Lexi went back to looking at the male on the ground. “A Demigod Spirit Walker. A Soul Stealer, when I need to be. Right now, I’m trying to keep this guy’s soul in place while his body rejuvenates. He’s almost there. He’ll be right as rain…except for maybe a little PTSD.”
“Humans shouldn’t be this powerful, Demigod or no,” the Celestial said.
Lexi laughed. “I have news for you…” She spread her hands again. “I might be a smidge more so because of my bond with another Demigod”—she hooked a thumb at Kieran—“but ultimately, yeah, humans have about the same level of power as you. Good thing for us the books were wrong about your power, huh?”
The Celestial lowered in the air, hesitantly getting closer. “What do you want with these lands?”
“At least she didn’t just assume we wanted a deal,” Donovan murmured.
“Good looking out—no one make any deals,” Bria said.
“Our ward was taken from the human lands,” Kieran said, his voice deep and full of confidence. “She is in Faerie against her will. We seek to reclaim her.”
“We havezerodesire to be here. Trust me,” Lexi said. She pushed to standing and pointed down at the Celestial. “He’s got a wing that’s all fucked up. He might need a hand back to…wherever, but he’ll live. I think his heart stopped for a bit, but he should be good now.”
She took a deep breath and stepped back.
“Listen,” she continued, “I hear you people—creatures, whatever—can read minds. You’re welcome to come and get the answers you seek. I’ve got nothing to hide. I want my ward, and then I never want to see one of your kind again. If you were doing your jobs, I wouldn’t be here in the first place.”
“That’s one direction to take things,” Bria mumbled.
The Celestial on the ground sucked in a breath and started coughing.
The Celestial in the sky lowered slowly, several others hurrying to join her. They’d descend in a group. More gathered above, staying high. They didn’t plan to get involved. Or maybe they were waiting for someone else to cross the fringe.
The Celestial at Lexi’s feet groaned and patted himself, trying to hold himself in a few different places. He might’ve healed enough to live, but it still hurt. The others landed, their gazes going to him quickly and lingering. They cared about his wellbeing.
Seeing that he was doing okay, the female neared cautiously. Her eyes flicked between Kieran and Lexi, the others right behind her.
“We’re going to take the wounded,” she told Lexi.
Lexi took a step back and Kieran went with her, giving them plenty of space. The three Celestials behind rushed forward and helped the wounded stand. He was barely able to, needing more time to heal. Two of them grabbed him and pushed off into the sky, their wings making a humming sound as they went.
The female locked eyes with Lexi for a long moment. Silence fell around them. Zorn watched the body language but neither gave anything away.
“I just want her back,” Lexi said. “I don’t need your help, and I don’t want to make a deal. I’ll either force my way through thefringe and Faerie beyond, or I will walk a red carpet, but Iwillget through.”
“A red”—the Celestial cocked her head—“carpet? What is…”
“Never mind.” Lexi waved it away.
“Several humans have crossed the fringe.” The Celestial’s voice took on a hard edge. “More now than ever.” Her muscles tensed. She didn’t approve of that fact. One wondered why she didn’t do anything about it. “I don’t recall one that was carried or forced. Several have not had magic, female and male. You believe this tale, and so you may pass to do as you wish. We will not darken your path. However, given you were not invited by a royal, you will need to brave the wylds as any human would. You?—”
Her head jerked left. A group of three fae had run through the border line, appearing from nowhere. A body could see the fringe from a ways off, but on this side, they could only see a white haze.
“I got it!” Bria shouted. “I need something to do.”
She took off toward the coming fae before the Celestials above could descend.
“Wait for me!” Jack took off after her, Thane after him, followed by a few of the undead. Those were probably the human spirits they’d brought with them. The others were hunching and uncomfortable in the presence of the Celestials.
“What strange creatures you are,” the Celestial said, watching the others confront the incoming fae. “It is not your battle, but you would still defend the fringe?”
“No.” Lexi’s eyes were hard. “They realize you lot are mostly ineffective and want to stop your kind from coming and going. Killing them will do the trick.”
The Celestial’s light eyes, a beautiful shade of blue, bored into Lexi.
Lexi huffed, the Celestial having said something directly into her mind.
