Page 222 of Lady of Starfire

Callan nodded, trying to sort through options and scenarios. He didn’t know the Rydeon Kingdom well enough to know where to hide the people. Maybe they would know somewhere to go? But they’d never be able to outrun the seraphs.

“You could create a portal though, right?” Callan said suddenly.

“And send them where?” Azrael asked.

“Siofra? Or the Witch Kingdoms?”

Azrael shook his head. “They will not go if we tell them that is where they are going.”

But another idea was forming. “What if you took them to the Wind Court? You want to be there to help fight anyway. You go there to help them prepare, and take the mortals with you.”

“You want me to take mortals to a Fae Court that is about to be attacked?” Azrael repeated, shooting him an incredulous look.

“Behind a Fae Citadel would be safer than a rebel camp in the woods. Is it not what we are planning to do once Eliza has the Fire Court?” Callan countered.

“I do not have the time to deal with this shit,” Mordecai suddenly said loudly, drawing Callan’s attention back to them. “There are rumors the Witches are assembling to fight at the Wind Court. I need to be preparing for that, not overseeing this nonsense.”

“What do you want us to do, Commander?”

“Do not waste resources until you have figured out what is wrong with the mirror gate.”

“But how do we—”

“Are you too inept for your position?” Mordecai interrupted.

“No,” the seraph gritted out.

“Then get it done. I want this figured out before Alaric shows up here himself.”

“What do we do with the humans until then?”

“Do you need to do anything with them?” Nuri asked.

“I suppose not,” the seraph relented.

Azrael was tugging Callan back down the passageway. Once they rounded a corner, Callan said, “What?”

“If what Mordecai said is true, the Citadel will be one of the safest places for the mortals to be. If the Witches have been told of the plans and are coming to aid in the fight, the battle will be well met,” Azrael said.

“So you will do it? Make a portal for them? Make sure they are taken care of?”

“What will you do?”

“I need to go back to Windonelle and my people,” Callan answered.

“How will you get back there?”

“Don’t worry about the king, Grumpy Gardener. Cai and I will make sure he gets back to Baylorin,” Nuri said, appearing from a shadowy corner.

Azrael gave a full body sigh of irritation. “Stop doing that.”

“Death’s Shadow,” Nuri drawled. “Have we met? This is what I do.”

“How do you plan on getting Callan back without issue?” Azrael asked through gritted teeth.

“We got the two of you here, didn’t we?”

“My wellbeing is not the issue here,” Callan interrupted. “How are we going to get all those people through a portal unnoticed?”

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