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“What about Andrees? Did the forensics team turn up anything on him?” It felt like we were leaving our friend in the dust, though we had nothing to do with his death. He wasn’t even collateral damage, as far as I knew.
“Not yet. We contacted Father through the Whispering Mirror.” Camille picked up one of the cookies and began to munch on it. “Where the hell are the guys? I’m hungry.” She wiped her fingers on a napkin and let out a sigh, leaning back in her chair. “Andrees’s family will be notified.”
“And Father’s moving ahead on our request to set up the Earthside headquarters the way they were meant to be. He wasn’t all that keen on the idea, but for once, he didn’t argue.” She leaned on the table. “Chase says that Andrees was killed by a bullet—and it has gangland execution all over it. Somehow, he pissed off somebody he shouldn’t have and they took him out. We may never know who. The mutilation came later. Again, no idea what caused it. Not dogs and not even a cougar or bear.”
“Elder Fae is my guess. Remember, the Bog Eater is running wild over here.” I glanced at the clock again. “I have to leave in about fifteen minutes. Anything else?”
Iris spoke up. “Menolly, I wanted to tell you—”
I groaned. “No, please. You’re not going to bitch at me again about Ivana? I did what I needed—”
Iris held up her hand. “No, no. I’m not. It worked out, even though I still think it’s a mistake to meddle with them. At least the world didn’t implode when she and Aeval met.” She set a bowl of whipped cream on the table. “What I wanted to say was this: I’m glad you spent some time with Nerissa last night. She was much happier this morning and was going on about the wedding in a way I haven’t heard her talk for the past couple of weeks.”
I stared at my hands. “I wish I hadn’t been so blind.” I glanced over at her. “Has she been depressed for long? Do you think I damaged us permanently?”
Iris turned as the door opened and Smoky and Trillian walked through, carrying at least a dozen large containers of food. It looked really good, but one piece through my lips would make me sick as a dog.
Morio followed them through, his jeans and turtleneck covered with dirt and twigs, and his bag carrying his anchor slung over his shoulder. Youkai needed an anchor in order to turn back into themselves from their demonic and animal forms. Morio’s was a skull. He slid the bag over his head and put it on the floor near the door leading into the pantry.
Iris glanced at him, then patted my arm. “No, dear. I don’t think you did any permanent damage. But don’t let her down on your promise to find a place for the wedding. That would be bad. Very bad.”
I nodded, then headed toward the door. “I need to go over to Roman’s. Don’t do anything without me unless it’s an emergency. I’ll be home as soon as I can.” As I passed Morio, I glanced at him and paused. I wanted to tell him what I was going to do. He would be affected. But really, I was just putting right what had gone wrong. Returning things to normal. So, instead, I quietly gathered my keys and purse and left.
Roman was waiting for me as I dashed through the rain and up the steps to his mansion. The maid who answered waved me in. She knew who I was and treated me with deference. All I’d have to do is tell Roman that she was rude to me and he’d have her killed. I knew that much, so I never, ever complained about any member of his staff being slow or making a mistake when they called me Melanie instead of Menolly.
I handed the maid my jacket—which I wore more for fashion than for need—and purse. “Here you go, Alice. Thank you.”
She curtsied. “Yes, Miss Menolly. You’re welcome, I’m sure.” As she turned to put them in the hall closet, she added, “The Master is in his study, waiting for you.”
I hurried into the study. I was fifteen minutes late, and Roman always got a little testy when he was kept waiting. I never complained about his OCD tendencies on the subject. He was the son of a queen, and he did have standards to uphold. But when I entered the room, he just held out his hands to me.
“My dear.” He kissed me on the cheek, then pulled me into his arms and pressed his lips to mine. “I have the ritual set up for you.”
I stepped back, not knowing how to ask what I wanted to ask. “Roman…before we begin. The other night…you and me and Nerissa…you vanished. Why did you leave?”
Roman’s shrouded gaze held me fast. He did not blink, nor did his expression change. “I wanted to be a part of your life—in a way more than this. In a way more than your being my official consort.” He cupped my chin. “Every time you talk about her, your face lights up in a way that I haven’t felt since—since I was young and alive, and in love with a village girl.”
My lips trembled. “What happened?”
“To the girl? Her father sold her to a passing horseman. I wanted to marry her, but her father hated my family. I arrived at her home too late. All I could hear were distant screams.” He lifted his shirt and showed me the long scar on one side. “That’s how I got this. Her father’s men fought me, prevented me from following them.”
“Oh, Roman. I’m sorry—”
“It’s long past…she turned to dust when the world was still much younger. Even though my mother avenged me—she had the father strung up in the square and gutted him while he was still alive—I never forgave him. I searched for her, everywhere. But I never saw her again. Every night for months, I dreamed about her, screaming as the warrior rode away with her. I kept imaging what he put her through.” He stared into the gas fireplace as it burned brightly, caught in his memory.
“What was her name?” I touched him gently on the arm.
He ducked his head, then shrugged. “I don’t remember. But when I see you talk about Nerissa, the look on your face reminds me of her when she’d run to me, run to kiss me. And it makes me…nostalgic.”
I nodded, finally understanding. Roman didn’t want to break us up. He wanted to recapture the one time in his life he’d actually been in love.
“Roman, I…”
“Say no more. I accept what you can give. But never bring Nerissa back to my house unless it’s an emergency. I cannot stand watching the two of you together.” He turned away. “Now you’ll think I’m weak.”
“Never. I think that you are still…somewhere deep inside…human. For what it’s worth, Roman, I do love you. As much as I can. Nerissa is my soul mate, but you…you and I share something I can’t share with anyone else. That I choose not to share with anyone else.” And I wrapped my arms around his waist, kissing his shoulder through the velvet smoking jacket.
Roman paused for a moment, then slipped out of my embrace, and when he turned back to me, he was a mask of gentility, smiling again, with no sign of the suffering I’d seen a few moments before.
