Page 424 of Primal Bonds

The meeting place was a little-used portal Fane had discovered on New Moon’s west side. The plan was to go in at noon, when most of the night fae would be fast asleep. Olivia and Cleia would hit the portal with a one-two punch: first, Olivia would weaken the portal with a counterspell she’d concocted, and then Cleia would draw on the sun’s energy to jab a hole through it.

Once inside, some of their group, including Marjani, Jace and Fane, would spread out to find Rosana and Adric. Meanwhile others, including Cleia, Dion and a cohort of sun fae warriors armed with fae balls, would mount a direct attack on the night fae.

Marjani, Jace and Fane reached the portal first. The look-away spell was powerful here, even with the counterspell cast by Olivia.

Look away. Danger. Runrunrun…

Rubbing her prickling nape, Marjani glanced away. But when it pressed her to leave, she set her teeth and pushed back.

The Rock Run men arrived and hid in a nearby marsh, while Marjani and Jace took positions high in the forest canopy. Fane simply used his wayfaring Gift to blend into the trees.

Marjani hunkered down in the branches of a maple to wait for noon. Her stomach was a tangle of nerves, her cougar edgy. For Rosana’s sake, she’d kept her promise to Dion, but with every day that passed, her fear for Adric increased.

Her brother had sacrificed everything for her, even his honor. And now he was going to lose his life. Because of her.

She was damned if she’d let that happen.

A clot of silver-gray clouds shrouded the sun. She scowled at the shadows that raced across the forest.

Zuri arrived, along with several of the clan’s top soldiers, all wolves. He’d demanded to come, pointing out that for now, the action wasn’t in Baltimore, but in Virginia.

Marjani had hesitated and then given her okay. If they lost this battle, the clan might not survive anyway.

The last to arrive were the sun fae warriors, a dozen long-limbed, beautiful men and women. Marjani eyed them skeptically. In her experience, Cleia’s people were the fae’s version of Hollywood A-listers: all about the fun and glitter. This group looked like sexy models playing at war in their combat boots and camo gear, knit caps pulled low over their bright hair. But they silently disappeared into the surrounding forest.

Marjani glanced back at the portal. The ever-present fog made it impossible to see into New Moon. Were the night fae waiting on the other side?

She fingered Lady Olivia’s protection charm, strung on the leather cord along with Fane’s mate gift and her quartz. The silver charm was shaped like a prowling cougar. She’d been surprised—and touched—that the sun fae lady had bothered to make her a charm.

Her hand went to the sheathed iron dagger also hanging from her neck. Another two iron knives were tucked into her boots and her front pocket held a switchblade.

The protection charm had been a kind gesture, but Marjani wasn’t here to be protected.

She was here to kill.

A steady drizzle had begun to fall by the time Cleia and Olivia ’ported in, both in long-sleeved tees and camo pants, their hair in French braids.

Marjani swung off her branch and dropped the twenty-five feet to the ground. Fane and Jace trotted up as she tucked her leather jacket into a crook of the tree, leaving her in a slim-fitting, easy-to-fight-in turtleneck. The men shed their jackets as well.

Dion, Rui and Tiago appeared from the marshes, also dressed for a fight.

Dion kissed Cleia. “Are you sure about this?” he murmured, a frown creasing his forehead.

Sun fae were strongest at noon on the summer solstice—and this was the middle of winter. Night fae, on the other hand, were at their most powerful once each month when the new moon ruled the sky.

Which would be tonight.

Cleia cupped his cheek. “I’ll be fine, love. Stop worrying.” Her pointed chin went up. “It’s time the prince learned he’s not the only powerful fae on the East Coast.”

Together, they formed a semi-circle around the portal. Behind them, Zuri and the other wolves formed a second row along with the sun fae.

Olivia glanced around. “Ready?”

At their nods, she faced the portal. The forest fell silent except for the steady drip-drip of the rain.

Raising her arms, Olivia took three deep breaths and spoke a phrase in an ancient fae language. Her palms shimmered. She traced a circle in the air and the portal became visible, a round door into the New Moon Court.

On the other side, fog snaked through the trees. Marjani gulped to see that inside, it was already night. How much time did they have before midnight?

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