Page 15 of Forging Bonds: Part One

"No problem, man," Evander replies.

"Can you explain what would happen if we were just to stay here?" Griff asks.

"It wouldn't make a difference where you were, if you're not at the portal at the correct time to take you to the pocket realm where the Choosing is held, then you will be pulled in regardless. No matter where you are, in the Earth Realm or otherwise. If you're in the middle of a shower, it will pull you in. The Choosing is ancient magic, and it's incredibly strong, there is no way around it," Ty explains.

"Well, shit. There goes that theory," I mutter. I think deep down, I knew that it wasn't a viable option, but I'm glad that we asked because I would have always been wondering otherwise.

We don't have another plan for how to save Coen anyway, and I absolutely refuse to leave him in the hands of those monsters for longer than I absolutelyhave to. It is for the best, well, maybe not the best. That is a bit ridiculous. It is what we have got to deal with, and we'll make it work because it's either that or I die. I'm not keen on going to the Darkness and having every supernatural in the realms witnessing it.

That would not be smart.

"I'm sorry, Neith," Ty says. "We've all been looking for a way out of this for you, and we can't find anything."

"We?" I ask.

"Yeah, Sully, Draith, Ernie, Murray, Ahren, Eamon, Calia, and a couple of other people," Ty replies. "We've all been looking into it."

"My parents?" Van asks, and I know that it's more for clarification than anything else.

"Yes, we were all tasked with keeping Neith safe," Ty replies, confirming what we all already knew.

"Thank you. I really appreciate you all looking into it," I reply. I am really grateful that I have got all of these people looking out for me.

"Of course," Ty replies. "I'll see you all when you get here."

"Bye," Van replies and then hangs up.

"Well, it was nice to think we had a solution for a moment," Reed mutters.

"It was," I reply, "I think we're just going to have to face it that the Choosing is going to happen, and I just need to make sure that I'm as prepared as possible."

"Agreed," Van says.

We all drift into our own thoughts, and in no time at all, we pull into Niamh's pub. The place is a lot less busy now that it's early morning and no one is here but Niamh.

"Hey, kids," Niamh greets us as we walk through the door. "I'm going to assume that since you have all of your stuff with you, that the hybrid has been taken care of?"

My eyes widen, "Shit. Sorry, Niamh, I should have called you yesterday. Believe it or not, so much has happened between then and now."

She grins, "I'm not surprised. Trouble does seem to follow you wherever you go."

"I think I may be offended," I tease, knowing that she didn't mean anything by that.

She grins, "Don't be. Do you have time for a coffee and to fill me in before you go back?"

I look at the guys, and they shrug.

"I could go for a coffee," River says with a smile.

"Sully is waiting for us," Reed says.

"Ah, Sully is too smart to mind if you spend a bit more time with me," Niamh grins, a twinkle in her eye.

I chuckle, "You're definitely right about that."

"It's settled then. Have a seat, and I will be right back."

We all take seats as she heads into the kitchen. It's not long until she's on the way back with a tray of coffee in her hands, and she hands them all out before sitting down herself.

---