\u201cSo let me get this straight, the Wild Hunt brought someone up here because they said they wanted to talk to Phelan and Phelan went out to meet them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOut to the arboretum. Whoever it was said that they were Phelan\u2019s sister.\u201d Jacqueline poured water over the bundle of herbs she\u2019d dropped into her mug, not making eye contact with me. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing to panic about.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019s panicking?\u201d I crossed my arms, exhaling a quiet sigh. \u201cPanicking would be me rushing out there to back him up. Clearly he either didn\u2019t think that was necessary or he\u2019s trying to protect me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacqueline shrugged. \u201cYou\u2019ll have to ask him which one it was when he gets back. He did say that they picked the arboretum because it was warded ground and close enough to here that we\u2019d be able to hear any screams.\u201d<\/p>\n
I pressed my fingers against my temples and squeezed my eyes shut, forcing back the sudden, thumping ache that rose behind them. \u201cWas that designed to make any of us feel better?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe took Sif with him,\u201d she said. \u201cDoes that make you feel better?\u201d<\/p>\n
I could cheerfully strangle you right about now, Phelan. I really could.<\/em> \u201cKnowing about this before any actions were taken would have made me feel better.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop your fretting, le\u00e1nnan<\/em>, I\u2019m right here.\u201d<\/p>\n I turned toward his voice just in time to catch his staff as he lofted it to me. I barely suppressed a growl, staring at him as he shucked off his jacket. \u201cI thought we agreed that if the Wild Hunt spotted anything, we\u2019d spread the word and make an informed decision.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure you want to pick this fight right now?\u201d Sif jerked her chin toward the unfamiliar pair trailing behind them, escorted by Seamus\u2014a girl who had enough resemblance to he, Phelan, and Neve that I knew it had to be Phelan\u2019s sister, and then an unfamiliar man dressed in traveling gear with his arm firmly around his female companion.<\/p>\n Phelan arched a brow mildly and I swore, feeling like I wanted to punch him right in the face.<\/p>\n I can\u2019t tell if I\u2019m losing patience with him or if it\u2019s the pregnancy hormones that are making me this way. Dammit.<\/em><\/p>\n I plastered on a smile, turning to the newcomers. \u201cSorry you had to see that.\u201d<\/p>\n The girl smiled crookedly. \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t be my brother if things like that didn\u2019t happen.\u201d She offered me her hand. \u201cAoife.\u201d<\/p>\n I took the offered hand, smiling ruefully. \u201cMarin. Welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI hope so,\u201d she said, fingers tightening for a moment before she let go. \u201cWe came a long way to make sure that he\u2019s all right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine,\u201d Phelan said as he took the mug that Jacqueline handed him. \u201cNothing to worry about.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s lying,\u201d I said flatly, crossing my arms. \u201cBut we let him get away with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Aoife laughed. \u201cOh, I know he\u2019s lying. I can sense it.\u201d She turned to her brother, one brow arching delicately. \u201cI didn\u2019t travel all this way to have you shut me out, Phelan. We\u2019re going to fix what\u2019s wrong before I go and that\u2019s that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cSo let me get this straight, the Wild Hunt brought someone up here because they said they wanted to talk to Phelan and Phelan went out to meet them.\u201d \u201cOut to the arboretum. Whoever it was said that they were … Continue reading