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Everyone stopped eating at my announcement. I winced before explaining.

“Sorry. I thought ya all knew, but I guess Dylan’s not the type to gossip about his life, is he? So yeah... the far darrig went home after he disposed of Hisser, and his parents threw him out. Dylan said they were highly upset when he told them the artifact talked to him. Poor guy was devastated by their outright rejection. He never even got a chance to explain about working with an angel or that he’d found a magickal calling.”

Conn frowned at his last bit of food before wolfing it down and shrugging. “Disappointed parents can change their minds. I hope the far darrig remains open to them.”

I nodded. “I told Dylan the same thing. Then I called Ma and told her that I loved her. I’m also grateful my daughter and I get along. These are among the many things I no longer take for granted in my life.”

Henry appeared in the doorway and looked directly at me. “I’m sorry to interrupt your meal, but could I speak to you about a business matter when you’re done?”

“Absolutely,” I said. “We were just discussing getting back to business ourselves.”

“Let me know when you’re available,” Henry commanded, and then he left.

I sighed at Henry’s non-reaction and went back to eating.

Conn’s thoughtful throat clearing got my attention. “Henry and Gale have scheduled their first retreat guest. The spa and pool are being finished this week.”

I lifted my chin. “Thanks. That explains his formal request.”

Conn shrugged. “Some of their guests are not easily confined to their retreat areas, Aran. Are you truly willing to have a bunch of magickal strangers walking around the house? What good are wards in that instance?”

“Don’t ya trust Henry and Gale to vet the guests and keep them from intruding?”

“Yes, but their concept of acceptable risk might differ from yours. I think you need to run your own security checks on the guests. I would volunteer for that task, but it would cause a familial disturbance none of us would want to hear about. I doubt Henry and Gale would ever forgive me.”

“Why? Because ya’re their king, and they have to obey ya?” I asked.

“No. Because I’m their child. They still think they know better than me in every circumstance not associated with making kingly decisions. It’s an illusion they refuse to give up and one I decided long ago wasn’t worth fighting about. I simply do what I want and let them fuss.”

I chuckled at the demon drama going on under my roof. Of everyone in the room, I could definitely claim having had the best parents. “I don’t want to insist on doing my own checks. That makes it seem like I don’t trust them when they’ve done nothing so far to make me question their judgment.”

“And this is why they adore you,” Conn said. “They consider you gullible and easy to persuade. This is why I brought the subject up. If you take the head of one of their guests, their retreat hosting career will be over for good.”

Conn’s summary made me laugh. I gave Rasmus a look. “Do ya remember yer parents, Rasmus?”

“I do,” he said, studying the amusement on my face. “Not all beings on my native planet chose to procreate and raise progeny. My father and mother had fifty-seven children born over their six hundred years together. As far as I know, all of us became scientists. My parents complained because none of the children they created chose to be poets or musicians. Both were flatly against my pursuit of enlightenment after only living asingle lifetime on our planet. Their wish was for me to incarnate many times and experience other professions.”

“So ya were a rebel even back then,” I said with a smile.

Rasmus arched one eyebrow. “Not in the manner you mean, but I did evolve into a light being against their wishes. They sent me off with sadness when I surrendered my physical life. I held hope that my parents would understand once they experienced it themselves. I was not present to witness their evolving, nor have our paths crossed again.”

“Did ya truly have fifty-seven siblings? Where in Danu’s name were ya born in that lineup?”

“Is that all you heard of my explanation?”

I laughed nervously. “Mostly.”

“I was one of the last four children they created,” Rasmus said.

Zara sighed. “I wish I could remember my time with them.”

Rasmus and I both turned to her with wide eyes. He cleared his throat. “One day, you will remember both the good and the bad of your childhood, Zara. I hope your memories of it are filled with experiences that make your heart glad you were born.”

“Do you not remember what they thought of me?” she asked.

Rasmus shook his head and smiled warmly. “You were older and already evolved into a light being by the time I was born. You lived your original life without me ever being part of it.”

“How intriguing it is that we are together now,” Zara said quietly. “I’m not sure I enjoy being your older sibling. That has not been the impression I carry about our relationship.”