“Gabriel convinced you that James was a threat and persuaded you to stay in his apartment?”

“Didn’t you hear me? James was a threat. Look, I’m not getting into this—”

“You need to get into this, Olivia. You need to take a cold hard look at Gabriel’s behavior. He keeps you from your family. He turns you against James. I hear he even took you away from your job so you could work for him. Now you’re staying in his apartment? Don’t you see how he’s controlling you?”

I wanted to laugh, but her expression was dead serious.

I pushed my chair back. “This isn’t about James’s murder. It’s about distracting me from asking questions, while planting seeds of doubt about Gabriel, for whatever ridiculous reason—”

“For whatever ridiculous reason?” Pamela gripped the edge of the table. “To protect you, Eden. You may not like being called that, but to me you are Eden Larsen, my daughter, and I will do whatever it takes to protect you. I know you want answers, and you think I’m holding back. I’m protecting you. Nothing could make me happier than if you’d lived your life without ever knowing any of this.”

“Maybe, but it has nothing to do with Gabriel.”

“It has everything to do with Gabriel. Everything you want to ask me about? He’s part of it. James was a threat, so he murdered him. If your new boyfriend becomes a threat, he’ll do the same to him. If you don’t toe the line and give Cainsville what it wants, Gabriel will turn on you. They’ll make him turn on you.”

“If the Cwn Annwn are telling you this—”

“They don’t need to.” She leaned forward, her hands still on the table. “I can’t help you from in here, baby. All I can do is give you the most sincere piece of advice possible. Run. Get someplace they can’t find you.”

I got up and walked out.

—

Gabriel was waiting in the hall. As I came out, he caught my expression and said, “She told you something?”

“Yes. You’re evil.”

His brows shot up. “That’s news?”

I smiled as he fell in step beside me. “Sadly, that was the gist of the entire conversation. She wouldn’t talk about the hounds and the omens, because it was far more important to warn me against you.”

I’d decided I wouldn’t mention the ridiculous murder accusation, because even to put it into words seemed as if I gave it some credence.