Page 78 of Birthright

“So you don’t gossip about our priestess?” Bevin asked jokingly.

“Only if it’s something she wishes gossiped about.” She took a drink from her little wineglass.

“It’s another of my secret weapons,” I mused—and used my magic to lift the wine bottle and refill my glass and Jordan’s. Bevin watched with wide eyes. “Now back to business. Nessum is the wild card.” The bottle moved up the table to Doran’s glass as I spoke.

Bevin said, “Oh my,” as she followed its progress.

“You think he’ll show for All Hallows’?” Cliona asked.

“I think he may show before then.”

I was looking at Cliona, not the bottle. Jordan and the rest were still watching as it moved smoothly from one glass to another around the table. “Remarkable,” Bevin muttered as it filled hers and came to rest beside her glass.

Being able to cast and hold a spell while talking and thinking about other things was becoming second nature. And right now, I had to hold up walls to Jordan at the same time as well. It was still sometimes difficult, but it was coming faster and faster.

“Is that enough showing off for you, Doran?” Abbey said.

“It’ll do. Keena, I must really apologize yet again. I had no idea you had grown so much over these last few weeks. I was worried about your heartbreak and your…”

“Human sensibilities?”

“Yes.” She looked ashamed as she held her hands up, clearly unnerved that she’d not paid more attention to my progress.

“Let’s just say I threw myself into my work to avoid the personal issues. Coyle and Abbey have been helping. Now you know. So let’s get back to Nessum.” I kept my poker face, but inside, I wanted to laugh, pleased I had surpassed their expectations.

“You think he’ll show before All Hallows’?” Jordan asked again.

I looked at him. “You don’t? How many guards were on Feldema before my midnight visit from Dannaiva?”

“Two.”

“And now?” I asked.

Jordan looked as surprised at my question as the others. Seems he didn’t know me as well as he thought either. “Six. Two in the observation room and four in the cell corridor.”

“So you think he’s likely to come for her too.”

“I’m not sure we can stop him if he does. I’m only hoping they have time for someone to notify me if he shows.” He didn’t look happy about leaving his men in such a situation.

I turned back to Doran. “Where would he go and why?”

“He’s a Dark Angel, Keena. He can go anywhere he wants, on this earth or any of the realms of the Demons. I wouldn’t even be able to guess.”

“Okay, then let’s stick to the why,” I said. “Why?”

“Why hasn’t he already retrieved Feldema, if she’s what he really wants? If she’s not what he really wants, that would explain why he hasn’t come for her, but why abandon her, and the Slaugh? Why leave Thule in such a mess?”

They all looked around, waiting for someone to answer. When no one ventured a guess, I continued. “If we figure out the whys, then we’ll know what he’s planning. How do we find out the why?”

Doran pushed her plate away. “I’ll see if I can talk to Feldema again.”

Jordan chimed in. “Maybe we can find another Slaugh who’ll talk. They may not know where, but they may have a clue about the why. I’ve got a few informants in the Gremlins. They haven’t given up anything yet, but I’ll push ’em a little harder.”

CHAPTER 33

The rest of the evening, the group traded ideas about why Nessum might have left. Not one of the theories was any better than another. The exercise left us all frustrated. Frustration and several glasses of wine made me a little restless. We all said our good nights and headed back to our rooms to turn in. “I really need a run,” I said to Jordan, taking his hand.

“Not a chance, little girl.” He kept walking toward my chambers.