"How?" Thomas asked.
"The Fae handing out drinks is one of the Scattered." I folded my arms and looked at Thomas.
"What makes you think that?" Liam asked.
"The way Callie reacted to her. The two have a bond. There was real affection, like that of an older sister with a younger, weaker one," I said.
My words felt true. I was on the right track.
"Also, the Fae's arm was glamored to hide the tattoo," I added as an afterthought. I never would have thought to check if I hadn't seen the way Callie interacted with her.
"Thatisinteresting." Thomas tapped the side console in thought.
"How so?" Connor asked.
"Arlan is from the High King's court. For all intents and purposes, he's considered a loyalist. He'd know the consequences of harboring any of the Scattered, since the High King is the one who put an assassination order on them," Liam explained.
Thomas and Liam shared a look.
"If he's flouting the king's order, it could mean he's not as loyal as everyone assumes." Thomas sounded intrigued by this prospect. Schemes and plans were already forming.
"Well done, Aileen." Thomas's voice was filled with praise.
I glared at the back of his head.
"One last thing—I think he suspects that I can see magic," I said grudgingly.
The atmosphere in the car went arctic, emanating from the two in front of me.
Yup, that's about the reaction I expected.
"Why would he suspect that?" Thomas asked.
The feeling of a blade poised above my neck made me choose my words carefully.
"He mentioned Niamh. He seemed to think the manner in which her enchantment was broken seemed interesting."
Thomas blew out a harsh breath. "That isn't ideal."
He was telling me.
Thomas turned toward Liam. "We may need to send her away for her own protection."
"Like hell you will," I spat.
He quirked his eyebrow at me. "Would you rather the Fae burn out your mind, leaving your body as their own personal tool and plaything in their endless dominance games?"
No, of course, I didn't want that.
"All I'm saying is let's not be hasty. I'm sure there are other, less dramatic solutions we can try first," I said, backpedaling.
"Oh?" Thomas asked in an arch voice. "Please enlighten us as to what you mean. By the time they learn the truth, it will be too late. We'll either have to kill them and risk a war, or you'll lose that precious freedom you value so much. Make no mistake—what they do to you will be so much worse than the infringement you accuse me of."
"Sending her away will only arouse suspicion." Connor didn't look away from the scene outside his window. "They'll take it as a sign you’re hiding something."
Thomas's face was set in unhappy lines as he looked at his first born. "What would you have me do? You know what life is like among them. Would you sentence her to that fate?"
Connor didn't answer, slowly pulling himself away from the scenery outside to focus on Thomas. I wasn't sure I liked that look, especially in light of the throat ripping incident an hour prior.
