Page 118 of The Demon's Discovery
Seir grinned. “I thought it hilarious that Rylan ended up mated—no offense Calla, you’re lovely, and I pity that you have to deal with his broody self for the rest of your life—but you too, Vassago?”
“Yes. She is my mate as well as my wife, and I want her back.Now.”
He chuckled, humor as light as ever no matter the circumstances. “Yes, of course. Alright then. Is everyone armed? Do we have everything we need? Once I deploy the portal, we will only have so much time to come back through.”
“How much time?” Calla asked, patting herself as she checked for her weapon.
“Two days.”
“That’s plenty,” I said confidently, ready to leap through and face whatever might await us.
“Time moves differently in other realms, Vassago,” Seir chided, hair falling into his face as he shook his head. He’d cut his hair short since last we’d seen him and had a hard time keeping it out of his eyes. “You know that as well as I do. Luckily, we get more time there than here, but we still need to be watchful.”
“Of course,” I nodded, anxious to get moving.
“Does anyone know anything about where we’re headed?” Seir asked, pulling a vial out of his pocket.
“No,” I frowned, realizing that for all we’d discussed it, my knowledge of the fae realm was extremely limited.
He shook his head again and put his arms down. “Are you serious? How have none of you visited yet?”
“You have?” Rylan queried, curiosity at the fore, like always.
“Of course I have!” Seir tossed up his hands as though we were the ridiculous ones. “It’s how I’m going to be able to direct this portal. I befriended an old man there forever ago. Haven’t seen him in ages, but we spent many a night at the tavern, drinking and gambling and working out all the problems of the world.”
“You don’t have to go to another realm to do that,” Magnus sighed.
“True, but the reason I went in the first place is?—”
“Later, Seir. Tell us what we need to know and let’sgo.” I wouldn’t mind hearing about my brother’s exploits sometime… but not now.
He smiled again, vial in hand. “Everything moves differently there. The air, the water, time…everything. For the most part they’re like us, but many are shifty assholes who can dress up in any body they like. They call it a glamour.”
“Yes, the one we’re after did that. He’s got green eyes and auburn hair. Eerie smile.”
Seir nodded. “These two tried to show Tap what they could, and he told me. Iron is the enemy—do we have that?”
I looked to Magnus, who rattled a heavy chain looped over his shoulders and chest in an X.
“Good. And in your blades?”
“Light but not iron,” Rylan confirmed. “At least, not much.”
“Better than nothing. Alright.” He tossed the contents of the vial at the hedge in nearly the same spot as the original had been. A sticky black liquid spread out into a vaguely oval shape. “We have two days to get back or Tap will be absolutelyfuriousif he has to leave the gates and come look for us. Landings can be rough, try to stay relaxed.”
Calla and Rylan went through the strange black void together, then Magnus. I glanced at Seir, who was far too happy for my liking.
“Thank you,” I said, not wanting to miss my chance to say so.
“Nice to see you, brother. Safe travels.”
Then he put his hand in the center of my back and pushed.
Chapter 46
Greta
My head throbbed when I opened my eyes. A strange yellow light streaming into them from several large candles made me feel nauseous. I’d been propped up in an uncomfortable chair with my hands tied to the arms, my head left to loll at an awkward angle. I blinked and tried to work out the kink in my neck, finding that I was in a room far different than the dungeon I’d barely escaped from, but my situation was sadly not much improved.
