“Ah, my son,” Iseabal purred as I turned on my heel and lunged for Keir.
Iseabal pulled back in shock as I pushed my father away from her.
“Dad, remember what we talked about?” I gave him a harsh look. “Do you have your amulets?”
“No,” he whispered in horror and I knew then that she had already begun to influence him.
My evil, psychotic grandmother had been enchanting my father for years, making him complacent to her wicked ways. But whatever juju she did, it didn't work on me and I had seen the obvious changes in Keir. We'd finally decided that he needed to wear anti-fey charms if he was ever around his mother again.
“Here,” I pulled a John the Conqueror root out of my pocket and slid it into the pouch at his waist. I'd started carrying it just in case of a situation like this and I was suddenly glad that I tended toward paranoia. Instantly, Keir looked calmer and saner.
“Thank you,” he sighed and then turned his angry eyes on his mother. “Did you really think that I'd never figure it out?”
“What?” Iseabal looked completely innocent but then she'd had centuries to practice her acting skills.
“The enchantment, Mother,” Keir growled. “Seren discovered it; how peculiar I act around you. How long have you been using magic to make me indifferent to your insanity?”
“I am not insane,” she ground out.
“If you're not insane,” Keir lowered his voice, “then you're evil and I want nothing to do with you.”
He turned and started to walk into the castle. Tiernan, Cat, and I followed after him. I was hoping to make it further than a few feet this time.
“Keir,” Iseabal called consolingly. “Sweetheart. Keir!”
“You were the one who told me to send Catriona and Seren back to the Human Realm,” Keir stopped and turned to face his mother again. “I wanted them with me. I thought I could protect them but you convinced me that I couldn't. Was that enchantment too? Did you force me to send my family away?”
I gaped at him, my throat closing in denial, and then looked towards my grandmother in stark accusation.
“It was for the best,” Iseabal whispered.
“Sweet Danu, you did,” Keir breathed in horror. “You killed Catriona.”
“Hardly,” she huffed. “We all know that was your brother's doing.”
“Goddess, what a family I have,” I muttered.
“You killed her!” Keir shouted as he bared his teeth at his mother.
“Keir,” she paled.
“Maybe it was not your words that directed the pukas but youareresponsible,” Keir lifted his face to the sky and released a shriek of pure agony. “All of this time and I have blamed myself! I have lied awake in bed going over and over it in my head.What if I had just kept her with me? Why didn't I? Why did I send her away?When all along, it was you who sent her away. You made me betray the only woman I have ever loved!”
“You loveme,” Iseabal glared at Keir. “I'm your mother. Youmustlove me first and foremost.”
“You're dead to me,” he said, suddenly very calm, and the whole courtyard went silent in shock. “Let all here witness the death of my mother!” He shouted. “You are a phantom to me. I shall not hear your voice.”
“Keir, no!” Iseabal screeched and threw herself at him.
“I shall not see your face,” he shoved her away from him and the Queen of Seelie fell to the ground in a froth of frosty silk. “I shall know you nevermore!”
Keir flung a hand towards her as if to strike her down, and an acidic amethyst shimmer fluttered through the air. It fell over Iseabal like misty rain and she screamed as if it had burned her. Hands over her face, she crumpled in upon herself and wept.
“Come, Daughter,” Keir turned to me soberly. “We are needed elsewhere.”
I took his arm and we walked into the castle, no one daring to stop us this time. His whole body was trembling but I helped steady him and I don't think anyone was able to see how deeply affected the King of Twilight had been by his mother's death.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
