A tree? Theo remembered holding on to his tree when he’d been summoned or whatever. The tree had also been whipping around as he and Garrett had fallen. Dryad. “You were inside the tree?” Theo questioned. “Why? For how long?”
“Just this morning!” Steve claimed. “I wanted to check out the chosen.”
“So you crossed realms to hide in my tree?” That…that was a lot to take in. Weird. He’d been researching dryads due to his new friendship with Josh. He knew that dryads could insert themselves into trees in order to help boost their health. Steve had just wanted to spy on them which was creepy.
“I wasn’t going to do anything!” Steve stomped his foot. “I just wanted to get a look. That’s all, I swear. I mean you’re one of the chosen. The chosen!”
Theo didn’t have time for this. Yes, he was chosen but it was still so new that Theo still didn’t know the true meaning of what that would entail going forward. Where was the time to settle in like he’d been promised?
Theo returned his attention to Garrett. “What do we do? And what happened to you? This isn’t permanent, is it?” While he loved that Garrett could speak back to him, this didn’t seem right. Weren’t there supposed to be rules when it came to magic?
Garrett shrugged. “I do not know, friend Theo.”
Well, that wasn’t helpful. At all. Theo looked at Steve. “You live in this realm, right?”
“Yeah.” He waved his hand behind him. “Like way on the other side of the realm. Ah, man! It’s going to take me days to walk home. My mom is going to be so mad at me.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Theo counted to ten slowly. Then he did it again. He was literally stuck in a strange realm with the two most unhelpful people that was possible. And he was terrified. How did he get summoned? Where were his mates? What was Theo supposed to do?
He needed to find a way home. That much was obvious. Except what if he was summoned again? Who had done this to him? The dark elves? Did they have the power to summon Theo? He should have learned more about them. Honestly, Theo had been fine with having his mates worry about the dark elves as he’d spent his time reading the journals.
He really wished he’d grabbed the messenger bag. Not that Theo even knew that being summoned was a possibility. At least if he had his journals, Theo could learn more about the faerealm. Several of the journals featured the seelie and unseelie, including the members of the courts.
It had been on his list of things to read about. Theo really liked reading about the way that Tate felt about his mates and how they had come together because that was where Theo was in his life. That…might have been a huge mistake.
Okay. Focus. He was in the fae realm and needed to find a way back home.
Theo huffed. He lifted his gaze to his two companions.
Holy Hellcats! This was terrible!
Garrett was poking his own arm as if checking the muscle of his skin. In his defense, it was probably really weird to be in another body or whatever had happened. Instead of Theo’s stone friend, Garrett could pass as almost human. His skin was dark gray, his black hair stood up at the top of his head, and the ears on top of his head turned one way then the other.
Okay, maybe human was pushing it. Garrett would never pass back home as anything but other.
Admittedly, Garrett was kind of cute in this form as well. Theo just didn’t think Garrett was going to be very helpful. Especially as Garrett began to take a few steps, picking his feet really high. Hellcats! That was hilarious.
To keep from laughing at his friend, Theo turned to Steve.
The young man stood pouting with his hands still in his pockets, lips quivering and tears in his eyes.
Yep, no help there either.
Once Theo got back home to his mates, he was going to make them pet him for hours. FOR HOURS! It was the least that he deserved. And catnip. And ice cream. He’d eat ice cream until he was sick!
Okay. Back to finding his focus. Theo saw two viable options.
He could stay right where he was and wait on his mates. Since Wylder and Josh had witnessed his summoning or whatever, Theo had no doubt that Wylder was already calling in his mates to come get him. He was actually surprised that Josh wasn’t already there, since the dryad should be able to follow. Huh. That might be a concern after all. Even if his mates followed him, how would they find Theo?
That brought Theo to their other option. Was it worth walking to the other side of the realm to Steve’s to find help there? Surely Josh’s family knew about the chosen and would be able to offer him assistance. Or had a phone he could use.
Wait!
Theo wanted to smack his own forehead. Stupid! Digging in his pocket, Theo drew his cell phone out.
He stared at the dark screen before swiping his finger over the front.
Nothing.
