“No, I never saw him. But he made a call to the animal shelter, if there’s any way you can trace that.”
“I might be able to get something out of that. I’ll see what I can do.” Betty peered up at her, looking concerned. “Are you okay? How did you escape the unseelie?”
“I didn’t. It’s complicated. I’m at the court of this high sidhe woman called Maeve—”
Betty sucked in her breath with a hiss, interrupting her. “Shit. Tamsin, I swear I will get you out of there. I can’t enter the fae realm myself, but I have a favor I can call in with the seelie. They’ll send someone to get you. In the meantime, resist as much as you can. Don’t give in to those unseelie bastards, no matter what. Help will come. I promise.”
Tamsin had to swallow sudden tears, overwhelmed by her friend’s display of fierce protectiveness. “I knew I could count on you. And I’m okay, really. I mean, the situation isn’t great, but I’ve found some allies here.”
“Time, time.” Motley was hopping from foot to foot, looking increasingly worried. “No time. Eyes, eyes looking our way. Got to shut the door.”
“I have to go,” Tamsin said to Betty. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to contact you again. My friend says it’s dangerous to keep a portal open like this.”
“Wait!” Betty tried to reach through the portal, but had to snatch her hand back as sparks snapped at her fingers. “Tamsin, listen, you cannot trust the unseelie. Especially not the high sidhe. They can’t tell a direct lie, but that just means they’re really, really good at twisting the truth. They can have you thinking black is white and up is down, and the worst part of it is that you’ll believe it’s all your own idea.”
“Not all of them are awful,” Tamsin said. “I mean, sure, most of Maeve’s court are monsters, but one of the high sidhe fought for me. He’s keeping me safe here.”
“If he is, it’s because he wants to keep you,” Betty said grimly. “For himself. To unseelie high sidhe, humans are nothing but property. And they’re hugely possessive.”
“Cuan’s not—” Tamsin caught herself halfway through her reflexive protest.
Because Cuan was like that, wasn’t he?
She swallowed hard, forcing down the sudden surge of doubt. “Cuan’s not like that. He only wants to protect me. He’s a good man.”
Betty breathed a curse word. “Tamsin, listen to yourself. You’re defending one of your captors. He’s got you glamoured up to the eyeballs. I know it’s hard, but you have to try to resist.”
“Time,” Motley said again, practically vibrating with agitation. “Got to close the door, now!”
“I’ll get you out of there,” Betty called out as the bark dropped down for the final time. “And whatever you do, don’t trust the high sidhe.”