Page 91 of The Rebel Seer

“Some information, if you can,” I say, glancing at the door. Daniel promised there’s nothing there that would give anyone special access to my conversations. That was oddly all in the bathing room. I’d been careful when I used it earlier. Careful in the way I let him get brief glimpses, little looks, and then I would hurry away because I’m such a delicate princess and no one ever saw me naked before. Only him.

He doesn’t need to know how many people have seen my hoohaw in the name of fertility rituals.

When I awakened, Danny was gone. He held me until I managed to fall asleep, but it took a while since we both sat up, feeling those waves of magic pulse against us. Familiar and yet uniquely theirs.

There were definitely wards to keep out magic, but Rhys’s had slipped under them, weaker than they would be without the wards since they didn’t send the palace into a frenzied orgy, for which I will forever be grateful, but they were there. I heard the king screaming at his guard to do something about it, but he didn’t come into my room.

Danny and I had been on the outside again. Our son bound himself the night before—a ceremony that should have been joyous for us all. And Dev was held in shackles as his son took his rightful place.

Another sin I place at Myrddin Emrys’s feet.

“Of course,” the woman says, her head bowing.

How much has this woman gone through? “What’s your name? I’m Zoey.”

Her head comes up. “My name is of no consequence.”

“It is to me. It’s so much nicer than hey, you.” I give her a smile and step back from the mirror. “You did a wonderful job, by the way.”

She glances to the mirror, wariness clear in her eyes.

I wave off the fear. “It’s not spelled. It’s only a mirror. I checked it with a charm my baby girl made. She’s excellent with Fae magic, but she comes by it honestly. Her father is a high priest in our timeline. Did you know that?”

Her face flushes, and her voice goes low. “I heard this. That he serves both courts.”

I nod. “He does, but he prefers the Unseelie. Don’t get me wrong. He wouldn’t deny his Seelie brethren, but if he had to choose it would be the Unseelie. They’re less pretentious.”

She bites her bottom lip, and her eyes go wide again.

Damn it. Communication is going to be so much fun here. “What’s your name?”

“I am Grenelda.”

“Are you Seelie?”

“Of course.” She winces as though something hurt her. “I do have some Unseelie blood, but please do not tell the king. My father was part troll. I can pass.”

I feel for her. And I’m glad apparently no one ever asked the question directly to her because it appears she cannot lie. Not even to protect herself. “There is nothing wrong with being part anything. Except asshole. Your king’s got a lot of asshole in his background.”

That earns me a slight smile.

Though if she can’t lie, I need to give her truth to tell. “Although he is handsome and seems kind.” I wink at her. “I could definitely come to love him, if you know what I mean.”

Her smile widens. “Yes, Zoey. That is good. If I am asked, that is what I will report to him.”

I doubt the king will ask her, but I’ve given myself cover. I can get to the question I really want the answer to. “Do you know what happened at the temple last night?”

She nods. “Oh, yes. Or rather I have seen what happened to the temple itself. It’s so beautiful again.”

I didn’t see it when we came in. “What was it like before?”

“Before last night or before the king took over?”

“Both,” I say.

“It was beautiful. Peaceful. It was open to all when his grandfather was king,” she begins quietly. She frowns. “I am not usually able to speak so much. Usually the spell only allows a few words.”

“My son’s magic is the language of Faery. His magic got through the wards last night. I felt it.” Danny and I talked about how Rhys and Shy finally giving in to longing would affect the sithein. Years and years of pent-up need had flowed out the night before and despite the wards, it would affect everything here. “I’m sure the king will tighten it up again when he realizes, so perhaps you should all remain cautious.”

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