Page 147 of Ulune's Daughter

“We really fucking do,” Kellan agrees.

“List me out the convergences.”

“Me. The Magi of the Mist. The cup. The Crown of the North. Darwin.”

“Wait, the Crown of the North? The one the new Holly King wears?”

“Yeah. It was my crown ... the youngest Crow Queen’s crown.”

“Oh, Uncle Jou is going to love that. Want him to get it back for you?”

Kellan’s silent. I swallow my hiss. If she wants her crown back, her consorts will be the ones to get it for her.

“Let’s put a pin in that for the moment,” Kellan says slowly. “I’ve seen him wearing it. I didn’t feel drawn to it the way I was to Isla Cedros and the cup. But maybe that’s because I’m not ready to wear it. I don’t know. For now, no. Ask me again when we have our girls’ night.”

“Okay, you might not be ready for it now but it’s back. The cup’s back. The Magi of the Mist are back. You’re back. I get why you feel these things are tugging together but pieces are missing.”

“There’s so much missing, Teddy, I can’t even tell you. I feel like I’m standing on one side of a pond, seeing ripples reach the shore, without being able to see what caused them or what’s happening on the other side of the pond.”

“Could this missing murderer be the cause of the ripples?”

“Yes. I don’t know why or how or what makes me feel that way. I just do.”

“What do you know about him?” Teddy asks.

“Almost nothing. A name. Ruadhàn.”

“Red-something,” Teddy muses. “And I think there might have been a saint Ruadhàn. It’s a start, Kells. I know that’s not an answer, but I don’t think this is researcher bias. Tomorrow’s going to be a lot, however it goes. Rach is bouncing off the walls right now but you and I know it could go pear-shaped tomorrow if Evan’s released and he tells all of us to get fucked. Dar’s the only one who’s seen him in a year and he says Evan’s given up. Let us get through tomorrow and then Gabe and I will hit this hard. We’ll run the name to ground.”

“Thanks, Teddy. That’s not why I called. I just wanted a sounding board. But I appreciate it.”

“So, the Crow Queen thing,” Teddy says, her voice hesitant.

“Also a lot. How do I sit in a room with your husband and father-in-law knowing their ancestor raped and murdered me a thousand years ago?”

“Fuck’s sake,” Teddy says.

“And if this is all a convergence, where’s it going? The Oak King had me murdered a thousand years ago. Is he just going to ignore me being back? With the cup and the crown? And even if he does, do I just let it go? Because I gotta tell you, Teddy, I’m not feeling forgiving.”

Teddy groans. “Tequila.”

“Lots and lots of tequila,” Kellan agrees.

“I have to tell Dar, Kells. We don’t keep secrets. But I can swear him to secrecy within our quaternion until you release him if you want me to. You know I’m with you, wherever you decide to go with this.”

“Yes, please. I needed you to hear all of this from me, by yourself. I trust you to tell your guys the right way.”

“I will,” Teddy promises. “Callan’s sworn to the Oak King, but Dar’s not. This doesn’t go any further than the four of us.”

“Thanks, Teddy.”

“Reckon this is the pot calling the kettle black, but be careful, Kells. The Oak King may be rooted in his court, but he still wields power.”

“I know. I don’t want to end up murdered. Again.”

“Stay safe. Tell that mouth-breather with you to watch your back. Love you, mate.”

I glare at the phone. That had to be a lucky guess. She can’t really hear me breathing, can she? Cait are stealthy. My breathing’s very quiet.

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