Bonus Scene
SEIR
“It’s special delivery day, Moonflower. Come on, let’s go!”
“I’m coming!” Hailon insisted, hopping out of the bedroom one one foot as she tugged on her boot. “What’s the big hurry? We can portal, right?”
“Yes, but we have multiple stops.” I twined my fingers in hers, pulling her out the door toward the castle ruins where the doorways were.
“How many stops?”
“Three or four.”
“Which is it?” she laughed. “Three? Or four?”
“We’ll have to see where the day takes us.”
I dipped down and kissed her full mouth before wrapping her up in my arms and carrying us both through the portal toward Olinbourg.
When we stepped out into the forest, she glanced around suspiciously.
“Is there a reason you’re being cagey about our destinations?”
I grabbed her hand again, leading her through the trees. “No. Just that I want you to be surprised. Nothing bad is going to happen. Probably.”
“I trust you.” Those words would never get old.
I knew the moment she saw the little way-house cabin. She squeezed my fingers and made a little gasping noise, then she was the one leading me toward it.
“Wait a moment. Let’s make sure it’s not occupied.” I pulled her back gently, checking the cabin for signs of life.
There was no smoke in the chimney, no clear tracks in the tall grass around the porch. I went up to the door and knocked, waiting a moment before I felt around above the doorframe for the key I’d left when we’d departed.
My lovely mate pushed past me once the door was open, taking in the little space with a quiet awww.
“I don’t think anyone’s been here in a long time,” she said, a layer of dust on all the furniture.
“Well, let’s replace what we took and be on our way then. That way it’s ready for the next travelers.”
I set the pack I’d brought down on the little table, and between us we restocked the clothing, the soap, the ointment and even the spices that we’d used up. My last gift to the cabin’s future occupants was a map that accurately depicted most of Cyntere, including the safest route around the ruins.
“I love this cabin,” Hailon said, running her hand down the doorframe as I locked it back up.
“Me too.” I kissed her forehead and pulled her back toward the portal.
“Where now?”
“This is the big one, I think. Don’t be scared.”
“Well … now I’m nervous,” she muttered, but still wrapped herself in my arms and let me lead her through the strange door that felt like it wanted to turn you inside out while you traveled through it.
We landed right near the ocean, the climate far warmer than we’d dressed for.
“Where are we?” Hailon asked, looking around at the strange variety of trees.
“Not Cyntere.”
She stiffened and reached for my hand.
“Are you here?” I called.
“Who’s asking?” Came the response. The voice was distinctly female, though a bit rougher than the last I’d heard it. It also had come from above us.
“Seir.” I heard her feet hit the sand before I saw her. “Hello again, Lilith.”
“Hasn’t been that long since our last visit, has it?”
“No.” I dug around in my pack, pulling out the envelope Rune had passed along for me to deliver. “Just making a delivery.”
She scanned Hailon up and down. “How are the portals working out?”
“They’re perfect, thank you.”
“Who’s this?”
“I’m Hailon,” she said, sticking out her left hand. “Pleased to meet you.”
Lilith smiled, taking in the ring Hailon wore before gently shaking her hand.
“Lilith. Lucky girl.”
“I’m the lucky one,” I replied.
“Probably also true.” She smiled, but it felt brittle. “Who sent it?” Lilith asked, shaking the heavy envelope, already on her way back to the tree. I hesitated, and she spun on her heel to stare at me. “Who sent the package, Seir?”
“The boss. That’s all I know.”
Her friendly demeanor disappeared. Her hand rose to the left side of her chest, but never touched. She dropped the package in the sand and shimmied back up the tree, vanishing into a nearly invisible treehouse.
“Do not bring me anything else from him. Do you understand?”
“Noted. See you around, okay?”
“Nothing. Else. From. Him. He can come his own cursed, unforgivable self if he wants to send me mail.”
I held onto Hailon’s arm as we backed away.
It wasn’t until we were all the way on the other side of the portal again that I apologized.
“She’s … well, whatever crazy she’s got, she’s earned.”
“That was the Lilith.” Hailon’s mouth dropped open.
“One and the same.”
“Saints.” She blew out a breath. “You’re definitely full of surprises.”
“Just wait. There’s one more.”
We dropped out of the portal near a creek, but town was fairly close. I directed us around the settlement to a house. One with a big barn, chickens in the yard and a green fence.
Hailon looked at me, wide-eyed, her smile broad. The feisty widow started laughing as she spotted us from across her vast yard. She waved us over, face bright with joy.
“She’s going to put you to work, you know.”
“I hope she does. There’s probably lots of rusty tools to fix. Hay to bale. Maybe this time I’ll get to snuggle with a goat!”
She stood on her tip toes and kissed my cheek. “How did you know I had an intense craving for peach cobbler?”
“Lucky guess.”