Garrin sighed. “Will you always be this difficult?”
“Yes! You kidnapped me and took me throughthin airto this place!” She gestured forcefully at the sky. “There are three moons. Three! And the stars are red. I’ll probably die of radioactive contamination.”
Garrin looked around and spotted what he sought. “We are in Tirnan, the Fae realm. Your homeland. Or, at least, the homeland of one of your sires. As long as we aren’t confronted by other Fae, you’ll be safe.” He quickly paced to the closest Allon tree and started plucking leaves. Zirel scavenged for fruit and more leaves a few feet away. “Fae in Tirnan despise Halven, so stay close.”
“H-how will they know I’m Halven?” she said, inching nearer.
He stashed the leaves into the bag they’d brought, filled with warm clothes for Lex and he and his men. “I’ll explain later.” He fisted more leaves. “This isn’t what I planned, but it will have to do. We haven’t time.”
A rumbling came in the distance, and Garrin looked past Lex.
She gripped his arm. “What is that?”
He signaled to Amund, who was bent at the waist, his tanned skin pale, and ushered Lex toward the new portal. “It is the sound of deadly New Kingdom soldiers alerted of our arrival by a Presence Charm.” He threw the bag of provisions to Zirel. “Useful magic, Presence Charms.” He pulled out his sword. “Except when you’re doing the invading. We leave. Now.”
Lex looked around. “I don’t see anyone.”
And she wouldn’t. Not until the soldiers were upon them.
New Kingdom Fae possessed elemental powers—the ability to control fire, water molecules, and other natural elements. They were likely hidden among the fog that grew closer.
“It does not matter that a Halven sits on the New Kingdom throne. Most believe her rule temporary. Either way, they will kill first and talk later if they discover you.”
“Just me? Why won’t they kill you?”
“They’ll try to kill me, but I’m harder to get rid of. Now go!” Garrin shoved her stubborn body closer to the portal and ran in the opposite direction and toward the deadly fog.
There was no avoiding using his power now. He raised his free hand, and flames jutted at the dense gray mist.
Screams cracked the night sky, and the figures of Fae soldiers aflame emerged from the dissipating fog.
But Fae healed fast, and a little burn for an otherwise healthy Fae was nothing.
Garrin stabbed the soldiers closest to him, slashing and maiming others, and only pausing to glance back and ensure Lex was in the portal.
But what he saw made fear lance his chest.
Lex fought Zirel’s attempts to usher her into the portal, and Amund had collapsed to one knee, his hand raised, attempting to keep hold of his magic.
Garrin stabbed his way through the frontline of soldiers, blocked a lightning bolt and several boulders aimed at his head, and threw one massive fire torch at his enemies before running for Lex.
She grabbed his arm as he neared. “Take me back!”
“I’ve already told you.” He picked her up, one arm under her knees and the other behind her back. “I can’t,” he said, and jumped into the portal.
4
Amund’s portal deposited them at the perimeter of New Kingdom and the Land of Ice, where towering, snow-covered mountains spanned as far as the eye could see.
Lex jerked out of Garrin’s arms and glared. “Damn you!” Her gaze was hot as the fire Garrin could throw with his hands. Until she looked beyond him.
Her eyes rounded, and her body tensed. “Nooo!” she screamed.
And continued to scream.
Garrin stared at the female, confused at her lack of control. His chest tightened as her cries turned hoarse, choking sounds coming from her throat.
Lex’s eyes glassed over, and Garrin signaled to Zirel, but Zirel was already running to him.
