Chapter 21
Von
“D on’t worry, Von. I’ll look after it,” Dameon reassured me as he, Zahra, Folkoln, and I left my council room—the voices of the conversing immortals inside cut off as the door closed behind us.
After Ezra and I returned to the castle, I’d called a meeting, assigning my council members various tasks to take care of in the wake of my absence.
Some weren’t qualified for half the jobs I had handed over to them, but desperate times called for desperate measures or some bullshit like that.
I had no idea how long I would be gone for, no idea how I planned to get back, and for all I knew, time could move differently in the Mother Realm.
But the one thing I did know with every fiber of my stubborn, bastard self?
I was going to get Sage back.
“I appreciate it,” I answered Dameon as the four of us began to walk down the hallway. There was one last thing I needed to do.
From behind us, flapping wings sounded, followed by a flash of light. “Wait!” Kaleb called out, his voice echoing off the glass walls.
Ignoring him, I continued forward.
Kaleb jogged up beside me and opened his mouth to speak—
“No,” I stated firmly, already knowing what he was going to ask.
“I didn’t even say anything,” he protested.
“You didn’t need to. The answer is still no.”
“She’s my sister,” he argued. “I’m coming with you.”
“Let him come,” Folkoln cajoled. “It’ll make things more entertaining.”
“I see no harm in letting him go with you. You never know—you might be able to use the help,” Zahra added, like the little mother hen that she was, always trying to look after me.
Folkoln chuckled at that. “Ah, dear Zahra, if I can assure you of one thing, it is that help is not in my brother’s vocabulary.”
“I’m well aware, but just because the big idiot doesn’t understand the meaning of the word doesn’t mean he doesn’t need it sometimes,” she snipped back. Her patience for Folkoln had fizzled out centuries ago. For my sake, they tolerated one another.
“You two realize I am right here, yes?” I asked. When neither of them said anything, I sighed. “Fine, you can come.”
“Yes!” Kaleb decreed as we turned a corner. “When do we leave?”
“Within the hour,” Folkoln stated.
“Great. I’ll go tell Fallon. She’ll want to come too,” Kaleb said as he slowed his pace and began to turn around.
My shadows lifted from my shoulders, swirling in annoyance. Some formed into hands, threatening to reach out and grab Kaleb, who thought my yes to him was an open invitation to invite everyone else. Okay, okay, yes, it was just one more, but still. Sighing to myself, I reined them in.
While Dameon and Zahra spoke with one another, Folkoln fell into step beside me.
Privately, he spoke inside my mind, Fallon could be of use.
We do not know anything about this . . .
Mother Realm. We don’t know what the terrain is like, or what or whom we will be up against. If we have her scout ahead, it could give us an advantage.
Kaleb can do that too , I answered, casting the words over the private bridge that existed between the two of us.
Folkoln shot me a curious look. What’s this really about?
I let out a sigh. Fallon and Sage are a shit combination. I don’t need them scrapping with each other the entire time.
Folkoln’s laughter echoed in my mind. I see nothing wrong with that.
My attention flicked toward him. Says the jackass who feeds on emotions.
Folkoln cracked a shit-eating grin, one that swiftly slipped away. His eyes narrowed. Fate and Destiny have arrived.
What do you sense from them? I asked.
They are conflicted.
As to be expected. Will you go to them and make sure they don’t lose their nerve?
I can do that, Folkoln said .
I gave him a look, one that needed no words, because it was one I had given him thousands of times before.
He chuckled. Don’t worry, brother. I’ll be on good behavior. And with that, tendrils of onyx smoke swirled around him, and in a blink, he was gone.
“Where’d he go?” Dameon asked.
“To greet the Spinners. Although,” I sighed, “knowing Folkoln, he’ll probably torment them instead.”
“Perhaps Dameon or I should have gone?” Zahra suggested with a degree of concern.
“That probably would have been wise,” I answered, nodding as we walked down a small corridor, the north and south walls checkered with doors. “Well, I suppose, if anything, he’ll keep them entertained.”
Dameon chuckled. “That he will.”
I opened the door, and the three of us filtered inside the small room.
