewn place through my father’s eyes.
“Electric lights, running water…” He saunters in, then glances around the corner at the kitchen. “An oven, a microwave. Merlin was not alive to draw a magic circle around this structure.”
“I have demolished and rebuilt many times in this exact spot.”
“It’s a good line, but not infallible. The Anarki can be very determined.”
“As you well know. Did you come here to discuss the protection of my dwelling or talk to your daughter?”
“I fear we’ve gotten off to a less-than-friendly start.” Richard’s words hold a note of censure.
“You know why.”
“You’re both talking around me, and it’s really pissing me off.” Neither has asked me to choose between them…yet. But I feel it coming.
Marrok turns to me with burning eyes. “You deserve the truth. Make him give it to you.”
“You keep saying that. What truth?”
My father sighs and sinks to the sofa. “I knew exactly where Mathias was most vulnerable because I was once one of the Anarki.”
“You are being modest,” Marrok sneers.
Richard sends me an imploring glance. “I was Mathias’s second-in-command.”
