“No. I can’t stop you, but I’m asking. Let this go to court. Please. If you can get out…” I took a deep breath. “I’d like you out.”

Silence. Such a long silence. I could feel her gaze on me, assessing. Then she said, “And how will Gabriel feel about that? He may prefer my option, given what I did to him.”

“He’s never cared. I’m the one you hurt.”

She flinched at that, but I didn’t regret it. It had to be said.

“Let him get you out,” I said.

“All right,” she said finally. “But if it doesn’t work, I will confess.”

I got up and hugged her. “Thank you.”

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

I was outside the prison, looking for Gabriel. He’d had business at the office but was coming to pick me up. Then I heard the familiar sound of a very different motor as Ricky pulled up.

“Hey,” he said, taking off his helmet. “Change of chauffeur. Gabriel got held up at the office.”

“He could have just texted. I’d have been fine taking a cab.” I caught Ricky’s look. “Ah, he’s not really held up, is he? And you’re not taking me back to the office. We’re going to see Ioan.”

“You need to do it. Rip the bandage off before the sliver starts festering.” A pause. “Yep, that analogy totally didn’t work. But you know what I mean.”

I smiled. “I always do. And yes, I get it. Is Ioan waiting?”

“He is.”

I took a deep breath. “All right, then. Off we go.” I looked at the bike and hesitated. “Maybe…I should probably stop riding…”

A look passed over his face, eyes beginning to shutter. Then he stopped. Waited a beat and said, evenly, “Okay. If you’d prefer that.”

“Not at all. But I don’t know what’s right, and I don’t want to keep doing something that might put you in a bad position—”

His finger pressed to my lips and he said, “No.” Then he looked at me. “You have a spot on the back of my bike for as long as you want it. The only question is whether you want it.”

I grabbed the helmet, swung my leg over the back seat, and climbed on behind him.

—

“Have you told them?” a voice asked behind me.

I looked up from petting Lloergan, both of us sitting in front of the roaring fire. I rose, along with Brenin, as Ioan walked in.

The Cŵn Annwn leader stopped to pat the hound’s head. “Have you?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I wanted to talk to you.”