Page 1058 of One More Kiss

Startled, they spun around to face me. The guy, mid-twenties and a skinny looking fellow, glared. Yep, I was interrupting. “Say, have you seen any Drop Bears? I thought I saw one headed this way.”

The girl’s eyes widened as she caught sight of my sword. “You’re a hunter?”

I nodded. “They’re nasty little beasts when they’re cornered.”

I made a production of looking up into the branches of the closest trees. “They usually hang out where you can’t see them. But when you walk underneath, sometimes they can’t help themselves and whoomph.” I smashed my fists together and stomped my foot at the same time for more impact. The girl squealed and the guy flinched away from me. “They’ve got you.”

“Are they deadly?” The girl’s voice was high pitched.

“You’re not from around here, are you?” When she shook her head I continued. “Thought so. Locals never come out here in breeding season.”

“Then why are you here?” The guy’s tone was surly.

“Hunting. We had reports of a feral beast attacking cattle. Once they start down that path they’re dangerous. I mean, more dangerous.” I pointed my thumb over my shoulder towards Fin. “My partner and I are here to take it down.”

The girl started packing up their picnic. “We should go,” she said to the guy. “It’s not safe out here.”

The guy looked about to argue so I jumped in. “Good decision. You want to be back at your car before dark. As long as you stick to the main track you should be fine. Hurry though. Once it realizes we’re onto it there’s no telling what it will do.”

Basket packed, the girl jumped to her feet. “Come on!”

The guy reluctantly stood up. If looks could have killed then I’d be a goner. Good thing I had my sword. I was the bigger bad guy right now, and I had Fin to back me up. Even in his forest green outfit he managed to look menacing. Quite the feat.

He picked up the picnic basket and sighed. “Let’s go then.”

“Thanks for the heads up,” the girl said to me. “You be careful.”

I nodded at her. “You too.”

They disappeared into the trees, following the track back the way we’d just come. Fin waited until we couldn’t hear them any more before stepping forward. “Drop Bears?”

I snickered. “Old wive’s tale. Effective though.”

“I’ll remember it for next time.” A hint of a smile played around his lips. A real one, not the grimace he’d displayed earlier. Who’d have thought the haughty Fae had a sense of humor.

I eyed his outfit. “Not sure you could pull it off.”

He ignored my comment, walking towards the Midnight gate. The gate itself was comprized of two huge rocks standing like an arch, but not connected at the top.

Fin walked to the one on the left. He looked skyward, shielding his eyes with his hand. “It’s time. Come.”

He held out his hand and snapped his fingers impatiently.

I stepped forward slowly, suddenly reluctant to do this.

Fin pulled something from a different pouch on his belt. As I got closer I recognized the dark blue gem, a gorgeous magical lapis lazuli. It was almost identical to the one the Jett had.

“How does it work?” I was stalling, but I was also curious.

“Like calls to like. When I touch the gem to the spot where the barrier between our realms is thin, with the correct intention held in my mind, the gate will open.”

I was pretty sure the intention thing was a lie. Not that Fae could lie. But my understanding was that if you had the key then the gate would open, which was why I’d been trying to steal Jett’s gem. Nothing in my research had mentioned intentions being important.

“And it has to be at Midday or Midnight?” I asked, clarifying what he’d said earlier.

“Of course.” Fin looked at me like I was an idiot and he was stating the obvious. “That is when the barrier is thin. Midnight is best, it is the Midnight Gate after all. But we can pass through at noon.”

Fin waited until I was close enough then snapped his hand out to grab my arm. He pulled me close, before pushing his gem into a slot in one of the rocks. The space between the rocks shimmered, then went black. It was like looking into a bottomless pool of water suspended beneath the arch way.

I braced myself for what was to come.

“Leave your technology behind,” said Fin. “It will die a true death in my lands.”

“You might have told me that earlier, you know, when I could have left it somewhere safe.” I fished my phone out of my pocket and turned it off before placing it at the base of the rock, sheltered in a small indentation. It should be safe enough unless it rained. At least it was out of sight of any picnickers. “I’m going to want it when I get back.”

Fin pulled on my arm urging me to hurry. He stepped forward and his body disappeared into the pool, only his head visible.

“You don’t need to worry about that,” he said, urging me forward into the pool of upright water. The last thing I heard before I was fully submersed haunted me.

“You’re not coming back.”

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