“Especially since we can’t call on our normal friends without risking the magical imbalance we’re trying to avoid,” Koios said. “No, we’re going to have to go in cold and do our thing from the inside.”
Bailey gripped Logan’s hand and looked around the table at each of them in turn. “And we’re certain a fast attack is the best strategy? We don’t go in without a plan.”
Logan and Koios met each other’s gazes from across the table, but it was Taj who answered Bailey’s question. “I think we have to act fast, Bails. We don’t have a lot of facts here, but if Garzaxie sent Tyson out in the shape he was in, I think we can make a logical leap that the manticore might not know Tyson’s gone. If we don’t move fast, he’ll more than likely find out, and then he’ll be ready for us.”
“If he isn’t already,” Gideon said. “But I agree with Taj. I spoke with the guards at the Jerricks’. The portal Tyson came through opened and closed so fast they barely saw it, and these guys are trained to catch those types of details. If it was that fast, they needed it to be. They could have been more careful with Tyson, but they weren’t. Why?”
Scout leaned forward. “And from the injuries Tyson sustained…well, let’s just say our buddy Jim has a calling card when it comes to his preferred torture methods. I don’t have any doubt that it was him behind Tyson’s injuries. They’re too close to mine for it to be a coincidence.”
Bailey sighed. “So, we’re going in cold, with no magic users and no real information as to what’s happening in the Unseelie realm.”
“But if we have the element of surprise on our hands, we’re more likely to stop the manticore before he does any more damage.”
Scout drummed his fingers against the table. “I just wish we knew what magic he was using. It’s not like he has a tail anymore. I took care of that the last time the asshole came after us.”
“But who knows what else he’s stolen,” Taj added. “That’s been his primary concern for all this time. Stealing magic and opening portals. But the Unseelie realm didn’t exist when he started his attacks. So what was he trying to open? I don’t like all of the unknowns.”
Koios didn’t either. There were too many pieces of the puzzle that didn’t quite fit together. He’d gone through so many options in his mind, eliminating some based on the facts at hand, while leaving others with question marks due to lack of information.
“At this point, it doesn’t matter what he was trying to accomplish before. He’s gone into the Unseelie realm and we’ve got to stop him before he causes an even bigger rift in our magic.” Koios stood and looked around the table at the team he’d assembled. He’d not known he was creating a pack—a family— at the time, but the goddess had had a hand in putting them all together.
“We ride at dawn,” Scout said, jumping to his feet and putting his hand out toward the center of the table. “And by dawn, I mean whatever time Logan tells us is time to go.”
Gideon and Taj stood up next. “We ride at dawn.”
The rest of the pack stood, as well as Phoebe and Iris. Koios moved away from his position at the end of the table and ended up with his hand directly beneath Logan’s.
“We ride at dawn,” Logan said. “And by dawn, I mean now. Everybody load up. We don’t want to waste any more time.”
Koios grabbed his gear. He’d put together an amplifier of sorts for their comms signals. The best way he’d be able to help the pack would be to become their eyes and ears again. He’d brought along a few other gadgets but wouldn’t know if they worked in the Unseelie realm until they got there.
Gideon had supplied him with a number of weapons and one of the bulletproof vests every member of the pack wore. Ben moved to Koios’s side, and Koios realized he also had several weapons and a vest of his own.
For the first time, Koios wanted to fight against Ben coming along. He needed Ben to stay back where he’d be safe. But Ben put his arm over Koios’s shoulders and lowered his mouth to Koios’s ear.
“Don’t even think about it. I’m coming with you.”
“But—”
Ben turned so he stood in front of Koios, his broad shoulders blocking them from everyone else in the room. “One, my friend is in there. I’m not leaving Cosmo to be tortured by this guy again. Two, my brother is going in there, and we both know what happened last time Scout fought him. And three, you’re going in there. I’m going, Koios.”
Koios’s wings widened, as if they tried to preen at Ben’s words. If only he had control over the damn things. Who was he kidding? He’d probably do the same but more if he did. His connection with Ben had become as precious to him as his bond with his siblings, and Koios never thought he’d feel that way about anyone else. It hadn’t seemed reasonable.
How could he ask anyone to live hidden away from the world with a freak with wings? Especially someone with as much to offer the world as Dr. Ben Jerrick. But Ben, Ben was his. His mate, his love, his future. His doubts and fears disappeared beneath the love and trust in Ben’s eyes.
“We’re going to stop him this time, Ben. I’m going to figure out how to end this, even if I have to go in blind without all my tech. I’m not going to let him hurt anyone else we care about.”
Ben smiled, then leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to Koios’s lips. “I know. Let’s go stop ourselves a manticore.”
24
BEN
Taj, as the only member of the Unseelie realm among them, was the one who could open the entrance to the fae realm. Apparently, King Silenus had made a pretty big deal out of inviting Taj. Ben had to wonder if having an incubus as part of the Unseelie Court would work in Silenus’s favor.
Either way, the portal opened for Taj and they all followed him through the entrance. It closed behind them with a snap of finality that sent a chill down Ben’s spine. As a personal guest of Silenus and Cosmo, Taj’s invitation to the Unseelie realm allowed them to arrive in the outer courtyard of Silenus and Cosmo’s castle.
“Cosmo lives here?” Koios whispered.
