Page 43 of Expose Me

“Great!” He slapped his knees and went to get up, ready to march right up to the portal and get us captured or killed. I threw an arm across his chest, stopping him.

“Easy, tiger. It’s not that simple.”

“Why are you referring to me as a large jungle cat?”

I completely ignored his question. “The person I’m thinking of, they’re not a friend, not like Sabrina or even Mark and Mitch. They’re just as likely to hand us over to the House of Sea and Serpentine as they are to help us. Not to mention we can’t just waltz up to the portal and wander through it. There are guards and ... ugh, can’t anything ever be easy?” I grumbled.

“It is a risk. I understand.” Zey turned his body towards mine and took both my hands in his. “But if you think this is our best option, then I am willing to take it if you are.”

“Where’s this sudden unwavering faith in me coming from?” I frowned. Zey dropped my hands and his gaze from mine.

“You have proven yourself—in ability and honor.” He shrugged.

“Did ... did you just give me a compliment?” I teased, my lips twitching with amusement.

“I have no idea what you’re referring to,” he sniffed. “I am simply stating facts.”

“Uh-huh.” Now it was me wearing the self-satisfied smile.

It was a shitty, dangerous plan, but it was the best and only one we had. I reminded myself I had nothing to lose. If there was ever a time to take a gamble, now was it.

“Alright, let’s get this shit show on the road.” I got to my feet and led the way down the street. Remaining vigilant, we made our way to the water where we “borrowed” someone’s motorboat. Sea and Serpentine’s territory on land barely covered the main Macapá area, but it extended quite far up the river. Unfortunately, it was the fastest way to reach the portal.

I felt the magic of the Sea and Serpentine border as we got close, but there were no visible signs of it. There was a slight pressure as we passed through, and I held my breath. I half expected a dozen mermaids to come shooting out of the murky water to apprehend us, but we zipped along without incident. Fortunately, like all other Houses, Sea and Serpentine was more concerned with who was entering their territory than who was leaving it.

It was dusk by the time we reached the dock, deep in a remote part of the Amazon. There was a well-worn path through the rainforest to the portal, and we didn’t waste any time heading up it. We were rapidly losing light, and I preferred to not be stuck in a remote rainforest with things that could eat me. So, despite the humid heat, we set a fast pace.

It was fully dark when we reached the portal. There were a few bars and restaurants and a small market that had sprung up in the area. The guardhouses and several other dwellings were spread a little further out in the trees—literally. They were treehouses. It was a pretty remote portal, so it was nowhere near as busy as some others. At this time of night, most businesses were closed, and not many people were around other than the ever-present Portal Guard. On the one hand, it was good because there were fewer people to potentially recognize us. On the other hand, there were fewer distractions for the Portal Guard to focus on.

“This area is No Man’s Land, like all areas around a portal,” I explained to Zey, leaning on a tree around a bend in the path. We were about twenty feet away from the gap in the massive netting that sat high up in the treetops, covering the entire area. The net was spelled with powerful magic and was there to help the Portal Guard do its job—an extra precaution at a portal that led to a world where everyone had wings. “No House has jurisdiction here. The guards’ main job is to monitor the portal and make sure whatever comes through to Earth is not dangerous. They’re not as uptight about people going the other way, but still ... they could decide to capture and hand us in just as easily as they could let us pass.”

“How do we convince them to do the latter? Can we pay them?”

“We could try, but in my experience, most portal guards would take offense to that. They’re all about honor and shit.” I rolled my eyes. “I think if we wait until it’s late and they’re tired and bored, we might be able to surprise them and rush through. Once we’re on the other side of the portal, they won’t care either way.”

“Perhaps there is an easier way,” Zey mused, his gaze moving between the individual guards.

“Like what?”

“Do you trust me?”

“Nope,” I answered immediately. He gave me an unamused look, tinged with a bit of irritation.

“Tough shit. Need I remind you we’re working towards the same goal here?”

“Oh my god, did you just curse for the first time?” I covered my mouth with my hand, then pressed it to my chest. “Oh, they grow up so fast.”

Zey ignored my sarcasm. Unfortunately, he was learning quickly that was the best way to deal with my snark. He just gave me a flat look as he shifted.

He shrank a little, and his hair turned blond. His features remained masculine, but he added some stubble, and his lips became thinner. Without a clue as to what he was planning, I watched him turn away and march towards the portal.

I couldn’t have stopped him if I’d tried. The portal guards spotted him right away. They remained relaxed but alert. It wasn’t unusual to have people approach a portal. Even as Zey got closer, two angels flew through the portal, landed to speak briefly with two guards, and stepped out through the gap in the netting just as Zey stepped in. I moved further into the shadows as the angels approached, but once they were out of the net, they just took flight anyway.

While all that was happening, Zey reached the nearest guard and started talking to him. They both laughed lightly, and Zey touched the man’s arm. I frowned. Was heflirting?

I ground my teeth. What the hell was this supposed to achieve? Then I ground them a little harder when I realized I was jealous.

“Sky.” Zey’s voice in my head startled me, and I focused. He was still chatting with the guard, having a grand old time. “Come over now. Act frazzled, like you’re running late.”

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