so he could enter them in the files, and my handwriting had to be legible enough to read. As I picked up the first file, a ding announced a new appointment coming through.
A glance at my email showed me that Angel had just made an appointment for a new case. Somebody named Henny Jessaphy wanted to meet with us about a problem with a repeat intruder. Angel had scheduled the meeting for ten on Tuesday. I noted it down on the calendar and was about to dive into documenting some work on a case from last week when my personal phone jangled. Pulling it out, I glanced at the caller ID.
Sharne.
Sharne was my great-uncle, and he had been brother to my grandfather Farthing. Farthing had tried, among other things, to kill me. He was behind the murder of my parents, along with my maternal grandmother. I couldn’t get beyond the fact that both had willingly killed their children in cold blood, all because of the war between the Fae.
It would have been different if my father and mother had committed some unconscionable acts, but their only “sin” had been their bloodlines. My mother was Light Fae, my father was Dark Fae, and they had fallen in love. For that transgression, they had paid with their lives.
I had come home from school to find them sprawled out in pools of blood, stabbed to the point of where there wasn’t a drop of blood left in their bodies. That had been all I needed to hate both sides of my heritage.
But Sharne had surprised me. I had expected to meet a clone of my grandfather. Other than his looks, I had been pleasantly surprised.
Sharne had welcomed me into his home, and apologized for not being able to stop his brother. We were building a tentative bridge I never thought I’d be able to build, and I was getting used to the thought that at least one family member had a conscience.
“Hey, what’s up?” I didn’t have to ask—I knew what was up, but I’d let him tell me.
“I gather you heard the news?” he asked. He sounded uneasy.
“Yeah, Saílle told me. So, when did you meet… What’s her name?”
“Her name is Neallanthra. And I haven’t met her yet.” He paused. “Just a moment.”
I heard him moving around and then when he came back on the phone, there was a muffled sound to his voice.
“I just triggered a magical silence zone—it dampens what I say from reaching any ears that might be listening through magical means. I’ve already turned the place upside down looking for bugs.” He let out a sigh.
“You think Saílle is trying to listen in on you?”
“Well, I didn’t until yesterday. After she told me about my upcoming nuptials, I decided I’d better check my apartment and I found one eavesdropping device. There may be more.” He sounded grumpier than I felt.
“So, you had no clue you were getting married until…?”
“Last night. The news was delivered by one of her messenger boys. All of a sudden, I’m to be part of the nobility, married off to a woman I’ve never met. At least the woman’s from my home clan—the Orhanakai band.”
“I’ve met them,” I said. “When I was in Annwn, we traveled with Unkai and his people for a while. So this happened very fast.”
“Right, and I have no clue what brought it about. Saílle has never taken much notice of me.”
“I can tell you,” I said. Our conversation confirmed what I had suspected since the parley. “Saílle found out that I’m marrying Herne. When that happens, I’m to be elevated to goddess. Saílle’s trying to get on my good side, but she must think I’m pretty damned stupid given her clumsy attempts. She tried to drag me into her court before Névé had a chance, but I can only join both courts on an honorary basis. Neither one wants me, but they’re not going to let a chance go by to get in good with me before I have the power to smack them flat. So Saílle is using you as a pawn to get to me.”
Sharne groaned. “You mean my bachelor days are being sacrificed on the altar of royal diplomacy?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Sharne seemed to prefer his own company to anybody else’s.
“I’m afraid so. You know most marriages among the Fae are made for power and prestige. I am sorry you got dragged into this. I imagine she’ll treat you right in the court, given