Page 21 of Guardian of Shadows

“Why don’t you and Elle go ahead with the others? Urijah and I will meet you at our house later,” Banyan offered.

“Sounds good.”

Anthony grabbed their bags and stowed them in the back of a large SUV. Brent helped Cassi into the passenger seat, so Tony, Elle, and Yari slid into the second row with Elle in the middle. Yari grabbed Elle’s hand. “Tell me everything that happened to you after leaving Summerland.”

Anthony had heard most of what Elle went through, but she gave her sister even more details, including how she convinced a raven to take a warning to Yari at the royal castle.

“That was brilliant,” Yari cooed.

“It was, if a little frightening having this large, black bird swoop down onto the dining hall table,” Cassi added with a chuckle.

“I wasn’t sure if Novus would understand the directive, but I had to warn you, and I’m so glad it worked.”

“You and me both. Without the advance notice, I doubt we’d have won the battle. With your warning, I was able to send my own message to Queen Zarina. She sent Cassi and me through the portal, then took the other guards to help Thran and Rhoan.”

“What about Melisandra? And what happened to the dark who weren’t killed in battle?” Elle asked.

“Queen Zarina killed her sister and sent the dark who fought with her to another realm where their brother rules.”

They turned off the road onto a narrow drive that led through some trees. The drive branched off in two directions, and they veered right. “Banyan and Uri’s house is down that driveway,” Brent said, pointing to the left. “My parents’ house is this way, and Cassi and I built a house about a mile past theirs.”

When they stopped, several people were waiting outside Travis and Brynna’s home. Anthony recognized them, having met the Norse crew several times over the years. Brent’s younger siblings, Jaxon and Tovi, were standing with Brent’s twin, Trinity. With them was Nova, one of Banyan and Urijah’s older adopted kids.

Anthony exited the SUV, holding out his hand for Elle. Once she was introduced, Brent said he would take their bags inside while they went to see the queen, but Nova assured him that she and Jaxon could handle the duffels.

Yari lifted a pendant from her chest and rubbed the stone. The air whooshed, and a circular vortex appeared close by.

“Whoa. I hate to say it, Sweetheart, but that’s even cooler than your magic.”

Elle smacked his chest, but there was no heat behind it. To Yari, she asked, “Is Tony allowed to accompany us?”

“You will need to glamour him to appear as a D?nthúlú. Queen Zarina isn’t ready to explain humans and their world to our people.”

Elle waved her hand in front of Anthony, and Brent laughed. “That never gets old. Nice ears, by the way.”

“Let’s go.” Elle grabbed his hand and gestured for Yari to lead the way. Yari stepped through the portal with ease. Anthony and Elle approached, and he took a step into the unknown, but Elle released his hand. Maybe they had to go through separately? He waited beside Yari, but Elle never came through. Anthony returned to the other side to find Elle dusting off her dress.

“Elle?”

She looked at him with tears in her eyes. “I can’t go through the portal.”

Chapter 8

When Elle approached the portal, her sigil tingled, and Anthony’s hand was torn from hers as she was thrown backward, landing on her butt.

Cassi rushed to her. “Are you okay?”

Elle shook her head, tears filling her eyes. She pushed to her feet, wiping grass off the back of her dress. Tony came back through the opening, his eyes landing on the glowing sigil. “Elle?”

“I can’t go through the portal.”

Tony’s hands fisted at his sides. “I’m going to kill the bastard.”

“Get in line,” Yari said, also returning from the other side. She traced a gentle finger against the sigil, but her eyes were filled with fire. “I’ll go get the queen.” Yari stepped into the portal, and it closed behind her.

Elle placed her hands over her face, and her shoulders shook as she sobbed. Tony gathered her into his arms, pressing his cheek to her hair.

Cassi joined them and hugged Elle from behind. “The queen will sort this out. Do you want to go inside to wait? Or I can grab you a coat, if you wish.”

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