"Do I even want to know, little wolf?" Torben rumbles, looking down at me. Standing up on my tiptoes, I whisper in his ear that the twins have two penises apiece. His eyebrows shoot up, and he cocks his head to the side.
"That explains why he was so hesitant about mating with you."
"Nuh-uh, big guy, those two are poisonous. That's why..." Fiadh helpfully supplies as she smiles and touches her bite mark.
Torben double-blinks, looking down at me, then over at my sister. He shakes his head and walks over to the counter, leaving me looking at the gathered ancients.
"You have a basilisk, a wyrm black dragon, and a phoenix in your family group, Bubbles." Dezi reaches out and takes my hand in his. It's odd for him since he normally doesn't do physical contact with me. "You are safer now than you have ever been in your life, especially with your Kodiak mate. Listen to Diaval's wisdom. Follow Easton's directions—he's lived a thousand lives. And don't contain the basilisk's rage. He's damn near indestructible." Dezi offers his sage advice and leaves me speechless. My eyes flit over to Diaval, and he's adjusting his tie, showing how uncomfortable he is. Easton is openly staring at me.
Fingers snapping drag me out of my happy bubble to look over at my sister. "We have to figure out how we're going to keep in touch between the realms. We already know cell service sucks balls." Fiadh cracks open her second energy drink and knocks half of it back. Diaval mutters under his breath about roasted fae being outlawed as he passes me, heading toward the food.
Fi's question prompts me to look over at Revelin again. His eyes gleam mischievously, and then he snaps his fingers. A small pixie pops into existence. She flutters close to Revelin's ear, and he laughs. "Oh no, you're going to watch over Fluffy." He waves his hand in my direction, and she flits in front of me. She's about six inches tall with liberty spikes in a myriad of colors on top of her head. She's in head-to-toe leather, and I smile at her.
"Hi, I'm Feray." I raise my hand palm up and offer her a place to land.
"Thoughtful, this one is. I like. I'm Rowenna. Or Ro. Not row-row-your-boat." She turns and glares at Revelin, and he winces. I try to cover my mouth and hide my laughter at her firing back at the prince.
"So I'm guessing she can just pop up wherever you are and pass messages?" I tilt my head and look down at Ro. She nods, agreeing with my statement.
"More or less, that is correct. I can summon her and send her back to you at will," Revelin says as he types away on his phone. "Stupid organizers... it's plus four..." He yells at his phone as he dials whoever sent him the message and steps outside.
"What's got Prince Picky Pants in a tizzy?" Khol and Khal enter just after Revelin steps out. We can clearly hear him yelling at someone about the type of lights for the tour.
"Tour shit," Fi offers before looking over at the twins. "Make sure to take pictures of everything so we don't forget anything." Khol mutters "yes, boss" before heading to the hidden room. Khal stops by me and kisses me softly.
"Go spend time with your sister before we leave." He looks down at the pixie, and she leaps onto my shoulder, hiding under my hair. "Hitchhiker?" He tilts his head, looking at where she went to hide.
"She's how we're going to keep in touch between the realms in case the phones stop working. This is Ro. Ro, this is my mate Khal." I attempt introductions. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her small hand stick out of my hair and wave at Khal.
"Pleasure's all mine." He whispers, then kisses my cheek. "I better go help Khol before he has a fit. I'll grab the scrolls and books we need for the trip."
Nodding, I watch him go before I sit next to my sister. Ro comes out of hiding and jumps onto the table. "Call me when you need me." With a wave of her little hand, she poofs out of existence. Shaking my head, I really look at Fi now. The way her brows pinch in the center shows the stress she's trying to hide.
"Rev and I went over where he thinks the items I need are in the Faerie. His tour comes within several miles of where we need to go." Fi explains their route using a piece of paper and pencil that Tiernan supplies her with.
Sighing, I pull my phone out and show her the map program and the route to Blackmore. "According to the Sphinx, I have relatives in Blackmore. They may know where my parents are. So we're going to head there first and hope for the best." Biting my bottom lip, I study the serious face my sister is making.
"Seems like a solid plan." She nods and smiles. "The only part about this entire adventure that bothers me is that I can't be there to keep you safe." Her eyes betray her—there's fear and concern behind her gaze.
Before she can utter another word, Tiernan comes up behind her and presses his chest against her back. "Knuckles, she has two mates that can wield fire, one that can poison or turn beings to stone, and the fourth has the strength of at least ten men. His people are known for being berserkers in battle. Don't underestimate the Kodiak. He may be all peace and snuggles with Fer, but don't let that fool you. He will kill to protect what's his."
Glancing behind Tiernan, I see Torben freeze and nod, agreeing with his statement. My giant teddy bear would raze the earth for me, and I know it. Khal already said he would turn the world to stone if it meant keeping me safe.
"Just remember, Fer, the hidden wolf clans are hidden for a reason. They won't take kindly to strangers entering their territory. You may have to shift and fight." Tiernan glances over his shoulder at Torben. "We've already talked. Torben is going to start your fight training on the road. That should put Knuckles' mind at ease so you'll know how to defend yourself in your fur." He pats Fi on the shoulder and goes to the pile of bags, starting to carry some outside.
The three ancients gather in the corner, whispers of their plans to barter for information along the way drifting to me.
"This is it, huh?"
The twins emerge with items from our hidden room and move through the house to finish packing for the trip. Fear, anxiety, and excitement are at war within me. I'm afraid and anxious to be separated from my sister for this long. Hell, we don't know how long this quest will take.
"Yeah, I get to wrangle this bunch." She motions to her mates, and a small smile creeps across her lips. She doesn't act like it, but she loves them in her own way. Maybe not Dezi yet, but the mosquito is slowly wearing her down.
My gaze falls on Khal and Torben, and my heart is ready to explode with how much I love them already. Feeling eyes upon me, I see Easton glancing up from time to time, watching me. My hand absently drifts up and touches the amulet that holds his feather. It's warm to the touch and glows when it's in contact with my skin. He's said in his own way that he knows he's mine. He just has a few societal hang-ups he needs to work through.
"Give him time, little wolf." Torben stops next to me and whispers in my ear before kissing my cheek. He offers me agentle smile, and I nod, looking at him. Torben winks as he walks off, carrying the last of our bags out to the car.
Fi leans in and hugs me briefly, smiling. "He's good to you. They both are." She motions to Khal, who's packing my favorite snacks.
