I hesitated, but turned toward him, finding nothing except sincerity on his face. “I do not even know what to ask,” I sighed, leaning my head back to gaze up at the trees. “What questions would you have, in my place?”
Devil laughed. “Hmmm. I would certainly want answers about my own magyk.”
“No. No, that is still…still too overwhelming to even consider. Something easier.”
“Well, I suppose…I would want to know everything about my parents…”
“Yes,” I whispered. “Yes. What was his name? My…my father…”
Devil gave a long sigh too and twisted his fingers, causing the light to dance in midair, then form the image of a man’s face and shoulders. Whereas the puppets he created before had been faceless and entirely golden, this image was clear and colorful. Were it not for the faint, shimmering quality, like a reflection in the water, I would have thought it real. I rose up and knelt before it, failing to control the shaking as I framed the face with my fingers.
“His name was Henry,” Devil said gently. “But sometimes, I heard him called Hal.”
“Henry,” I whispered, tears rolling down my cheeks. He was handsome, strong, kind—I could see it in the curve of his dimpled smile. A mess of brown curls fell across his forehead, working alongside deep laugh lines to frame a pair of sparkling green eyes.Myeyes. Finally, after a lifetime of waiting, I saw them reflected back to me in someone else’s face.
“He was a hunter?”
“Yes, and a soldier, trusted deeply by his Prince and his men.”
“Lost in the battle…”
“After he left the Arden, no one ever saw him again, but I never knew a man more devoted to his wife. Had he survived, he would have torn the entire world apart to find the two of you.”
I fought back a cry of grief. In response, Devil released another stream of light to form Lyric’s image beside Henry’s. My eyes and freckles were his, but my face was undoubtedly hers. The roundness, the wide nose and bowed lips and thick lashes, the rich brown skin. Her image smiled at me, and I fell apart again. Devil quickly pulled the light back into his hands and wrapped an arm around my shoulders as I slumped into him, sobbing.
“I’m sorry, May. I shouldn’t have—”
“No,” I sniffled, “no, thank you. I-I wanted to see them, but…if I ask again, you must deny me, please. Otherwise I might just sit and watch them until I wither away.”
“Well, I can’t have that, can I?” he chuckled.
“Because your master would be displeased?”
“No…because then who would incessantly remind me what a vile, contemptible monster I am?”
I managed a weak laugh. “Antenor seems quite capable of taking up my mantle.”
“That winged rat could not deliver a clever insult even with a blade at his throat,” Devil snorted. “Youhave quite a talent for it, which should not go to waste. Come along.” He slipped from behind me and stood, holding his hands out. I looked up at him through my haze of dried tears and managed to find just enough strength to take them. He hauled me to my feet and I frowned at my mud-stained skirt.
“I’ve ruined this gown. Arachne will be angry.”
“The gown was a gift from me. Arachne need never know. Besides, Oberon would like for you to stay at the Bower now. He has a private room for you there.” I heard the note of disappointment in his voice, I was already vehemently shaking my head.
“No. No, I do not want to stay there. I do not want to see him right now. Not yet.”
“He ordered me to bring you back in one piece,” Devil sighed. I yanked my hands out of his and took an unsteady step back.
“I won’t go. You can either leave me here or take me back to the Hollow, but I won’t let you take me to him.” I closed my fists, ready to fight if need be.
“It is far more comfortable there. A real bed…real food…a hot bath without a hike. I only want you to be—”
“No!” I cried. “Take me anywhere but there!Please.”
His eyes flickered across my face, full of pained indecision.
“Mayhem…” he finally groaned, glancing back over his shoulder. “You will be the death of me, and I am only trying to help. The Bower is safer than the Hollow.”
I drew myself up and asked, “Are you at his command or mine, Devil?”
