Nórr sighed and put a hand on Raum’s shoulder, squeezing. “Son, we can’t stop existing out of fear. I am careful, as is your mother. And the High Council is distracted by what’s happening in Boston, you know that.”
“Just please, please be more cautious,” Raum begged his father. “I can’t lose you, any of you. Please be careful. Especially with MERS soldiers working on this situation with Ezra.”
“Ezra, huh?” Nórr said, grinning. “He’s handsome.”
“Dad.”
“What?”
“Don’t you dare.” Raum crossed his arms, trying to glare at his father. Nórr merely grinned and shrugged one shoulder.
“You haven’t dated in a while; your mother and I are despairing at the lack of grandchildren.”
“No, you aren’t,” Raum scoffed, shaking his head. “I’m surprised you had any kids at all, even if it was just me. Neither one of you likes kids, as a rule.”
“We just want our only son to be happy,” Nórr said. “You spend so much time alone, and while we share your love ofbooks, you need someone for you. Someone to get you out of your head and start living.”
Raum sighed, looking down at the floor, before peeking back the way they came, where Ezra was. “I asked him out on a date. He said yes.”
“You did? He did? Fantastic!” Nórr exclaimed loudly in excitement.
“Dad, not so loud.” Raum shushed his father.
Ezra
Ezra finished recountingeverything to the Elder fae, Saemund now deep in thought, though his reaction to the soul being present with the skull made him briefly emotional.
The soul. Ezra had a question and he was afraid to ask it, merely for the emotions it might bring up in their guests.
“Sir?” Ezra said. Saemund made no response, gaze unfocused as he considered everything Ezra told him. “Saemund?”
Saemund blinked and cobalt eyes turned to him, zeroing in on Ezra with a singular focus. “Yes?”
“I had a thought. Concerning the soul.”
Saemund grimaced, but gestured for Ezra to speak. “What’s your thought, youngling?”
“Would the cycle stop if the soul was removed from the artifact? The conflict arises from the skull trying to heal itself but constantly dying. If the soul vacates the skull, will the process stop?”
“You mean kill the sidhe completely,” Saemund clarified.
“Is it sidhe?” Ezra asked in turn, avoiding saying yes, but Saemund must have heard it, regardless of his tone.
“Of a sort, it is, from what you’ve described.” He briefly paused, as if thinking hard about what to say next. “If the sidhe dies and the soul leaves for the Otherside, then in theory, the skull would stop trying to heal itself.” Saemund said, and he sounded so very sad. Ezra hurt for him, and for the unknown sidhe whose skull was clinging to life. “From what you’ve said, I think that might work. I…” Saemund paused. “I need to see it.”
“Sir, it’s a weapon of mass destruction,” Chase began, a bit alarmed. “We’ve got it locked down tight so it doesn’t bring a blizzard down on Edmonton.”
“I am very old,” Saemund said to Ezra, ignoring Chase’s warning. “I’ve known many Elder fae, of various species, not all of them High Court. I may not remember them all, but knowing this soul may help them cross over. Letting go may be the only way to stop the artifact—I don’t recommend force, as that may result in an explosion.”
“An explosion is my fear as well,” Ezra admitted. He wanted the safest route to stopping the skull’s power.
“And whoever they are, they deserve a proper burial, among their people. Not reduced to ash and forgotten in an evidence locker in a government warehouse.” Saemund sounded quite adamant.
Ezra turned to Chase and Harlan. “Can we do this? Take Saemund to see the skull?”
“Would that mean opening the reliquary?” Harlan asked in return, expression serious.
“I…” Ezra turned to Saemund again. He knew some High Court Sidhe had extraordinary powers. “Can you see through a reliquary?”
