Ode opened her mouth to speak, but Xander was quick to say, “You’re right as always, mother.”
Corak went on, not acknowledging his response. “And you already know I don’t approve of this situation. Tonight, you can all have your fun, but come dawn, we must resume the fight. If we’re to ever hope to make a difference, we can’t have distractions such as this.”
When we all remained silent, she let out a sigh and went on. “But I suppose it’s too late now. If she’s to stay here, you Xander, are to take full responsibility for her. If she reveals herself or proves herself to be a nuisance, it will be up to you to correct the situation.”
Even in my happy state, I understood the threat in those words. I didn’t let myself think about how exactly Xander would correct the fact that I was there. Thankfully, I was hoping I’d be back on my island and away from these fae sooner rather than later.
“Of course,” Xander replied, his gaze fixed on me. “Nothing will deter us from our mission.”
“Good,” Corak said. “I’ll leave you now to enjoy the night as promised, but I expect you and Ellis to both be present during the morning briefing.” She paused and scrutinized me for a moment longer, then added, “Withoutthe new fae.“ At that, she turned on her heel and marched away.
Ode sagged against me now that Corak’s back was to us, and Xander shot Ellis a glare.
“What? It was an accident,” Ellis defended.
Xander still looked unimpressed with his brother as he held his hand out to me. “Will you walk with me for a while?” he asked, his intense gaze piercing through the strange light haze fogging my brain.
Neither Ode nor Ellis commented as I stepped away from them, and my stomach flipped as I took Xander’s hand, his fingers curling around mine.
Xander led me slowly across the grass, careful to help me keep my balance. “How are you feeling?” he asked with concern.
I angled my head, looking up at his striking face. A rainbow of color shone around his black hair, almost like a halo, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak.
“Cara?” Xander prompted, his gaze tracking over my face.
My foot clipped a clump of grass, and I nearly toppled, but he held me steady.
“I’m fine,” I replied, feeling like an idiot.
“The effects of the gas will wear off soon,” he reassured me. “Or at least, it would for a fae. Let me know if you start seeing anything unusual.”
Unusual?I laughed at his absurd comment, and he smiled at me.
“Then again, I guess this all must be strange for you,” he corrected.
I nodded, feeling as if he didn’t quite understand just how different his world was from mine. I remembered then Corak’s words about the briefing and the small bits of information I’d heard that had hinted about a war. Even while I was intoxicated and overwhelmed with my surroundings, I knew there was something darker about the camp I was in. Truthfully, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know all of the fae’s secrets.
I stepped over a small branch and nearly yelped when I thought I saw eyes staring back at me. Swallowing, I said, “When do you think you’ll be able to send me back?”
Xander was quiet for a moment, and when I peered at him his expression was unreadable. “Someone will come to question you tomorrow. Try to give them all the information you know. We’ll find a way to get you home.”
Unease went through me, and I wasn’t entirely sure if it was because I was going to be questioned or the way my heart squeezed at the idea of never seeing Xander again if I was sent home. I chastised myself internally and forced a smile to my face. “Thanks.”
CHAPTER 10
~ Raine ~
Thegrasssquishedundermy boots as Lyr and Soren led us through an ancient graveyard that lay on the outskirts of the forest, not too far from Katakin city. Moss covered the cracked tombstones, and trees had sprouted between the crypts like the forest had decided to reclaim the gravesite. Dean had stayed behind at the hideout to keep the peace between the houses, and Nic had already left before us to try and convince Mabel and the House of Faren to join our cause.
“Well this isn’t creepy at all,” I commented as we stepped past a tombstone that had been carved into a statue, presumably of the person who’d been buried. The man stared sightlessly across the graveyard, his nose and one arm missing as if someone had purposely defiled the monument. He reminded me of the nymphs we’d encountered in the fae realm, but this time, I was sure the male was only stone and wouldn’t render us unconscious. Pretty sure, anyway. I squinted at the small inscription at the foot of the statue. “He died over two-hundred years ago,” I murmured under my breath.
“They all did,” Kade said, coming up beside me and staring grimly at the statue.
Asher shrugged a shoulder. “We’re immortal now, remember?”
“We didn’t need the graveyard after the curse changed us all, lovely,” Darian added, twisting his head toward us as he glided between the tombstones.
I didn’t hide my confusion. “But there are still ways monsters can be killed.”
