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I laughed again. “I’m thinking you just don’t want me home too early this evening and spoil your seduction plans.”

“I’m thinking more of your brother. He’s still adjusting to an elf’s lack of modesty and inhibitions.”

“I’ll ring the doorbell when I’m coming in, just to give you—or rather, him—fair warning.”

“Excellent. But if you’re here before midnight, I will be very disappointed. And you’re not to spend all that time simplytalkingto the man. I mean, you’re an Aodhán pixie. Get it together, woman.”

And with an evil sort of laugh, she hung up.

I shoved my phone away, punched in the rear door’s keycode, and headed into the tavern. Ingrid glanced around as I entered the main bar. “There was a woman in here looking for you earlier.”

“Who? Did you get her name?”

“No, but she was short and very untidy looking. Seemed to have a bird nest in her hair.”

I grinned. It could only be Beira, and she probably did have a nest. She was certainly well past caring what we mere mortal folk thought of her.

“Did she leave a message?”

“No, but she muttered something about you needing to pay more attention to the wind and that she would be back.”

Which would undoubtedly have been said in a threatening manner. Beira didn’t have much patience for politeness. “Thanks. I’ll see if I can contact her, but if she happens to drop by again, tell her I’m staying over at Lugh’s for the foreseeable future.”

She nodded. “Probably wise, given what’s happened upstairs and everything else that’s been going on. I’m surprised Mathi didn’t offer his bed, though.”

I laughed. “I daresay he would have, had he even the slightest hope of it being accepted.”

Ingrid’s grin was a toothy thing. “You keep that determination. You deserve better than the likes of him.”

Yes I did, but right now, the supply of good men definitely outstripped demand. Which reminded me... I glanced at my watch. It was close to five, which gave me just over two hours to get ready for my date.

Plenty of time.

I really,reallyshould have known better than to tempt fate like that.

I was halfway up the stairs when the Eye surged to life, its pulse of power so fierce and unexpected that I stumbled, hitting my knees hard on the next stair nosing. I swore, pushed back up, and somehow made it the rest of the way up the stairs before the force of the vision became so strong, it picked me up and washed me away.

To where was a question I couldn’t answer. There was nothing but darkness and a vast unending feeling of emptiness. And yet this place was not uninhabited. There were forces here, forces that were both of this world and not. It reminded me a little of the confluence and perhaps even the library, both of which existed in a place beyond ours, but there was a fiercer energy here, and it was one that spoke of the unbridled fury contained within storms.

I received your message.

The voice was low but thunderous, as sharp as the crack of lightning and yet as soothing as summer rain.

This was the master of all storms. The being who stood above all the other gods and goddesses whose elements were the wild winds and weather.

You are a godling rather than a full blood, it continued.You will never fully house that which you can call down. Your flesh is not strong enough.

Which is basically what Beira had already said.Then why was I told to seek the confluence if control was never possible?

It was said perhaps a little too sharply considering who—what—I was facing, but I was getting a little sick of being sent on useless quests.

Especially when my own were going nowhere fast.

The word impossible never entered my vocabulary. Curb your impatience, young godling.

I didn’t reply. The last thing I needed was to be booted back into reality before I got any sort of answer.

It will be no easy road you undertake, and it will be dangerous. This I understand you have already discovered.