Another perk of our bond was that I had access to a magical pocket realm that Daxton created.
Daxton chuckled. “Why do you call it odd?”
“What else would it be?”
“It’s normal to me.”
“Yes, normal to you… How did you even discover it in the first place?”
“Through trial and error.”
I cocked my brow. “What does that mean?”
“When I was younger, my father challenged me to use my gifts to send objects to different places. It took a while, but eventually I was able to create a hiding place for my most valued things.”
“What else do you have hiding in this pocket realm of yours, Dax?”
He paused in the hallway leading to the training grounds, turning to wink at me. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“Good gods.” I groaned, rubbing my temple.
He reached for my hand. “Later, Spitfire, I promise I’ll reveal every trinket I have in my pocket realm.”
“I’ll hold you to it,” I said, threading my fingers with his before stepping through the door.
Gunnar was giving commands to the High Fae warriors in preparation for battle. Males and females dressed in Silver Meadows armor with three silver peaks on their shoulders stood ready in battle formation.
There was a spark, a unique sense of energy in the air that stemmed from the pending battle. Looking out onto the gathered warriors, I couldn’t help the sense of dread pulling at my heart. Some of them would die today. There was no way around it. War was now at our doorstep, and on both sides, there would be casualties.
I sent a silent prayer to the Mother and Father above to watch every soul bound to their crossing today.
“We’re ready,” Gunnar said as he approached. The warmth in his eyes was gone, replaced by the steely glare of awarrior. The general of Silver Meadows stood before me with twin battle axes strapped across his back.
Castor came beside us. His lips were pressed into a fine line as his expression hardened. “Let’s not keep the shifters waiting.”
I turned, sensing Shaw’s presence along the tree line.“Ready to go home?”
He nodded, shadows swirling at his side just before Zola appeared.
I smiled. “Daxton.”
My mate turned, noting his spymaster’s arrival. “Gunnar, Castor.”
On command, they both stepped forward, Castor placing a hand on Daxton’s shoulder, with Gunnar doing the same. A line of a hundred warriors followed suit until everyone was linked. Shaw came to lay his hand on my shoulder with Zola at his side.
“Remember your sections. A handful of you will guard the ships,” Daxton demanded, his eyes hardening like cold steel. “While the others will help the shifters fighting on the front lines. Listen for Gunnar’s command.”
The warriors all nodded.
We didn’t know how much this teleport would tax Daxton’s magic, but with our mate bond in place, we were confident in his ability to see this through, along with the healing remedy from Crimson City that Daxton had tucked in his pocket.
“The shifters thank you for this aid,” I said, squeezing Daxton’s hand. “Now, to war.”
Chapter Three
Shaw Black
It hit me all at once, like being yanked out of reality by invisible chains. One moment, I was grounded, breathing in the world around me, and the next, everything shattered. Sound folded in on itself. My body wasn’t moving, but itfeltlike I was falling.
