Camille looked like she was going to cry, but then, the tears disappeared somewhere between her eyes and her cheeks and I could see the fury starting to rise. Darynal had said it, all right: uh-oh. Uh-oh was what happened when Camille got angry. And Darynal could sense the impending storm, too.

He raised his hands. “Hey, it’s not my fault. I assumed he’d told you what was going on. He never said he didn’t.”

“I hope Trillian told you about my temper, because I want you to understand that it’s far better that you tell me everything. Now. If you don’t . . .” With each word, Camille stepped forward, and Darynal took a step back.

“Oh crap.” Darynal scooted around behind the table. “Hang on, woman. Don’t blame the messenger. I had no idea that Trillian had actually managed to keep this a secret from you. I’ll tell you. After all, he didn’t tell me not to. I doubt he ever believed it would take this long, or that you’d end up on my doorstep. Just don’t aim one of your misguided energy bolts at me. Please!”

Obviously, Darynal knew about Camille’s wayward magic.

“Then spill it. Now! Why the hell did Trillian lead me to think he’d been captured by the goblins? Why the hell did Queen Asteria tell me that he’d disappeared? What’s going on?”

With each question, my sister got louder. I glanced at Iris, relieved that Camille wasn’t mad at us. Iris seemed to concur, a faint smile lining her lips.

Smoky cleared his throat. “The lady asked you some questions. I suggest you answer them immediately. In case you hadn’t figured it out, I’m a dragon. I’m also Camille’s husband—”

“One of her husbands,” Morio interjected.

“Yes, yes . . . one of her husbands, and I don’t take it kindly when people ignore my wife.” The dragon smirked as Darynal squirmed.

“Stop! I said I’d tell you. Just leave my house—and me—in one piece. Great gods, Trillian was right. You don’t take prisoners, do you?” Darynal slid back onto the bench and motioned for Camille to do the same. He gave her a strange look. “First, I had no idea you were married. Somehow, I don’t think Trillian knows, either.”

“I married Smoky and Morio to forge a soul bond so I could use their powers to search for Trillian, since we thought he was captured and in danger.” She stopped, blanching. “You mean I got married for no reason?”

Smoky cleared his throat. “I think we’ve just been insulted,” he said.

Morio sniggered. “Sounds like it.”

“No, no—but—” Camille shook her head. “Just stop it, you two.” She turned back to Darynal. “Okay, the truth, and let’s have it now. Where’s Trillian, and why did he drop off the face of the world?”

Darynal let out a long sigh. “You didn’t hear this from me. Understand?” When she nodded, he leaned his elbows on the table. “I don’t know everything involved. I can’t; it would be too dangerous for Trillian. But he’s been back and forth through Darkynwyrd for the past moon cycle. He was on the trail of your father, but something happened. Something very bad. Lethesanar got wind of what was going on, and she sent out a tracking party to follow him.”

I paled. “Oh hell, so it was true. A party of goblins found him?”

“Not quite. They almost caught him, but he managed to get away. However, it became clear that Trillian had to vanish. So he went underground in order to continue the hunt for your father. Apparently, whatever information your father ran across can make—or break—the war. Both Lethesanar and Tanaquar are searching for him. The key he carries can turn the winds of war.”

We sat back, mulling over that one. A highly secret mission that involved not only Camille’s lover but our father. And if Trillian was in danger, Father was in far more danger.

“Why don’t they keep a watch on your house? Isn’t Trillian afraid that you’ll be kept under observation?” I asked.

Darynal laughed. “No . . . I am known to be a goblin sympathizer. I do business with them, I publicly support the goblin king. Trillian comes and goes by the dark of the night, and he’s a master of disguise. But you must not stay long. I cast an illusion spell on the gate when you entered to keep prying eyes out. But I can’t hold it for long, and Trillian must not find you here, either. He can’t have any distractions right now, Camille. He has to focus on his mission.”

The look in his eyes said it all. Trillian couldn’t afford to divide his attentions right now, and if he knew we were looking for him, he’d have to double his efforts to hide.

