Declan’s jaw tightened. “You do not understand. I did that for Lee. Do you think I wanted to refuse him? I know you won’t believe me when I say this, but I love my nephews. I love my niece. It would have been dangerous to bring a human into my world. And the wolf child would have been in danger as well.”
“But Rhys was fine?” I asked. “Rhys was so safe you’ve tried to kidnap him a couple of times?”
“You know why we need Rhys. With Devinshea gone there is no Green Man walking either the Seelie or the Unseelie planes. We’ve had trouble with uprisings. I had to protect my own son from mobs who claim our whole line is cursed,” Declan said. “I had to send him to his mother in the Unseelie sithein. I have not laid eyes on him in over a year.”
I didn’t want to hear about Declan’s sorrows. “My children didn’t see their kin for twelve. Don’t think I weep for you. I trusted you.”
“And I told you a long time ago that you can never trust a king. I cannot make decisions based on my own will. I must always think of my people. Even when I would rather slaughter the lot of them,” Declan shot back. “I could not risk Lee becoming a focal point of their anger. He was better off with Devinshea’s butler and the vampire.”
“I was,” Lee whispered. “Albert’s cooking is way better. Also, it was more fun to learn how to kill shit.”
“Lee, watch your language around our mother,” Rhys admonished.
Lee shrugged. “I think Mom proved she’s not some dainty queen when she shoved our uncle’s balls up into his throat.”
Declan ignored them. “I have questions, sister. You were gone for years, and I did not know what had happened. You owe me the answers. I have come here in good faith. I did not even bring a full guard with me because I didn’t want there to be misunderstandings. The one I do have will not show himself. I ordered him to not touch anyone no matter what happened. So I want my questions answered.”
Ah, so he didn’t want the guards to defend him because he’d known damn well how I would react.
I owed him nothing. “Ask your brother. He should return in a few hours. Until then, enjoy your stay in our hallway.” I nodded to Rhys, who cut our side of the feed. Declan’s head dropped, but I wasn’t about to give him more of my time. I had other things to deal with. The wizard had given up some information. If I could trust it. I turned to my father. “You said you didn’t see Sarah after you died.”
“No. I didn’t. What’s happened?” he asked. “Did Myrddin say something?”
Neil was suddenly interested in our conversation. “He did. He acted like she was alive.”
“He said I should warn her that he would have his revenge on her,” I explained.
Lee had straightened up, too. “He didn’t kill Aunt Sarah? Does that mean Mia’s alive?”
I didn’t want to get his hopes up. I shouldn’t have said anything, but I wasn’t thinking straight. “I don’t know, but I intend to find out. Myrddin could be lying to me. He could be trying to throw me off.”
“I don’t think so,” Neil mused. “You had him pretty riled up by that time. He forgot to play the polite courtier. I don’t think he intended to end that conversation with threats.”
“Well, my daughter knows how to irritate an asshole,” my father said. “Tell me you didn’t give him ammo, girl.”
I waved off that worry. “He already knew I stole the grimoire. I might have implied I had it with me when I went through the painting. But don’t worry. I didn’t mention the bag of holding. I called it a magical wallet.”
Shy’s eyes rolled. “Damn it, Zoey. That’s close enough. If he thinks about it…”
“He won’t,” Neil argued. “He’ll be far too busy trying to figure out how to get someone over to the outer planes to look for his grimoire. He might even try to do it himself. He hasn’t been able to sense it, right?”
“No, but he wouldn’t, would he?” Dad countered. “It’s in the bag of holding. Even if he found that bag, he wouldn’t be able to open it. It’s primed for two people, and one of us is dead. Zoey’s the only one who can find it and open it.”
“Then it’s all right that I sent him on a wild-goose chase. If we get any kind of word that Myrddin isn’t in Dallas, then we need to be ready to get into the building.” I would love it if I didn’t have to make my way around Myrddin. I was nervous enough taking my son in. If I could buy us an advantage, I would. “But I need to figure out what happened to Sarah and her family. And he said something else.”