“Why did you get married?” Delilah asked.

“My father owed a blood debt to Thaylon’s father. I was payment, as wife to his son. It was my duty to fulfill my father’s honor, and so I did. Such are the ways of my people. Honor is sacred.” She shrugged, looking over one of the towels that had a rip in it. “I will mend this.”

“Did you love him?” I let go of the towel I’d been holding, beginning to understand her a little better. Hanna had been tight-lipped over the couple of months she’d been with us, but she was starting to open up, little by little.

“Love my father? Yes. Oh, you speak of Thaylon.” She smiled with her eyes. “He was a good man. He never misused me. He was proud of our children. I suppose…yes, I came to love him over the years and we had a good life, until Hyto found us.” A shiver raced down her, I could see it visibly, and she pressed her lips together and said no more.

We left her to her thoughts as she set down the towel to comfort Maggie, who had started fussing. I glanced at the clock. Six forty-five.

“I have to be at Roman’s at seven thirty. Tell me what you found out, if anything, before I go.” I straddled a chair as Iris fixed a pot of tea. Camille was drinking what looked like a megashot mocha from Starbucks. Delilah opened the fridge and pulled out the milk, pouring glasses for both herself and Hanna.

Camille took out a notebook. “Yeah. We found two places that fit the requirements and are near enough here that either might be the anchor for Gulakah. One is out near Snoqualmie. Another is on the way to Mount Rainier.”

“Great, near Smoky’s barrow?” Smoky had a barrow that was near Mount Rainier. At first we’d thought he’d co-opted it from Titania, but the size of the underground chamber that allowed him to change into his dragon self kind of put that idea to rest. It had been she who tried to wrest it away from him instead of living in the cave she’d been hiding in. I was a little fuzzy on how he got out from the barrow once he shifted because, hey, dragons were big. Very big. So big.

“No, a little farther up the mountain than that. An access road leads there. It’s a ways out, but not out of the scope of possibility.” Camille finished sucking down the last of her drink and poured the ice into the sink, then dropped the cup in the recycling bin. “The one near Snoqualmie is in the general area where we found the fourth spirit seal.” She paused, glancing at Delilah. “I don’t mean to bring up bad memories.”

Delilah let out a short sigh. She wiped off the frothy milk mustache and shrugged. “Zachary is happier where he is now. And Chase…he’s living with what Karvanak did to him. We can’t dwell on the past. What happened, happened. We can only move forward.”

“You’ve grown up so much, Kitten.” I crossed to her, kissing her gently on the cheek. “You’re right. We can’t go back. We don’t even have time to look back. So we have two possibilities? Have the guys checked them out?”

Iris shook her head. “They only came up with the information this afternoon. There’s been no time.”

“Smoky and Shade are going to check out the cave near his barrow, and then they’ll check the one near Snoqualmie. They’ve promised not to do anything until we’ve all discussed what they find out. They’ll leave after dinner. So we have a much-needed night of downtime.”

“What about Andrees? Did the forensics team turn up anything on him?” It felt like we were leaving our friend in the dust, though we had nothing to do with his death. He wasn’t even collateral damage, as far as I knew.

“Not yet. We contacted Father through the Whispering Mirror.” Camille picked up one of the cookies and began to munch on it. “Where the hell are the guys? I’m hungry.” She wiped her fingers on a napkin and let out a sigh, leaning back in her chair. “Andrees’s family will be notified.”

“And Father’s moving ahead on our request to set up the Earthside headquarters the way they were meant to be. He wasn’t all that keen on the idea, but for once, he didn’t argue.” She leaned on the table. “Chase says that Andrees was killed by a bullet—and it has gangland execution all over it. Somehow, he pissed off somebody he shouldn’t have and they took him out. We may never know who. The mutilation came later. Again, no idea what caused it. Not dogs and not even a cougar or bear.”

“Elder Fae is my guess. Remember, the Bog Eater is running wild over here.” I glanced at the clock again. “I have to leave in about fifteen minutes. Anything else?”

