Page 52 of Let Slip the Dogs of War

“Apparently so,” he says. His magic brushes against mine again and I fight the urge to lash out and push him away.

“Why is she not here?”

“You think I would bring her into this pack of wolves?” Oisin says. A bitter laugh colours his words. “Your soulbond is yours to introduce as you like.”

His eyes linger too long on Dante again. He knows. I am not certain how, as I have not felt his magic brush against our bond, but he does.

But why take Ophelia in the first place? Although I did not sense his magic outside the café. Perhaps he was not involved in the physical act of kidnapping, which does not absolve him of any guilt or blame.

“I am here. I have returned to the court. I know what I am to do.”

Oisin scoffs. “No, you do not.” He only smiles when I bare my teeth. “This is hardly the place for such a delicate discussion. Zomo showed us to a room in the east wing. I am certain you can find us.”

Grant sidles over. He gives the faintest incline of his head when he greets me, then turns to Oisin and gives him a slow once-over that he ends with a rather unimpressed expression.

“He’s the one, then?” he asks.

“Yes,” I say.

Oisin narrows his eyes. “You return with a pet and a selkie no one has ever heard of?”

Hm. I do not think he sees through Grant’s disguise, which is at least something we have to our advantage. Powerful as he is, Grant’s magic does not outstrip ours, but he is both a vampire and, in and of himself, incredibly unpredictable.

“Had anyone heard of you before my uncle brought you here?” I reply.

“Those who valued knowledge of Seelie affairs, no doubt.” Oisin sighs and looks around the room slowly, entirely too dramatic. “I always forget how dull these parties can be. Come to my rooms when you are finished here. We can discuss my terms.”

Terms? Oisin drops into a half bow and walks away before I can push him to explain. Dante shakes all over once he is gone and Grant steps in closer, as though he can somehow shield him from the rest of the room.

No doubt they are all watching us. Waiting for weakness, waiting to… Perhaps not strike. Not when the realm is fading. But waiting and watching all the same because one day the realm will be safe again and then I will only be a liability.

“What are we going to do?” Dante asks.

“We will speak with him.” There is nothing else to do. Oisin might have kidnapped Ophelia—or, as it seems, got someone else to do it—but Zomo knew what had happened. All of these fae have eyed Dante with more suspicion than they would a usual pet; they believe my soulbond has been taken and they know I am here to retrieve her.

“What if it’s a trap?” Grant’s gaze darts between the two of us. “What if he didn’t bring her with him?”

“You sensed her magic,” I say.

“So did I,” Dante adds. He swallows and seems to consciously calm himself. “I wouldn’t have felt it on him if he’d been travelling without her for hours.”

“We will remain here for another hour. Grant, go back first. I will ask Zomo which room she has placed Oisin in and we will retrieve you on the way.”

Grant looks at Dante, and only when Dante nods does he agree. “Fine. Don’t leave me out of this. I can get them out if everything goes wrong.”

“We’ll get you,” Dante says.

Grant makes his way back into the crowd, easily falling in with another group of fae. From the furtive glances they dart our way, I know they are asking him questions about what just happened, but that does not trouble me. He can lie.

Dante keeps himself together during the next hour, even as I sense the tension in him. I let go of him at some point, but he remains by my side.

Zomo approaches us before I can make my way over to her. “He is in one of the guest suites,” she murmurs. “Third corridor, at the end.”

“You should have told me about him.”

Her eyes are sharp. “He has been in the court for a decade.”

Not long after I left for good then.