“I think it was at Gran’s funeral.”

She nodded. “You’re right, though I believe you have seen Vincentia a few times since then.”

“Yes.” I paused. “Do you know where she is now?”

My aunt raised a pale eyebrow. “If you came here looking for her, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I’ve not seen her for a couple of months now.”

I heard no lie in that, and yet a big part of me just didn’t believe it. Probably the part that was silently grieving and angry and looking for someone to blame for Mom’s death.

I picked up the jug and poured milk into my tea in an attempt to calm down and not blurt out anything I might regret later.

“Has she contacted you at all?”

“Not really.” She studied me for a second, green eyes knowing. Once again, I was struck by the similarities to Mom, and I had to look down at my tea to control the tears. “You didn’t drive all the way here for a pleasant little catch-up, Bethany. Not after all this time. What do you want?”

“Several things.”

This time, the smile that tugged her lips failed to crease the corners of her eyes. “Like what?”

I hesitated, but there was little point in beating about the bush. “Did you send Vincentia to the tavern at any time over the last six months to retrieve the Eye?”

She raised an eyebrow, her expression coldly amused. “So, your mother has finally told you about it? Because for far too many years she was reluctant to do so, something I found rather incongruous given her desire for you to follow in her footsteps.”

She didn’t add “however unlikely that would be,” but it nevertheless hung in the air between us.

“You didn’t answer the question, Aunt.”

“Because it’s an obviously stupid question. Your mother made it very clear Tia would never get the Eye despite the fact she’d inherited the family gift and you had not.”

That suggested she wasn’t aware my second sight was now emerging, and I had no idea if that were true or if she was simply a good liar. I just didn’t know her well enough to tell.

“Then you weren’t aware that she’s now broken into the tavern several times?”

“She wouldn’t—”

“She’s a relic hunter,” I cut in dryly. “Breaking and entering comes with the territory.”

“Yes, but she wouldn’t... not to family.”

It was said in a way that suggested even she didn’t believe it to be true.

“Unfortunately, evidence says otherwise.”

She frowned, though she didn’t actually radiate any real concern. “Well, I can’t say I’m surprised, given she’ll get far more use out of the Eye than you. I am, however, taken aback by the fact that Meabh sent you here to chastise me rather than simply picking up the phone. We might be estranged, but we are still family.”

I stared at her, seeing annoyance and perhaps a little anger, but absolutely no deceit. She didn’t know. She really didn’t know that Mom had disappeared six months ago.