“I don’t. I want to do this.” She met his gaze. “I’m asking you to let me do this, Gabriel.”

He nodded, and silence fell.

—

Two days of holing up in my house with Gabriel. Taking the time I needed to recover.

I hadn’t been injured—not physically—but I felt more exhausted than the times I’d actually been shot or stabbed. It wasn’t even a melancholy exhaustion, but more one of relief. I’d made my choice with the Tylwyth Teg and Cŵn Annwn. I had yet to tell anyone other than Gabriel, but it was made, and all I wanted to do now was hole up in my house with him, feel the ground finally steady beneath my feet before I had to finish this. Commit to a choice I’d rather not make.

I had other obligations as well, and after those two days I was ready for one. Time to see Pamela. She was out of the hospital now, having recovered from her mysterious ailment, with no one ever realizing she’d left her hospital bed.

I had something to tell her, something important, but I would have postponed it longer if she hadn’t summoned me.

I took my usual place, and she’d barely sat in hers before she said, “I’m confessing.”

“What?”

“I’m telling the court it was me. You’re getting your father back, Eden. That’s what you want. That’s what I owe you. What I owe both of you.”

I stared at her. “You’re offering…”

“Yes, and please don’t ask if I have an ulterior motive. There are no strings on this gift, Eden. I want you to be happy, and this is the one thing you lack. So I offer it. No, I give it. Freely.” She started to rise. “I’ve already asked to speak to someone. It’ll be done today. That won’t get your father released instantly, but I have evidence. He’ll be out as soon as it can be done. I would like to speak to Gabriel about that.”

She walked toward the door, and I looked at her, speechless.

Then, as the guard was about to take her, I said, “Mom?”

She stopped. Just stopped, as if not sure she’d heard right.

“You don’t need to do that, Mom,” I said. “You have the appeal. I was coming to tell you that. You and Dad. Gabriel was notified yesterday. The appeal has been granted, and it’s strong. It’s really strong.”

She turned and looked at me, her expression unreadable. Then she shook her head. “I don’t want strong. I want guaranteed. For him. I’m going to do this, Eden. Please let me—”

“No.”

“I’m asking—”