“Hey, you don’t want to do that.” Lee moved in behind Dean, putting his hand over the book Dean had been about to open. “That one’s a screamer. I mean it. She’s really loud.”
“Oh, yeah. The History of Anna the Betrayed.” Neil shuddered. “She didn’t like being betrayed. Also, if you’re male, the pages give you paper cuts because she was betrayed by her husband. She screams at a pitch that’s particularly bad for male witches. Because her husband was a male witch who sold her to the Hell plane.”
Dean eased his hand away. “I will remember that in the future. No opening strange books.”
Lee’s lips curled up. “I’ll show you the safe ones. There are some fun ones. Like the tale of Jayne, the Beloved. She was happy and liked to share.”
“I’d love a tour. There’s a lot to see, from what I’ve heard. So far, all I’ve seen of my home plane is the inside of a building and Frelsi,” Dean replied, his tone deeper than normal.
Lee’s smile was smooth, his invitation obvious. “Well, I hope you find some places that spark your interest today. I can show you a lot of fun things to explore.”
Rhys made a barfing sound. “Could you take a break from thinking with your dick, brother? Remember that we’re on a mission.”
Lee waved him off. “We’re picking up supplies and clothes for Mom, and I have to take her out to visit the trolls and listen to Uncle Neil complain about the mud while you and Shy go to the bank and pretend you’re not all into each other. It’s not some dangerous mission. We come here all the time.”
Shy moved past Lee. “Your grandfather thinks you should have been spanked more often as a child, and I agree with him.”
Rhys shook his head as he walked to the door that seemed to lead out of the back of the store. “I wouldn’t spank him now. I think he likes it. And he needs to remember that our mother is here, and that means every mission is dangerous.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. “I’m not doing anything crazy. I only want to see my godparents.”
“I didn’t mean you were the danger.” Rhys held the door open for Shy and then me.
“Then you don’t know your mother well enough,” Neil quipped.
Rhys ignored him. “I meant there are many powerful creatures who would love to use you as leverage against Dad. And Papa. And me, when I think about it. If the Fae took you, they would be able to force me into a bargaining position when it comes to using my Green Man powers. I might have to do something I don’t want to do in order to free my queen.”
“I would get you back because I love you, Mom.” Lee wrinkled his nose his brother’s way. “Asshole. Stuff the ‘queen’ nonsense. She’s our mom, and she’s always been trouble.”
“I’ll try to make sure you don’t have to get me back at all.” I didn’t want to put my kids in a bad position. “Rhys said he thought Ingrid and Halle will be at one of two bridges this time of year. I’ll take Neil and go to the closest one while you’re getting the supplies. Albert promised me cell phones will work now. He gave me one so you can call me and I’ll meet you back here.”
Rhys’s brow rose, and he looked so much like Dev it hurt. “I’m not sending you off to search for Ingrid and Halle with Uncle Neil alone. He’s not your bodyguard. He’s your accomplice. I know he would protect you, but he’ll also let you run wild.”
I started to argue but Neil held up a hand. “Come on, Z. You know he’s right. So we’ll take Lee with us.”
Rhys snorted. “Or you’ll shop in a very public place while Shy and I go to the bank and Lee picks up supplies. We’re one block over from Laugavegur Street. There are lots of shops there. And if we take too long, there are cafés you can wait at. I’m serious, Mom. I need to know you’ll stay in public places. The bridges are on the outer edges of town. You can’t go there without a serious guard.”
We moved into the more human section of the store. A tall, lithe woman with long hair stood at the cash register, a book open in front of her. She glanced up and nodded Rhys’s way before going back to her book. If she was concerned at all with a bunch of people walking out of her back room, she didn’t show it.
Lee shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’m with Rhys on this one, Mom. I would probably let you do crazy shit, too. It’s been a long time since we did stupid things, and now that I know it’s okay to die, I’ll be even more reckless than I was before. Also, there are lots of Fae around those bridges, and some of them are not friendly, if you know what I mean.”