“Then chemicals or complete enclosure are their only options.”
“Complete enclosure?” I whispered, an image of the trickster coming to me. “They were wrapped up, head to toe. Even their eyes were covered by a visor.”
“Well, if it was fabric they were wearing, that wouldn't matter. But if, say, they were in a sealed suit, one that didn't allow any air through, then that might work. But they would have needed an air supply. Did you see a tank?”
I grimaced at him.
“Oh. Yeah. Gods. Or faeries. Magic.”
“If they're an Air-Sidhe, they could generate their own supply,” I said. “So we're back to the Fey. But it can't be the Air Royals. They're indebted to me.”
“Maybe another Air Faerie?” Torrent suggested. “You've had run-ins with them before, right?”
“The only one I can think of is Arach's ex-girlfriend, and I don't think she's that bitter or ambitious enough to do this.”
“Then maybe it's a god. Someone with Air Magic.”
I sighed. “We'd better get back. I've got Arach and Viper waiting in Faerie, and the whole Squad in the God Realm. They'll all be anxious.”
“Do you think that's a clue?” Torrent waved at the star.
“It has to be. I'm assuming it's a reference to my star.”
“Not much of a clue.” He turned and headed for the door.
“No, it isn't.” I looked around, not daring to go to the edge and peer into the club, not in my current body. And shifting would mean getting naked. Definitely not doing that.
I could have sent Torrent down to ask whoever was guarding the bottom of the stairs if anyone had come past them, but I didn't think they had. The trickster had to change their plans because I nearly caught them. Perhaps they had meant to leave more with the star. But they had to drop it and run. No, they weren't downstairs dancing with humans. They were long gone. And they hadn't left a trail for me to follow.
I prowled after Torrent. Now I was angry.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Torrent went back to Pride Palace to let everyone know what had happened while I went to Faerie to collect Arach and Viper. Neither of them was pleased with the news, but Viper took it worse than Arach. Understandable after what he'd been through.
“The trickster has the power to put faeries and gods into an unresponsive state,” Arach said.
“I wasn't unresponsive,” Viper growled. “I remember moving and I could see normally, but I couldn't process what was happening. I remember, but it's all vague. A haze in my mind.”
“You couldn't respond,” Arach said. “That makes you unresponsive whether you remember anything or not.”
“I don't understand,” Fearghal said in a lost tone, his low, deep voice sounding so sad. “I see them come through, and I be goin' to grab 'em, but then I just be standin' here.” He shook his head. “I don't understand.”
“My point is, there is no fey magic like that,” Arach went on after a sympathetic glance at Fearghal. “I'm sure this is a god.”
“All right. Well, there's that at least,” I said. “Let's get back to Aithinne. I need to shift, get dressed, and kiss the kids before we head to Pride Palace.”
“That will take too long, Vervain,” Arach said. “You have clothes at Pride Palace. Shift and change when you get there. We're going through the Aether, remember? Time has caught up.”
“But the kids.”
“We'll both use our rings to return. They won't miss us.”
I sighed and looked down at the star I still held. “All right.”
“Go back to Aithinne, all of you,” Arach said to our people. “I will probably be there by the time you return. But if I'm not, let the others know that we're going to the God Realm in pursuit of the villain.”
“Yes, King Arach,” Fearghal said, then he nodded at his soldiers.
