eyes.
“ I’ve missed you.” She smoothed the fur around Gabby’s ears. “Welcome home.”
“ Last time I was on this island,” said the mouse, “home was an overly Modern penthouse in Soho.”
Siobahn laughed. “We grew weary of white and black and chrome. And of mortal artists with too many piercings in all the wrong places.”
She turned, and set Gabby gently onto the carved mantle. Gabby sighed in relief. The warmth of the fire seeped through the stone and warmed her old bones.
“Besides,” Siobahn continued. “Mal says a winter spent at The Plaza is almost as lovely as a winter spent at Court.”
“ Almost.” Summer swooshed into the room, a silver tea tray balanced on both palms. “Except for the Diadem Dragons, right, Mama?” She set the tray on a pretty side table, and shot Lolo a bright grin. “Tell Lolo about the Diadem Dragons.”
“ It’s bad manners to talk of brutal sacrifice before brunch.” Siobahn twinkled at Lolo. “I’m afraid Barker’s eaten all the Oreos, but do try a few of these espresso macarons, Lolo. They’re a hotel specialty, perfectly safe.”
“ Thank you.” While three pairs of fay eyes watched, Lolo settled himself in a spindly chair, crossed his booted feet at the ankles, and carefully helped himself to a lace napkin and two macarons. “Win shoved us onto the bus without breakfast.”
“ That sounds like Winter.” Siobahn poured out tea, then broke a macaron in half. She set the cookie on a napkin in front of Gabby. “I apologize for his lack of manners.”
“ He’s worried, Mama,” said Summer. “He actually texted, and you know how Winter feels about mortal technology.”
“ Unless it’s something Richard’s built,” Lolo qualified.
Siobahn settled herself on a needlepoint stool beneath the mantle. She adjusted the long silk tunic she often wore for warmth.
“ Tell me what happened. My daughter’s been reticent when it comes to details.”
Summer busied herself with a macaron. Lolo studied the toes of his boots. Gabby smoothed her whiskers and flicked her tail.
Siobahn sighed. “Very well. I suppose I should be pleased he continues to inspire loyalty. Although someday he may wish his friends had the courage to speak more caution.” She pinned Gabby with her stare. “Can I assume no one was badly hurt?”
“ Winter’s nearly grown. He doesn’t need a mother to tend his wounds.” Gabby refused to be cowed by Angus’ child. “But I do believe it’s best we keep the Wards up and limit our communication to mortal technology, just as the boy did. At least until we’re sure of our footing.”
Siobahn’s stare narrowed. Gabby stood as tall as she possibly could, and willed her Queen to remember that she had once been far more than a rodent.
“I haven’t forgotten,” Siobahn said. “It’s you who hide from the past, aes sí . Now show me the stones.”
Lolo brushed crumbs from his shirt, and hastily stood up. He reached, not into the rucksack at his feet as Gabby expected, but under his coat. Summer made a small sound when she saw the gleam of Winter’s knife, but Siobahn shushed her with a gesture.
Lolo crossed to Siobahn’s side, and carefully set a rectangular packet in her palm. The Fay Queen stiffened as she turned the packet over in her hand. Gabby could feel heat beginning to rise in waves as Siobahn scowled.
Overhead the lights in the chandeliers flickered.
“Cigarettes? Does he think he’s being funny?”
“ Oh, no, ma’am,” Lolo said quickly, abashed. “Win and I figured a pack of cigs was a pretty safe camouflage. No one would give them a second look.”
“ Twelve-year-old boys shouldn’t be carrying cigarettes.” Siobahn rose from her chair. “Twelve-year-old boys should be carrying comic books and chewing gum. Winter knows very well I think tobacco’s a filthy habit.” The last she spoke directly to Summer, who squirmed.
Siobahn closed her long fingers around the cigarette pack. When she
“ I’ve missed you.” She smoothed the fur around Gabby’s ears. “Welcome home.”
“ Last time I was on this island,” said the mouse, “home was an overly Modern penthouse in Soho.”
Siobahn laughed. “We grew weary of white and black and chrome. And of mortal artists with too many piercings in all the wrong places.”
She turned, and set Gabby gently onto the carved mantle. Gabby sighed in relief. The warmth of the fire seeped through the stone and warmed her old bones.
“Besides,” Siobahn continued. “Mal says a winter spent at The Plaza is almost as lovely as a winter spent at Court.”
“ Almost.” Summer swooshed into the room, a silver tea tray balanced on both palms. “Except for the Diadem Dragons, right, Mama?” She set the tray on a pretty side table, and shot Lolo a bright grin. “Tell Lolo about the Diadem Dragons.”
“ It’s bad manners to talk of brutal sacrifice before brunch.” Siobahn twinkled at Lolo. “I’m afraid Barker’s eaten all the Oreos, but do try a few of these espresso macarons, Lolo. They’re a hotel specialty, perfectly safe.”
“ Thank you.” While three pairs of fay eyes watched, Lolo settled himself in a spindly chair, crossed his booted feet at the ankles, and carefully helped himself to a lace napkin and two macarons. “Win shoved us onto the bus without breakfast.”
“ That sounds like Winter.” Siobahn poured out tea, then broke a macaron in half. She set the cookie on a napkin in front of Gabby. “I apologize for his lack of manners.”
“ He’s worried, Mama,” said Summer. “He actually texted, and you know how Winter feels about mortal technology.”
“ Unless it’s something Richard’s built,” Lolo qualified.
Siobahn settled herself on a needlepoint stool beneath the mantle. She adjusted the long silk tunic she often wore for warmth.
“ Tell me what happened. My daughter’s been reticent when it comes to details.”
Summer busied herself with a macaron. Lolo studied the toes of his boots. Gabby smoothed her whiskers and flicked her tail.
Siobahn sighed. “Very well. I suppose I should be pleased he continues to inspire loyalty. Although someday he may wish his friends had the courage to speak more caution.” She pinned Gabby with her stare. “Can I assume no one was badly hurt?”
“ Winter’s nearly grown. He doesn’t need a mother to tend his wounds.” Gabby refused to be cowed by Angus’ child. “But I do believe it’s best we keep the Wards up and limit our communication to mortal technology, just as the boy did. At least until we’re sure of our footing.”
Siobahn’s stare narrowed. Gabby stood as tall as she possibly could, and willed her Queen to remember that she had once been far more than a rodent.
“I haven’t forgotten,” Siobahn said. “It’s you who hide from the past, aes sí . Now show me the stones.”
Lolo brushed crumbs from his shirt, and hastily stood up. He reached, not into the rucksack at his feet as Gabby expected, but under his coat. Summer made a small sound when she saw the gleam of Winter’s knife, but Siobahn shushed her with a gesture.
Lolo crossed to Siobahn’s side, and carefully set a rectangular packet in her palm. The Fay Queen stiffened as she turned the packet over in her hand. Gabby could feel heat beginning to rise in waves as Siobahn scowled.
Overhead the lights in the chandeliers flickered.
“Cigarettes? Does he think he’s being funny?”
“ Oh, no, ma’am,” Lolo said quickly, abashed. “Win and I figured a pack of cigs was a pretty safe camouflage. No one would give them a second look.”
“ Twelve-year-old boys shouldn’t be carrying cigarettes.” Siobahn rose from her chair. “Twelve-year-old boys should be carrying comic books and chewing gum. Winter knows very well I think tobacco’s a filthy habit.” The last she spoke directly to Summer, who squirmed.
Siobahn closed her long fingers around the cigarette pack. When she
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