Three knocks on the door alerted us to Nolen’s arrival. I swiftly opened and ushered him in. Nolen was a tall, bulky guy, a real bear. I was glad he was helping us carry Remi, especially since the portal was an hour away, deep into the forest.
A soft gasp came from where Derek was sitting, causing all our attention to shift to him. Nolen took in a startled breath, then in two determined strides kneeled in front of Derek.
“Who—?” Derek began but was interrupted by Nolen.
“Mate,” Nolen stated.
“Fuck,” Nix muttered. “Horrible timing, man.”
“Please, Nolen,” I begged. “You can return to Derek as soon as we’re back home.”
Nolen seemed to remember my poor mate was unconscious and nodded as he stood. He looked back at Derek, “Please stay here. I’ll be back in three hours.” Derek nodded, his eyes wide and vibrant. Nolen walked over to Remi, but then seemed to think something over. He quickly removed his shirt and handed it to Derek without a word. Derek took it and held it close like it was the most important thing to him.
Nix and I ignored whatever was happening, and with Nolen back on task, we carried Remi out to the car while invisible. Wedrove in silence to the forest, which was a ten-minute drive, then carried Remi all the way to the portal. It was only visible for those with magic. I feared Remi wouldn’t be able to pass, but the others had assured me he would be fine.
I had to trust our rulers and they’d told me to bring him back home. I let that thought calm my nerves as we waved goodbye to Nolen when we reached the portal. I needed to remember to thank Nix for coming with me. He didn’t like leaving our new world either, but he did it for me, which meant a lot.
Nolen rushed out of there and I completely understood him. He was shirtless and had just found and left his mate. I would need to thank him, too.
“Do you think your mate is from here too?” I asked Nix just before we entered the portal.
“Yeah, I think so,” he replied.
And then we were back home.
Chapter Eleven
Remi
My brain felt like it buzzed from the inside. As if my head was vibrating, but not in an uncomfortable way, more like a brain massage, whatever that meant. It was sort of… pleasant.
“You’re home!” A lady gushed happily somewhere close to me. I had no clue where I was, but I felt my body become more alert by the second. I tried to move my body, or even just open my eyes, but I felt too weak to do anything.
“Bring him outside!” A man ordered and then we moved. I could smell it was Juno holding me, which helped my rising panic. It truly wasn’t pleasant being awake but unable to see or move.
“Why?” That was Nix’s voice, which meant he was near, and the thought calmed me further. I trusted them both. My whole life had been upended when I saw Juno only a few days ago, but I trusted my own instincts and they trusted them, so.
“I knew he had magic,” a man said. I remembered the voice now. It was Juno’s dad.
“Lay him here, boys,” a woman said kindly and then I felt soft grass under me. The smells were comforting here, like freshly mowed grass and lavender.
“He’s glowing,” Juno whispered with a sort of awe in his tone. Just hearing his voice had my heart beating faster. Needing him close. Wanting him closer.
“Magic.” Multiple people said in unison, their voices filled with emotion. The good kind.
I felt my body warm up from the inside and just when I thought I couldn’t take the heat anymore, the warmth faded, like it left my body and seeped out of me. I opened my eyes and saw Juno, Nix, and five others, all staring with wide eyes. Some even had tears trailing down their cheeks.
“Did I die?” I asked Juno. No one seemed inclined to offer me any information, so I better start asking around myself.
“No,” he chuckled softly. “You just got your magic.”
“Huh,” I replied lamely. “Cool.” What does one say in this sort of situation? Also, who were those people watching us? And why were some of them crying?
Juno offered me his hand and I took it, pleased to touch my mate and letting him help me stand. “I want to introduce you to my dad,” he said, gesturing to one of the criers.
“Oh,” I stuck my hand out and waited for his father to shake it. He shook his head and I was then engulfed in a hug with Juno and his dad.
“Dad, no tears,” Juno said, but his choked-up voice told me he was crying too.
