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“At the moment, her people are trying to destroy Chicago,” I said.
Delia didn’t look the slightest bit fazed by that announcement, which was probably because she was a vampire, a physician, and a member of Cadogan House’s staff. I’d bet there wasn’t much that surprised her anymore.
“I presume you’re here to make sure she doesn’t involve herself in those efforts?”
“We’d like to talk to her about it,” I said. “Has she said anything about what’s happening?”
“Not that I’ve heard. She’s been in and out of consciousness. I’m not certain, but I believe they dosed her for transport, and then relied on her absence from the castle to keep her weak. I’m going to get some supplies while you talk to her,” she said. “I’ll be back.”
She walked down the hall, and we waited for the guard to open the door. Two more stood inside—one human, one vampire.
“We need to ask her some questions,” I said. “And she might not talk with you here. Can you give us a few minutes?”
The human looked at the vampire, who nodded. “We’ll be outside.”
“That’s fine. Thank you.”
Then the door closed behind us, leaving us in silence.
The room was small, with pale walls and wood floors. There was a simple wooden bed, a nightstand, a dresser, and a bookshelf. Doors that led to a bathroom and closet. Most rooms had the same layout. Simple accommodations for the Cadogan vampires who chose to live in the House.
Claudia lay in the bed in the same dress we’d brought her in. She was still pale, but her color seemed to have evened out a little.
Her eyes opened. She looked at me. “You brought me from the church.”
“We did. You’re in Cadogan House. Ruadan attempted to depose you. He’s trying to bring the green land to Chicago.”
Her eyes opened wide and she tried to sit up, but her arms had been tied to the bed with leather restraints. If she were stronger, I suspected she’d be able to use magic to unbuckle them.
“They cannot.”
“They are,” I said. “They’ve shifted it here, or parts of it, into two places in the city.”
“No,”she said with desperation, and dropped her head again. “Bringing it here will not cause it to thrive. I have told him so many times.”
“What do you mean, it won’t thrive?” Theo asked.
“The green land should not exist here. It exists only in its realm. While that realm has touched the human world before, it is to be separate. It should remain so.”
She turned her head to look at us. “If you are speaking true, he has done a great wrong. Pulling the realm into this world stretchesthe warp and weft of our world and of yours. If that fabric is pulled too hard, it will tear. A hole will be wrought, and place and time will mix.” She swallowed hard. “That cannot be allowed. You must convince him.”
“I don’t think they’re going to be open to what we have to say.” Theo’s voice was dry.
“Make them understand. Keep the world as it is. Keep the green land hidden away. That is the only way you will save your city.”
“How do we do that, Claudia?” I asked. “Help us save your people.”
But her lips went tight.
“You’ll tell us they’re creating a danger,” I said, “but you won’t help us stop them?”
“They are mine,” she said, and turned her head away. “Helping their destruction would be treachery and betrayal.”
“They will destroy the green land,” I said quietly.
“You are a bloodletter,” she muttered. “You would lie.”
“I’m a bloodletter who saved your life,” I reminded her, and then recalled how much fairies loved bargains. “I am owed a boon.”
