Prologue- Feray #2
"So I'm guessing she can just pop up wherever you are and pass messages?" I tilt my head and look down at Ro. She nods, agreeing with my statement.
"More or less, that is correct. I can summon her and send her back to you at will," Revelin says as he types away on his phone. "Stupid organizers... it's plus four..." He yells at his phone as he dials whoever sent him the message and steps outside.
"What's got Prince Picky Pants in a tizzy?" Khol and Khal enter just after Revelin steps out. We can clearly hear him yelling at someone about the type of lights for the tour.
"Tour shit," Fi offers before looking over at the twins. "Make sure to take pictures of everything so we don't forget anything." Khol mutters "yes, boss" before heading to the hidden room. Khal stops by me and kisses me softly.
"Go spend time with your sister before we leave." He looks down at the pixie, and she leaps onto my shoulder, hiding under my hair. "Hitchhiker?" He tilts his head, looking at where she went to hide.
"She's how we're going to keep in touch between the realms in case the phones stop working. This is Ro. Ro, this is my mate Khal." I attempt introductions. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her small hand stick out of my hair and wave at Khal.
"Pleasure's all mine." He whispers, then kisses my cheek. "I better go help Khol before he has a fit. I'll grab the scrolls and books we need for the trip."
Nodding, I watch him go before I sit next to my sister.
Ro comes out of hiding and jumps onto the table.
"Call me when you need me." With a wave of her little hand, she poofs out of existence.
Shaking my head, I really look at Fi now.
The way her brows pinch in the center shows the stress she's trying to hide.
"Rev and I went over where he thinks the items I need are in the Faerie. His tour comes within several miles of where we need to go." Fi explains their route using a piece of paper and pencil that Tiernan supplies her with.
Sighing, I pull my phone out and show her the map program and the route to Blackmore.
"According to the Sphinx, I have relatives in Blackmore.
They may know where my parents are. So we're going to head there first and hope for the best." Biting my bottom lip, I study the serious face my sister is making.
"Seems like a solid plan." She nods and smiles. "The only part about this entire adventure that bothers me is that I can't be there to keep you safe." Her eyes betray her—there's fear and concern behind her gaze.
Before she can utter another word, Tiernan comes up behind her and presses his chest against her back.
"Knuckles, she has two mates that can wield fire, one that can poison or turn beings to stone, and the fourth has the strength of at least ten men.
His people are known for being berserkers in battle.
Don't underestimate the Kodiak. He may be all peace and snuggles with Fer, but don't let that fool you. He will kill to protect what's his."
Glancing behind Tiernan, I see Torben freeze and nod, agreeing with his statement. My giant teddy bear would raze the earth for me, and I know it. Khal already said he would turn the world to stone if it meant keeping me safe.
"Just remember, Fer, the hidden wolf clans are hidden for a reason.
They won't take kindly to strangers entering their territory.
You may have to shift and fight." Tiernan glances over his shoulder at Torben.
"We've already talked. Torben is going to start your fight training on the road.
That should put Knuckles' mind at ease so you'll know how to defend yourself in your fur.
" He pats Fi on the shoulder and goes to the pile of bags, starting to carry some outside.
The three ancients gather in the corner, whispers of their plans to barter for information along the way drifting to me.
"This is it, huh?"
The twins emerge with items from our hidden room and move through the house to finish packing for the trip. Fear, anxiety, and excitement are at war within me. I'm afraid and anxious to be separated from my sister for this long. Hell, we don't know how long this quest will take.
"Yeah, I get to wrangle this bunch." She motions to her mates, and a small smile creeps across her lips. She doesn't act like it, but she loves them in her own way. Maybe not Dezi yet, but the mosquito is slowly wearing her down.
My gaze falls on Khal and Torben, and my heart is ready to explode with how much I love them already.
Feeling eyes upon me, I see Easton glancing up from time to time, watching me.
My hand absently drifts up and touches the amulet that holds his feather.
It's warm to the touch and glows when it's in contact with my skin.
He's said in his own way that he knows he's mine.
He just has a few societal hang-ups he needs to work through.
"Give him time, little wolf." Torben stops next to me and whispers in my ear before kissing my cheek. He offers me a gentle smile, and I nod, looking at him. Torben winks as he walks off, carrying the last of our bags out to the car.
Fi leans in and hugs me briefly, smiling. "He's good to you. They both are." She motions to Khal, who's packing my favorite snacks.
"Yeah, for once, things actually went well for us. Your mates are great too." I laugh to myself. Out of my sister's mates, I'm closest to her snow leopard mate, Tiernan.
"Yeah, the cat and dog are always scheming together. What happened to cats hating dogs?" Fi yells, trying not to laugh.
Arching a brow, I look shocked at my sister. "You want me to hate your mates? That doesn't make any sense, Princess Craft Herpes..." At the mention of her glitter explosions, Fi chases me around the island. I'm barely jogging, and she's giving it her all. Shifter stamina for the win.
Finally, the time I've dreaded is upon us when Revelin motions for us to head outside.
Instead of stopping, I run past him and out into the yard.
In the corner of the yard, blocking the trail I would normally take to the field Tiernan and I hunt in, is a portal.
Not just any portal—the one my sister is going to walk through.
The twinkling of the portal is a captivating, mesmerizing phenomenon that beckons travelers from our world to the mystical Fae realm.
Its surface is a radiant tapestry of light and luminescence.
Upon closer examination, I realize it's not just a singular glow but an intricate mosaic of countless tiny, shimmering lights.
They're reminiscent of fireflies on a warm summer night, yet they possess an otherworldly quality, twinkling with a sense of purpose.
Some blink like stars while others flow and weave in mesmerizing patterns, creating an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of colors that defies description.
"Wow..." I stare, amazed at what I'm seeing, and soon my sister grips my hand, staring right along with me.
Glancing over at her, I chuckle. "Your personal rave is more intense than this."
Fi slaps my arm, and I see reality sink in. "Fer, it's time..." Her normally strong voice wavers as she squeezes my hand harder.
I pull Fi to me, hugging her tightly and burying my nose in her hair to memorize her scent. "I'm gonna miss you." Sniffling, I tremble in her arms as she reluctantly pulls away.
"We will find a way to be together for the holidays. Or some prince will be sleeping alone." She glares over her shoulder at Revelin.
"Holidays are on the list..." Revelin types furiously on his phone and then smiles. I can almost bet he just added reminders for the holidays so we can try to make it.
Tiernan and Khol step through the portal, followed by Dezi. Revelin stands at the entrance waiting for Fi as the guys pull me back toward the blacked-out armored car that is apparently Khal's.
I'm fighting the tears that want to fall as I watch my sister reach out and take Revelin's hand. "Be safe, Fluffy... Remember, I am only a pixie away." Revelin smiles as he looks at Fi.
"I love you, Fer!"
"Love you more!"
No sooner are the words out of my mouth than Revelin pulls my sister into the Faerie and, with a snap of his fingers, shuts the portal.
I stand there stunned for several moments before Torben wraps his arms around me and guides me to the car.
Once inside, Khal is in the driver's seat with Diaval up front.
Easton is in the back seat, and as soon as Torben slides in, he pulls me into his lap.
His bear rumbles to me, trying to soothe my frayed nerves.
Khal starts the car, and we head down the long driveway.
The rustic dirt road winds through the serene forest, departing from the comfort of our home.
The path is lined with towering trees, their leaves forming a natural canopy overhead.
Sunlight filters through, dappling the road with specks of gold.
The earth is covered in a carpet of fallen leaves and twigs as we embark on our journey.
Blackmore, here we come.