“Silence,” he said, a deep voice coming out of his throat as he broiled in irritation.
Good. This was what I liked to see in somebody, watching them lose control and not being clear about how to keep it.
“Does this bother you?” I asked. “I know you’re bothering people here, and rather than creating the zombie apocalypse, why don’t we try and talk this thing out? There’s no need for bloodshed. We understand Styx has a problem with the river, and we don’t mind helping.”
Morel started to laugh. “If we wanted your help, we’d ask for it. We have no interest in the coven’s help in unless you plan on helping us open the river and punishing the demigods for everything they’ve done.”
“There has to be some negotiation point,” I said. “You can’t just decide that everyone has to die.”
“I don’t remember asking you for permission for anything we choose to do,” Morel said. “A pleasure to meet you. We will see you soon.” The communication was disconnected.
I looked over Kartika and then at Mae.
“What does he mean he’ll see you soon?” I asked. “I don’t remember saying I actually wanted to see him. How are the wards on this place?”
“The wards are good. We upgraded them recently. I guess we’ll find out exactly how good they are in the coming days.”
“Or hours,” Kartika said, her eyes wide.
Chapter 18
We spent the evening baking the old-fashioned way, not the way Trina did it, which was whipping her hands around and bringing all the ingredients into the perfect concoction. We used the measuring cups and spoons and did it that way. It was fun and relaxing, especially when we added a couple of glasses of wine as we went. I couldn’t complain about the company. They asked me a couple of questions about my dad, but I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t have a dead dad fixation. I didn’t feel like I needed to know who he was other than to try to figure out how I fit into the coven. It was more about understanding my power and being able to wield it. Kartika came up to me with a cup of Witch’s Brew after we’d gotten the muffins in the oven.
“Have you heard from your dad lately?” I asked.
“I’m going to assume you mean the king of the Dark Fae,” Kartika said with a grin.
“Yep, that one. I assume your other dad is a normal, nice human guy who working as an insurance salesman.” I inhaled the aromatic steam of the Witch’s Brew.
“Close. He was a broker for real estate. He was kind of like an insurance salesman. They just sell dreams instead of fear.”
“That’s how I look at it,” I said with a chuckle.
“I came to the realization I didn’t need my dad anymore,” Kartika said. “It’s a strange process because they’ll always be a part of you, even my birth father.”
“The king of the Fae,” I interjected, because I thought it had kind of a nice ring to it.
“Right?” Kartika chuckled and raised her glass in toast. “The king of the Fae. My home was with my children. I need to know where my children are and what they’re doing, so as soon as we get all this stuff sorted, I’d like to visit the Crown Academy. Have you ever gone there?” she asked.
No,” I said. “I wasn’t allowed to go there because I didn’t have any magical powers,” I said with a laugh. I held up my hands with their golden glow. “Look at me now.”
“I feel like I missed out on a lot too. For totally different reasons, but it is what it is and I’m not sure what could be done about it now. It’s kind of like we have to take this moment and make the best of it,” Kartika said.
“It’s always like that in life, right?” I nodded in agreement. “There’s some moments when you’re a little more aware of it and this is one of those times. I am only interested in being happy on a day-to-day basis and taking care of the people who take care of me.”
“Exactly. My father has no real interest in me as a person,” Kartika shrugged. “He’s only interested in my lineage. So, once we get this stuff sorted out here, I’m going to go and talk to my sons and make sure they want a part of this life he’s mapped out for them. I’m sure right now they’re having all the fun in the world. When they finish with the Academy, though, and their all-expenses paid trip to hang out with some hot Fae girls ends and they find they have arranged marriages and no control over their lives, they may not be so enchanted.”
“It may be less enchanting faster if we don’t get this cemetery under control,” I pointed out.
“It’s the problem our entire world hinges on; the cemetery not collapsing.” Kartika sighed.
“Right. There is that.” I took a sip of my Witch’s Brew, which had a hint of lemon grass and vanilla. The strangest mix ever, but somehow it merged together to make the taste of a summer tea cake. “Do you think your father could help with any idea of who or what I am?”
“Maybe if it had anything to do with the Dark Fae, but if he had something to do with O’Halloran’s pub, he would’ve told us by now. I don’t think he has anything to do with it whatsoever.”
“OK, but your dad’s the Dark Fae king. It’s a little different than ‘I’m going to call my dad, he’s a mechanic.’ You know what I mean? We’ve got Dark Fae problems, so calling the Dark Fae king makes sense. Don’t worry about whether he’s your dad or not, it just helps to make a connection to him,” I said.
“We’re not going to be able to simply reach out to him. We’re going to have to talk to everybody and make sure we all agree to reach out to him.” Kartika explained.