“If we find him,” I said slowly, “then we chance exposing him to the enemy, and we chance putting our father in worse danger.”

“Precisely. Please, eat your lunch and go. Don’t look for him, don’t search for him. If something happens, I promise, I’ll let you know, but unless I show up on your doorstep, assume he’s alive and well. Leave him to what he does best.” Darynal paused, then reached out and lifted Camille’s chin. He leaned forward, almost lip to lip, and gazed into her eyes. Smoky tensed.

“Trillian adores you. He worships you. He would never just run off and leave you worrying if the balance of war weren’t so perilous. Can you let him do his job and not interfere?”

Camille swallowed slowly, then nodded. She licked her lips, almost looking frightened. “I hate this. I hate this with every fiber of my being. But I’ll let him be. Just . . . I love him.”

Smoky leaned forward and firmly but gently disengaged Darynal’s hand from Camille’s chin. “Enough. We understand. We’ll let him do his job, and Morio and I will keep Camille occupied until Trillian is able to return. We should leave now. Our very presence puts the operation in jeopardy.”

Morio stood up. “Smoky’s right. Thank you, Darynal. At least you were able to put our minds at ease. We know more than we should, but rest assured—the information will not leave our lips. And we won’t tell Queen Asteria that we know, either.”

I eased over to Camille’s side. She murmured a thank-you to Darynal, then gave him a quiet hug. He kissed her forehead, almost like a big brother might do, and then glanced over at me. “You’re still hungry. Here, drink this up before you go,” he said, holding out my soup bowl.

I grinned at him. “You’re all right, I’ll say that for you.” I quickly chugged down the rest of my soup and gratefully took the chunk of buttered bread, and we left the house.

As we quietly slipped out the gate and hurried away as fast as possible, Camille remained silent. I knew she was mulling over this little twist in her mind, and she’d talk when she was ready. Meanwhile, I nodded at Iris, and we pulled ahead of Camille and the boys.

“This is a fine kettle. Camille bound herself to those two, and she didn’t need to,” I said, fretting a little. The wedding had bothered me on some level I couldn’t quite catch, even though I adored both Smoky and Morio.

Iris let out a long sigh. “She would have done so eventually. You know so, if you look deep into your heart. What bothers you, my fine tabby, is that things are changing. You’ve had your sisters all to yourself for so long, and you don’t want to see anybody or anything interfere with that bond. You don’t seem to realize yet that families can expand. That’s the cat in you: territorial, wanting your people to stay your people. You have to get over the fear that Camille will abandon you. She’s going to stay right by your side, honey. You know that, if you’d only let yourself see it.”

I stared at her, unable to answer since my mouth was full of bread. As I silently ate the rest of it, I wondered if she was right. I’d hated the fact that Trillian had returned. But was that so much because he was Trillian, or because my sister so willingly let him back into her life? And Smoky . . . and Morio . . . could it be that I really wanted things to stay the same?

As if reading my mind, Iris added, “You know, life can’t stand still. People and relationships must evolve. Look at you; you bear the Autumn Lord’s mark, and you’re only now beginning to understand what sweeping changes that will bring into your world. Don’t begrudge Nature and her relentless drive to move forward. It’s the way of all things. Even death is a transition, a progression. You can’t freeze time, Delilah. You can’t bring the past into the present. Everything moves and shifts and turns. It’s up to you whether you will face the changes or be left in the dust.”

I hung my head, staring at the trail as we hurried along at a brisk pace. She was right, and yet I didn’t want to face all the changes that were happening. And the most immediate—the one closest to my heart—was Chase. What was I going to do? He wanted me to call him, but what could he say? Was he going to tell me how much he enjoyed fucking Erika? Or that she meant nothing to him? That he wanted a threesome? And I had a date with Zachary.

And in the larger scope, we had a spirit seal to find and keep from the demons. Screw relationships; saving the world was hard enough without emotions interfering.

Life had been so much simpler when I’d been ignoring men in favor of running around on all fours. I was sorely tempted to retreat to that state, to say fuck you to loving anybody except in a family manner. But as Iris’s words ran through my head, I knew I couldn’t go back to the way I’d been. So where did that leave me?

