I put a hand on her arm. “I've got to talk to my father, but I'm sure he'll explain it all to you later.”
“Yes, of course. Don't let me keep you.” Eibhleann motioned toward the door, and we headed out.
Back at the outdoor table, I pointed at Mirielle. “You be good for Grandma.”
She stuck her tongue out at me.
“Miri!” I pointed harder.
She giggled.
“Don't stick out your tongue like that again.”
“You do it to Daddy.”
I grimaced. “Only when he deserves it. Don't do it to me.”
She just giggled harder.
“I'm a horrible parent,” I muttered as I smacked Killian on the shoulder. “Come on, babe. We've gotta talk.”
“Yup.” Kill got up, stroked Rowan's silky curls, and then went with my father and me back to where Sever waited.
Together, we went inside the castle and into the Blue Parlor—named not for its color scheme but for the collection of Ming Dynasty porcelain displayed there. My father loved to collect human treasures.
I took a seat at the carved teak table near the window, its surface polished to a mirror shine and protected with a sheet of glass. Lining the walls were floor-to-ceiling glass display cabinets full of precious porcelain items adorned with blue artwork. Everything from massive vases to little chopstick holders rested behind the glass. Instead of making me feel peaceful, all of those breakables made me nervous. Or maybe it was the coming conversation.
“I left my scry phone in Seelie.” I looked around the table. “Can I borrow one of yours?”
Killian pulled out his phone and slid it across the table to me. “Who ya gonna call?”
I snorted a laugh. “You know, it would be accurate if I said, Ghostbusters. Tiernan kinda did some busting with ghosts today.”
“What?” My father leaned forward.
“It's a line from an old movie, Dad,” Killian said.
“Yes, I know.” Keir patted Killian's hand. “I'm asking about the bustingwithghosts.”
“Actually, we need two phones,” I said, dodging his question. “I want Raza in on this as well.” I considered scrying Dax, but he was safe on Earth. I'd scry him later to let him know about everything, including Sever and Miri coming home.
“I'll scry Raza.” Sever took out his phone. “King Raza Tnyn of Unseelie.”
As he scried Raza, I scried Tiernan. “King Tiernan Shadowcall of Seelie.”
Tiernan's face filled the crystal slice seconds later. “Are you alright? Miri? Sever?”
“We're all fine,” I said. “A group of Angels led by Gabriel came to bind Miri's Angel Magic.”
“What?!” my father growled.
“It was necessary, Dad. Trust me.” I motioned to Sever, who was bringing Raza into the conversation. “When Sever tookMiri to Earth, she got upset and opened a rift to Heaven. She wanted to see Henry. Sever closed it, but the Angels noticed. And then, while we were discussing things with Gabriel, Miri removed his mouth.”
My father gaped at me.
“What do you mean, 'removed?'” Killian asked.
“She pulled a 'Twilight Zone' and banished his mouth.” I waved at my face. “Like, it was just bare skin there. Really gross. And when I told her to put it back, she put it back vertically just to mess with him. I had to tell her to put it back correctly.”
