The curse would kill Lore if we failed.
But Naveer would kill us all if she discovered who we really were.
Chapter 31
Lore
“I’ll flit the three of us to the floor with her suite,” I said, taking Reyla’s hand.
Dorion’s gaze narrowed. “Teach me how to do it, and I’ll flit myself.”
“Not everyone can perform this spell,” Reyla pointed out with a tired sigh. I hated seeing the pinched expression on her face. Stress, worry, and plain old exhaustion haunted her, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.
Three days left. I struggled not to let the bleak feeling consume me. It would be enough. We were already closer to the third talisman than when we arrived.
“Teach me,” he said again. “If it doesn’t work, I’ll let Lore carry me where we need to go.”
“We could walk,” Reyla pointed out dryly. “Our legs work perfectly fine.”
Dorion shrugged. “Up to you two.”
I told him the spell.
He tried for a long time before puffing out a breath andcollapsing into the chair. Farris lifted his head and almost seemed to snicker.
Reyla was grinning. “At least I’m not the only one who has a hard time with that spell.”
“I saw you flit,” Dorion said. “Inside the labyrinth.”
“It’s inconsistent. I try to use it when I need to but since Lore appears to be a master flitter, it’s easier to let him handle it than embarrass myself over and over again.”
I tugged her into my arms, holding her because she needed it. I needed it. And I could never resist. “You’re amazing in all the ways that count.”
When she tipped her head back and smiled, I captured it with my lips.
Dorion watched with envy that sparked his irritation about his own situation. “We’re wasting time.”
“Kissing my wife is never a waste,” I growled, glad to see him quickly chastened. Keeping an arm around Reyla’s waist, I held out my hand to him and gave him a slick smile. “Hold on sweetums, and I’ll take you for a ride.”
Dorion huffed. “Fucking don’t call me sweetums.”
Wildfire snickered, which was my goal. I’d do anything, say anything, to lighten her mood.
“Farris?” I asked before I took us to the fourth floor.
He lifted his head and blinked before lowering his snout back onto his paws, flopping his tail back over his eyes.
“Poor tired nyxin,” Reyla said, glancing up at me. “If he was worried about us, he’d insist on coming along.”
Maybe. And maybe not. While he appeared savvy about some things, he couldn’t have the ability to predict the future. Only a few fae could do that, and as far as I knew, it wasn’t a skill creatures were capable of. Although, how would I know? It wasn’t like I could ask them.
“I’ll take us to the alcove with the curtain we hid behind before,” I said. “Don’t speak until we’re sure no one’s around.”
“Alright.” Dorion’s face tightened.
In an instant, we materialized behind the curtain. Silence echoed around us, but we waited, crowded together behind the dusty draperies until we were sure we were alone.
I tilted my head slightly to peer around the edge, confirming it, and we left the alcove.
