“Not that hewould,” Willow adds, magnanimously. “Honestly, what good would it do? It’s not like he can see the results.”
Cael’s lips purse, and a weariness overcomes him. “Willow, please don’t make light of this.”
“Am I right or wrong: if Castor were the type to strip women against their will, you and Pollux would have killed him instead of just distancing yourselves.” Willow’s head cocks as her expression levels.
Cael’s eyes burn into her. “There are…many things that man has done that would have led to his demise under the rules of humans. Under the laws of the fae, however…”
“Oh, so he’s off stripping women, then?”
Cael’s eyes close as he sighs. “No. Not to mylimitedknowledge.”
“Don’t freak Dani out for no reason. Castor’s messed up, but he does get some credit in some areas, doesn’t he? He’s notcompletelymessed up to the extent where he’d torture the innocent.”
“Torture?Perhaps not,” Cael murmurs. “But you can be sure that he has many times over notsparedthe innocent.”
Willow mellows. “Right. But he’s been alone in his domain, minding his own business, for a while now. People—human and fae alike—can change.”
Eyes reopening, Cael deflates. “Forgive me for having less faith in him. You were not there to witness many of his more violent crimes, though I would have assumed hisrecentmanipulation might have left a more lasting impression.”
“What can I say? I’m a villain girlie. Practically an apologist. My heart aches for the wayward souls on their jagged upward paths.” She regains her phone and takes yet another picture.
Cael settles his hand at his temple and returns his attention to me. “Regardless of woulds or wouldn’ts, Dani, we should get Castor’s magic away from you and alert Zahra that you’re safe.”
Frelsi clamps her arms together. “Zahra knows we’re safe. Castor’s with her right now.”
Cael blinks.
“Also, I like Dani’s clothes just the way they are.”
Confusion burdens Cael’s eyes.
In a finishing blow, Frelsi states, “AndI like Castor. He’s nice.”
“Nice?” Cael echoes. “Are we…discussing the same Castor I’m familiar with?”
Willow snorts. “Probably not,” she murmurs, swiping through her phone. “As I said, people…change.”
Frelsi sniffs, quite dignified. “He made me pancakes.”
“Pancakes,” Cael repeats, blinking some more. “He makes…pancakes now?”
“Shaped like dinosaurs sometimes,” I whisper.
“And they’re taller than me.” Frelsi stretches her hand above her head. “I ate them all and fell asleep, and then you know what happened? I woke up on a pillow beneath a tiny blanket.” In the air she snuggles herself up in a cozy little sleeping position. “Castor takes very good care of us.”
Thin, black antenna twitching, Cael looks to me. “Zahra is aware that you’re okay?”
I tangle my hands in my blue skirt, my blue skirt made ofmagic. Castor’s magic. Desperate for the delusional sense of comfort he provides, I search for a sensation of him in it and draw strength from the idea. “I texted her last night, after her stream. We’re planning to go to a sushi train in the town over on Tuesday.”
“Greatplace,” Willow interjects.
“Texted?” Cael inquires, indignant.
“Y-yes?” I dwell on the coolness of the fabric in my hands. Stable and steady. Like stone. “Castor got me a phone the other day.” He’s been working to figure out a medium that will work like a Wi-Fi extender just so he can catch the signal from the trod and bring it to our bedroom for me. He’s…sweet.
In many, many ways, he is very sweet.
Cael swipes a hand down his face and turns to Willow. “Have I missed something of dire importance? Last I heard, we were assessing how to liberate a prisoner without bringing our domains to massacre, and now suddenly Castor is leaving said prisoner with you and letting hertextZahra at will. Why doesn’t anyone ever tell me anything?”
