17
MEREDITH
“Okay, remember, we need to try not to kill anyone unless they’re directly holding Ilayda against her will,” Evie said as we gathered next to the portal to the light fae realm.
I didn’t point out that it had been she who’d broken that little rule last time. “Easier said than done. They’re holding Ilayda against her will.”
“I know,” Evie sighed. “But this is going to be a shitshow of epic proportions if we’re caught. The demons are already at war with the light fae, but we’re both witches, which could pull the covens into this.”
I scowled. Even though neither Evie nor I were members of a coven, the light fae likely wouldn’t see it that way. Especially after the witches had joined together against Lucifer.
Kyla snarled, pacing back and forth next to the portal, leaving paw prints in the dirt. She wasn’t happy to be left behind.
“No stupid risks,” Vas rumbled over my shoulder.
We all nodded.
“Okay, here’s how it’s going to work,” Evie said. “Aubrey gave us these.” She held up several sealed plastic bags. Each of them contained a flower that looked similar to a rose. Only, they were black. “They’ll help us with the guards. But first, we all need to chew on one of these so we’ll be immune.” She held out her other hand, and we all looked at the bright-red leaves.
“The flowers will only work outside. Something to do with the breeze and light fae wards. So, we can take out the guards surrounding the property, but once we reach the house, we’re on our own.”
“How do you want to approach?” Vas asked. I smiled at him. I loved that he wasn’t attempting to take over, even though he had so much more experience with this kind of shit. He smiled back at me, and Evie rolled her eyes.
“Love. Ick. We approach on foot. Let’s enjoy the element of surprise for a little longer.”
I could tell from the approval on Vas’s face that it was the right decision. Evie handed us each one of the leaves, her nose wrinkling as she shoved the last one into her mouth. I gagged. I’d never tasted anything so bitter in my life. Of course, Vas took it like a man, his expression neutral. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he dropped a kiss to my forehead.
I took a deep breath, and we all stepped through the portal.
Ouch. I was lucky I could travel between realms, but it seemed to hurt more if I’d recently used a lot of power. I’d used my tech magic more in the past week than at any other time during my life, and I was feeling drained.
“His property is close to the seelie forest,” Evie said. “Kyla warned me, and while it would be nice to sneak through it, the forest would likely eat us alive.”
I shuddered. “So, what’s the plan?”
She smiled and waved at something behind me. I turned, gaping at the beaten-up vegetable cart currently rolling down the dirt road toward us.
“Another reason Kyla couldn’t come. She and horses don’t get along.”
“Why?”
Sadness crossed Evie’s face. “She used to ride. Worked part time in some stables for free and exercised the horses. When she was turned, none of the horses would go near her. She…takes it personally.”
My heart ached for Kyla, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. The seelie driving the cart pulled on the reins, and it stopped in front of us. Technically, he was high fae, but even high fae had varying levels of power, and if he was working this job, he likely didn’t have all that much.
Evie held out her hand, dropping one of Ilayda’s diamond necklaces into his palm. I gaped at her, and she shrugged. “Nereus said he’ll replace it.”
We climbed into the cart. Vas did his best to look small, but it wasn’t exactly working.
“Maybe you should wait here,” I muttered.
He glowered at me. Fine.
The first sentry was easy. We simply pulled up, pointed to the canvas bags of vegetables, and he nodded, completely unconcerned.
“Oh, you know he’s getting fired,” Evie said, the plastic bags clenched in her fist. “We didn’t even need to use our secret weapon.”
The next sentry was much more alert. He sat in a small wooden booth on the outskirts of the property. “Deliveries go around the back,” he started. Then he stopped and stared at us. “Demon,” he hissed, and I shot Vas an I-told-you-so look.
