Chapter 23
Ro opened her eyes to the light of a peachy-gold sunrise and the sudden realization that Gabriel hadn’t woken her to report on the wyvern’s findings. Did that mean they hadn’t found anything? Or had something gone wrong and he’d decided not to tell her?
She shook her head at Benny as she sat up. “He wouldn’t do that.”
Benny rolled over and showed her his tummy. She rewarded his display by giving him a good scratch.
She got up, rang the kitchen bell so they’d send up her usual coffee and spiced cocoa and some breakfast. She took a quick shower and put on her robe. Not long after that, a footman arrived with her tray. “I’ll take that on the balcony this morning.”
It was a beautiful day, and she wanted to enjoy it before heading into the mortal world.
She was unsettled about what lay before her.
Today, she would not only be meeting her sister and nephew for the first time but doing her best to convince them to leave the only home they’d ever known for a world that would seem like make-believe.
All with the promise that doing so would reunite them with their late husband and father.
A bit of an uphill climb at best, she thought.
The footman laid out everything for her on the table in the shade and she sat, dismissing him with her thanks.
She filled her mug from the carafe of already mixed coffee and cocoa and took a sip, the hot, delicious jolt of caffeine and sweetness perfect.
What would she do if Dove refused? Ro didn’t know how Malveaux might find out that she had blood relatives in the mortal world, but they had magic and she’d seen how magic made the impossible possible.
If Mason truly had the level of power they suspected, he would become a target. She had no doubt of that.
Concern filled her as she lifted the lid from her plate. A cheese and herb omelet with bacon and fried potatoes. There was a small plate of toast and pastries, too, and a pot of berry jam.
She put her napkin on her lap and picked up her fork. Somehow, the kitchen knew just want she needed even when she hadn’t ordered anything specific. They’d even included a second mug, like they knew how often she had morning visitors. Maybe they had magic, too.
The balcony door opened and Luena stepped out. “Good morning, your highness,” she said. “I just wanted to let you know that Helana and I are here.”
“Good morning, ladies. Headed to the mortal world this morning, so keep my outfit simple and suited for that kind of travel.”
“Yes, my lady,” Luena said with a curtsey. She disappeared back into the castle.
Ro returned to her meal. She was a little surprised Gabriel hadn’t shown up.
He arrived just as she was considering whether or not to finish her breakfast with an iced jam turnover. She smiled at him as he approached the table. He had a way of making a white shirt and dark pants tucked into boots look better than a tux. “There you are. Sit down and have some coffee.”
“Apologies for my lateness.” He took the chair across from hers. “I tested a few routes to the mortal world and have found one that brings us within half an hour of Dove’s location.”
“That was smart.” She took the turnover, then nudged the plate of pastries in his direction. “I guess there was nothing gleaned from the wyvern flyover last night?”
Frowning, he shook his head. “No. My suggestion would be to let me do some reconnaissance when we get back.”
“You know I don’t like the idea of sending you over there.”
“I won’t be seen, heard, or sensed.” He took a fruit pastry and bit into it, sending a shower of small flakes across the table.
“I know, but they have troll magic now. How do you know you’re undetectable to that?”
He chewed, his frown still in place. “I don’t.”
“Then you’ve answered that question. And yes, I know I’m stubborn.”
His eyes twinkled as he took another bite. “You are, but I still love you.”
That earned him a smile. “I love you, too. I can’t help but want to protect you. Are we ready to leave then? Just waiting on me?”
He nodded. “We can go whenever you’re dressed.”
“How are we getting from where the portal drops us off to Dove’s?”
He made a face. “There’s a car hire nearby.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“I don’t like automotive vehicles. They are dangerous.”
“Can you actually drive? Do you have a license?”
“Yes and yes.” He slanted his eyes at her. “What kind of protection would I be if I couldn’t operate one of those infernal machines?”
“A fae one, I suppose. How do you have a driver’s license?”
His smirk returned. “Magic.”
“Okay, but just having a license doesn’t automatically mean you know how to drive.”
“I know how. I took lessons years ago.” He shrugged. “There wasn’t much else to do with no king or queen to protect. I also learned to fly an airplane, snow ski, and scuba dive.”
She almost choked on her last bite of turnover. He was a regular fae James Bond. “You did?”
He grinned. “I am very accomplished.”
