Page 193 of Cherish

Even as I say it, I’m pissed off at myself. Why didn’t I think of this when we were at the Shadow Court? How did I expect to be able to find the queen and her fortress again?

Then again, maybe she’ll be keeping an eye out for us this time. She does have everything on the line.

“Not to worry,” Macy answers quietly. “I spelled a portal seed directly to the shadow bitch’s fortress while she was distracted by making the bargain with you.”

“Youdid?” Relief has tears springing to my eyes, and I hug her really hard.

Macy tolerates the hug better than the last time we were at the Witch Court, and it takes every ounce of willpower I have not to hug her even harder for it. But I push back and glance down at the tattoo of a purple tree that has gone from feeling like an uncomfortable prick on my skin to actual burning in the last several hours.

“So one quick hop through this portal”—Macy tosses her portal seed into the swirling fountain, then turns to the group—“and automatically through the next, and you’ll drop directly outside the queen’s fortress.”

“Thank you,” I say, giving her one last hug. “I love you. I’ll see you soon.”

“Geez, so much hugging,” she moans, but she’s smiling when she says, “I love you, too. Good luck.”

“I wouldn’t miss this party for all the money in the world,” Flint says as he walks up to the fountain portal. “But there better not be any fucking shadow bees.”

“Too soon, dude,” Jaxon says. “Way too fucking soon.”

True. Damn. Story. A collective shudder works through us, but we shake it off as best we can. And then we all jump in.

107

Getting Sticky

with It

Once we’re through the portal, I look around and realize Macy has done it. While I’ve never seen the outside of the Shadow Fortress—the Shadow Queen was too cautious for that when we were here last time—it’s hard to imagine that the craggy, intimidating, giant purple building in front of us isn’t exactly what we’re looking for.

“Well, that’s not a nightmare you see every day,” Flint comments as he scrambles to help Jaxon put Mekhi back on his feet after fireman-carrying him through the portal.

“Because anything on this part of the trip is?” Heather retorts, and I know she’s thinking about all the difficult things we’ve done to get to this point.

I certainly am.

Just one more, I tell myself as I grab my platinum string and shift into my gargoyle form before starting toward the fortress. If things are going to go badly in there, I at least want the protection my gargoyle offers me and my friends.

As we get closer to the fortress, it’s hard to miss the fact that every square foot in the front has its own designated Shadow Guard to protect it. I don’t know if it’s just a show of strength or if the threats have gotten so bad that she needs this many people to keep her safe in her own home, but either way, I feel sorry for her.

No one should have to feel that afraid in their own home—for themselves or their child.

I brace myself for the worst—a trip to the dungeon if we’re not able to talk our way around the guards. But they must have standing orders to look for us, because the second we approach the fortress, the purple iron gates swing wide open.

And the Shadow Queen herself walks out to meet us.

She scans our faces, looking for…I’m not sure what. Her daughter, maybe, even though she knows better than us that it’s impossible for Lorelei to cross between realms. But I suppose a mother’s hope springs eternal.

“You came back.” Her voice is hoarser than it was before, the eyes that meet mine darker and more shadowed. I guess the last few days have been as rough on her as they’ve been on us.

I don’t want to feel sorry for her. She’s the one who—long, long ago—started all the mess that got us here. If she hadn’t tried to alter the laws of the natural world, of life and death, none of this would have happened. But she did, and now we’re all paying the price.

And still, even knowing that, I can’t help but feel for her pain a little bit. Especially since, as she walks toward us, I can suddenly see every one of the thousand-plus years she’s been alive weighing on her with every step.

“Lorelei?” she asks when she finally stops in front of us. Her eyes are on Mekhi, and I’m wondering if she’s observing his condition or if she’s asking him how her daughter is, as he’s the one who has spent the most time with her lately.

He stiffens when she gets close to him, but he doesn’t back up. Instead, he meets her eyes and says, “She’s okay.”

Her gaze lingers on him for a second before sliding over to me. “I have refreshments waiting. Follow me.”

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