“I'm not afraid of my brother,” Dylan smiled.
“I didn't think you were,” I smiled back. “Still, I'm not going to add a conversation with Uisdean to your already annoying day.”
“I appreciate that,” he laughed and waved his hand, “though I'll stay to watch your misery.”
“Thanks,” I rolled my eyes. “King Uisdean Thorn of Unseelie,” I called and then muttered, “and general thorn in my side.”
The crystal misted once more and stayed that way much longer than it had for my father. Finally, colors came out of the mist and formed into shapes. The shapes condensed and Uisdean's face came into focus. He stared at me with his unreadable, fully-black eyes, surrounded by a fall of sword-straight ebony hair. He had on a midnight velvet tunic, laced with silver cords at his neck, but the silver did nothing to alleviate all that darkness and his pale skin shone out from it like the moonlight it was named for.
“Ah, the serious Seren is scrying me,” Uisdean's sharp lips twisted up into a smile. “What do you want, Serious Seren?”
“I'm investigating a crime in Oklahoma, Unpleasant Uncle Uisdean,” I began and watched his dark eyes narrow. “It appears to be a fey crime, raven mockers to be exact, but I don't believe the mockers are actually behind it.”
“What do raven mockers have to do with me?”
“Not you,” I shook my head. “Lord Raza.”
“Go on,” Uisdean's face went still.
“Lord Raza's son is Rayetayah, head of the raven mockers,” I continued. “He's helping me investigate the accusations against him and his people, and I just thought I should inform Lord Raza of the investigation.”
“A wise decision,” Uisdean nodded. “Was it yours or did someone counsel you to tell the dragon?”
“It was my idea,” I huffed.
“You're learning, little one,” Uisdean chuckled. “Well done. Fairy society is a lot more complicated than human, isn't it?”
“Not really,” I grimaced. “Raza is a father and parents like to be told when their child is in trouble. It's common courtesy.”
“It'sLordRaza,” Uisdean corrected with a twitching jaw. “And this is not about common courtesy, this is about pacifying a dragon-djinn. Your instincts are smarter than your brain. Think, you idiot extinguisher. Politics between warring courts are tricky but those concerning dragons get downright dangerous.”
“Yeah, okay, I get it,” I snarled as Dylan chuckled low.
“Who is that?” Uisdean tried to peer around me.
“That's Cat,” I waved Uncle Dylan away. “Never mind her. Will you tell Lord Raza about Rayetayah for me?”
“Of course I will,” Uisdean huffed. “I'm not the stupid one. Perhaps I should have called you Simple Seren.”
The crystal misted over before I could say another word and my Uncle Dylan burst out into laughter.
“Really?” I looked at him in disgust. “This is what finally gets you to laugh?”
Chapter Fourteen
“I ordered Chinese food for the trip back,” Tiernan said as I stepped out of Dylan's secret hallway. “They'll deliver it to the receptionist in the lobby.”
“Good idea, I'm starving,” I groaned.
“Bon voyage,” Dylan waved us off.
“Goodbye, Uncle Dylan,” I said sweetly.
“Yes, goodbye,” he sat down at his desk and didn't bother to look up as we left.
“Goodbye, Your Highness,” the secretary said as we went past her.
“Goodbye,” I smiled as we headed for the elevator.
