Post your guards on the expected day, and I will watch the realm,Faerie said.If someone comes through at either location, I will notify you immediately, and you will know where to go to catch the trickster.
“Thank you, Faerie,” Arach said.
“My timelines will align tomorrow. So, if they do show up the day after, I can return to the God Realm without using my ring.”
“And I will go with you.”
“Arach.”
“You will recall our agreement, Vervain.”
“This isn't a battle.”
“Not yet. But it may end as one. I'm going with you, and afterward, I shall use my ring to return to the Faerie Realm. I won't lose any time with our children.”
“All right.”
“We will catch this trickster and find Viper,” he vowed.
“Yes, we will,” I said softly, my thoughts settling on Viper. He hadn't been taken yet, but for me, he had, and every second of my doing nothing about it was torture. My stomach was in knots and my muscles kept clenching as if preparing for action.
Arach laid his hand on mine. “He will be fine, A Thaisce. For him, his capture will last mere minutes.”
“For me, it will be days.”
“I know just the thing to take your mind off it.”
“Arach, I'm not in the mood to have sex.”
Arach grimaced at me. “Why do you always assume I want sex?”
I gave him the look that deserved before saying, “Because you always want sex.”
“Yes, all right. But in this particular instance, I was going to suggest a flight with our children.”
“Samara,” I whispered.
“Yes, Samara.” He pulled me in against his side. “We can take her on her first flight across the kingdom.” He leaned in to nuzzle me. “And perhaps a nice soak in the hot springs while the children play in the Tine.”
“And sex?”
“Well, if the children are distracted . . .”
“Yup, there he is, my randy dragon.”
“Is that a yes?” Arach grinned.
I chuckled. “That's a we'll see.”
“Wonderful! We'll head out after breakfast tomorrow.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Samara was too excited to finish her breakfast. She kept bouncing in her seat and looking at our plates, silently urging us to eat faster. We had told the children that morning of our plans for the outing.
The boys were eager too, but they'd been on many flights with us and so were more interested in filling their bellies first. Still, they understood enough to smile at their sister and tease her by sliding more food on her plate when she wasn't looking.
“Samara, we can't go until you finish your food,” Rian said. “Have you even taken a bite of your morning cakes?”
