“What did she say?” I asked hesitantly.
“Your daughter is next.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
In the end, it was decided that Dylan would go to the Council House to interrogate the elven prisoners with General Soren. Keir and I were higher on Moire's kill list than my uncle. I hated the waiting and wondering, but I suppose it was fair play. I'd made Keir wait and worry countless times in the past. Now I was the one waiting and worrying.
I contacted Raza as soon as Dylan and Soren left, and informed him that both Keir and I were well. Then I told Raza about the elves. He wasn't at all happy to hear that the elves were now missing along with Moire, and he said several words in Gaelic, or maybe Fey (most of the time they sounded the same to me), that were probably unfit for polite society.
Raza approved of Dylan's insistence to leave me and my father under heavy guard at Gentry, but not of my decision to return to Twilight after Dylan got back from the Council House.
“Your place is with me now,” Raza said.
“I don't like that tone, caveman,” I narrowed my eyes on him.
“You know what I mean, Seren,” Raza sighed and rubbed a clawed hand over his face. “I need you beside me. I worry when you're gone. And then there's this war hanging over our heads. I need your strength in battle too, mo shíorghrá. I need you by my side and at my back.”
“My strength in battle?” I smiled, “Now you're back on track, lover. Keep talking.”
“Seren,” Raza groaned. “Come home. You have a rath available to you at Gentry, you don't have to wait till twilight.”
My heart did this weird flutter and a shiver raced over my skin. I'd never had a man say that to me. At least, not one who wasn't related to me. It felt... good. Funny how two simple words like “come home” could deepen a relationship.
“I need to see my father safely to Twilight,” I said softly. “Then I'll come home to you.”
“You promised me I'd wake up with you in my bed,” Raza reminded me.
“And you will,” I agreed. “I'll go to Twilight Castle with Keir, using the rath, then Killian and I will trace over to you when twilight arrives. He's coming over from Iceland, so he should beat me to the castle anyway. Depending on the time differences, I may arrive in Unseelie long before morning.”
“Alright,” Raza let out a long breath. “Then we will speak soon.”
“And maybe do a little more than speaking,” I gave him a saucy wink.
Raza chuckled, “I shall hardly sleep tonight.”
“Raza,” I suddenly realized something, “be extra vigilant tonight. Moire told my father that she was coming for me next. She may be on her way to Unseelie.”
“We are prepared for her,” Raza went deathly serious. “Don't worry about me, mo shíorghrá. If Moire shows her face in Unseelie, I will rip it off and feed it to the pukas.”
“Savage, darling,” I laughed.
“I can't help it, I was born that way,” he smirked.
Chapter Forty
Just as I was wiping away Killian's image from my father's crystal ball, Dylan came walking into Keir's office. I wanted to let Killian know the new plan, and double check when he'd be arriving in Twilight, so I'd called him. But dawn had already come and gone in Iceland, so Killian hadn't answered. I scried him next and discovered that he was already waiting for me in Twilight. He'd been as snarky and cheery as usual, despite the situation. A direct contrast to my Uncle Dylan. Grim and tense would be the words I'd use to describe Dylan. My uncle had a personality with a resting bitch face.
“They're insane,” Dylan announced as he closed the door behind him. “They believe Danu is supporting this war.”
“I know,” I admitted, “and they may not be insane.”
“What?” Dylan looked from me to my father. “Am I missing something?”
“The elves told Seren the very same thing,” Keir said tonelessly.
“And Danu hasn't spoken to me since,” I added.
“No,” Dylan dropped into a chair. “Danu appeared on the battlefield. She backed Raza. Why would she oppose him now?”
