“With all the shit that’s happening at the moment, that’s the question you ask?”

“The happiness of my brother and best friend is more important to me than said shit, even if it does involve the fate of the world as we know it. So, was there kissing?”

She grinned. “Hell, yes. And can I just say, your brother is a master of the art.”

“Excellent news.”

“It’s fair to say I’m very definitely looking forward to the next logical step.”

“He may take a while getting down to the whole sex thing. He seems intent on taking it slow.”

“After waiting for the man to do anything for how many goddamn years now, I’m totally okay with slow, trust me.”

I laughed, held out my teacup, and clicked it lightly against hers. “Here’s to slow progress and eventual satisfaction.”

“Amen to that,” she said solemnly, a twinkle in her eyes.

“Amen to what?” Lugh said as he clattered up the stairs, the old wood humming under his weight.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” I said.

“A statement that only makes me worry more.” He grabbed his teacup and sat down beside Darby. “Any clues as to what Alinda’s last statement meant?”

“Maybe.” I wrinkled my nose. “Did you ever look at the search results you were running for the standing stone I saw in the Eye?”

“No, forgot all about it, to be honest.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and, after a few minutes, grunted in satisfaction. “It came up with a dozen stones that fit the description.”

“Only a dozen?” I said, in a wry sort of tone.

He gave me a “don’t be daft” look. “You are aware just how many standing stones there are on this fair isle of ours, aren’t you?”

I smiled. “Does the search come with images? It might save us some driving time if I can pin down possibilities beforehand.”

“Hang on.” He fiddled with his phone for several more seconds, then held it out to me.

I flicked through the images on the screen, spotting at least five that could have fit the bill. But it was the second last one that had my instincts twitching. I flicked the screen around to show him. “We need to visit this one first. Where is it?”

He plucked the phone from my grip and, after another few seconds, said, “Nercwys Forest.”

“Is it far from here?” I asked.

He raised an eyebrow. “Does it matter if it was?”

“Well, yes, because if it was a fair drive, we could leave now and get there in the morning.”

“It’s in Wales, and probably only a forty-minute drive. It can wait until the morning.”

I nodded. “What time do you want to leave, then?”

He shrugged. “Six? We can beat the traffic and the bulk of the mountain bikers who apparently use the area.”

I nodded. “You staying here, then?”

He shook his head. “I’m too long for that damn bed. Besides, someone needs to walk Darby home.”