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“Both of them?”

“Yeah. I got a little enthusiastic when I was tearing us out of the mage’s grasp.”

“But you’re okay?”

My heart did a happy little jig at the concern still riding his voice. My heart was insane. We were friends and lovers, but in truth we very much remained strangers. I could not let the deep connection I felt with this man overwhelm common sense.

“Other than being bone tired, yes I am.”

“So how did you get over in Staunton when Lugh’s car remains in the parking area? It’s too far to have walked, and I didn’t think you had enough control of the wind to use it.”

The fact he knew the car remained in the parking area meant he was there.

“The whole question as to how we got here remains a mystery, though we suspect a time slip happened somewhere along the line. What about yourself? How far did the mage toss you?”

“Quite a distance, but thanks to that pillow of air you sent, I came away with little more than a few bruises and scratches. We’d probably both be dead if you hadn’t.”

“I could hardly let you get dead, as I haven’t finished playing with you yet,” I said teasingly. “I take it Mathi’s also at the quarry with you?”

“Indeed. As is a caving crew. We were just getting ready to go in after you. Figured if youhadescaped the mage, that’s the first place the two of you would have gone. Did you find the forge?”

The man might not have known either of us very long, but he’d certainly gotten our measure when it came to predicting our actions.

Although I guess even a complete stranger could have probably predicted us going into the cave.

“We did.” I gave him a quick update and then said, “The one piece of good news is that the Looisearch and their cohorts likely won’t be able to destroy the forge, because it takes godly blood to enter and godlings aren’t exactly thick on the ground these days.”

“Or at the very least, are harder to find,” he said. “I doubt the gods have entirely given up their cherished sport of messing with the various layers of humanity.”

Neither did I, to be honest. In many respects, my existence bore that out. As Lugh had pointed out, it was unlikely to have been an accident.

“You want us to drive over and retrieve you?” he added.

I hesitated. I might have told Mathi hiding wouldn’t alter the danger we were in but, right now, he and Cynwrig were the only people who knew our current location. It seemed silly not to take advantage of the brief moment of respite it gave us. Whether we did some serious research into the Ring’s location or just grabbed some much-needed rest didn’t really matter given both were vital right now.

“It might be better if we all lay low for a day or so. I’ve a bad feeling things will really hit the fan if we don’t.”

He snorted. “I’ve a feeling it’ll hit the fan regardless of what we do.”

“Undoubtedly, but I’m in no condition to deal with it right now.”

“Ah,” he said softly, the understanding in his voice making my stupid heart quiver. “Then find a hotel, take a long hot shower, and give us a call when you’re ready to step back into battle, dearest Bethany.”

“I will. Thank you.”

I bid him goodnight, then hung up and called Eljin. I said I’d call him, so I’d better, especially if I did want to deepen our relationship.

Which I did... didn’t I?

I swiped the silly thought away and listened to the ringtone. After a few seconds, his lovely voice informed me he was currently busy and to leave a message. I did so, then grabbed the pizza box and headed back into Lugh’s room. He was in the process of making tea for us both.

I plopped down on one of the chairs at the small table and munched into another slice of pizza. “How’s Darby?”

“She’s at the encampment, checking the babe’s progress.”

The babe in question was the grandly named Ruairí Veon Talein Riagáin, who was her brother’s first sonandthe first male to be born in the current generation, an event that took the pressure off Darby to marry within her own race and produce an heir to carry the family’s genes forward.

“Is she staying there the night?”