See, perfect. “We have to save Violet, and we have to fix the mecca. If we don’t, the fae will keep coming until we’re all destroyed.”
Calista cleared her throat. “Except that we are banished from Manhattan, which is the only place you can open a portal into the Otherworld.”
Dammit, Calista was right.
“We’ll fight our way in, Selene can’t stop me,” Kade said, his lazy confidence back in full force.
I placed a hand on his chest. “Whoa there. I’m hoping to convince my people that a side by side existence with the bears is possible. That’s going to be a touch harder if you attack them.”
He grumbled, and I could see that he just wanted Selene’s head on a stick, but acting on our base emotions would get us nowhere.
Calista raised her hand as if she was in school. “I have an idea…”
We stared at her, waiting for her to speak, but despite her hand-in-the-air-enthusiasm, she now seemed to be wrestling with some internal emotions.
“King Kade, do you swear to never harm Baladar based on the knowledge I am about to share?”
Kade’s eyebrows furrowed as he assessed Calista. “Why?”
Calista set her best poker face. “Do you swear it?”
Just what the hell was my advisor up to?
Kade cleared his throat before saying, “I do. Now why?”
Calista exhaled slowly. “Because Baladar set up a vortex somewhere in Staten Island that leads right to his Manhattan loft.”
“What?” Kade and I both cursed as we leapt to our feet. My wolf was rising inside, fighting my control. A hidden vortex, that was … impossible … illegal … dangerous.
Calista spoke over our ire: “If we can find the vortex, we can travel to Baladar’s, and then sneak into the castle undetected.” Her words were all rushed together, trying to defuse us.
Lucky for her it was a good plan. Selene would have the regular vortex discs crawling with guards now that I was banished. Sabina hadn’t magically banished me, and I don’t think it was possible really. I was still somewhat a queen, with mecca flowing through my veins, so if Kade and I could get into that crystal room we could open a portal and jump through … then find Violet.
“Where is the hidden vortex?” Kade looked livid that this had been going on under his nose.
Calista shrugged. “I don’t know. I only heard of its existence. It’s how your people get into his club.”
Kade stood and reached out a hand to me. I grasped on without hesitation. “Where are we going?” I asked as he led me through the mansion and out onto the front steps.
“To speak to someone who I think will know where it is,” he replied as Calista and Finn followed after us.
Once we reached the porch, Kade called to one of his guards. “Is Trixie on shift?”
The guard nodded. “She’s on post at the water’s edge.”
Kade nodded and walked over to a golf cart. We all got in and Kade took off driving the cart out the front gate and down a steep side hill toward the shoreline, until the lapping waves came into sight.
“I’ve beefed up security all over after the attack,” he said as he maneuvered around the natural terrain.
I wasn’t surprised. If I had still been queen today, like I should have been, my first order would have been investigating the attack and making sure our lands were secure. Well, as secure as they could be. After seeing those two magic born just open a portal into our world like it was nothing, I knew without any doubt that nowhere was safe.
As we made our way through the dense bushes and out onto the sand, I took a moment tobreathe in the salty air. Yes, my life sucked right now, and my best friend was missing, but I had always been soothed by the ocean. Violet had loved the ocean too; it calmed her energy.
Goddamn the fae.
“Why do you think they took Violet?”
The question burst from me in a short, angry eruption. I’d been so focused on the fact that my best friend was in enemy hands that I hadn’t actually stopped long enough to question why. Calista and Kade were both quiet for a brief moment, neither of them answering until the cart came to a halt.
