Chapter 23 #2
“Against the vampire Queen. She poses a significant threat to humans, vampires, and werewolves. Anyone who lives in our mortal realm. She won’t be happy to find out another supernatural race lives in the same realm as hers, and she can’t have control over them since her compulsion power doesn’t work on fairies, it seems.”
I relaxed my hands at my sides. The consequences of taking the crystal away from Greyson were too dire for him, and he wouldn’t be able to live among the humans. Stealing the Lunarimar from him didn’t seem like an option any longer.
“We need the crystal to make the fight against the vampire Queen more equal. The crystal can amplify my witch power and block the Queen’s compulsion power over our warriors.”
Greyson reached for his shirt and slid his arms through the sleeves. “Great. So I can join since I seem to have the same power,” he said as he buttoned his shirt.
Lucy scoffed. “You’re not trained. We won’t risk your life, Greyson.”
“She’s right, but I think I may have a solution to the problem with the crystal. I know you need the crystal for survival, but so do we.”
Greyson finished dressing and watched me intently.
“You can carry the crystal with you and come with us to the werewolf kingdom. You’ll let me have the crystal when I leave for the war. In the kingdom, you should be safe. I’ll talk to my parents to help you,” I said.
“Breanna…” Lucy grasped my shoulder to draw my attention. “It’s a risky decision, especially since your Alphas are so conservative.”
Greyson looked at me with so much intensity, silently asking me to explain.
“The high-ranking werewolves will revolt since I’ll disturb the balance in the supernatural world. Again,” I said. “And Hayden, if he has something to do with the fairy realm, will he be happy to meet you? Or will he want you to leave if he sees you as a threat to revealing his secret?”
I took a deep breath. Before I jumped to conclusions, I needed confirmation that Hayden was a fairy or had something to do with the fairy realm.
“Greyson, you have to decide for yourself. I can’t push you to come along with us, but you’ll be helping us by giving us the crystal. The kingdom is full of vampires, hunters, werewolves, and witches as we prepare for the war.”
“Hunters?” Greyson asked with raised eyebrows.
Lucy sighed. “There’s a lot for you to learn.”
Greyson nodded. “I’m willing to go with you to the kingdom. I can no longer stay here living like this, secluded and deceiving people. You’ll just have to win the war to bring back my crystal.”
A small smile appeared on his glowing face.
“Thank you,” I said. “There’s also something else you can look forward to.”
Lucy’s gaze fell on me, and so did Greyson’s.
“I know the portal to the fairy realm, so once the war is over, I’ll take you there.”
Greyson’s eyes brightened, and his smile grew wide. “I’ve always wanted to be among other fairies.”
He stepped toward me, his hand extended. He probably wanted to shake my hand, but Lucy blocked his advances.
“No need to get too close,” she said in a calm voice.
I liked that she was protective and trustworthy, and I hoped she would warm up to Greyson soon. He needed more people on his side.
Greyson’s smile didn’t waver. He bent over, fumbling with the bottom of his pants. Lifting the hem, he reached inside his boot and pulled out the crystal.
“I should have checked his shoes,” Lucy said, rolling her eyes.
The gemstone radiated a soft, shimmering glow in deep purple and vibrant blue hues. The sunlight reflected in mesmerizing patterns. Its shape was unique, almost resembling a teardrop with smooth, rounded edges.
He handed it to me slowly and with so much care, without disconnecting his gaze from the crystal. The crystal felt cold and warm at the same time—a strange feeling I hadn’t felt before. The artifact radiated cold on the surface of my skin, but as I held it longer, warmth seeped into my flesh.
I wrapped my fingers around the crystal—a perfect fit in my hand.
I looked at Greyson. “Pack your things. We’re leaving.”
Greyson broke into a frenzy of movements, grabbing stuff and then dropping it as if he didn’t know what it meant to pack.
He pulled out a faded blue backpack from behind his mini fridge, opened it wide, and swatted the contents of the coffee table inside.
Banana peels, toothpaste, and dirty to-go cups made it inside the backpack.
His hands shook as he reached to pick up some random sheets of paper from the floor. I grabbed his shoulder, and he halted his movement. Watching him reminded me of how I’d packed when I first left the kingdom to move to London.
“Maybe only take a few of your clothes and documents. We have everything else in the kingdom for you,” I said, giving him the most reassuring smile I could muster.
Understanding passed behind his eyes. Greyson walked to the bookshelves and picked up a framed picture I hadn’t noticed before from the piles of books and papers around it.
He clutched it against his chest. “It’s a picture of Mom and me.”
It struck me hard when I realized I’d done the same when I left the kingdom. The only difference was that my pictures were on my phone, so I only made sure I had my phone on me with some clothing, my passport, and a wallet.
I handed the Lunarimar to Greyson. As soon as he slid it back into a compartment on the inside of his boot, he changed his appearance to his human form.
I would have to get used to his transformation. His short hair was a light blond shade. His ears changed to small, rounded human ones.
“Maybe you can lead the way to exit through some back door,” I said.
“Technically, we’re not stealing the crystal,” Greyson said while Lucy shook her head. “I’ll return it once I find my new home.”
Greyson locked the office door behind us and led us to a side door with an exit sign illuminated above. We descended the stairs to the first story.
“Greyson,” I said while walking, “in the beginning, don’t show your illusion powers to anyone. Keep the crystal with you until the day I leave for war. After I take it away from you, I’ll tell my mom and dad to help and take care of you.”
Lucy pushed open a heavy metal door to the side alley. “If the Alphas question you, don’t mention anything about the fairy realm for now.”
“I’m sorry that your fake life will have to continue for a bit longer, but that’s only until I return from Oregon.”
We walked across the parking lot, searching for our car.
“And hide the fairy markings?” he asked.
“Yes. For now.”
After finding the car and getting inside, I drove on the streets leading us out of the city and toward the werewolf kingdom territory farther east.
The kingdom teemed with vampires, witches, werewolves, and hunters and was now home to one more—a fairy, introducing a new dynamic to the fragile equilibrium of the mortal realm.
Biting my bottom lip, I wondered how a fairy would fare in the kingdom full of other supernaturals.