old and valuable. The bad feeling worked its way to his toes which curled against the wood floor as if they could find somewhere to hide.
“Tell me they aren’t stolen.” But they were, they had to be. They’d been taken from museums, art galleries, and private houses overnight. This morning people would be waking up and wondering where the mirror worth thousands was and calling the police. And who knew what Shea had left—probably a note with his name and number on it. “Bastard son of a…” Whatever. Shea must have had a human mother or father once, but there was nothing remotely human about him. He was one hundred percent calculating fairy.
He was never going to be able to explain them away when, not if, the cops came to Callaway House. Because of him Lydia was now involved. He wished he’d just gone home instead of staying. At least then it would just be him in trouble. Now Shea knew where she lived. This was getting worse with every passing minute. He looked at Dylis. “Can you get rid of them?”
“I could, but I don’t know where they came from, and I’m guessing he’ll just bring more.”
How many mirrors were in Charleston? How long could this go on? “How long until you get the Counter- Window?”
“Not fast enough. And I can’t hide every mirror he brings.”
She was right. Shea had boxed him into a corner with cunning and theft. He’d underestimated the Grey and was now going to have to pay the price.
“You’re going to have to go out and reason with him.”
By reason she meant cut a deal that wasn’t going to cost more than he could afford. It was times like this Caspian wished he’d studied law. Legalese would’ve given him a great background in tangling fairies in clauses. Although to be fair lawyers only came about because of fairies trying to trick humans out of unborn children and souls.
“It’s too early to be giving up my soul. I try not to do that before nine.”
“Ha ha.” Dylis crossed her arms. “Not funny.”
“I’m not laughing. Isn’t this one of those moments where having my father intervene would be a good thing?” While not the best time to meet his father, now was as good a time as any.
“What would you have the Prince of Annwyn do? Return the mirrors? Kill a banished lord, his mother’s lover, no less? Think, Caspian. This isn’t about you.”
Strangely it felt all about him. He boiled the kettle and made a cup of extra strong coffee. He needed to be thinking as clearly as possible. At the moment all he could come up with was
How long until Lydia woke up and saw that all was not right with the world? How was he going to explain the mirrors?
“Okay. My father won’t step in because it wouldn’t go well politically. You’re here in his place and you’re telling me to cut a deal to my terms. However, there are penalties for dealing with Greys and because I’m half- fairy I still have to bear those penalties… which means my father thinks I’m a liability and wants to see me in the river.”
“You are exceedingly dense. I’ve given you a lifetime of education in all things Court.” She spun and walked away. “Your father doesn’t want to see you dead or drowned in the river of damned souls. However, he can’t intervene without revealing your identity. You think one Grey is a problem?” She threw her hands in the air. “Imagine all the banished on your doorstep, knowing who your father is. Plus, he’s also got a lot more to deal with right now because of his mother’s affair with Shea.”
Caspian put his cup down and looked at her. “So I’m the sacrifice.”
“You’re mortal. Get used to it,” Dylis snapped. She could be mouthy, but she never usually cracked. Whatever was happening was putting her under pressure too. But it still wasn’t a good enough reason for him to give up and die.
“I don’t want to die today, or next week. Or whenever the Hunter of Annwyn comes to exact payment for dealing with Shea.” He wrapped his hands around his coffee cup, but the heat didn’t warm him. His blood was running cold with adrenaline and more than a little fear.
“If you find the Window for your father, I’m sure he’d let you off with just a warning.” She smiled, that peculiar cold grin that only a fairy could manage. Too many teeth and with a glint in the eye usually only seen by people about to be devoured by something wild and untamed.
The coffee turned tasteless in his mouth. She wanted him to deal to be free of him and get back to her life at Court. Sneaky. He glanced out the window, but there was still the problem of the mirrors. Maybe he could talk to Shea without cutting a deal.
Unfortunately the sky was clear of flying pigs.
“Were you talking to someone?”
Caspian’s head snapped up at the sound of Lydia’s voice. She’d put on the pajamas that she’d never managed to get into last night. The hot pink and black spots weren’t what he’d have expected her to wear. He didn’t know what to expect anymore. And he didn’t know what to say.
“This just got worse,” Dylis muttered.
He resisted the urge to glance at Dylis. How many seconds until Lydia realized it was far too bright in the kitchen and that her yard was full of mirrors? How many heartbeats until she demanded answers he wasn’t ready to give and that she wouldn’t believe?
Her gaze flickered from to the window. “What’s going on?” She frowned and took a couple of paces forward. “Are they… How…” She turned to look at him and he wished he could shrink and vanish like Dylis did. “There are mirrors outside.”
“I know.”
She looked outside again as if to be sure that was what she was seeing. Then she opened the back door and stood in the doorway. The morning sun caught in the reflective surfaces and threw the light back at her so she was surrounded by a white glow.
Shea had planned that well. Angled them all to catch the sunrise.
“Shit.” She lifted her hand to shield her eyes. “How did this happen?” Lydia turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. “You know. Who were you talking to? What’s going on?”
Caspian swallowed. He should have told her about fairies last night. Told her the truth about the weird bumps and the
Last night she’d accepted him as he was. He’d had hope that one day he’d be able to tell her everything and not have her look at him with fear or horror. Now that was gone. It took a moment for him to realize that he cared about what she thought, that he didn’t want this to be just one night or even a few days. He wanted more. He’d already told her more about himself than anyone else knew. And because of that she could crush him. Although if he made a deal with Shea, he wouldn’t have to suffer a broken heart for long, as he’d be dead.
“You know how I said I’m afraid of fairies?”
Lydia raised one eyebrow and crossed her arms. She and Dylis would get on great. Both of them watching him, neither of them looking impressed. If only they could see each other.
“They are around us, but most people can’t see them.”
“Uh-huh, but you can.”
“I’m psychometric because I’m half-fairy. My biological father, the dangerous man, he is the fairy I’ve never met.”
She pressed her lips together, disbelief hardening her features. He was losing her already, but he had to press on.
“The mirrors were put there by a fairy that wants me to help him find a…” Why stop at fairies? He might as well start talking magic. “A magic mirror.”
Lydia glanced outside then back at him. She shook her head. “Fairies aren’t real. I don’t know how you got the mirrors here or why, but it wasn’t fairies.”
She was really watching him now, as if he was a dangerous psychopath who’d let go of reality. He knew that was how it sounded, but the look in her eyes was why he’d never told anyone. Disbelief and a whole lot of
