“Kill?” I leaned as if I could change the view.
“Yeah, I'm here,” Killian said, remaining out of sight.
“Kill, Tiernan set a shadow ward around us last night. It kept Astaroth out of my dreams.”
“What?” Kill leaned into view.
My father graciously moved aside for Killian to sit before his crystal ball.
“I warded us with the Shadowcall,” Tiernan said, pride coloring his tone. “It kept him out of her dreams.”
“Son of a bitch!” Kill grinned. “Well done, Brother.”
“Thank you.”
“He scried me this morning and retracted his ultimatum,” I added.
“He did?” Killian's grin widened.
“Only because he thinks she will go to him without coercion,” Tiernan added.
Kill went still. “Babe, Rowan's warning.”
“Killian, nothing can make me leave you. Nothing beyond you, that is.”
His face twitched. “Yeah. About that. I . . . fuck, babe. Sever is still royally pissed.”
“Seren tried to protect herself with Light,” Tiernan said. “She did what she could, Killian. Even Astaroth tried to lay a hakhil upon himself to protect him from the dreams.”
“He did? And neither of those worked, but your shadows did?”
“We think it's because it's fairy magic,” I said.
“Huh. All right. Then maybe it's for the best if you stay in Seelie for now, babe. I don't have a mór that can protect you. Not like that.” He looked to his left.
“I could lay a ward upon her,” my father said.
Killian sighed. “I don't know. Stay there for now. I think it's better for you to give Sever some space. He's not dealing well. I think it's cause he's the only non-fairy husband you have. He feels like he's part of the problem.”
“He's not!” I said.
“Yeah, but that's how he feels. Like he was a gateway drug.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I need to help Tiernan with this blight anyway. With Danu missing, it's even more worrisome.”
“Raza is upset with us,” Tiernan added. “Could you scry him, Killian? Tell him what happened and how Seren tried to defend herself. But tell him about the blight first. And Danu. He needs to know. I don't want him ending the scry before he hears about that.”
“Copy that,” Kill said. “Dad, do you want to talk to them before we sign off?”
“Yes,” my father said.
“Okay, babe. Hang in there.” Kill paused. “I love you. You know that, right? No matter how angry I am, I always love you.”
“I love you too, Blair. Even when you're being an idiot.”
He grinned. “I'll talk to you later.”
“Bye.”
