The caster quickly replaces his poker face and turns business-like, explaining that the frightened humans who have escaped and been on the run for over a day are about to breach the Divide. He just needs to set up one more spell on this end to make passing through more bearable for them since their weak constitutions put them at risk of succumbing to the gods-placed ward.
He also says that monsters won’t be far behind the escaping humans but that Lillian is at the back of the massive group, helping to fend off any dangers that may chase after them.
I frown. “Does Lillian possess magic to fend off dangers?”
Felix shakes his head. “She’s just capable and selfless.”
“Just like my mate,” Bael grins. “All right, let’s get this show on the road. How can we help?”
I meet Everett’s eye. He nods and steps away to make a call. Our brief planning session should help immensely once the humans are through, but in the interest of getting them here, I step forward to address Felix.
“Teach me the spell you’re using. I’ll help you set it up on this side.”
He hesitates. “It’s a complicated spell?—”
I level him with a look that makes him cut off. “Don’t presume to underestimate me.”
He finally notices my pointed ears. “Oh—shit. You’re a blood fae. Um, okay, if you want my blood?—”
Maven rolls her eyes and steps to my side, tilting her head to the left to offer her neck. My mouth waters immediately, and I hold back a moan of delight when my fangs first pierce her skin there, my arms wrapping around her on instinct.
A gratifying rush of delicious power sweeps through me as I swallow, drawing again as my heart pounds euphorically. I can practically feel the bond between Maven and I shudder with our combined pleasure.
You’re taking too much,Everett grumbles through the bond.
I release Maven’s neck, licking away the last precious remnants of her blood from the tiny fang pricks on her neck as my body buzzes with power and intimate hunger. She meets my eye as I pull away, and I smirk at the way she’s practically eye-fucking me here in the cemetery.
When I turn back to Felix, he’s turned around entirely like he’s trying not to witness something inappropriate.
“I can help now,” I inform him, walking past him to the edge of the gray veil that is the Divide.
The caster is clearly still uncomfortable from the display of feeding as he describes a waypoint spell I’ve never heard of before. As I help him lay the runes and recite the needed incantations to stretch the waypoint all along this section of the Divide—from the cemetery through the field—I note that although he does seem a bit enfeebled from growing up in the Nether, he has an impressive grasp of magic and especially of fae-specific incantations.
Out of curiosity, once the waypoint spell has been laid and hums to life before us, I turn and arch a brow at him.
“À bheil linguam matris ah’gad?”
Meaning,Do you speak my mother tongue?
His eyes light up, and he tames a smile. “Anns antiquo dòigh, tha.”
In the ancient way, yes.
Interesting.
Before I can ask more, Felix says he needs to go back and guide the first humans through the Divide so the others can follow. He slips into the dark wall of gray at the waypoint we established, and I return to Maven and the others.
We wait.
And wait.
At long last, the bright light of a transportation spell appears in the field beside the cemetery—a group of Reformists, judging by the blue they’re wearing and the smiles on their faces when they see my quintet.
But the brightest smile of all is Kenzie Baird’s as she rushes into the cemetery, squealing like this is the best day of her life and not a tenuous escape plan that will almost certainly end in a fight with shadow fiends.
“Maven fucking Oakley!Surprise!”
Maven blinks rapidly as her friend goes to hug her, but Crypt holds up an arm to block the lioness shifter. That doesn’t dampen Kenzie’s spirit. She bounces on her tiptoes in excitement as more Reformists transport into the nearby field.