Harper and Lyra were lying on the small bed, on top of the covers, their legs entangled.
Harper had one arm thrown around Lyra’s shoulder and the other rested over her abdomen, her fingers linked with Lyra’s.
On the other side of the bed, Ryker dozed in a chair—one long leg stretched out in front of him, the other tucked underneath it.
Slowly, he woke, his eyelids heavy. “Haaah,” he yawned, his mouth stretching wide.
“Afternoon, sleeping beauty,” I greeted.
“What time is it?” Ryker groggily asked as he sat up in the chair. He scrubbed his hand over his face, fingers rasping against his stubble.
“About two o’clock,” Zahra answered as she made her way to his side, her hand falling over his shoulder, giving it a tender rub.
“Have you had anything to eat, hon? You’ve been sleeping a lot.
The Spirit Realm can do that to the living.
Let me go fix you something so you can get some energy back.
” She looked at Lyra. “You too, love. You should have something to eat as well.”
Lyra nodded, but Ryker said, “I’m fine for now. Thank you though.”
“Word of the wise, son—she won’t take no for an answer,” Dameon said, looping his arm around his mate’s waist.
Zahra glanced from Ryker to Lyra to Harper. “I look after my family. Now, what can I get you two to eat?”
While they discussed food options, I said to Harper, “You look well.”
She smiled. “I feel much better.”
“Zahra told me the good news—you are getting released today.”
“I am.” Her eyes filled with emotion. “Thank you for bringing them here.”
“I’m just relieved it worked,” I answered honestly.
Her brows drew together. “How are things going with finding Sage? ”
“That’s what I came here to tell you. Sage is alive. She’s in a place called the Mother Realm, and we are going to be leaving within the hour to get her back.”
“I knew she couldn’t be gone.” Harper’s eyes filled with happy tears.
“I knew it too,” Ryker spoke softly as he brushed back a few of his own.
Lyra covered her face and silently wept into her hands. Harper wrapped her arms around her, placing her cheek against the top of her head. Dameon and Zahra dabbed their eyes.
In truth, there wasn’t a dry eye in that room, not even my own.
Shortly after, Ryker asked, “Who’s all going?”
“Myself, Folkoln, Kaleb, Soren, and possibly Fallon,” I answered.
“I don’t understand.” Ryker shook his head. “Why would you take that traitor with you?”
“Believe me, I don’t like it either, but he has a connection to Sage and might be able to help us find her quicker,” I answered, folding my arms across my chest.
“Let me come with you,” Ryker said. “Someone’s going to need to keep an eye on him. Just face it, if your plan fails with Soren, you’ll need a good tracker.”
Harper jerked her head up. “If you’re going, I’m coming too.” Lyra tapped her arm and gave her a firm nod. “We’re both coming,” she corrected.
“Harper, dear, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Zahra countered softly, expression concerned .
“Sage is my friend,” Harper argued with fiery passion.
“She is mine too. Rest assured, they’ll get her back.” Zahra’s voice was gentle. “You just transitioned.”
“ Because Lyra and Ryker are here. I know they can’t stay in the Spirit Realm much longer, but this will give me more time with them, which, as we now know”—Harper gestured to herself—“is good for me. So . . .” She looked at me and flashed a smile. “We’re going with you.”
Zahra opened her mouth to speak, but Dameon cut in, “My flame, she is as strong-willed as you, and this arguing will get you nowhere. If she wishes to go, then let her.”
Zahra sighed before turning to me. “You will take care of my family, yes?”
I opened my mouth to say I had not agreed to any of this, but when I glanced from Harper to Ryker to Lyra and saw the plea burning behind their eyes—a plea to help get their friend back—I caved. “Yes, of course, I will,” I grumbled then told the rest of them, “We leave in half an hour.”
“Great,” Harper said, giving Lyra a squeeze. “By the way, how are we getting to this . . . Mother Realm?”
“Is there a portal or something?” Ryker tacked on.
Turning to Zahra, I said, “I’ll leave you to explain that one.” I dragged my gaze over the rest of their faces. “And then we’ll see if you all are so keen on tagging along.”
My umbra swam around me, and I shadow walked out of the room.