Vara’s upper lip stiffened. Her hands clenched, as if she knew this provocation was coming.
She took a long sigh. Then she clutched her stomach, looking regretful as she replied, “Years off my life.”
It was the same thing Lucien had offered, to leave the island when he’d been stolen here as a child.
“Vara, no—” Emma started.
Vara slashed a hand through the air. “We need to get home, Emma. This is my offering— years off my life, in exchange for the life of my mate. We leave your court, and go back to Earth free.”
The Spring Princess smiled. “A proper exchange. Very well.”
She clapped her hands, and the band ended the song. Thevilastopped dancing. The enchantment broke from Arthur’s eyes. He gave a gasp, collapsing on his knees. He bent over as he gagged, body shuddering in exhaustion. Vara hurried to him, though her pregnancy prevented her from kneeling at his side.
“I may heal him,” avilaoffered, strutting forward with a giggle.
“Youwillheal him,” Vara demanded, expression burning as she glowered at thevila. “And you shall ask for nothing in return.”
Thevilanodded weakly at Vara’s ire, then put a hand on Arthur’s shoulder. A soft glow emitted there. I watched carefully, for I had never seen healing magic in person, and wanted to observe how it worked.
As the white glow of the healing magic settled over him, Arthur straightened, although his body still slackened with exhaustion as he mumbled, “What… what happened, Vara?”
“It is nothing,” she said. She jerked her head at me, and I hurried forward, to help Arthur to his feet. “You were under a spell for a bit, that’s all.”
Arthur shook his head, dazed. Emma clutched the box that held the Seelie stone to her chest, looking pissed off as the Spring Princess spread her fingers wide. A portal grew in front of us, the edges of it spinning like flower petals within the garden’s center.
“Enter through my portal, and you shall find yourself back where you belong,” the Spring Princess said.
“Let’s go,” Vara muttered. “I’m tired of these games.”
Vara took Arthur’s arm, and pulled him off of me. They stepped through the portal together, vanishing from our sight.
“Heed my words, Worldweaver,” the Spring Princess said as Emma and I stepped up to the portal. “Your quest is nearly complete, but the hardest part of your journey is still ahead. You will have to exhibit more than strength and courage to obtain what you desire. You are moments away from claiming victory— and yet, you could still fail. Don’t underestimate what’s inside you, for if you do, the fae are surely doomed.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Emma said flatly— a very sassy response, for such a gloomy warning. We walked side by side into the portal. As we emerged on the other side, spring turned into winter. I inhaled a crisp, frozen breeze as we appeared on palace grounds, snowflakes trickling down from above.
It was still dark— couldn’t be more than one in the morning. We’d been gone for nearly a day in Edinmyre time, but on Earth, only an hour had passed. No one would even notice our absence. A very rare stroke of luck. There was a soft mewling as Tygrys zoomed out of Emma’s pocket, happy he didn’t have to hide from the dogs anymore. I changed back, stretching out my arms. Being in one form for too long, shifter or otherwise, was maddening.
Arthur was able to stand on his own, but he still looked weary. He and Vara pressed in around us as the portal closed. He asked, “Did you get it?”
Emma opened the lid to the box. Arthur adjusted his glasses to look closer at the emerald’s sheen, and gave a resolute nod. “Thank the gods. We have five Crystals now. The last shouldn’t be difficult to find.”
“Don’t get too comfortable,” Emma said. “If anything, I bet the Unseelie stone will be the hardest to obtain, and we still have to find it yet.”
“We will,onawilke, just like we found all the others,” I told her. “There are two winters before your prophecy is destined to be fulfilled. We have plenty of time.”
“Or perhaps not enough,” Vara whispered. Her gaze seemed dark. She held tightly to Arthur’s arm as she pulled him toward the palace. “You need sleep, Arthur. And so do I, for all that is to come.”
Arthur and Vara walked off, their footsteps crunching in the snow. I crossed my arms and said, “I hope Vara’s offering to save Arthur’s life doesn’t cost her something dear. It’s a tragedy to die young.”
Emma gave a shrug. “I’m not too worried. My father offered the Spring Princess years off his life to leave her island, and he’s still around.”
“Maybe that will also be Vara’s fate,” I mused. Lord Lucien was still living, and perfectly healthy besides, despite his bargain with the Spring Princess. Though Vara had made a trade for Arthur’s life, I didn’t think she was going anywhere. She was young, and I was certain her demise wasn’t anytime soon.
I waited until they were out of earshot before I said to Emma, “I think there’s something Vara isn’t telling us.”
A horrid thought had crossed my mind as Vara had left. Emma had just realized it, because she let out a dramatic gasp.
“No,” she started. “It can’t be… can it?”
