Page 76 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

“And I don’t apologize for being human. Are you coming?”

“If I must.”

I let go of Azulin’s hand and made my way toward my new brother-by-law. My husband followed like a reluctant, protective shadow. Ghost muttered something I didn’t catch, and Azulin’s sharp response prompted a laugh from the dragon.

“What was that about?” I asked my husband.

“Nothing.”

I would’ve pushed, but Oran had noted our approach. Straightening, he turned to greet us. The servant took advantage of his distraction and slunk off.

“Off on a wild chase, brother?” Oran asked, addressing Azulin over my head.

“Once my wife has observed her human custom.” My husband’s tone made it clear Oran had no choice in the matter.

Oran’s eyebrows rose, and he considered me, amusement brightening his grim expression. “And which human custom is that?”

“Apparently, bidding family farewell is not a fae custom,” I observed.

“Not in our family. However, I have been informed we are an anomaly among the fae.” Oran bowed to me. “Farewell, sister. I bid you safe journeys and fair roads, as short as they might be with my brother as your guide.” He offered me a wink and a grinbefore straightening to eye his brother. “Don’t lose her. I will send word when I find our mother.”

Azulin nodded before guiding me back to Ghost.

“Time to leave,” he announced. Then, with a flare of magic that sparked and glowed, Azulin opened a portal through the middle of a table not five feet from us. It offered passage onto a manicured lawn hemmed in by low hedges and neatly trimmed trees painted golden by the late-afternoon sun.

Ghost stepped through with us this time, walking beside me so that I was bracketed by him and Azulin.

No sooner had the portal closed behind us, than a shadow elf emerged from beneath a tree. “You’re late.”

“Not my choice, Cas,” Azulin snapped before turning to Ghost. “Where do you want to begin your hunt?”

“Where she was last seen.” The dragon rolled his shoulders.

“No transforming on the lawn,” Casimir protested. “Avril is partial to the gardens and will object to the topiaries being flattened by an oversized lizard.”

Ghost ignored the elf. His magic gathered around him, and the air turned smoky.

“I mean it.” Casimir scowled. “Don’t annoy my brother’s wife. He’ll send us after you.”

Azulin groaned. “I do need Illeron to help.”

“Fine.” Ghost snorted out a great puff of steam. “Open a portal, then.”

Azulin’s magic flared—setting my nerves tingling in a pleasant way—and a massive portal large enough for Ghost’s dragon form opened. I glimpsed the place where Tana had attacked me just before the opening filled with Ghost, mid-transformation. Within a few heartbeats, he had slipped through the portal and taken to the sky with a mighty gust that blew all of our hair and clothing back.

Azulin closed the portal before turning back to the shadow elf. “I believe you indicated Illeron was waiting for us.”

Casimir led the way toward the manicured gravel path. “I didn’t know dragons were so impatient.”

“They are when someone attacks their blood brother’s mate,” Azulin replied dryly.

The shadow elf paused in the middle of the path to eye me and then Azulin. “Who attacked her?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Just give me their name.”

“My mother, Tana.” Azulin’s embarrassment, not detectable in his tone or manner, came across so clearly to me that I instinctively stepped closer and squeezed his arm reassuringly.

---