Iris spoke up. “Menolly, I wanted to tell you—”

I groaned. “No, please. You’re not going to bitch at me again about Ivana? I did what I needed—”

Iris held up her hand. “No, no. I’m not. It worked out, even though I still think it’s a mistake to meddle with them. At least the world didn’t implode when she and Aeval met.” She set a bowl of whipped cream on the table. “What I wanted to say was this: I’m glad you spent some time with Nerissa last night. She was much happier this morning and was going on about the wedding in a way I haven’t heard her talk for the past couple of weeks.”

I stared at my hands. “I wish I hadn’t been so blind.” I glanced over at her. “Has she been depressed for long? Do you think I damaged us permanently?”

Iris turned as the door opened and Smoky and Trillian walked through, carrying at least a dozen large containers of food. It looked really good, but one piece through my lips would make me sick as a dog.

Morio followed them through, his jeans and turtleneck covered with dirt and twigs, and his bag carrying his anchor slung over his shoulder. Youkai needed an anchor in order to turn back into themselves from their demonic and animal forms. Morio’s was a skull. He slid the bag over his head and put it on the floor near the door leading into the pantry.

Iris glanced at him, then patted my arm. “No, dear. I don’t think you did any permanent damage. But don’t let her down on your promise to find a place for the wedding. That would be bad. Very bad.”

I nodded, then headed toward the door. “I need to go over to Roman’s. Don’t do anything without me unless it’s an emergency. I’ll be home as soon as I can.” As I passed Morio, I glanced at him and paused. I wanted to tell him what I was going to do. He would be affected. But really, I was just putting right what had gone wrong. Returning things to normal. So, instead, I quietly gathered my keys and purse and left.

Roman was waiting for me as I dashed through the rain and up the steps to his mansion. The maid who answered waved me in. She knew who I was and treated me with deference. All I’d have to do is tell Roman that she was rude to me and he’d have her killed. I knew that much, so I never, ever complained about any member of his staff being slow or making a mistake when they called me Melanie instead of Menolly.

I handed the maid my jacket—which I wore more for fashion than for need—and purse. “Here you go, Alice. Thank you.”

She curtsied. “Yes, Miss Menolly. You’re welcome, I’m sure.” As she turned to put them in the hall closet, she added, “The Master is in his study, waiting for you.”

I hurried into the study. I was fifteen minutes late, and Roman always got a little testy when he was kept waiting. I never complained about his OCD tendencies on the subject. He was the son of a queen, and he did have standards to uphold. But when I entered the room, he just held out his hands to me.

“My dear.” He kissed me on the cheek, then pulled me into his arms and pressed his lips to mine. “I have the ritual set up for you.”

I stepped back, not knowing how to ask what I wanted to ask. “Roman…before we begin. The other night…you and me and Nerissa…you vanished. Why did you leave?”

Roman’s shrouded gaze held me fast. He did not blink, nor did his expression change. “I wanted to be a part of your life—in a way more than this. In a way more than your being my official consort.” He cupped my chin. “Every time you talk about her, your face lights up in a way that I haven’t felt since—since I was young and alive, and in love with a village girl.”

My lips trembled. “What happened?”

“To the girl? Her father sold her to a passing horseman. I wanted to marry her, but her father hated my family. I arrived at her home too late. All I could hear were distant screams.” He lifted his shirt and showed me the long scar on one side. “That’s how I got this. Her father’s men fought me, prevented me from following them.”

“Oh, Roman. I’m sorry—”

“It’s long past…she turned to dust when the world was still much younger. Even though my mother avenged me—she had the father strung up in the square and gutted him while he was still alive—I never forgave him. I searched for her, everywhere. But I never saw her again. Every night for months, I dreamed about her, screaming as the warrior rode away with her. I kept imaging what he put her through.” He stared into the gas fireplace as it burned brightly, caught in his memory.

“What was her name?” I touched him gently on the arm.

