Page 54 of Grimoires & Glamoury

“I hope whoever has Sarah is a powerful Supe,” I said. “Because I sincerely doubt anyone else could stop legions of pissed off Fae.”

“Oh, she’s safe.” Valentin grinned. “She’s with my in-laws.”

I frowned over his casual statement.

Damien rested his hand on my shoulder. “His in-laws are also my in-laws.”

“Wait. What?” I asked thoroughly confused. “You two are brothers-in-law?”

“Tragically, yes.” Damien sighed, although he was smiling. “Valentin’s wife, Annabelle, is a sister to Ruby through the House Rosca.”

The House Rosca was another Vampire House—a very well respected one. I’d met Ruby’s parents only once. But they’d made an impression.

“Oh.” I drew the word out into three syllables. “So, Sarah’s with Dimitri and Anisa Rosca?”

“Yes,” Valentin answered me, then he smirked directly at Damien. “But I’m still their favorite son-in-law.”

“Only because you and Annabelle gave them triplet grandbabies,” Damien shot back, making Oona, Finnlagh, and Giselle all chuckle.

Valentin folded his massive arms across his chest. “So, get busy and have another baby. Xander shouldn’t be an only child.”

Damien immediately shot back a pithy reply.

I felt like I was at a tennis match. My eyes kept swinging back and forth between the Vampire and the Hunter...the brothers-in-law as they bickered.

“Family picnics must be a real hoot when y’all get together,” I heard myself say.

“More like a three-ring circus,” Damien said affably.

The meeting closed up shortly after that, and I excused myself and went out on the front porch for some air. The energy from so many varieties of powerful Supes—not to mention having to identify Shelby’s body a couple of hours before—was leaving me feeling a bit disconnected, and that simply would not do. I needed to stay on my A-game while in the hollow.

Squaring my shoulders, I took myself across the yard and stepped into the tree line. I walked deeper into the woods, going directly to the biggest tree I could find and promptly sat on the ground and rested my back against its trunk.

Closing my eyes, I began to work on grounding and centering myself. I slowed my breathing, connected to the four elements, and allowed myself to relax. The energy of the forest began to work its magick quickly, and with a long exhale, I dropped my shoulders and centered my personal power once more.

I stayed there under the old oak tree for a while, and then I began to realize that I wasn’t alone. Slowly I opened my eyes and discovered Hazel. She was hovering a few feet away and watching me.

“Hello, Hazel,” I said.

“My lady has sent me to watch over you,” she explained, flying closer.

I could quite clearly see the tiny knife she had strapped to her waist. Her hand was upon it, and the Pixie’s expression was set and serious. “I am honored,” I said, and meant it.

“My lady, The Princess Oona, bids me to tell you that she suspects that the mortal Shelby Murphy was faery-led to the place of her death.”

“And why did your lady not speak up at the meeting?” I asked.

Hazel flew closer. “Because she is concerned with what the light court might do with this information.”

“And with Finnlagh being the ambassador to the light court…She doesn’t trust Finnlagh is, that it?”

“Nay!” Hazel said quickly. “Prince Finnlagh is an honorable and noble Fae. It is the ruler of the light court that my Lady is concerned with. She feels he may be also seeking the grimoire.”

I moved a bit closer. “So, you’re telling me the leader of the Light Fae is a little shady?”

Hazel frowned. “I am unfamiliar with this term.”

“Shady means sneaky, underhanded or disreputable.”