“What happened to her, mother?” Callum prods. She clenches her hands so tightly it looks painful.
“She snuck out to meet with a boy in the village. I knew the risk, of course, but I covered for her.” Mallory’s eyes dip closed, then flicker back open. “Edith didn’t make it home by dark, and I got scared. I went looking for her by myself because I didn’t want to get in trouble. When I found her... It was already too late. I could smell the blood from a mile away.” She fights back tears, choking up at the memory. “Someone had cut her throat and tossed her in a ditch outside town.”
I stare at her in shock and horror. A quick glance around the table shows I’m not the only one. Mallory brushes her face off and excuses herself to see about the main course. A suffocating heaviness settles over the table, but I honestly prefer the dark energy. At least it’s more authentic than the Casanells’ earlier condescension.
“I’ve heard similar stories,” Idris says. “The fear, greed, and violence of others forced the djinn into hiding decades ago. It was thought they were eventually hunted to extinction.” He gives me a pointed look. “Although, clearly that was incorrect.”
“We won’t let anything happen to you,” Gideon says, a serious look on his face.
I force a smile, my mind racing in a dozen different directions.I wanted answers, but I never expected anything like this.
The information we’ve learned tonight has sobered everyone but Ciprian, who is now well on his way to being sloppy drunk.
“It’s fine for you to play guard dog or cat or whatever the animal of the week is,” he quips, ignoring the dark looks thrownhis way. “But if we can’t find this mystical, not-a-lamp talisman thing, it sounds like Sheena is a goner.”
Damn. That was blunt.
“Your bedside manner needs work, Ciprian.” I respond before either Gideon or Callum can lash out at him.
“Oh, babe, you know nothing about my bedside manner.” He winks at me as he reaches for the wine bottle again. Gideon tugs on the tablecloth, pulling it out of his reach. It’s a practiced move that makes Joshua hide a smile, but it’s Dimitri’s expression that makes me want to laugh out loud. He’s staring at his youngest son like he was just forced to swallow something rancid.
“Ciprian,” Dimitri barks. “That’s hardly appropriate conversation for mixed company at the dinner table.”
“Oh loosen up, dad.” Ciprian laughs. “Mom just talked about following a blood trail to her friend’s body after helping her sneak out to get some. I think a little double entendre lightens the mood. After all, we’re not at Sheena’s funeral.” He waggles his eyebrows at me. “Yet.”
I let out an unladylike snort. “I’m going to make sure you’re nowhere near my eulogy,” I tease. “God knows what you would say.”
“First, you won’t get a say because you’ll be dead. Second, the godsmay not know what I would say, but I’m sure you’vegot an idea.” Ciprian smirks.
Joshua and Dimitri exchange concerned looks.
“Relax,” Ciprian says, rolling his eyes. “I already told Sarah—I’m not after the genie. She’s the meat in Cal and Gideon’s fuck sandwich. I have no interest in being the lettuce everyone picks off.”
Dimitri chokes on his drink, although I don’t know why he’s shocked.Has he met his son?When Joshua pounds on his friend’s back, an amused twinkle in his eye, Sarah and I have to stifle our laughter.
I want to see how the fae is reacting to this nonsense, but I don’t want him to catch me looking at him. I can still feel his gaze drilling into my skull.
When Mallory comes back, her... staff are with her. Now that I know they exist, I watch for the subtle flickering of the air as the not-so-subtle platters of steaming dishes float in behind her. My broken goblet disappears, only to be replaced with a sturdy, crystal glass typically used for sipping whiskey. It appears I’m no longer trusted with long stem glasses. Probably the right call if I’m being honest.
Joshua clears his throat pointedly.
“Let’s table this conversation until after dinner.” He glances around at the floating food, and we all get the message. No talking about my super secret origins while someone could overhear.
The problem now is no one knows what else to talk about.
“Idris, how are you adjusting to life at the enclave?” Joshua tosses the ball back into the fae’s court.
“I’m settling in nicely,” Idris says, picking up the conversation gracefully. “Both Sarah and Mallory have been kind enough to ensure a seamless transition.”
He nods to the older women with a glittering smile. Both of them seem flustered by his attention, and I’m relieved I’m not the only one who finds him unnerving. Every time he looks at me, I want to run away.
I need to get Callum or Gideon alone so I can ask them about fae powers. They haven’t mentioned mind reading, but I get the feeling this Idris guy sees way too much. There’s a quiet stillness to the way he watches. It’s like he’s peeling back everyone’s layers and expecting to find a rotten core.
“Has the scum we caught in the barn said anything useful?” Callum asks, shifting the conversation away from the fae. Idris actually seems relieved by the change of subject.
“Unfortunately, no.” Joshua wipes his mouth with a fancy napkin. “He was a grunt like you suspected. He provided some locations, but there’s been no movement at any of them so far.”
“How do you know? You didn’t call us,” Gideon grumbles.
