Page 132 of Owned By the Fae
The doors to the hall are opened, and the fae file out.
‘Well,’ I say, eyeing Lia closely. ‘Let’s get to this field or whatever it is, then.’
We leave the hall together; Dane, Kal, and I making sure we have everything we need as we walk out of the fortress and down to the village. Most of the fae we encounter greet us as friends and bow at Lia as we walk along the street, and I note that gossip travels as quickly here as it does in the fold.
‘What happens if the cunt isn’t dead?’ Kal mutters after he’s let Lia go ahead so she can’t overhear us.
I give him a quelling look.
‘Be quiet. Lia’s already worried,’ I whisper. ‘We can’t have her trying to follow us.’
Dane’s expression is the same as mine. ‘We’re going there in secret. We’ll find that healer and see what he knows, and then we’ll come up with a plan. If Varrik is there, we’ll steal the Skilled out from under his nose and leave him to face the Dark Realms.’
‘We’re not letting the ...ones we decided onleave the fold, are we?’ Kal frowns. ‘Because I don’t think Isbeth will take kindly to us stalking Lia’s enemies through the Underhill’s forests.’
Dane and I share a dark look.
‘No,’ I mutter with a grin. ‘We aren’t.’
Chapter Sixteen
Lia
‘Everything’s almost ready,’ Isbeth murmurs from next to me, and my stomach does a flip.
I never thought I’dwantto go back to the fold as much as I do in this moment. Gods, I’ve only been clear of it for a few hours, but the thought of the Trio going there without me ...well, without the Harbinger’s protection anyway, has made me realize just how much I care for Kal, Grey, and Dane. How could I have ever thought differently? The Harbinger, so easy to hear now, tells me it’ll be all right and that they’re capable and strong, that they’ll be back within hours.
I fumble for the closest hand, which happens to be Grey’s.
‘Do you really think you can make them believe that Varrik wants them to go?’ I ask him quietly. ‘Can we really save them?’
He nods. ‘Besides, Dane can always make them if need be.’
I give him a small smile, and my eyes widen as he turns to me and envelopes me in a tight hug, his mouth on mine for just a moment.
But he pulls away all too soon.
Kal is next; he drags me close and practically picks me up, squeezing me lightly. ‘We will come back,’ he promises. ‘And we’ll return with the Skilled. It’ll all go as planned. Don’t worry.We’ll find Jak and Ryon first. The faeling will be one of the first to come through. I’ll make sure of it. He’ll be safe.’
I nod as he lets me go. Now that I understand the Harbinger’s purpose as a protector, I can see why it wanted to make sure we saved as many of the Skilled as we could. This has to be done. They need to be brought here to be safe. The Harbinger pretends nonchalance, but I can feel how tense it is.
Dane, the last of the trio to say his farewell, doesn't grab me in a hug or invade my space. He instead takes my hand and presses a single kiss into my palm. He looks into my eyes.
‘Try not to worry,’ he whispers. ‘Soon, this will be finished. We can stay here if you want, or we can go to the Light Realm. The choice is yours.’ He looks momentarily uncertain. ‘I mean, if you want to be with us. We understand if you?—’
I put my hand to his lips to stay his words, words that make my belly coil tightly and nastily. ‘We’ve already spoken about this,’ I say. ‘Varrik and Fiana are to blame. Not you.’
He wants to argue, but Isbeth’s small huff from nearby stops him.
‘We’ll talk more tonight,’ he whispers. ‘After we return successful.’
‘Lia,’ Isbeth begins, ‘it’s time to open the Breach.’
My three fae males stand before me, and I take in a deep breath, half afraid the Harbinger won’t be able to perform at will, but the Breach opens almost instantly.
‘The first bridge back here will open in half an hour, close to where you come out now.’ I say. ‘Be ready.’
My three males move toward the Breach, and I watch with a heavy heart as they disappear into the tunnel, which closes behind them. I heave a breath. Isbeth turns toward me and puts her hand on my shoulder, giving me a commiserating look.
