Page 34 of Temple of Magic and Bone

"It's come from Andres. He must have figured out that we are in Faerie. He likes to send a raven occasionally to be dramatic," Vanth said. He glanced across the table at Elektra. "I'm not letting you go back alone. This is my fight too."

Elektra didn't look happy about it, but she still nodded. "I don't want to put you in harm's way, but I don't think we have a choice. If Lazarus has any more reapers, I need to save them. I'll find them faster with you."

Vanth tried to ignore the looks that were passing between Eiline and Flynt. They didn't argue with Vanth about it, so he dug into breakfast, knowing it was going to be another long ass day.

After eating, Vanth grabbed his bag of gear and went to meet Elektra outside. He said goodbye to Eiline and promised to keep her updated.

"Try not to put yourself in too much harm's way," she whispered, and he gave her a reassuring squeeze. She passed him three books. "Take these with you. I'll keep searching, but I know these three hold magic I was doing while at the temple. Elektra will understand them and know if any of the magic can help."

Vanth put the books in his backpack and left her in her cluttered room. He did his best to ignore the pang of guilt for leaving her behind. She would be safer in Faerie, and Flynt would protect her. If the curse took her mind again, he would ensure that she was looked after.

Vanth had been responsible for her for so long that it made him feel unsure and uneasy about sharing that with anyone else.

"She's going to be fine," Elektra said as soon as he stepped outside. "She has to find that mending spell for us."

"I know. It just feels weird," Vanth replied. She had light purple smudges under her eyes like she'd had a night as bad as his.

"Focus on your part of the problem, and let her focus on hers," Elektra said, adjusting the sickles that were folded down and in her boots. "We still need to get back to Inferno, and this time round, we don't have a guide."

"I have a solution for that," Flynt said, coming out of the forge. "I need to make sure that my grandson can find his way back and visit me sometime. We have a lot of time that we need to make up for." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small leather bag. He opened it and tipped out a silver ring. It was thick and plain and clearly made for a male's finger. Vanth could feel the enchantments on it and cautiously slipped it on his finger.

"This isn't going to attract unnecessary attention, is it? I can feel the magic it is throwing off," he said.

His grandfather tied his head back and laughed. "You are safe wearing it. The magic that you feel is only so strong because you are at the location that it's meant to find. It's a simple tracking spell that will guide you back to a doorway to Inferno and allow you to come back again. Each time you step into Faerie, it's a different path to follow."

"Thank you, grandfather. Here is hoping I don't die before I can actually hang out with you properly," Vanth said.

Flynt smiled. "I have something that might help with that as well." Vanth followed him into the forge and presented him with a short sword that was like an elven gladius. Vanth gave it a few experimental swipes. It had perfect balance, was light, and looked sharp enough to cut through bone. Its blade and hilt were both matte black.

All the better to kill my enemies in the dark, Vanth thought approvingly. "This is awesome."

"The metal in it has been attuned to hold magic, like the sickles you were using yesterday. You will be able to channel your magic down it without breaking it or compromising its strength," his grandfather promised him. He handed Vanth a leather belt with a back sheath for the sword and a spare one that sat horizontally at Vanth's back.

"The extra sheath is for that dagger in your boot. You're going into a fight, my boy. You need weapons you can reach easily and not be digging about in your shoes for," Flynt explained.

Vanth hesitated before giving his grandfather a hug. Flynt froze for a second before hugging him back.

"Thank you. Please look after my mother," Vanth said.

Flynt patted him on the back. "You know that I will. Now, get moving. The sooner you two find a way to end this, the sooner wecan get the curse lifted off Eiline. Elektra? Make sure he doesn't hurt himself."

Elektra bowed to the smith. "I'll do my very best."

"If you keep him alive there might be a new weapon in it for you," he said and kissed her hand goodbye. Vanth had the sudden urge to smack the older fae male's hand away.

Elektra blushed redder than her hair. "In that case, I will wrap him in cotton wool and lock him in a cupboard as soon as we get back to his house."

Flynt laughed, and they said their final goodbyes before heading into the forest. As soon as they were out from underneath his grandfather's wards, the ring on Vanth's finger started to hum with magic. He pointed to a barely-there path through two oak trees. "We go that way."

21

Elektra stayed a few feet behind Vanth as they made their way through the forest. She hadn't lied when she said that she was going to protect him. She didn't think he had ever been this far into the Faerie realms and didn't have the proper kind of awareness of his surroundings.

She didn't know if letting him return with her to the city was a good idea, but she couldn't handle the thought of leaving him behind. She had spent the night staring into the fire in the lounge room and turning over all that she had learned in the past few weeks.

What would happen to the temple now that everybody was dead? She might have been the only one left, which meant the responsibility of either walking away forever or starting up a new temple lay on her shoulders. It was also another reason why she needed to make sure that she didn't let things with Vanth go too far.

Not that she was ready to take a mate, but the more she thought about it, the more she knew it was going to be impossible, even if she was.

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