"Olivia," Walt
er said. "Just one moment, please."
"She needs--" Gabriel began.
"We're going to relocate Seanna," Walter said. "Before the sluagh tries again."
"Is that necessary?" I shook my head. "Never mind. I'm sure Grace will be happy to see her gone. Just be careful."
"We'll go, too," Helia said. "To watch her."
"You're still injur--"
"We failed in our duty," she said softly. "Please allow us to do this."
"You didn't fail--"
"Please."
"All right, but don't let Alexios think I asked you. He's worried. Rest as much as you can."
Gabriel kept me moving, with one hand at my back, steering me out while holding off the fae. The door closed behind us and the chaos fell to silence, and I exhaled and leaned against him, saying, "Thank you. For everything."
A brush of his lips against the top of my head, and I started to straighten. Then I stopped.
"What you heard. About Seanna. I--"
"I know why." Another kiss, this one against the side of my head, as he bent to whisper, "Thank you. For everything."
At a noise, I turned to see Pamela, right there, watching.
"We'll go now," I said. "Gabriel's coming with us."
"I see that."
"Don't--"
"I won't. I have a limited amount of time, and I won't waste it registering my disapproval."
"It's been registered," I said, and headed for the stairs.
--
We drove to my place. It may only be a few blocks, but no matter how disguised Pamela was, I wasn't walking around Cainsville with my escaped-con mother.
When we arrived, Ricky flicked on the porch lights and opened the door, saying, "Hey, I was starting to wonder--" Then he saw the woman with me, and even with a scarf covering half her face, he said, "Pamela...?"
"We broke her out of jail," I said as we walked in. "You know I hate playing Monopoly with only three people."
"Cool," he said. "But I still get the horseman."
Pamela unwound her scarf, and Gabriel took her coat, making her jump a little. Then she turned and said, "Ricky, I presume."
"Yep." He shook her hand. "Liv likes to keep me around. The only thing worse than playing Monopoly with three is playing it with two and against Gabriel."
Lloergan came out of the parlor and bumped my hand.
"Is that...?" Pamela lowered herself to one knee and looked into Lloergan's eyes. "A cwn. I haven't seen one in..." Her breath hitched. "A very long time."