Stone snorted and shook his head. “I can’t believe you think so little of me.”
Frost eyed him. “You know better than that. What’s going on with you today? I know guarding me is tedious as hell, but you’re not usually a pacer.”
As if Frost’s question triggered something inside him, Stone went back to pacing. “You have a lot on your hands right now.”
Frost didn’t back down. “I always have a lot on my hands. That changes nothing. If you need me, you can talk to me.”
Stone glanced his way. There might not be another time. He was himself right now. Maybe he wouldn’t be in an hour. Who knew if he would ever come back after that? “How do you feel about taking on a challenging case?”
“I’m always up for being tested. Give me the rundown.”
Stone twisted his fingers as he walked from one side of the room to the other. His stride got longer with each pass. “What if someone was losing time with zero memory of what happened between the present and their last memory? How would you treat that?”
“Without knowing anything about the species, all I can say is, likely a series of tests would be performed. Are there any other symptoms?”
He stopped and focused on Frost. “Lethargy, dark thoughts, and randomly spacing out. I don’t know.”
Frost nodded. He looked as if he took the matter seriously. “How close are you to this patient?”
Gemini popped into the room, interrupting them. He headed straight for Celina. “You have company.”
Before either of them could inquire, especially since Stone should have been warned of anyone on the property, a procession of people filed into the room. Tall and trim guards, with genuine gold and silver armor that accentuated their physique, carried halberds and encircled a blond—for Stone’s lack of any other description—a blond god. Oddly, Deidra was fluttering around them, looking a mess.
Frost immediately came to his feet. “What’s wrong, angel? Are you okay?”
Deidra ran straight to Frost. They were best friends. Stone’s issues vanished. “It’s my cousin. You know, Lysander. He needs help.” Her panicked gaze swept the room before landing on Celina. “There’s my sweet goddaughter.” She swiped her hands through the air. “No. I can’t hold the baby right now. Lysander needs help.”
Everything inside Stone had frozen at the first mention of Lysander. He had already gathered his weapons and was ready to move.
Frost grabbed his bag and quickly kissed Celina and Gemini. “I’ll be safe.”
Stone gave a sharp nod at the promise, lending his reassurances. “I won’t leave his side.”
Gemini smiled. “Dinner will be waiting.”
The blond beauty finally spoke, sounding as perfect as his form. “You’re not needed. We’ll be safely in Faerie with my Royal Guard’s protection.”
At the mention of his Royal Guard, the men surrounding him tapped their halberds on the floor.
Celina started crying.
Violet eyes turned her way. They turned to lavender as Stone watched.
Celina immediately settled.
Those unnatural eyes focused on him. “We’re wasting time.”
Stone held his ground. “Frost goes nowhere without me.” There was no denying the determination in his voice. Royalty didn’t mean shit to him. He answered only to Celeste.
The mesmerizing gaze swept over him. “Not just anyone can storm into Faerie, no matter how righteous the cause.”
Deidra patted his arm. “Stone is good, Stellar. He’s eaten food served by Jacen.”
Stone had actually forgotten that was a thing, but yeah. Frost often held backyard gatherings where Deidra’s husband always manned the grill. He didn’t eat any longer, but he had taken small bites of the food offered to him by Jacen for just this reason. That answered one question from his morning lapse. That was how he had seen into Faerie. Stone was more certain than ever that moment had been real. He had seen the way Lysander faded. Terror struck his heart.
“Let’s go. We’re wasting time.”
As if Stone’s reminder broke his resistance, the royal fairy, obviously named Stellar, turned away. Everyone immediately fell into step, keeping him safe from every vantage point. Stellar swept his arm, and an invisible curtain opened, giving them passage straight into Faerie.
