Page 21 of The Rebel Seer

“Technically, it was.” The Russian watches Nim with dark eyes. “She took you to the wizard. She allowed the plan that ended in the king and His Grace receiving thrall stones that kept them in Myrddin’s pocket for years, that led you all to lose twelve years of time.”

“I had one, too,” Nim argues and then sighs. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am. What a fool I have been, and I do not have the excuse of youth.”

I’m not sure what Sasha is trying to do, but I can’t let Nim think I blame her. “You were doing your job, and Myrddin certainly didn’t treat Arthur or the other kings of the sword in such a fashion.”

“I wonder about that now,” Nim admits. “But there’s nothing I can do but move forward. I know what Myrddin’s planning. He must be stopped. I assume Arawn has figured it out. Closing off the celestial planes would be devastating for the dead, so of course Arawn is concerned. If he requested a meeting with you, perhaps you could do it on some neutral site.”

“I got the feeling the meeting he’s requesting isn’t with me,” Danny says, and I fear his next words but know they’re coming. Danny isn’t one to play politics with his family. He does too much of that in his job. He’ll rip this bandage right off. “He wants to meet Shy.”

Shy winces. “I think they have me mixed up with someone else.”

Rhys has gone quiet and still. Like really still. Like “trying to keep his cool so we don’t find ourselves in a prison of grass and leaves” cool.

“Rhys, we would never let Arawn hurt Shy,” I say, trying to calm my son down.

“He wants to meet Shy? He sent the Cwn Annwn to find Rhys’s girlfriend?” Nim asks.

“His goddess,” Dev corrects.

At least he’s on board supporting Rhys’s choice now. In public. The problem is I’m not absolutely certain Shy wants to be his goddess. Or thinks she can be. One I can work with. The other will break my son’s heart.

“And that Matilda person,” Shy adds even as I see her sneak one of the hounds a piece of cheese. Gotta pay the cheese tax.

Nim goes still. Or rather stiller. There’s not a lot she can do with those stubby things growing out of her shoulders. “He sent Mallt-y-nos?”

Danny nods. “I believe that is what the crone called herself, though she allowed us to call her Matilda.”

“It’s her informal name though she hasn’t been around in centuries. I thought she was on another plane. She’s a crone who often traveled with the Cwn Annwn. She acted as Arawn’s eyes from time to time. If he sent her, then he believes Shahidi is important,” Nimue explains. “You’re a psychic, correct? From a family of psychics?”

Shy nods, more somber now. “Yes. My family was famous in the supernatural world for their abilities. I took after my mother. I’m a medium.”

“Matilda called her the sacred one,” Danny says.

“Like I said. She’s confused.” Shy puts a hand on Rhys’s, obviously offering him comfort.

Rhys threads their fingers together and brings their hands to his chest, holding them over his heart. “I doubt that. Shy is afraid of her power. I believe she is far more powerful than anyone knows. Even her. If the King of the Dead sent his hounds to find her, then he understands things we do not. Nimue, Lady of the Lake, do you know what Arawn wants with my goddess?”

“Rhys, technically she isn’t your goddess,” Nim says with quiet sympathy. “You are not married. You’re not sleeping together.”

“How would you…” Rhys growls a bit. “My brother, of course. He doesn’t know when to shut up.”

“Rhys, you have to know that in the Fae world there is no marriage without a properly witnessed ceremony. Like your parents,” Nim reminds us. “You can call her your goddess, but you have no technical claim on Shy. Not one any Fae will recognize.”

“My parents’ marriage had to be witnessed because my father was taking on a god. I didn’t need to take on an old one to ascend. I did that all on my own. My goddess is powerful, but she was traumatized at a tender age. Myrddin wiped out her family and forced her to take on her power with no support. My grandfather found her and took care of her, but he shared what she calls a soul space with him up until recently. I will not push her and traumatize her further because the Fae have rules I care nothing about.” In this moment my son reminds me so much of his papa I can barely stand it.

In the beginning Dev couldn’t care less what Fae society thought. He wanted to be with me and damn the consequences. But then we found ourselves in a place where we had to deal with them. I fear Rhys will learn this lesson far too soon.

“Rhys, you are Fae,” Dev begins carefully. “You are considered divine. No one in the sitheins has seen an elemental in millennia. From a religious standpoint, you’re important.”

“I don’t care,” Rhys replies with a shrug. “I need you to understand this, Papa. I know you think I’m going to get to Faery and become like this super sidhe, but you’re wrong. You can be the high priest for all of time on the Fae planes. I will remain here with my goddess. I will serve the Fae on this plane. For me, this is nothing more than a trip to facilitate Mom’s mission. Finding the Days. However, if Arawn has some sense of my goddess’s power and thinks he can claim her, he’s in for a surprise.”

Shy’s head comes up. “I’m sorry, what? Claim me?”

“I don’t think Arawn is trying to claim her as his bride,” Nim replies.

“Whoa.” Shy moves closer to Rhys. “I am not Persephone. I am also not playing out Twilight fantasies because I’m assuming the god of the dead is super old.”

“As old as time.” Nim manages an amused smile. “I think you’re safe. Young women were never Arawn’s thing. I was his woman for a couple of hundred years. I would be surprised if he’s trying to move on. No. I assume he’s intrigued with Shy’s power.”

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