“Now you know how I feel,” Keir muttered. “Forced to watch Seren wander around the worlds without me, just after I got her back into my life.”
“I'm sorry, Dad,” I deflated.
“I understand,” he said gently. “As King Raza must also understand.” Keir turned his gaze on Raza. “Your kingdom will not take the news of a dark elf exodus well. You know you must remain at Craos-Teine to keep them calm.”
“Yes, I know,” Raza sighed. “And I also know I need someone to investigate the elves. Someone I can trust.”
“I'll be back before you know it,” I promised.
“Impossible,” Raza said, “I already feel your absence.”
Chapter Twelve
I left shortly after speaking to my father. There were two ways to access the In-Between. One was by standing in a between place (such as a shoreline or levitating just above the ground) at twilight (dawn or dusk). The other was to walk off the path within a fairy mound. Since there was a rath near Craos-Teine, I didn't have to wait for twilight.
I scried Killian first, asking him to meet us in Vik i Myrdal, an Icelandic town with a small population of humans, and a huge community of elves living nearby. Killian said he'd make some hotel reservations for us, in case we didn't make contact with the elves by sunset. Then I scried the local chapter of the Wild Hunt to let them know we'd be arriving shortly. The Lord of the Wild Hunt in charge of Iceland's team said he'd send a hunter out to Vik to help us.
I'd phone the local Extinguishers too, after we arrived in HR, but I knew they were based in Reykjavik, which was a couple of hours away from Vik. The fey hunters were based in Grafarkirkja, which was only about forty minutes away. As far as witches went, Killian said they were everywhere. Apparently, witches loved Iceland as much as the elves did. So we'd simply have to keep an eye out for them both.
After changing into some human clothing, I headed down to the rath, in a cavalcade of carriages, with a few of my Guard members, Cat, and Raza. It was a tense trip, during which Raza muttered about the restrictions of being royalty, all while clutching my hand. Cat watched us avidly from the seat across from us. Raza had wanted a little privacy, so my guards were riding in other carriages.
When we finally reached the rath, Raza opened the carriage door for Cat, then shut it again as soon as she jumped out. I looked at him in surprise as he pulled me onto his lap. Our goodbye kiss was scorching, all grasping hands and growling moans. He had me pressed in tight, grinding up into me, and I was so deep within his kiss, I couldn't tell where I ended and he began. Raza finally nibbled his way back from me, and let me go.
“Where is this kevlar you spoke of wearing?” Raza asked.
“It'll be fine.”
“Seren, you promised me kevlar.”
“This is a really strange goodbye conversation.”
“Seren,” Raza growled.
“I have the suvanis flowers,” I tapped the pocket of my jeans. “Don't worry.”
“Impossible,” Raza rolled his eyes. “Loving you is half anxiety and half bliss.”
“Which half of me is your bliss?” I teased.
“You know exactly where my bliss lies,” he grinned wickedly. Then he laid his palm over my heart, and his expression went soft, “Right here. Your heart is mine now, Seren. So you must protect it.”
“I'll do my best,” I whispered and kissed him one last time before getting out of the carriage. “Go run your kingdom, Dragon. I'll find your missing elves for you.”
“I know you will,” Raza smirked, then tapped the carriage roof.
I shut the door on his beautiful face. The carriage turned about, and the line of them headed back to Craos-Teine. I didn't like watching Raza ride away from me, probably as little as he enjoyed doing the riding. At least when I dated Tiernan, he'd go everywhere with me. Tiernan always had my back. Not that Raza didn't. There were just times when he simply couldn't, not physically anyway. But Raza was still with me, even as I turned away from him and headed to the rath. He was right, my heart was his. Which meant that he was always there.
The rath we were using was one leading to Twilight, so its gate was gold. Emblazoned upon the double doors was a scene of a star shining down upon a forest-bordered castle, all done in silver. The gates were wide, and so was the path, expansive enough to allow carriages to pass through. But we were on foot, and this time Cat didn't need to be carried so she could access the In-Between. She would simply step off the path with the rest of us. Though I had a good grip on her fur to make sure she followed where I led.
We stepped off the path together. Darkness closed around us, and, for a moment, I was lost in the peace of it. Walking the In-Between was like traveling through space, cold and limitless. But the cold was familiar, and the expanse was exciting. Freedom and security all in one. Out there, I floated in my magic, and the tides of power would take me anywhere I wished to go. It was as comfortable as an old pair of shoes. You just slipped them on, sighed, and started walking.
But the comfort didn't last long. Too soon, we all stepped out of the Between, onto a cliff overlooking one of the smallest towns I'd ever seen. The most impressive building in the town appeared to be a church, pristine white walls crowned with a red steeple. The rest of the village knelt before the church in neat rows, parishioners waiting to worship. I had the briefest sense of Anu, and then it was gone. If God was there, he was remaining silent. Perhaps he didn't want to disturb the tranquility of the scene. Vik i Myrdal seemed to be sleeping, nestled into the curve of a cliff, and bordered by a blanket of gray sea. I inhaled the salty, fresh air deep into my lungs, and let out a happy sound. Cat fluffed her coat morosely.
“Okay, we're here,” I looked across the windswept cliff. “Now where's-”
Killian walked out of thin air, onto the cliff beside us.
“Killian,” I finished. “There you are.”
