“If you two are finished?”
I turned back to the bench to find the various members of the council glaring at me.
I jolted, shocked I'd let myself be distracted. It was hard to not be fascinated by the crowd, though.
Ross turned to me. “Who are you? What is this?” He was definitely on edge.
“I'm Riley Effler. Where is your father?”
“Why don't we get right to the point then?” Alexander muttered. “Ross, we need your assistance finding Dumadi.”
Ross didn't take his eyes off of me. “I've been trying to help you for months, and all I got for it was imprisoned.”
“You've not been imprisoned. You've been free to leave this entire time,” said a bearded man I assumed to be a dwarf.
“Yeah, if I agreed to take an entourage with me. Just because I want our people to become a part of the modern Unseen society, and stop hiding, doesn't mean we aren't a secretive and private people. I can't have you all traipsing through our lives.”
“Listen to me, you murderous lech,” I said, rage trying to ignite my flames. Smoke poured out of my skin. “Your crazy ass father kidnapped my daughter. If you don't help me find her, I'll burn you alive.”
Axoular grabbed my arms to keep me from advancing on the redheaded man.
To his credit, Ross looked horrified. “I thought you had her hidden!”
“We did,” Anthony said, stepping in front of me. I tried to compose myself. “He killed our healer and took on her personage and probably her memories. Under the guise of inspecting the twins' health, he took Linna.”
Ross shook his head. “That crazy old man. He's lost it completely.” I stepped around Anthony and Ross addressed me. “This isn't how any of us would've chosen to handle this, but the problem is that Dumadiisthe leader of the Leyak.”
“And?” I asked.
“They'll do as he says. They'll fight for him, and there's no telling what he's told them. I've been stuckhereso I have no idea if he's returned to our temple or not.”
“Well now's your chance to go home,” I said. “I'm getting my baby back, one way or another.” I turned to the council. “What are we waiting on? Ross is going to help us find his father. Let's go.”
“Hold on, we can't just go in guns blazing,” Ross said, voice angry.
I stiffened my back, fighting the rage. “And why not? Would your father hurt the baby?”
“I don't believe so. He thinks she'll unite our races.”
“As do I. Now let's go.” I turned to Cindy. “Take us to the house we stayed at?”
Ross sighed. “This is a mistake.”
I whirled on him, unable to contain it anymore. “Listen here. You're going to help me, or I'll kill you. It's that simple.” I allowed my fire to lick up my arm, for effect. Half the room gasped. It took a lot of effort to pull it back and not let it consume me. I really needed to work with it more.
Ross's eyes widened. “I didn't say I wouldn't help! I just think you should let me go in and try to get the baby back.”
“No.” Anthony stepped in front of me again. “We don't know you well enough to trust you. All we want from you is a location.”
He nodded. “Okay.”
I turned to Cindy, who opened another portal, taking us to Bali. She stayed in New Zealand with the council. “Text me with a specific location and I'll portal everyone in.” The portal began to close, but then she stopped and reversed her arms to widen it again. “I almost forgot! Ross!”
“Yeah?”
“What magical creature does your father have that's so strong it can defy my entire coven?”
“He has a Valkyrie, and he has something on her. She doesn't want to, but she has to do anything he says.”
