“I agree, but I’ve been instructed by the warlock queen slash seer sprite that we are not to open the veil of the draheim yet.”
“Why?”
Peri rolled her eyes. “If I knew the answer to that question, I would have included it in my statement.”
“So we’re just supposed to sit here and wait?” Skender’s wolf had risen to the surface again, and his eyes glowed at her.
“Yes.” Peri nodded. “We wait.”
“That feels so anticlimactic.” Skender’s shoulders rolled forward as he dropped pebbles carelessly on the ground.
“Perhaps you should enjoy the anticlimactic reprieve for now,” Peri suggested. “I’ve been to the draheim veil. Jen is on the other side looking way too stabby. Not to mention Jacque, Elle—”
“I get it, Peri,” Skender snapped. “If I walked through the veil to the human realm right now, I might end up skewered like a pig.”
Peri pursed her lips. “Hmm, that’s putting it mildly. They really do not like you. And Jen will be first in line to take her retribution out of your hide.”
“Titus said we wouldn’t let her kill Skender,” Torion said, his voice rough with sleep.
“How do you know Titus?” Skender turned to look at the fae boy.
“The angel took me to him.” Torion paused. “Well, she’s actually the creator of the supernaturals, but she looked like an angel.”
Skender looked back at Peri. “Did you know about this?”
Peri shrugged. “He might have mentioned it to me, but he didn’t tell me any more than what he just told you. He did basically tell me to stay out of his business.”
Skender looked back at the boy he claimed as his own. “Was it in a dream that you met him?”
“It felt like a dream, but it also felt real.” Torion pushed himself up into a sitting position.
“Why does Titus think you two can keep Jen from killing me?” Skender asked.
“Because I’m her future son-in-law.”
And just like that, Peri’s world shifted on its axis, nearly toppling her sideways even though she sat flat on the ground. Her mouth opened and closed several times before she finally shook her head and looked at Torion. “All I can do is give you my condolences.”
“Peri.” Skender snarled.
“What?” She blinked innocently. “Someone ought to tell the boy what he’s in for. He’s going to need decades to prepare himself for what he’s facing. And then he’s going to need years of counseling—wait, no.” She pointed at Torion. “He’s going to need a lifetime of counseling because Jen is, well, Jen. And her offspring should have trouble tattooed on her forehead.”
Tenia stirred, and Skender shot Torion and then Peri a warning look. “Let’s keep this between us for now.”
“She’s going to find out eventually,” Peri said.
“I’m well aware of that.” Skender sighed. “But she has enough on her plate. There’s no reason to add more to it until absolutely necessary.”
A few minutes after Skender finished speaking, Tenia sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She blinked as if trying to get the room to come into focus. “Is it morning already?” She looked between Peri and Skender.
“Not quite,” Peri answered. “When I returned from my errand, Skender was sitting here staring at the fire as if it held the secrets of the universe. Then Torion woke up. We’ve just been having a chat.”
“About what?” Tenia scooted closer to Skender until her shoulder pressed against his arm. Torion crawled over his mom, passing in front of the fire, so that he was on the other side of Skender. He leaned against the wolf, just as Tenia did.
“We can’t leave the draheim realm,” Peri answered. Might as well rip the proverbial Band-Aid off quickly, she thought. “The warlock queen warned we had to remain here. Apparently, if we leave before we’re supposed to, the sky will fall.”
Tenia arched her brow. “The sky? Will fall?” she said slowly, turning the four words into two questions.
“Something along those lines,” Peri said, “As much as it pains me to sit around and do nothing. I’ve also learned that when we move before we’re supposed to and take matters into our own hands without considering the consequences, others get hurt.” She dropped her eyes as shame rushed through her veins like boiling water. “I’ve got enough blood on my hands to last an eternity.”
