"So, the ocean," I continued as quickly as I could, covering my surprise. "Sandy beaches or rocky surf?"
"Am I correct that sand attracts people?" he said. "Crowds of people?"
"Rocky surf it is. Any issue with flying?"
"I doubt it would be a concern."
In other words, he'd never even been on a plane. I'd semi-joked earlier about avoiding presumptions, and now I was making them all over the place.
"Maybe Oregon," I said. "I'm thinking oceanfront property. No neighbors within a half-mile radius. As close to the water as possible. And complete lack of cell service and Internet would be a plus."
"I'd say it's a necessity."
I smiled. "Agreed."
We could see Cainsville in the distance now. No signs announced it and certainly no high-rise buildings, but the distant dip in the tree line was enough.
"I need to speak to Seanna," he said. "Before we meet with Ioan and Ida. I'm going to ask you to allow me to do that alone." When I didn't answer, he glanced over. "I am more comfortable dealing with her when you are not there to draw her spite."
"I know. But I was going to ask the same--that you let me speak to her alone. There are a few theories I want to test out."
"Tell me what they are and I will do it. You've been through quite enough today. I do not want you having to endure her ridiculous and petty insults."
"Her insults don't bother me. I know they're ridiculous and petty. What bothers me, Gabriel, is how she treats you, and 'bothers me' is an extreme understatement. I just...I cannot..." I felt my temper spark and clenched my fists.
Gabriel pulled the car to the side of the road. "Let's take a moment."
I managed a smile for him. "Get past my imminent emotional outburst?"
"Yes."
He leaned over and kissed me. Just a long, sweet kiss, pulling me as close as we could get over the console. And that's what I needed, as much as I'd needed the sex earlier. A moment to reconnect.
"Now that's my idea of 'taking a moment,' " I said when we separated. "You might say you don't know how to deal with emotion, but you are one helluva fast learner."
He chuckled and put the car into gear. "Good. Now let's get the rest of this over with so that we may take more than a moment."
--
Gabriel agreed to let me speak to Seanna alone...with a raft of stipulations. While I did that, he'd grab a new shirt at my place and then talk to Patrick about the sluagh.
When I arrived at my old apartment building, Grace sat on the stoop, bundled up against the cold. As I approached, she said, "I don't like having her here."
"There's no place else--"
"I know that. But the shorter her visit, the better. She disturbs things. Her energy..." She made a face, as if talk of "energy" was for flightier fae. "She's soul-reft. That's what they used to say about changelings. People could tell they were fae because they lacked a soul."
"Which is true, isn't it?" I said as I climbed the steps. "You guys don't get an afterlife. Technically, then, you lack whatever we call a soul."
"Except we never had it," she said. "We aren't supposed to have it. Humans are."
I looked at the building. "You really think Seanna lacks...?"
"She lacks something. I say soul-reft because she feels empty." Another face. "Whatever that means."
"Was she always like that?" I asked.
"She was never a pleasant child. She could be, if she got her way. She had a selfish streak a mile wide."