Mom’s grin held a wicked edge. I’d never seen her smile like that, and the blooming smile I returned might have been the first real one I’d ever given her.
I waved both of them off. “Be careful with that stuff, and do not show it to Thalia!”
My sister looked like she’d smoke all the weed in the world if she could.
“You’ve seen Thalia?” Mom asked as she tucked the joint into an inner pocket of her bag.
I told Mom about her warning. Mom frowned. “This place is one of the least dangerous realms, but we should heed her words all the same. I do not know what the other means, though I think it might refer to your other Lord.”
“He’s not my Lord,” I grumbled.
“Perception is everything. Even if you do not consider him yours, it’s worth paying close attention, looking for any danger coming his way and, perhaps, sending him a warning if you haven’t already.”
I hadn’t. Finding Tess had taken up all the space in my overworked brain.
We fell silent as we continued walking across the field, and it wasn’t long until we came upon a stone path. Mom stepped off the grass and waited for us. When we were on the road, Mom adjusted her bag but didn’t move.
“Mom?”
“Wait a moment,” she said quietly.
The ground rumbled underneath our feet. “The curious things started watching us halfway through. I’m glad you brought me.”
“Things?” A ripple in the grass caught my eye. Moira stilled next to me as she caught the same.
A few seconds later, a chitinous body rose above the swaying grass. It had no eyes, only a perfectly round mouth edged with serrated teeth.
“What the fuck?” I whispered.
Moira’s hand reached out and gripped my arm. “And here I was worried about ticks.” She shuddered.
The thing resembled a caterpillar, if said caterpillar was three feet wide, wore armor, and had teeth straight out of a slasher movie.
“What is that thing?” I asked.
Mom shook her head. “I’ve never seen its like, but you visit enough, you’ll find many unexplainable things in the fae lands.”
“Gods, I hope not,” Moira muttered.
“We are not walking through grass like that again.” I rubbed my hands over my arms.
Mom shot me an amused look. “Next time, when you look at the map, try to pick a road or town as a landing spot.”
I stared for a long moment before a low curse tore from my throat. Hadn’t even thought about that!
She patted me on the shoulder. “I was with you. Few things will mess with one of their old gods, no matter what realm they’re from.”
“What about the old gods’ kids?”
Mom’s lips twitched. “Only if their mettle has been tested.”
My eyes narrowed. “What does that mean?”
“You are new to our lands. There is much to learn if you wish to accept your place as Cernunnos’ heir.”
She started off down the road. I jerked a thumb over my shoulder. “If I did, could I start my reign off by killing all of those things?”
Moira snorted.