He ducked his head, then shrugged. “I don’t remember. But when I see you talk about Nerissa, the look on your face reminds me of her when she’d run to me, run to kiss me. And it makes me…nostalgic.”

I nodded, finally understanding. Roman didn’t want to break us up. He wanted to recapture the one time in his life he’d actually been in love.

“Roman, I…”

“Say no more. I accept what you can give. But never bring Nerissa back to my house unless it’s an emergency. I cannot stand watching the two of you together.” He turned away. “Now you’ll think I’m weak.”

“Never. I think that you are still…somewhere deep inside…human. For what it’s worth, Roman, I do love you. As much as I can. Nerissa is my soul mate, but you…you and I share something I can’t share with anyone else. That I choose not to share with anyone else.” And I wrapped my arms around his waist, kissing his shoulder through the velvet smoking jacket.

Roman paused for a moment, then slipped out of my embrace, and when he turned back to me, he was a mask of gentility, smiling again, with no sign of the suffering I’d seen a few moments before.

“Shall we begin the ritual? I’ve everything ready.” He led me to a door at the back of the room.

“This will break the bond between Morio and me without hurting either one of us?” I looked at him anxiously, desperate to trust him, afraid to trust him.

“Yes. Better you break it now, because if you slept with him, the bond would be unshakable. Or if you drank his blood. You haven’t done either, have you? Tell me the truth.” He paused, his hand on the knob.

“No. Nothing. A lot of stolen glances. A kiss or two. But…no blood since my blood first healed him. And no sex. I think that’s why I fucked Roz the other night, and drank from him. I wanted Morio so much that…I used Roz as a substitute.” I hated admitting that—I didn’t like using my friends.

“I thought it was the doppelganger? A charm spell or something?”

I frowned. “I don’t know, to be honest. Six of one, half a dozen of the other, maybe? The drinking—yes, that was the doppelganger. The sex…I don’t know.”

“Well, at least you’ve not muddled things up too bad. Come now, we’ll break the bond and you will be free to go back to your old selves. However, he will retain the strength he gained from you during the transfusion. And he will retain the wild streak…”

I glanced at him. “I thought he’d become more feral since then.”

“Oh, no doubt, my love. And that will stay with him. I’m sure Camille has noticed by now? Has she not said anything to you?”

I shook my head. “No, she hasn’t. But she couldn’t be unaware…” And with that thought in my head, I followed him into the room, ready to close out at least one problem in my life.

Chapter 17

The room into which Roman led me was small and made me think of a shrine. It was laid out in an appalling shade of blue. Or rather than appalling, perhaps it was just overwhelming. I winced. The color itself was pretty—not sea green blue, but the glimmering blue of cobalt glass, so that I felt I was under the water in a swimming pool.

The room was simple, with a central console table, low to the ground, against the back wall. On that table rested a clear goblet, a large pillar candle, a small vial of—something—and a silver knife with a bone handle, along with a dozen red roses. The room was lit from glowing tiles in the walls. Two pillows rested in front of the table, the only other furniture. A white dress, simple and much like a Grecian tunic, hung on a hook on the wall.

“Change while I prepare for the ritual.” Roman turned and left me alone.

I knew enough not to poke around the altar. I didn’t want to muck this up in any way. I stepped out of my jeans and pulled off my shirt, and gracefully draped the gown over my head, tying the simple belt at the waist. It felt elegant and from another time. Looking around for a place to leave my clothes, I finally took them out of the room and put them in the parlor.

At that moment, Roman entered, wearing a long crimson robe, belted by a gold sash. A crown of gold rested on his head and his hair was loose, falling around his shoulders. He looked every inch a prince, and for the first time since I’d met him, the fact that he was the son of Blood Wyne hit home. My stomach thudded and I let out a little sound of surprise.

He seemed to notice. “Few have seen me in my court attire.” He did not ask if I liked it, merely motioned for me to reenter the chamber and followed behind me.