I was already on my phone, listening to the line ring…and ring. Then Pepper’s voice mail picked up.

“Call Ida,” Gabriel said.

I dialed.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

“Ida? It’s Liv. I know it’s late.”

“Hmm? Yes.”

I glanced at Gabriel, who was right beside me, listening in. “Ida? Are you all right?”

A pause, and then, with a little more of her characteristic snap, “Of course. I’m as fine as one could expect, being woken at…Where’s the clock?” Something crashed to the floor, and she muttered a curse in Welsh. “Who put it so close to the edge? Give me a moment, Olivia. It seems…” Another curse, stronger. “What time is it? I can’t seem to find where the clock fell.”

My eyes met Gabriel’s, and he nodded.

“Did you have anything to drink last night, Ida?” I asked.

“If you’re implying that I’m inebriated, Olivia, let me remind you I am not human. Nor do I partake in such frivolities as alcohol. I drank nothing stronger than tea. I’m simply overtired, having been up late all week. Fae may not require as much sleep as humans, but we do require it.”

“It’s two a.m., Ida,” Gabriel said. “In answer to your question.”

“Gabriel? Wasn’t I speaking to…? Oh, it’s one of those speakerphone things, isn’t it? Human technology. You don’t use it to end wars and famine, but rather to make even a simple telephone conversation confusing.”

“Ida?” I said. “I need you to focus—”

“I am focused. As much as I can be at two in the morning.”

“Something’s happened.”

“How shocking. I swear, you two should use that as your standard telephone greeting. Not ‘Hello’ but ‘Something’s gone horribly awry.’ ”

Pepper chuckled under her breath.

“My mother escaped from prison,” I said. “She came to Cainsville and tried to murder Seanna Walsh.” Silence. More silence.

“You’re not dreaming, Ida,” I said.

“Of course not,” she snapped. “Fae don’t dream. I didn’t respond because I’m wondering if you’re inebriated.”

“Then so is Gabriel,” Ricky said. “And me. And Pepper. Patrick, Grace, Walter…”

“Walter?” she said.

“He’s not there with you, is he?” I said.

“We don’t always share a bed, Olivia. After a certain age, one understands that there is comfort both in sleeping with someone and in sleeping alone. He must be in the other room.”

“He’s not,” I said. “Go and check, but be careful walking. I think your tea was dosed.”

“Dosed? As in drugged? Why can’t you say that, then? Humans and their slang. It’s understandable if you don’t have a word for a thing, but why invent another one if you do? And yes, I’m walking while I’m speaking to you. I am focused, Olivia.”