“So,” she said, studying me. “I talked to Zaid.”

“I suspected as much.”

“I kept my son from knowing the truth because I knew he would be…fragile…about it.”

“And now he’s mad with you for not telling him.” I reached for my coffee. “I understand both sides of it.”

“I was worried he’d end up in Hell.” A pause. “I still am.” She said it so casually that I had to take a peek at her soul. As best I could.

“We won’t let that happen.”

“And can you keep him from getting himself killed?”

“We can give him the tools to keep himself from getting himself killed,” I said quietly. “I’m…I can’t tell people want to do. I can’t tell him to stop.”

“Why not?”

“I suspect you know.”

She laughed a bit. “I don’t know, but I definitely suspect. Not angel, not demon. Other.”

“Right, and if I interfere with him…” She was his mother. “But when I first saw him he was shooting fairies with cold iron because he couldn’t tell the difference between them and demons.” My eyes challenged her.

“I did not…”

“That’s the problem. You didn’t teach him, so he went out and tried to teach himself, and got tricked by a fake Guardian Angel.” I was trying not to be angry.

“And you…”

“No, this isn’t on me.” I sighed. “It’s on him and on you. And maybe a little on his father for not being around.”

Zaid had been very quick to stop me from… “You were pretty young,” I added. “When you met him.”

“Too young.”

“I…think I may have met him, if he’s kept those tastes.” I made a face. “Was he…”

“His father does not know about Derek. If you have met him, please keep it that way.” Her tone went tight.

“Don’t worry. If it’s that one…” I shuddered. “I mean, my dad can be an embarrassment, but he at least waits for them to fully grow up.”

She studied me again. “I know about embarrassing parents. But embarrassment is one thing, wanting to arrest the guy for stat rape is another.”

Which, looking at her and thinking about Derek…it had probably been. Too young for a normal guy, let alone efreet, who lived far longer.

How long would Derek live? Not long enough if he couldn’t protect himself.

“Zaid’s the one who told him anyway.”

“With my encouragement. But we were too far into the conversation to stop without driving him crazy.”

“Does he still have the anti-fairy gun?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen it. He probably should.”

“Or not.”

“I think he can be trusted to use it now.” But would she trust my judgment?

“I want to see that for myself.”

I decided I didn’t like her much, but I definitely respected her. But I wondered at how cold she was.
Was it the fault of Derek’s father?