Galfreya shook her head. “I don’t think I agree. If the fit is wrong, you can still just walk away.”

“I meant the family you choose.”

“You can walk away from that kind of family, too.”

“But we both care about Geordie, right?”

Galfreya nodded. “We have that in common.”

“See, the thing is,” Christiana said, “I’ve seen how happy his brother Christy is, all settled down with Saskia. And I know Geordie sees it, too. And I also know that he’d like to have that kind of relationship with someone. The trouble is, he’s made poor choices. . . .”

“Love’s like that,” Galfreya said. “You can’t choose who you love.”

“Whatever. But he’s not even getting out anymore. He hasn’t had a date in at least two years, and we both know why that is.”

“Enlighten me.”

“He’s got this,” she waved her arm to take in the mall. “The parties you guys have, a place to play music with people who know a whole whack of tunes that his other friends don’t. And he’s got you—for company and a roll in the hay whenever the two of you are in the mood. So he doesn’t even look for anything else. But we both know that the relationship you guys have isn’t either what he needs or really wants. He needs . . . I was going to say a real woman . . .”

“Says the shadow.”

“I know—made up of all the cast-off bits of his brother. I should talk. And that’s why I’m not going to say a real woman. He just needs someone who can commit. Someone who isn’t the immortal Mother Crone that you are, who won’t even leave this mall to go somewhere with him.”

“I have responsibilities.”

“And they’re none of my business. But Geordie is. His happiness is. That’s why I came to ask you to let him go. That’s why I showed up with the big chip on my shoulder because this whole business has been totally pissing me off.”

“And now?”

“Now I don’t know what to say except, maybe he should have the chance to find out what’s out there, even if it’s dangerous. I’ll watch his back, and I’m guessing you will, too.”

Galfreya gave a slow nod. “For Geordie’s sake, we can be allies. But we will never be friends.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Christiana said. “I should have remembered. Mumbo was forever telling me that fairies never forget a slight, no matter how large or small.”

“You were a student of Mumbo’s?”

“She showed me the ropes when I first manifested.”

“Mumbo has always had a generous nature. I’m surprised to find a charge of hers with such a lack of common sense and manners.”