“Actually, we do. I believe you’re acquainted. The purple haired witch?” the queen offered.
My spine straightened. “Amethyst! She’s here?” I cast a glance around, as if I could have somehow missed my sweet, loyal, purple-haired friend before that moment.
But instead of finding her, I saw looks of discomfort flit across many faces. An uneasy hush fell over the room.
Sana cleared her throat. “She’s here, and a little . . . off.”
“Faerie-drunk?” I asked, confused.
If she’d been here for even more than a few days, that should have worn off by now.
“Not quite,” Sana replied, and gulped. “Her powers have amplified since coming to Faerie. She’s talking to all sorts of ghosts.”
“What Sana isn’t saying,” Ayla interjected, “is that Amethyst’s parents perished trying to flee their home. She hasn’t spoken to anyone but ghosts since coming here.”
I exhaled. Hearing the news of Amethyst’s parents made me feel like someone had punched me in the gut. After a moment, however, I latched on to the last bit of what Ayla had said. My brows knitted together in confusion. “You mean she’s ignoring real life? Like, depressed?” My heart cracked for Amethyst. “That seems reasonable, considering her parents just died.”
Hunter’s parents shifted uncomfortably, the king dropped his gaze to the floor, and Sana began bouncing her leg up and down rapidly.
Ayla drew in a long breath. “Well, yes, but no. She’s here, but not here.”
“I’m sorry,what?”
Was I being dense? Why did everyone seem so scared?
“She’s in the spirit world,” Sana blurted out, all tact lost. “Mentally, not physically. And since she’s arrived in Faerie, no one has been able to coax her out.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
When I woke the next morning, Eva, Hunter, and Alex were still sleeping, acclimating to Faerie, so I asked Diana to join me. We were silent as we followed Queen Aquatia and Ayla through the ivy-laced hallways of the castle. Occasionally, the queen would try to break the uncomfortable silence by pointing out a particular Faerie plant or decorative object of interest. Diana would reply, uncharacteristically engaging in small talk for the both of us.
I was grateful she realized that, at the moment, I just couldn’t.
Although I’d been exhausted, after the meeting, I’d ended up tossing and turning most of the night. All my thoughts were on Amethyst. I felt so bad for her, but didn’t know how to help. I hated that. Plus, selfishly, I knew that if Eva and I were going to be able to stand up against Lucifer and Ishtar, we needed Amethyst back.
I understood why she was in another plane of existence. She was trying to find her parents. I hoped that she hadn’t gone so deep that she’d gotten lost.
When we reached Amethyst’s room, I was astonished to see that her door was being guarded by none other than the vampire champions from the Spy Games.
“Francis, Simone, Magdalena.” I cocked my head. One was missing. “Where’s Anton? And what are you doing here?”
It was a polite way of asking how they had convinced the fae to let them into Faerie. The fae hadstrictrequirements regarding other magicals entering their kingdoms. An event had to be underway, or their need for the creatures must be great. They extended the fewest number of invites to vamps. As far as the fae were concerned, vampires were the lowest on the magical totem pole.
“Anton died in London. A demon staked him as we retreated,” Simone said, her tone typically chilly, although her eyes softened when she said her classmate’s name. “He tried to fight. Claimed that he knew the city well enough to pick a few off. He was always too reckless.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said, and I meant it. I hadn’t bonded with Anton, but he’d helped us the night we escaped from the demon horde. I’d be forever in his debt for that.
“The vampires insisted that they come to Faerie with the spirit worker,” Queen Aquatia gestured to the vamps as she answered my second question. “Said that you put Amethyst in their care in London. They haven’t wavered on their guard since she learned that her parents perished.”
“Oh . . .” I tried hard to mask the shock in my voice. Ihadasked the vampires to get Amethyst out of there safely. Obviously, they’d taken that to the next level. Considering what she’d been through, it was pretty thoughtful. “Thank you, guys.”
“We’ve all lost parents too,” Francis said. “Even if it was long ago. And she might be a bit odd, but the spirit walker grew on me.”
I nodded, knowing what he meant. Amethyst had that way about her. “How is she?”
“Awful,” he sighed dramatically, reminding me what a showman he was. “There’s been no improvement. I fear if she doesn’t come back soon, she’ll be lost for good.”
Ice flew through my veins. That couldn’t happen. We needed Amethyst—and more than that, I wanted my friend back, safe and healthy.