“Clearly.” She got up and brushed off a few crumbs. She motioned for him to sit back down, as he’d gotten to his feet. “I won’t be long. Eat whatever else you want.”
Forty-five minutes later, they were positioning themselves inside the castle’s main portal. It wasn’t far from the throne room and resembled a stone gazebo.
Ro was in comfortable traveling clothes of a loose tunic top over leggings and plain leather slippers.
She wore very little jewelry except for a pair of small hoops set with tiny trillianites and her portal ring.
She had her Silversmith dagger tucked into a special pocket on the right side of her leggings, high enough that the tunic hid it. Michael’s letter was in there, too.
There was no need for a circlet or anything indicating her royal status. It wouldn’t matter in the mortal world, nor would anyone there care. And it might draw unwanted attention.
Gabriel offered her his arm. She took it. Touching each other was for added security, to make sure they both ended up in the same place.
“Here we go.” He dialed the gems on his portal ring.
Ro’s stomach rolled as the portal wavered around them. She took a breath, holding onto Gabriel, and closed her eyes.
When she opened them, they were standing in a pavilion on the outskirts of a park. There was a playground to one side, a parking lot to the other, and a few people out walking dogs or jogging. Across from them was a hardware store. Gentle hills rolled across the horizon.
She kept her hold on Gabriel. Things still felt a little wobbly.
“You all right?” He asked.
She nodded. “Been a little bit since I traveled by portal. That far, anyway.” The air smelled different in the mortal world. At least here it did. “So this is Cedar Hollow, California.”
“I take it you’ve never been here before?”
“California, yes. Cedar Hollow, no.” She let go of him as everything stopped spinning. She glanced down. Her tunic, leggings, and shoes hadn’t changed much but were no longer made of silk or hand-finished. Instead, they resembled items that could have been purchased in a decent woman’s boutique.
Gabriel was in dark-wash jeans, cowboy boots, and a white western shirt.
She laughed. “You look good as a cowboy.”
He tipped an imaginary hat. “Ma’am, shall we go hire a car?”
“Lead the way.”
They walked a few blocks past the hardware store, which took them by a self-storage place and U-Haul rental.
Gabriel spoke to the man behind the desk at the Enterprise location, giving him a credit card and his driver’s license.
Gabriel signed some paperwork. She leaned in as he did that. Gabriel Knight was the name on his card. She smiled at his alias.
When the paperwork was taken care of, they headed outside and found the vehicle. A Chevy Tahoe.
“Didn’t they have anything bigger?” Ro teased.
“Too small?” He glanced up, catching the look on her face after the words were already out. He shook his head at her. “I thought it would be good to have room, in case they need to bring some things. Also, they have a dog.”
“That’s right. Bean. I wouldn’t expect them to leave the dog behind.”
She hopped in and he drove, expertly setting the GPS for Dove’s home. She watched out the window as they turned onto Main Street.
It was a charming town. Small shops, tree-lined streets, lots of kids. Would Dove have a hard time leaving it?
They arrived at Dove’s house twenty minutes later. It was a small blue cottage with white trim that could have used a coat of paint, just like the yard could have used a mowing. A boy’s bike lay near the porch steps.
Gabriel parked on the street, underneath the canopy of a large tree. He turned the SUV off. “How are you feeling?”
She stared at the house, wondering what was going on inside. If she was about to ruin Dove and Mason’s day or turn it into something special. “Conflicted.”
“That sounds about right. Are you ready to knock on the door?”
“No. Not sure I’ll ever feel ready for that.”
“Do you know what you’re going to say?”
“I’ve been rehearsing it in my head since last night, but none of it sounds right.”
“I think you’ll know when you’re in the moment.”
She finally looked at him. “I hope so.” She made herself smile. “I can do this.”
“You can absolutely do this.”
With a deep breath, she opened her door. He walked beside her up the cracked sidewalk and when they reached the front door, he looked at her, brows raised. She nodded and he knocked.
Sensation tripped across her skin, nervous energy with nowhere else to go.
The door opened and a woman stood there in jeans and a T-shirt, her dark hair knotted up in a bun that really showed off the gray at her temples. She had a kitchen towel in her hand. In the background, music played. Kids songs on the television. “Can I help you?”
Ro remembered to smile. Not too much. But enough to look friendly. “Hi. Are you Dove Engells?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“My name is Sparrow Meadowcroft. This is going to sound crazy, but I’m your sister.”