Page 137 of Owned By the Fae
‘How many did you send to the forest?’ he asks.
I shrug. ‘I don't care,’ I say. ‘None of them are coming with us.’
I look at the setting sun. ‘It's time to leave.’
We go back to the Gate as one and find that the Bridge is already open. The last few stragglers are leaving the fold. I take one last look around at it and snort. Fuck this place. I'm glad that it'll be destroyed.
Grey looks back at the forest. We can't see the ones we sent there, and they can't see us either.
‘Having second thoughts?’ I ask.
He sniffs. ‘No. I just would have liked to kill them one by one.’
‘As would I,’ I say, clapping him on the shoulder. ‘But we don't have the time, and I'd rather get back to our female.’
He nods, and we follow Dane through the Breach, the last of us leaving the fold ... Well, the ones who are going to be leaving alive anyway.
Chapter Seventeen
Lia
The Breach closes and I look out from behind the oiled canvas tent flaps trying to see if my Trio are back in the Underhill safely, but I can't see them.
Where are they?
Gritting my teeth, I get ready to emerge into the twilight. I know what Isbeth told me to do, but I can’t see them anywhere. What if they’re still in the fold? What if the Dark Realm is already there? What if I never see them again?
Just as I take a step outside, I notice Dane’s face. He’s hurrying through the crowd, looking left and right. He hasn’t seen me. I watch as a harried-looking Isbeth scowls at him and points toward me. Then, he’s looking relieved as he spies me. As soon as he gets to my hiding place, I launch myself at him. He looks momentarily surprised but envelops me in a tight hug that calms me immediately.
‘Did you get them all? Did you find Varrik? Fiana?’
He pulls back. ‘We were successful,’ he says, ‘but there was no sign of either of them. I came to find you. Grey and Kallum have gone to speak to the Council about their security on the Gate, tell them everything we know about Varrik’s skills in case he tries to come here.’
I nod, and Dane looks over his shoulder, out at the final wave of Skilled he’s helped to bring back. Some of them are trying to stay calm, but most look shocked that they’re outside the fold.
‘Do they all still love him, do you think?’ I ask quietly.
He nods soberly.
‘How long do you think it'll take for his influence to dissipate?’
He shrugs. ‘I don’t know. I think there may be some like you and Kal and Grey who ... grew immune to it, perhaps. But it’s not as if they’d say anything when all their friends and neighbors were still enthralled by him. If it doesn’t leave on its own, there’s a ritual I could perform to rid them of all the magick that clings to them, but it would have to be done on each of the Skilled individually.’
Isbeth enters the tent. ‘I wanted to thank you, Dane, and you, Lia. The number of fae we’ve added to our ranks today is a blessing. I’d never have thought we’d ever have so many new faces here.’ She bows her head at us. ‘I've sent Grey and Kal back to the castle. I told them you would meet them there.’ She hands me a cloak. ‘Cover your face. They’re beginning to calm down now, but I've heard one or two mentioning your name. If they see you and believe you to be the cause of their distress, we could have a problem. Go. Rest. I’ve doubled the battalion on both sides of the Gate. All will be vigilant and on their guard. He will not get into the Underhill.
She hesitates. ‘After what I’ve heard of the power he’s given himself, I’ve also asked two of our most powerful mages to be there in case he tries to conjure tricks.’
‘That would be wise,’ Dane says, ‘and, of course, if you need my help, I am more than happy to go along as well.’
She smiles at him. ‘Thank you,’ she says. ‘That’s much appreciated, but for now, it's been a long few days for you all. An evening meal awaits you in your rooms.’
Dane murmurs his thanks and puts the cloak around my shoulders, pulling the deep hood up to hide my face.
He escorts me out of the tent and through the small camp that's been constructed. The wards let us out easily, and we walked through the now-quiet village as the sun finishes setting. He takes me back to our rooms and we find Kal and Grey bathing in a large hot pool built into the floor that I hadn’t noticed earlier. At my questioning look, Kal points to an elaborate golden hook on the wall.
‘The floor slides away when you pull that,’ he says. ‘Ingenious fae here.’
‘There you are,’ Grey murmurs, beckoning me.
