“It's fine, Az.” I kissed his cheek. “I'll see you at home.”
“But that you is your past, isn't it?”
I nodded. “The time is about to catch up.”
Az bowed his head and lifted his wings to give us some privacy. “Carus, what's happened?”
“I can't tell you. You know that I can't. But it will be all right. I love you, Az.” I kissed him, putting that love into our kiss. “Today was incredible. Thank you for that.”
He snorted and lowered his wings. “It went well in many ways.” After glancing at the massive group waiting for him to lead them back through the rath, he said, “I trust you.” Then he nodded at Arach. “Farewell, lizard.”
“Safe travels, mutant,” Arach said.
I shook my head as the Faerie God walked away. The crowd parted for him, and he went to the front of the line, but with his golden antlers, I never lost sight of him. He towered over the humans, a fantasy man leading them through a fantasy world. I wondered what the humans were thinking. It made me think of my first time in Faerie, but I hadn't been purely human then. And I hadn't been expected either. My reception was far different from theirs.
“I think that went well,” the High King said as he stepped up beside Arach and me.
“It did,” I agreed. “And, hopefully, that will make things easier on the faeries who choose to visit Earth.”
King Cian stared after the heads of state. “These are wondrous times, Queen Vervain. Simply wondrous.”
“And cold,” Lugh said. “Let's go back inside.”
“Wimp,” I teased him. “And we can't. We have to get back to our children.”
Lugh sent Isleen a lecherous look.
“Do not say it,” Isleen warned him.
“Aw, but my love. Don't you want to hold our child in your arms?”
“Nope. Not yet, I don't.” With that, she walked away.
“Isleen!” Lugh raced after her.
It looked as if both Spirit and Earth would have to wait a bit longer to hear the pitter-patter of little feet.
“They'll work it out,” King Cian said to us confidently. “Farewell, Fire Royals.”
“Farewell, High Royals,” I said.
Arach just grunted and nodded to the High King and Queen before he led me to our carriage.
Our escort was waiting for us with the royal carriage, several of them shifted into their horse forms to pull the thing. A final phooka remained in his man form. He was up in the driver's seat, reins in hand. Around the carriage, a unit of Red Caps stood. One of them opened the carriage door for us.
I thanked him as I got inside, then Arach climbed in, and a few moments later, we were rolling out of the courtyard, on our way back to Castle Aithinne.
“Well, it's not the Earth Royals,” I said.
“You're certain?” Arach asked.
“Absolutely.” I grimaced. “Well, ninety-nine percent.”
“We'll lay in wait at the Great Tree. Just one more day to get through, A Thaisce. And then we'll catch the trickster.”
“The Great Tree,” I murmured, my stare drifting out through the window. Then I bolted upright. “What if they come through the Imleag rath?”
Arach blinked. “I hadn't considered that.”
