"No, I insist on not mincing words. The Cwn Annwn are fae. But you say two branches. Is there not a third?"
"You mean the sluagh? That one is definitely debatable. The Cwn Annwn and the Tylwyth Teg share a common ancestry. They were, at one point, the same species, and the Hunt was only a vocation within it. Then the Cwn Annwn broke away, and like any group that severs ties, they eventually became a separate race, with characteristics--"
"I did not ask you for a history lesson, bocan."
The snap in her voice made Gabriel flinch, but Patrick only said, "Mmm, anthropology really, with some biology. The point is that there's no evidence of a common ancestry with the sluagh. They are actually more human than Gabriel here, the majority of their ranks being comprised of human souls--"
"Do not lecture me." Her voice whipped around them, setting every hair on Gabriel's body rising. "I am as fae as you. I am the sluagh. The darkness. You call us the unforgiven. That is incorrect. Our melltithiwyd are the unforgiven. They are human souls that serve us. We are the sluagh, and we are fae, and we are tired of being forgotten. We want our share."
"Of Matilda," Patrick said.
"Yes."
"Fine. There's not a hope in the Otherworld she'd choose to keep you lot alive. But sure, why not. Join the fun. Sit at the table. Make your case. Just tell me where to send the invitation."
The room rocked, as if with sonic boom, setting the concrete under Gabriel's feet quivering.
"Do you think you are clever, bocan? You are a fool. You have played your role, as has your epil. He plays it even now, graciously summoning Matilda for us."
Gabriel shook his head. "Whatever threat you plan to employ, you may save your breath. I won't summon her."
"But you already have." The voice slipped around him again. "Check your phone, Gabriel."
He glanced at it. The home screen showed no new messages, but when he clicked on his text conversation with Olivia, their exchange now continued past her smiley face.
Gabriel: I could use your assistance if you aren't otherwise occupied.
Olivia: Just waiting 4 you. What's up?
Gabriel: I may have found my mother. It seems unwise to proceed without backup.
Olivia: Good call. Give me an addy & we're on our way.
Their current address followed. Then,
Olivia: Be there ASAP!
Gabriel: I'm inside. Text when you arrive.
Olivia: Yes, sir. :)
Gabriel stabbed the button to call her back. Nothing happened. He checked his connection. No service. He typed a message anyway.
Stay where you are. I didn't call you. Do NOT come here.
The text appended at the end of the conversation, with the exclamation mark to show it hadn't sent. He flicked on the wi-fi and watched until it showed no service found.
"The next step is to raise it over your head," the voice said. "See if you can get signal that way. Then ask your father if his is working...Oh, I see he's already checking. I'll leave you both to that. I have a new arrival to greet."
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
It took longer than expected to reach Gabriel's location. Snow was falling along with the temperature, which meant Ricky couldn't travel at his usual speed. He had an old car at his dad's but didn't put the bike away until he absolutely had to.
The address Gabriel texted led to an abandoned school. And the moment I saw that, my brain screamed, Fae.
The school looked as if it'd been empty for years. Nature had already reclaimed the playground, asphalt erupting with greenery, half covered in snow, an ancient swing set strangled by dead vines. Now, that greenery had begun its assault on the school itself, moss and vines tentatively cracking the foundation as they crept up the walls.
Seanna hadn't wandered here on her own. Someone had put her here. Someone fae. Set her up and waited for us to take the bait.