“I would let you know. You don’t need to threaten me. In fact, I daresay you’d better not.”

“And again, I don’t give a flying fuck.”

“You’re angry with the elders, but you’re furious with me. They lie to you. They deceive you. They’ll use you if they can. But my crime is greater because you believe I’ve wronged him.”

I followed his gaze to see Gabriel at the end of the passageway, standing back on the sidewalk, out of earshot, but waiting and watching.

“Can I leave now? I have pizza waiting.”

He smiled. “Pizza. That’s very important. You can leave anytime you want. But you aren’t foolish enough to turn your back on me. Remember this, bychan. I’m no threat to you. Or to him. I can be an ally, if you can put aside your anger long enough to ask for help. If not for your sake, then for . . .”

He nodded toward Gabriel, and fresh rage whipped through me.

“Yes, I’m exploiting your weakness,” he said. “I’m not above that. In fact, as you might imagine, I’m extremely pleased by it. Gabriel doesn’t need my help or my support. He has more than enough of yours.”

I glared at him.

“You think I mock you,” he said. “I don’t. You might not be sleeping with my son, but sex is only sex. If a choice were to be made, I have no doubt who it would be. It’s the Cwn Annwn who should be worried.”

“No, it’s both sides that should be worried, because I’m not playing your little game.”

“I’m afraid you don’t have that option, bychan.”

“Oh, I think I do.”

I turned and strode back to Gabriel.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Ricky and I were back from Rose’s, lying in bed after sex. TC was perched on the foot of it, staring at us. Ricky was on his back, eyes half closed, arm around me as I traced the Celtic crown tattoo on his upper arm.

“That one is for my dad,” he said. “Since you’ll never ask me to explain. The triskele is for my nana and the asklepian for my mom. Obviously, the patch is for the Saints.” His gaze shifted to my hip, his fingers tracing the dip of my waist. “I want to get one for us, like we discussed. But I don’t want to without . . .” He frowned. “Your permission? Does that sound right? Sure, it’s my body, but if you get a tattoo because of a girl and she doesn’t want you to, then it’s kind of awkward. And a little creepy.”

“A big ‘Property Of’ sign would be fine with me.”