As we broke into the meadow, the sun was lower in the sky, and the birds were chirping loudly as a contingent of clouds headed toward us, an army in gray, set to loose a volley of rain overhead. I shook myself out of my ill-disposed reverie and headed toward the portal. We needed to get home and, as much as I loved Otherworld, right now, I wanted to get back to Maggie and Menolly. And with a little luck, I’d think of an answer to my problems with Chase.

CHAPTER 13

We got home right around dinnertime. Vanzir and Rozurial were hanging out in the front yard, playing a game of gin rummy at the picnic table Iris had ordered so we could eat outside during the summer. They ran over to the car as we drove into the yard.

“We found it—we found the cave,” Roz said, rushing over to my side. “We know where the spirit seal is, and there isn’t a moment to lose. Karvanak nabbed the prospector, and while Vanzir’s memory steal should hold, we can’t take any chances. We need to go out there tonight and claim the spirit seal.”

Shit. I was tired. So was everyone else. But Roz was right. In a war, sleep came second. Winning battles came first.

“Yeah, you’re right. Camille? What do you think?”

“Same thing you do. Why couldn’t this happen after we got some sleep? But hey, at least Menolly can go with us, and that’s always good. If they’d found the location tomorrow morning, we’d have had to go without her. As it is, we wait another couple hours, and she’ll be up and raring to go. Meanwhile, we can catch a few z’s.” She yawned and looked at her hand, which was still wrapped in a bandage. “This wound hit me harder than I thought, but if I can just doze for a while, I’ll be fine.”

I nodded, a little concerned. Our half-Fae blood usually helped us heal up without a problem, but the wound had been a nasty one. Actually, when I thought about it, we’d all had a rough year.

“Sounds good to go. Iris, any chance you can have a quick meal waiting for us when we get up? Something light but protein-rich and sweet?”

She nodded, weary herself. “Not a problem. Since I’m not heading out to the hills with you, I can rest later, after you leave. Meanwhile, I’ll get the herb cuttings tended to until you have time to plant them.”

I turned back to Roz and Vanzir. “So, tell us what we’re facing.”

“The seal’s located in a cave up in the Snoqualmie foothills. Rumors say the cave is haunted. I wouldn’t dismiss them lightly. There’s some sort of spiritual activity going on up there, although I sense demons better than ghosts,” Vanzir said.

He slipped the pack of playing cards into his pocket, then continued. “Karvanak won’t cut us any quarter. If he can break through the memory seal I performed, he’ll jump on the information. Either way, the poor guy is dead. Either the Rāksasa will break his mind, or he’ll break his body.”

Shuddering, I followed them into the house.

Iris immediately slipped downstairs to fetch Maggie, then returned to the living room and handed the gargoyle off to Smoky, who frowned but took her anyway.

“Since you’re going to be sitting here talking, I might as well put you to work. You can watch the baby while I make dinner.” Iris brooked no rebuke, and Smoky, along with every other member of our extended family, obeyed her.

Maggie moophed and promptly planted a slobbery kiss on the dragon’s cheek. Smoky grinned as a lock of his hair rose up to tickle her under the chin. Maggie loved to play with Smoky’s hair, and he would tease her with it like he might tease a cat with a string.

With a chuckle, Iris scurried back to the kitchen, and the clanging of pots and pans promised that dinner would be ready when we woke up. I glanced at the clock. Another ninety minutes, and Menolly would be awake.

“To bed,” I said, heading for the stairs. Camille trudged along behind me, followed by Morio, who looked as tired as we were. They peeled off at the second floor, giving me a small wave.

“See you at the table,” Camille said as they disappeared into her bedroom.

I dashed up to the third floor, gauging the most effective way to fall asleep. So tired I didn’t even bother to undress, I shifted form, then jumped up on the bed and curled up at the bottom. I always slept better as a cat, and sure enough, within moments, I was drifting off into a deep, utterly wonderful, catnap.