Rituals (Cainsville 5)

"Does that worry you?"

She shook her head. "No, no. Dryads are cool. A little silly sometimes, but smarter than they seem. I thought maybe I could talk to them. I'd like to. I'm just not sure they'd want to talk to me. Dryads and lamiae might both be Greek, but we aren't exactly kissing cousins." Her face scrunched up. "Is that the term?"

"Close enough."

"They've probably also heard what Melanie did, which means they really aren't going to want to talk to me."

"You had nothing to do with that."

A wry smile. "Besides being the person she did it for? Murdered our own sister lamiae to get me into Cainsville? I still can't--" She sucked in breath. "Old song. Everyone's sick of it by now."

"It hurts. It's always going to hurt. But the dryads won't hold that against you, and I think meeting them would be fine. In fact, that's where I was going with Veronica. How about you text her back and tell her to meet us there?"

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

I left Pepper on the apartment stoop with Grace, ostensibly while I made sure Seanna was awake, but really to warn the dryads that Pepper was with me.

When I walked in, I found Alexios and Helia on the couch, huddled in urgent conversation, Alexios sounding upset, Helia trying to calm him.

I backed out quickly, but not before they saw me, Helia rising with, "Liv. Come in."

"I should have knocked. Sorry."

"No, we're fine," Helia said.

Alexios gave her a look that challenged that, and said, "Helia is tired. I'd like her to rest. You and I can speak."

Helia shook her head. "I want--"

"No."

She took her mate's arm and squeezed it, murmuring, "This is important to me."

His jaw worked, giving me a flash of the ancient fae behind his glamour, but he nodded and murmured, "I know, agapi mou."

"I don't actually need anything from you guys," I said. "I'm just bringing Veronica to see Seanna. We'll be fine, if she's still under your influence."

"She is," Helia said. "But there is something more, is there not?"

"It can wait."

"Might as well just tell her," Alexios said. "She's as stubborn as a mule, and she'll tire herself more pestering you."

"I brought someone who'd like to speak to you."

I started to explain, but Helia cut in with, "The little lamia. We know the story. I was going to ask if we could see her."

"I know you aren't exactly fond of lamiae..."

"We were being rude earlier. Fae have

prejudices, just as humans do, and we must remind ourselves of that and speak with more care. Please bring her up. We'd be delighted to meet her. There are refreshments in the kitchen. I'll make her something."

"I will make her something," Alexios said firmly.

"A hot drink would be appreciated," I said. "She has difficulty holding her glamour and regulating her temperature."

"Poor thing," Helia said. "She's as damaged as the hound."