Page 117 of Crown of Wings and Whispers

Archer bounced in his seat. “Moire! Mother, how could you not tell us?”

“Because yer sister swore me to secrecy. Now that she’s gone, I reckon it won’t hurt. Poor lass. After she learned that only the Highest Fae can summon a DeNoy, she spent too much of her life tryin’.” Bridie patted Griffon’s hand. “Lennon’s kind, though, isn’t she?”

Griffon’s head was reeling. He gripped the steering wheel and breathed deeply so he didn’t scare the woman. But on the inside, he was once again angry with Daphne for not sticking around. It was the thought of Lennon waiting for him in Finland, however, that calmed him. “It doesn’t matter what Lennon is. I’m going to marry her.”

Archer gasped, then bit his lips together, which was probably wise. If he had something unkind to say about Lennon, Griffon didn’t want to hear it.

Archer took one look at Griffon’s face and shook his head. “No, Griffon. I am thrilled for you. Truly. I was just caught off guard, that’s all. Are you sure she won’t mind you being the son of the king?”

“I’ll find a subtle way to tell her.”

Bridie grinned. “Look on the bright side. At least the pair of ye haven’t fallen in love with the same woman.”

Archer’s eyes flared. “Yes. Lucky thing.”

Griffon grabbed his brother’s head and sent him flying against the rear seat. Archer just laughed, which told Griffon nothing at all. But he prayed, fervently, his brother was only teasing. “I mean to give her my mother’s ring,” he said. “It’s one of the reasons I’ve come. I’m proposing as soon as I return to her. But let’s get back to dragons, shall we? Where is this book Father gave Daphne?”

“Afi stole it. After a long time without contact, Afi went to yer father, who invited him here for supper. Daphne was already living in Dublin, but the book was here. It was weeks before she came for a visit and found the thing gone. She searched a long time for yer uncle but could never find him. It was ten years ago, maybe. Afi never came again.”

A memory clicked into place for Griffon. “The Book of the Fae King. Of course!” He relayed the story Lennon had told him about the three books, in three boxes, that Afi left to his replacement, Wickham Muir.

Archer literally hit the roof. “Wickham Muir is theSeanair?”

Griffon waved a hand. “There is no time for that conversation now. We need that book. There are still things we need to know. For instance, why did Afi allow the contract to be broken? And what did Moire see that earned a mention in The Covenant?”

Bridie shrugged. “All I know is that yer father was adamant that all the DeNoy be found and eliminated, to keep his brother from temptation.”

“Temptation?”

“He worried Afi might decide to travel back to their old home, which would mean disaster of some sort. And no one can travel there without a DeNoy and their dragon.”

“Why would Afi want to return after fifteen thousand years?”

“Because Moire went back to Hestia, along with their seven daughters. Yer father believed Afi still loved her.” Bridie frowned, then patted Griffon’s hand. “But don’t worry, love. If there is a newSeanair, it means Afi is gone. Whatever the disaster might have been, it’s been averted, ye see?”

Griffon bit his lips and nodded. He’d let her believe what she would. And no matter what, he’d keep Kivi from taking Lennon beyond the atmosphere—not because she couldn’t survive, but because disaster might be waiting in Hestia.

“Mother.” Archer leaned forward again. “You must know more about this disaster. Did you never read Father’s book?”

“I did.” She shrugged. “But yer sister left it here, didn’t she? A mortal woman can only stand so much temptation, can’t she?”

“So you do know.”

Bridie wagged her head, deliberating. “The Hestians are immortal now. If either yer father or his brother were to return, that immortality would cease…for all Hestians.” She looked at her lap, smoothed her apron.

Griffon finally understood. “You’re saying if one of them returned, Lennon would no longer be immortal.”

The woman gave a gusty sigh. “The one I pity is Moire. Do ye ken about Moire’s Embrace?”

“We do.”

“They created it so that the High Fae, if killed, might someday return to Hestia and be born again. Then later, she had the vision of that Ambition fellow taking advantage. I am sure visions are a burden, but can ye imagine how hard it must be to know things and hold yer tongue?”

Archer started laughing. Griffon wanted to know why.

“Don’t ye see? She’s not talking about Moire. She’s talking about herself.Holding her tongue.”

Griffon reached over to hug the woman’s shoulders. “Don’t worry, love. We forgive you.”

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