“Yes. They open minds and paths to power. Unfortunately, they do nothing for the human heart.” She sighed and shook her head. “Those who have stolen fox pearls in the past have usually needed love. Surviving a Kumiho attack makes them bitter. Poor things.”
“This man has taken three pearls,” I said. “What will that do to him?”
Danu considered this. “It gives him three times the magic. In that way, he will be stronger.”
“But not three times the knowledge?”
“He had access to all the knowledge on Earth with the first pearl. You cannot have more than all.”
I snorted. “Again, obvious.”
“Yes.” She looked toward the bedroom. “You are doing so well, Seren. Both here and on the other worlds.”
“But?” I asked, a shiver running through me.
Eyes like mine shifted back to me. “The heart is not a finite thing with limited space.”
“No!” I pointed at her. “No, don't you say it! He's not even one of yours.”
Danu laughed. “Do you think this is a divine game in which I'm pitted against my brother?” She paused, then said, “I suppose I may have given that impression in the past. But it isn't that way at all, Daughter. There is a certain amount of sibling rivalry, as the humans say, but nothing serious. We love each other, and we love you. Both Anu and I want the best for you, Daughter. If that is one of his sons, then so be it. I will support it.”
“But you promised not to interfere,” I whispered.
“I have not.”
“So, I'm not feeling your call?”
“That would not be possible.”
“Does Anu have a call?”
“I don't think he would label it as such, but he does like to nudge people together if he feels they will . . .”
“Bring peace to all the worlds?” I finished.
“You've already done that. A union with King Astaroth would be more for your benefit than Hell's. Although Hell would do well with you as its Queen. There is no doubt of that. Those who abide underground would be especially pleased.”
“Ugh! You had to name him. You couldn't have just left it general.”
She laughed again, and the delight of it trickled and tickled through Fairy. “You are my favorite. You do know that? My favorite daughter.”
I let out a sigh and bent my head. “Thank you. But I can't go there with Star.”
“No, you can't,” she said.
I looked up in surprise. “But you—”
Danu was already fading away, glittering into nothing. Her final words hung in the air like an omen, “Not yet.”
Chapter Thirty
The next day, Killian, Sever, and I returned to the Incheon Hunter House to find an Extinguisher team waiting for us with the hunters.
“High Councilman Murdock decided it was time for our people to contribute more to the fight,” Alex said.
Unlike the hunters, the extinguishers of the area were not Korean. Not in appearance or ethnicity. There were probably some Korean council members at the Human Council House since anyone with great psychic power could get on the council, but Extinguishers, all Extinguishers, are Irish. They're the descendants of the Five Great Psychic Families of Ireland. This means every extinguisher had one of five surnames—Kavanaugh, Murdock, Sloane, Teagan, or Sullivan. The team they sent us had representatives from each family, and the team leader was a heavy hitter.
“Extinguisher Connor Teagan,” I said as I stepped past Alex with my hand extended. “It's a pleasure to meet you.”
