Rose brought dinner after that. She’d picked it up at the diner, saying something about burning a roast. We were too distracted to ask for details; she was too distracted to elaborate. It was only as she went to leave, as I asked if she’d join us to eat—and she just kept walking—that I realized what had happened.

“She’s been to see Seanna,” Gabriel murmured as the front door closed behind her. “Who is obviously no longer under the dryads’ influence and has upset her.”

“I think she’d be more upset if she saw Seanna under that influence,” I said.

Ricky nodded.

When Gabriel looked confused, I said, “It’s Seanna without her edge. Without her venom. That’s going to remind her of the girl she once knew.”

There was a pause. Then Gabriel said, with obvious discomfort, “I should go after Rose, shouldn’t I?”

“May I go instead?” I asked. “If you want to, that’s fine, but I’d like to talk to her.”

Gabriel exhaled with relief. “Certainly.”

“You guys eat. Just save me a plate.”

—

Rose’s car was still in front of my house, and I was halfway to it before I realized she wasn’t inside. I spotted her walking home, as if she’d forgotten she’d driven.

I jogged after her. When she heard footsteps, she tensed and turned. Seeing me, she relaxed.

“I thought it was Gabriel,” she said.

“He wanted to come, but I convinced him to let me. We need to talk.”

We started walking, and I said, “You went to see Seanna, I’m guessing?” She nodded.

“Is she still under the dryads’ spell?” I asked.

Another nod. Then, “That’s easier. For everyone.”

I shoved my hands in my pockets. “I’m not sure about that. I’ve been thinking I might want to ask them to undo it if Gabriel goes to visit. It could be harder on him. It was even rough on me, seeing her…vulnerable. I don’t want her to be vulnerable. It makes it tougher to…”

“Hate her.”

I nodded. “I know it might seem as if Gabriel needs to see that side of her, but he doesn’t. I’m sorry. He just doesn’t.”

“I agree. He never saw that side growing up, and he doesn’t need it now. It negates his own feelings.” She walked a few more steps. “Yes, it is difficult, even for me.”

“Maybe even more for you.”

She made a face, rolling her shoulders, a reaction I knew only too well from her nephew. Physically sloughing off my concern. “I don’t know about that. But yes, she…reminded me of the girl she was.”

“The girl you lost.”

She hesitated but didn’t make that face again. Just said, “Yes.”