As I said, I knew Raza had been through hell. But now I was thinking that I'd known nothing at all. Just call me Jon Snow.
As I processed how little I knew, the Twins continued their search for visions. They learned a lot about Sang-hee and her kitty—his name was Seulgi, which meant wisdom, and which seemed oddly prophetic in itself—but beyond that, they caught only glimpses of Sang-hee's abduction. We searched theneighborhood for hours after that, but didn't find any trace of the monstrous human. Not that we expected to. He had flown away with the Kumiho. That doesn't leave tracks. Not that a car would have either, but a car would have been traceable through traffic cams. A car would have given us a license plate. A car would have left a scent trail of its occupants that certain fairies, or maybe even the Trance Twins, could follow.
We had to give up at last and head back to the hunter house.
The Kumihos were gone by the time we arrived but the remnants of their visit spotted the house—empty plates and cups, platters of half-eaten gimbap and chicken feet on the dining table, that sort of thing. And Medea. She hadn't left as I'd expected.
“I thought you'd want to see Ha-eun to safety,” I said to Medea.
The Gorgon sighed and brushed a hand over her dreadlocks. “I wanted to, but it's more important that I help you find this human. Did you get anything?”
“Nothing good,” Killian said.
“Or all that helpful,” Raza said.
“He told you about what he saw?” I demanded. “When?”
“Alex told me.” Raza settled his golden stare on me. “And I'm of the same mind as Killian for once. I will not share it with you, mo shíorghrá.”
“Unbelievable!” I growled. “I've been to war many times. I've saved the damn world, Raza. I can handle hearing about the terrible things that man has done.”
“How terrible?” Medea demanded.
“Truly heinous,” Raza said. To me, he said, “I know you can handle it, Seren. But I would save you this horror if possible. Please. Don't ask this of me.”
I sighed, remembering Alexis screaming as he held her wrist. Raza bore so much alone, and he did it willingly. I rushed into his arms. “I love you, Dragon.”
“What the hell?” Killian demanded. “I did the same thing, and I didn't get a hug.”
I eased back and set my palm over Raza's heart. “You don't have to protect me. But I love that you want to.”
“I want to protect you too.”
“Shut up, Killian,” Raza growled before refocusing on me. “I love you too. And I will protect you and our family forever. No matter if you need me to or not.”
“I know.” I kissed him. Just a quick press of my lips to his, then went to Killian and hugged him. “I love you too, Kill.”
“Well, now it feels as if I've begged for this,” he grumbled.
I chuckled and pushed him away. “Don't be a dick.”
“You're all kinda being dicks right now,” Alex drawled. “We're working, remember?”
“Who are they?” Medea waved at the twins.
“Hello, Medea,” Alexis said, extending her hand. “I'm Extinguisher Alexis Murdock.”
“Don't!” I shoved Medea's hand away and gave Alexis a stern look. “No reading minds without permission, please.”
“Aw, but she's so interesting.” Alexis pouted.
“Gorgons always are.” Alex grinned.
“What the fuck?” Medea looked from me to the twins.
“They're the strongest psychics we have,” I said. “Top of the class in precognition, psychometry, and clairvoyance. But they excel at telepathy—mind reading.”
Medea's dreadlocks suddenly dropped their glamour and all those tiny snake heads hissed at the twins in unison.
