Gabriel cut in. “The terms of the contract do not prohibit Olivia from obtaining answers on her own. You cannot punish her—or claim contractual violation—if she does. We needed to determine the nature of Grace’s building in order to better understand what we experienced this morning.”

“It’s a nursing home, isn’t it?” I said. “A place for old fae to live in their natural environments and make them comfortable at the end of their lives.”

“Are you ready to tear up our contract, Olivia?” Ida asked.

Gabriel’s voice lowered, words enunciated carefully. “I hope I’m misinterpreting, Ida. Otherwise it might sound as if you are using what happened this morning as leverage. Allowing Olivia’s life to be endangered, so that she must terminate the contract for answers. May I remind you that the end of the contract means the beginning of Olivia’s choice. Between the Tylwyth Teg—who have blocked and manipulated and lied to her—and the Cŵn Annwn—who have been as honest and forthright and helpful as they can be. You have a serious misunderstanding of human nature if you believe this is the proper time to hasten her decision.”

“She doesn’t,” Grace said, walking in and fixing Ida with a beady-eyed glare before turning to me. “Yes, Liv, this is where we give sanctuary to fae at the end of their lives.”

I glanced at Patrick, who confirmed it with a discreet nod.

“But that doesn’t explain my vision this morning,” I said.

“We’re going to ask you to tell us exactly what you saw,” Grace said. “But not here. You’ve poked around my home, Liv. It’s time to show me yours.”

—

“I’m tired,” Gabriel announced as we walked into my parlor.

Ida turned to him. “I realize you didn’t sleep last night, and for humans that is difficult. But I’m also well aware that as someone who is less than half human, one night without sleep hardly impedes you, Gabriel, so if you are using that excuse—”

“It is not physical exhaustion. It is mental. Psychological. Emotional. I am tired. Beyond tired. Tired of your bullshit, Ida. I don’t use that word lightly. Olivia is your Matilda—the woman who can save your town—and you treat her like a nosy and meddlesome child.”

Ida’s mouth opened.

Gabriel cut her off. “If you dare to say she brought this on herself—with the contract—then I swear, Ida, I will do everything in my power to convince Olivia that the Cŵn Annwn are the proper choice, and you—and all of Cainsville—can go to hell.”

Patrick slow clapped. When Ida spun on him, he said, “Oh, but you deserved that. You’ve deserved it for a very long time.”

“You aren’t helping, bòcan.”