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“But you’ll do what you have to do to stop him.”

I nodded. “I’ll stop him for the same reasons I had to stop Zara. Hisser has no right to use his followers as slave labor and hired muscle.”

Our conversation faded after that. Rasmus said nothing as I threw off the covers and walked naked to the bathroom. I must have worried him with my resolution about Hisser because my nudity didn’t even earn me a nice leer.

Chapter Twelve

Conn was missing by the time I dressed. Given the size of this property, using my phone to message him was all I could do to find him.

I was heading through the giant foyer to the kitchen when Henry met me in the hallway dragging a stranger by the back of his neck. The man was even shorter than I was. His shoulder-length black hair and green-eyed stare caught my attention before I even noticed the rest of him. The strange male looked young enough to be my son, but his red coat and hat told a different story. He was a far darrig and only looked young. They were classified as solitary fairy folk but all the ones I met had lived and worked with their families.

Henry glared when the man finally pulled away from his grip.

“If I was planning on sneaking in, I wouldn’t have announced myself to ya, now would I?” the far darrig demanded. He turned an apologetic smile my way. “Greetings, Aran of The Dagda. The troll thief you’re chasing informed me that I had made Salem’s paranormal criminal list. I needed to come set the story straight with you. I’m not here committing crimes.”

“Announcing that ya’re keeping company with a troll thief doesn’t help ya much. If ya’re not here stealing from people, what are ya doing in Salem? I know what ya are. Ya’re a far darrig.”

He straightened his coat and his hat. “Why would I care if ya know what I am? I’m not hiding my species. I dropped all my human illusions before I walked through yer fancy entry gate.”

I barely caught myself before I smiled at his story. If he was lying, it was at least entertaining. “What’s yer name, wicked fairy?”

“Dylan... and I’m quite sure even the wicked fairy folk wouldn’t claim me. My people proudly declare ourselves to be far darrig. My family migrated from Wales to Boston when this land was new. My parent didn’t have me until they’d relocated. I’m a first-generation American.”

A quick calculation had my eyes widening. It meant Dylan was over two centuries old. That might be young for his species, but it was not as young as he looked.

Dylan glanced sideways and up at a glaring Henry who snorted at his glare. Goddess, Henry even glared like Conn—or vice versa, I guess.

“I don’t know why your demon butler doesn’t believe me, Aran. I haven’t pilfered from him.”

Henry stared at him. “I too am from Boston, you thieving cretin. I am well acquainted with your family. Your kind cannot be trusted.”

Dylan shrugged. “Yes, well, I can’t apologize for anyone but myself. If you had dealings with my cousins, I understand your distaste for my family. But I swear on my mother’s life that I only came to clear my name. I came as soon I could after discovering a child of The Dagda was hunting me.”

I studied Dylan. “The report I got said ya were breaking into homes and stealing from normal humans.”

Dylan slipped off his hat and combed his fingers through his hair. “I may have helped myself to some food when I was hungry. But I didn’t take their wealth or anything of value. I mostly looked around for something that was taken from my family. The people I visited were thieves or connected to thieves. I left them a few valuable coins for their trouble. What more do you want from me?”

I tried to remember the details of the report. Didn’t it say he’d taken money? Or was it that he left money? I couldn’t recall so I’d have to check the details later.

The far darrig suddenly looked startled as if he’d read the questions running through my mind. Goddess, I needed to get a handle on keeping my thoughts to myself.

He held out a hand. “If anyone reported I took cash from them, they were lying to collect on the insurance.” He held out his wrists. “Get your demon king to test me. I swear on my great-grandfather’s grave that I’m telling you the truth.”

“Who could ever trust the word of a thief?”

I looked at Henry and lifted an eyebrow. “No one lies all the time.”

“Excuse me. I’m done here,” Henry said, walking away.

I held up one finger to Dylan. “Henry, wait...” I said, chasing a few steps after him. “Thank ya for breakfast. Is it all right if I come to the kitchen for tea?”

Henry’s glare softened. “Gale supervises all the cooking. I will pass your thanks along to her. I set up the study early this morning. Go there to talk to your questionable guest and I’ll have tea sent in for both of you.”

“Okay,” I said, smiling to deflect any further unhappiness. “I’ll have Conn find us an office space outside the main house. I don’t want my unsavory work to clutter up the energy in here.”

“I’ll work with the king to see it gets done.”

“Thanks, Henry. Can I ask ya one more question?” My mouth twitched when he fought not to sigh. “Where’s the room ya’re calling the study?”