Page 12 of Swords and Curses

"Would you mind explaining to me how you came to be in a Glastonbury pub drinking?" Balthasar's voice was deadly quiet, like a blade in the dark.

Rosa could feel the cold disapproval radiating down the line.

"Sorry! Wrong number!" Rosa hung up the phone and hurried back through the crowded bar. Eldon was already outside, smoking a cigarette.

"Pissed off, are they?" he asked, stubbing out his butt. He was grinning like a maniac, and Rosa couldn't stop the bubble of hysterical laughter that rose up through her.

"Probably. I hung up before I could find out," Rosa said, and they both laughed uncontrollably. She took his arm, and they stepped through Eldon's door and into the parklands of Gwaed Lyn.

"Argh, I don't think I will ever get used to that," Rosa complained.

"You want to see something really amazing?"

"Yes!"

"Wait." He held up his long finger. "In three, two…one."

Eli, Balthasar, and Saul were suddenly standing in front of them.

"Where were you?" Eli demanded.

"Rosa and I went to the pub." Eldon shrugged. "It was her first lesson, and we needed the outing."

"You went to the pub without me? No fair," Saul said, crossing his arms.

"You could have told someone," Balthasar hissed. He was looking past Rosa's shoulder, not at her, and she knew she was in trouble.

Her temper frayed. "You Vane men seem to be forgetting I'm my own woman with a right to go wherever, whenever, and with whomever I like."

"I don't care if he is yourcugino. You can't just disappear like that," Balthasar snarled, taking a step forward. Eldon moved protectively in front of Rosa and stared him down. Balthasar backed down before turning sharply on his heel and disappearing inside, swearing angrily in Italian.

"Shit, Rosa, he only speaks Italian when he'sreallyupset," Saul said, looking nervously toward the mansion.

"I don't know what he's got to be upset about."

"Faerie." Saul tucked his hands in his pockets. "Think about it, Rosa."

"It wasn't like you had gone for a drive from Gwaed Lyn," Eli said softly, "You were hidden magically."

"You found us atThe Lancelot!" Rosa pointed out, but her temper was gone, fizzled out until only guilt remained.

"I know my son well enough to know that he is creature of habit, and the only place he could go and be magically hidden, while still being in Albion, was Glastonbury. Another of your great failures." Eli looked at Eldon, his green eyes full of disapproval.

"So add it to your list of how I've disappointed you as a son." Eldon shrugged before he patted Rosa on her shoulder. "Thanks for cheering me up, Rhosyn."

"You're welcome," she mumbled as he headed for the cottage, leaving her to deal with the Vanes.

"Come with me, Rosamund," Eli instructed. She looked at Saul pleadingly.

"Nope, you're on your own," he said. "I'm going to see if Vera has cooked me anything for dinner. Quite frankly, I hope he gives you the cane for putting Bal through Hell."

CHAPTER SIX

After her transformation, Rosa thought she would be happy never to set foot in Eli's chambers again, but considering what was waiting for her in the attic, his workspace suddenly seemed like a haven.

"When was the last time you fed?" Eli asked. Taking out a flask of blood, he started pouring it into glasses before mixing in some whiskey.

"I had some this morning, but I'm okay. I'm not craving it," she said.

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