“Point of order,” I said. “I am in fact a Knight.”
Molly waved a hand, a little impatiently. “I’m serious, Harry. Tactically speaking, there’s no difference. Lara could kill you. So could Sarissa. So could Gard. So could I. It’s fucking foolish of you not to protect yourself with the same amount of prejudice just because the threat has breasts.”
“She tries something again,” I said, “you want me to kill her? The functioning head of the White Court?”
“I didn’t say that,” Molly said. “As Winter Lady, I can’t. But as Molly Carpenter, your friend, I worry about you.” She squinted out at the lake. “I still don’t think you should be alone with her, away from support, for that long.”
“She needs proof of life for Thomas,” I said. “Can’t blame her for that. And Demonreach isn’t a vacation spot.”
Molly nodded stiffly. “I have been commanded,” she said, as though the words were being forced out of her with the end of a sharp stick, “to advise you to make this entire matter simpler by allowing her to seduce you.”
I grunted. “Last thing Maggie needs, her father an addict.”
She blew out a breath through her nose and relaxed a little. “You’re not wrong. They’re here.”
I looked up as Lara’s classic silver limo pulled into the waterfront lot, looking like something out of the Golden Age of Hollywood. She got out wearing a white sundress with matching sandals, a broad black woven hat, and black sunglasses, and carrying a no-kidding pic-a-nick basket.
I was all Biffed-out, too: white leisure shorts, a winter-blue polo shirt, and grey boat shoes. Together, we’d look like a couple in a vacation commercial, except for all my scars.
“Molls,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry Mab is making you do this. Arrange everything.”
Molly had been unrequited by me for a long time.
She smiled faintly and said, “I’m sorry she’s making you do it, too.”
“I know you’re busy with your duties. But we need to talk privately,” I said.
Her expression went opaque. “Not really possible,” she said. “She has my ear.”
We were talking about Queen Mab, of course.
“I’ll look into it,” I said. “Maybe there’s something.”
Molly squared off on me, her face hardening. “Harry,” she said. “Believe me. There isn’t. I’m doing everything I can. Not want to. Can.” She grimaced. “Sometimes getting more power means accepting more limits. This is one of those.” Her expression softened. “I’m sorry. But she’s focused on this. You’ll have to find someone else.”
I felt a little shock of pain go through me. I’d assumed that Molly would be my confidant as much as anyone could.
I could read her expression at my reaction. She didn’t like it any better than I did.
Which meant that she was being watched very, very closely.
Or worse, being kept on a very short leash. Mab could command beings of her Court, and they obeyed, period. Her word was literally law to them. It was entirely possible that Mab had laid down the law on Molly, maybe even forbidden her to speak about it.
I could just let myself be hurt by the fact that she wasn’t available to support me in the same way she had been in the past. Or I could accept that she was in a different place, and still doing whatever she could within the boundaries of what had been imposed on her.
Hell. That described me pretty well, too.
Maybe I just had to trust her. Sometimes friendships, especially long ones, get to places like that. She’d do what she could, when she could, because that’s who Molly was.
I gave her a lopsided smile and said, “We do what we can.”
She matched me, her eyes sad, and nodded. “That’s right.”
Lara came walking up, looking as delicious as she always did. The dress showed off her shoulders and neck. She smiled warmly at me and then at Molly. “Harry. Lady Molly. My, the boat cleans up very nicely.” She looked over her shoulder at the security guys who had gotten out of the front of the limo and were watching her the same way Maggie’s dog, Mouse, did when she went into the bathroom by herself. “Everyone advised me not to go out there with you alone, you know.”
“You bring a knife this time?” I asked.
Lara laughed. “Should I have?”
