Page 33 of Kings and Monsters

"What gave you that impression? You are like me, little wolf. You don't really care about propriety, and I'd like you to be at ease in my house." Eirianwen poured him tea. Despite her words, she looked tired and edgy.

"Nice and comfortable so I let my guard down and spill some secrets?" he asked, sitting down on one of the wooden benches.

"Only if you want to. Are you ready to provoke a death god?"

"I'm always ready to provoke a death god. Bleddyn is more worried about it than I am."

Eirianwen studied him with her violet eyes. "He's your father. From what I can tell, you don't always make that job particularly easy."

"I take after him that way."

Eirianwen's smile was lightning quick before it was gone again, replaced with a frown.

"He can be difficult," was all she said before biting into a fresh roll.

"Is this breakfast about Gwyn or Bleddyn? You seem…upset. Did he do something?"

"No."

"That feels more like a yes to me."

She placed her tea down with a frustrated sigh. "Can I ask you something confidentially?"

"Of course you can. Your secrets are my secrets," Merlin said solemnly.

"Has Bleddyn been a good father to you?"

"He has his moments of being an overprotective git, but on the whole, yes, he's been as good a father as any to this ungracious son. He was lighter hearted when my mother was still alive, but she had a way of bringing it out in him. Rosa is a lot like her in that regard," Merlin said, wondering what she was really asking. He wasn't blind. Something had happened between her and Bleddyn, and she wasn't pleased about it.

"You can see how much he loves Rosa," Eirianwen agreed. "Tell me about your magic, Merlin. It doesn't feel all Unseelie."

Like that, she moved the discussion away from Bleddyn and to conducting an obscure interview about himself. One thing wasmade abundantly clear—whatever had happened the previous evening had been enough to rattle her cold heart.

Merlin was suddenly hoping he was far away in the Underworld when the brewing argument between his father and this fierce woman came to a head.

Rosa walkedout of her rooms to find Bleddyn waiting with breakfast set out on the table. Merlin and Arthur had yet to appear, so she dropped a kiss on the top of his head.

"Morning, Father dearest. You're here early," she said, sitting down beside him.

"I didn't want you to leave without me seeing you off," he said, his green eyes darker than usual.

"Are you okay? You look…worried," Rosa frowned at him. When she had left him at dinner the previous evening, he and Eirianwen looked like they were getting along, but there was an edge to him this morning. Something was definitely wrong.

"Of course I am worried! My children and one who I see as mine are off to the Underworld," Bleddyn said, passing her a basket of bread.

"We will be okay. You know that. Have you seen Eirianwen this morning?"

Bleddyn shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "No. She hasn't entered the palace walls. Why?"

"She was going to give us a map to the temple. I thought she'd come." Rosa raised an eyebrow at him. "Did something happen last night after we left?"

"Nothing that you need to concern yourself with," he replied, his calm, cool mask neutralizing his face.

"Uh huh. Just don't stab each other while we are gone. We need her."

"Who's stabbing?" Arthur mumbled, rubbing his face sleepily.

"Nothing. Here, eat something," Rosa pushed the bread at him. "I'm going to have to put a bomb under Merlin if he doesn't get up soon."

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