Decimus looks away, clearly conflicted about saying anything without talking to Maven first. But if anyone will be on our keeper’s side, it’s his mother. She has my respect, which means she's worlds past anyone else we could confide in.
So I slip out of Limbo to sit on the counter beside them, ignoring the flash of pain throughout my limbs from plane-walking.
“You’re spot on,” I inform her.
They both startle and swear, but then Brigid considers me. “You mean, there are humans in the Nether?”
“Thousands.” According to Maven.
“Gods. And Maven is going to free them?” She looks at Decimus.
He sighs, deciding to go along with my judgment call. “Yeah, she is. Really fucking soon, actually.”
Brigid nods slowly as if absorbing all of that. Then she smiles at me.
“At least gettingyouto talk to me isn’t like pulling fangs. Although I guess I’m glad my son is so protective of his mate. From what little I’ve gathered of her, she seems worth protecting.”
“She is.”
“Have you eaten, Crypt?”
“All night.” Between Maven’s thighs, in fact.
Decimus catches my real meaning and gives me a wide-eyed look as if he thinks I’m insane for implying that in front of his mother. But Brigid smacks her forehead, drawing the expected assumption.
“Oh, right—incubi and dreams. I always forget.” She begins preparing herself a plate of food. “I heard about your father. Frankly, I hope you don’t want condolences.”
“Not at all.”
“Thank gods. He was horrible.”
I couldn’t agree more.
But as Brigid brings up flying later with Decimus and they begin another conversation, I can’t help feeling that it’s been an excessive amount of time since I last saw Maven. Sliding back into Limbo, I return to the bedroom and immediately relax when I see her perched on the bed, frowning as Frost sits behind her to comb through her damp hair.
“I can brush my own fucking hair.”
“But you’ll let me do it for you,” he says, kissing her cheek. He smiles at her, an expression I’ve rarely seen on the brooding elemental. “Right?”
Maven melts a little, apparently done arguing. She mutters something about powerful dimples as he gently tends to her hair.
But her attention quickly slips to where I am in Limbo.There you are.
I emerge in the mortal realm, winking. “Miss me?”
“Never in a million fucking years,” Crane drawls from where he’s studying one of the old grimoires on necromancy that he borrowed from the Garnet Wizard’s library.
Decimus shows up a moment later with plenty of food for everyone stacked in a nearly perilous fashion. As they take plates and prepare to eat, he glances at me, then Maven. He clears his throat.
“So…my mom kind of knows.”
“Knows what?” Frost asks, glancing up.
“About humans in the Nether,” I clarify.
Maven goes still.
“She already suspected as much. I merely confirmed it.” I hesitate. “I understand if you’re angry with me, love?—”
