Rituals (Cainsville 5)

He pushed open the door and led the way down the apartment hall. When Seanna saw him, she gave him a slow once-over. Then she saw me and scowled.

"Is Gwynn joining us?" Alexios asked. When Helia elbowed him, he said, "I mean Gabriel. Sorry. Arawn said--Richard...Rick..."

"It's Ricky."

"So cute," Helia said.

"He is," Seanna murmured.

Helia rolled her eyes and said, "I mean the name. I like it. Much better than Arawn, which sounds like a dog's howl. Though that makes sense, all things considered."

"It does," Ricky said. "But yeah, I'll stick with Ricky."

"What are you talking about?" Seanna said.

"Nothing at all." Helia leaned toward us. "Muggles. So annoying."

I chuckled.

Seanna's scowl deepened. "I have no idea what you're talking about, but I want to know what's going on. I've been taken captive by a couple of..." She waved at the dryads. "Hipster street kids."

"That's offensive," Helia said. "We are not hipsters."

"I don't even own a fedora," Alexios said.

Seanna continued, "And then, after they hold me captive, Gabriel and...that...other man--"

"I think you know Patrick. Intimately." Alexios turned to Helia and whispered, "Old age. You forget everything."

"Unless you're us."

"True."

"That man is not Patrick," Seanna said. "I don't know what his game is, but there's no possible way--"

"He aged well," Alexios said.

"Very well," Helia added.

"Better than you."

"Much better."

"They're adorable," Ricky whispered in my ear.

"They have their moments," I murmured.

"That man is not Patrick," Seanna said. "And whatever happened in that place, with those birds and the earthquake and the floor--"

"Faeries," I said.

"What?"

"You asked what's going on. I'm answering. You like fae lore, right? That's what I heard. Well, there's your answer." I waved at Alexios and Helia. "Dryads." Then Ricky. "Arawn. Or the living incarnation of him. You know who that is, right? Lord of the Otherworld? Leader of the Cwn Annwn? That's him. I get to play Matilda. Mallt-y-Nos, technically. And Gabriel? Well, that's kind of a funny story. You named him after the Wild Hunt--Gabriel's Hounds--but he's actually the star of the opposing team. Gwynn ap Nudd. King of the Fae."

Seanna stared at me. Blinked. Then she snapped, "I don't like being mocked, little girl. I don't know who you think you are--"

"Matilda," Helia said.