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“Same thing you do. Why couldn’t this happen after we got some sleep? But hey, at least Menolly can go with us, and that’s always good. If they’d found the location tomorrow morning, we’d have had to go without her. As it is, we wait another couple hours, and she’ll be up and raring to go. Meanwhile, we can catch a few z’s.” She yawned and looked at her hand, which was still wrapped in a bandage. “This wound hit me harder than I thought, but if I can just doze for a while, I’ll be fine.”
I nodded, a little concerned. Our half-Fae blood usually helped us heal up without a problem, but the wound had been a nasty one. Actually, when I thought about it, we’d all had a rough year.
“Sounds good to go. Iris, any chance you can have a quick meal waiting for us when we get up? Something light but protein-rich and sweet?”
She nodded, weary herself. “Not a problem. Since I’m not heading out to the hills with you, I can rest later, after you leave. Meanwhile, I’ll get the herb cuttings tended to until you have time to plant them.”
I turned back to Roz and Vanzir. “So, tell us what we’re facing.”
“The seal’s located in a cave up in the Snoqualmie foothills. Rumors say the cave is haunted. I wouldn’t dismiss them lightly. There’s some sort of spiritual activity going on up there, although I sense demons better than ghosts,” Vanzir said.
He slipped the pack of playing cards into his pocket, then continued. “Karvanak won’t cut us any quarter. If he can break through the memory seal I performed, he’ll jump on the information. Either way, the poor guy is dead. Either the RÄksasa will break his mind, or he’ll break his body.”
Shuddering, I followed them into the house.
Iris immediately slipped downstairs to fetch Maggie, then returned to the living room and handed the gargoyle off to Smoky, who frowned but took her anyway.
“Since you’re going to be sitting here talking, I might as well put you to work. You can watch the baby while I make dinner.” Iris brooked no rebuke, and Smoky, along with every other member of our extended family, obeyed her.
Maggie moophed and promptly planted a slobbery kiss on the dragon’s cheek. Smoky grinned as a lock of his hair rose up to tickle her under the chin. Maggie loved to play with Smoky’s hair, and he would tease her with it like he might tease a cat with a string.
With a chuckle, Iris scurried back to the kitchen, and the clanging of pots and pans promised that dinner would be ready when we woke up. I glanced at the clock. Another ninety minutes, and Menolly would be awake.
“To bed,” I said, heading for the stairs. Camille trudged along behind me, followed by Morio, who looked as tired as we were. They peeled off at the second floor, giving me a small wave.
“See you at the table,” Camille said as they disappeared into her bedroom.
I dashed up to the third floor, gauging the most effective way to fall asleep. So tired I didn’t even bother to undress, I shifted form, then jumped up on the bed and curled up at the bottom. I always slept better as a cat, and sure enough, within moments, I was drifting off into a deep, utterly wonderful, catnap.>Camille looked like she was going to cry, but then, the tears disappeared somewhere between her eyes and her cheeks and I could see the fury starting to rise. Darynal had said it, all right: uh-oh. Uh-oh was what happened when Camille got angry. And Darynal could sense the impending storm, too.
He raised his hands. “Hey, it’s not my fault. I assumed he’d told you what was going on. He never said he didn’t.”
“I hope Trillian told you about my temper, because I want you to understand that it’s far better that you tell me everything. Now. If you don’t . . .” With each word, Camille stepped forward, and Darynal took a step back.
“Oh crap.” Darynal scooted around behind the table. “Hang on, woman. Don’t blame the messenger. I had no idea that Trillian had actually managed to keep this a secret from you. I’ll tell you. After all, he didn’t tell me not to. I doubt he ever believed it would take this long, or that you’d end up on my doorstep. Just don’t aim one of your misguided energy bolts at me. Please!”
Obviously, Darynal knew about Camille’s wayward magic.
“Then spill it. Now! Why the hell did Trillian lead me to think he’d been captured by the goblins? Why the hell did Queen Asteria tell me that he’d disappeared? What’s going on?”
With each question, my sister got louder. I glanced at Iris, relieved that Camille wasn’t mad at us. Iris seemed to concur, a faint smile lining her lips.
Smoky cleared his throat. “The lady asked you some questions. I suggest you answer them immediately. In case you hadn’t figured it out, I’m a dragon. I’m also Camille’s husband—”
“One of her husbands,” Morio interjected.
“Yes, yes . . . one of her husbands, and I don’t take it kindly when people ignore my wife.” The dragon smirked as Darynal squirmed.
“Stop! I said I’d tell you. Just leave my house—and me—in one piece. Great gods, Trillian was right. You don’t take prisoners, do you?” Darynal slid back onto the bench and motioned for Camille to do the same. He gave her a strange look. “First, I had no idea you were married. Somehow, I don’t think Trillian knows, either.”
“I married Smoky and Morio to forge a soul bond so I could use their powers to search for Trillian, since we thought he was captured and in danger.” She stopped, blanching. “You mean I got married for no reason?”
Smoky cleared his throat. “I think we’ve just been insulted,” he said.
Morio sniggered. “Sounds like it.”
“No, no—but—” Camille shook her head. “Just stop it, you two.” She turned back to Darynal. “Okay, the truth, and let’s have it now. Where’s Trillian, and why did he drop off the face of the world?”
Darynal let out a long sigh. “You didn’t hear this from me. Understand?” When she nodded, he leaned his elbows on the table. “I don’t know everything involved. I can’t; it would be too dangerous for Trillian. But he’s been back and forth through Darkynwyrd for the past moon cycle. He was on the trail of your father, but something happened. Something very bad. Lethesanar got wind of what was going on, and she sent out a tracking party to follow him.”
