Oh, right.“Maybe it will wear off.”
“It won’t.”Dy shook her head, wiping up the last of her gravy with the roll.“I did a bit of research during the Moonstone crossing and that kind of mark is permanent.That’s part of the point.If anyone could remove it from you, then it wouldn’t serve its purpose to keep other fae or mages from stealing you.It’s tied to your life force.He might have taken the collar off of you, but his mark is still visible to anyone with the ability to see.Which is pretty much anyone with magic.”
A chilling thought.The huge slab of meat weighed in her stomach now.“Then how come you didn’t see it before?”
Dy met her gaze steadily.“I saw it.I just didn’t tell you.”
“What the fuck?”Cha screeched loud enough to startle the squabbling children beside them.The kids, giggling, started chantingwaddafuck waddafuck waddafuck.The parents glared at her.
“That will keep them going a while,” Dy observed wryly.
“Oh, like those kids have never heard the word before,” Cha muttered.“Sorry,” she said to the parents anyway.
“Besides,” Dy said, “it was clear he did it to protect you from other fae after the Moonstone fiasco.That’s the only reason the Obsidian border guard didn’t use lethal force on you when you ran the gates.”
“And here I thought it was because I was so fast and clever.”Wasn’t this a fine kettle of fish?Azul had robbed her of even her confidence in her own Bandit ways.
“It will come in handy,” Dy soothed.“No fae will harm you.”
“Sunshine sure tried.”
“No.”Dy wagged a finger at her.“Sunshine used enchantment to seduce you, but even in the hand-to-hand fight, she didn’t hurt you when she could have.”
“That was due to my brilliant sword work.”
“And now that Prince Charming dressed her down—”
“Hard to do when she’s always naked,” Cha couldn’t help inserting.
“Ha ha.Now that he disciplined her in front of the Citrine Court, all of fae will know that he’s willing to defend his claim.He’ll destroy any fae who dares harm you.Think of him as having given you a free pass, along with a powerful fae sword and wand.”
“Technically Big Jo gave me the wand.”
Dy rolled her eyes.“How are you doing on the guidebook Nerd Girl gave you on the wand, by the way?I’m glad you could use it to move the cart, but that seemed like a pretty elementary usage.”
“I’ve been busy,” Cha muttered, wishing she’d ordered that frosty ale after all.
“True,” Dy agreed easily.Too easily.
“Just say it.”
Dy held up her hands in a peaceful gesture.“I’d like to gently point out that studying has never been your strong suit.”
“You don’t have to kick a girl while she’s down.”
“No shade intended.I’m just saying that Nerd Girl has good intentions, but she’s trying to get you to use the wand the wayshewould.Whereas wands are personal.”
“I don’t get you.”
Dy reached across the table and squeezed her hand with a smile.“You should speak to it in your own language.Channelyourfeelings and intentions.”
“Right now, all of my feelings are shitty and my intentions are to get drunk for a week.Or more.”
“Did you want to order the Chocolate Mountain?I saw you looking at it.That might make you feel better.”Like Cha was one of her kids needing to be comforted with dessert.
“No, I’m stuffed.”Which she was.“Unless you want it?”
“No, I’d rather hit the leys and get home.Where I plan to sleep for a week.Unless Baby Six comes, in which case I won’t sleep for another year.”