Wycke snagged a pear from a bowl, possibly all he’d convince his stomach to accept.
“I’ll escort Piers back to the human realm to retrieve his mother’s grimoire and, against my better judgment, the friend he refuses to leave behind.” Chynne glowered at Piers, who glowered back just as fiercely.
Impressive! Also, more than a little arousing. If Wycke must be mated, why not to someone willing to hold their own? “What about me?” He wiped pear juice from his chin after a healthy bite.
“You and Queen Saris will travel by portal to Myrgren Castle,” Chynne said, “and attempt to discover your brother’s objectives. There has been a lack of communication from Myrgren for nearly a season. Some can be attributed to snow blocking the mountain passages. Still, even the advisors King Broen sent have been quiet, and until recently, they’d frequently sent fairies with news.”
But, Saris? “Leave my sister out of this. I won’t allow you—”
“You won’t allow Chynne to do what?” Saris demanded; head held at a haughty angle. “I swore to see to Pieravor’s safety. My friend gave his life in the effort. I have no intention of shirking my duties now.”
Piers winced at the use of his given name. No one else seemed to notice but Wycke.
“Saris. Do you really want—”
“What I want, little brother, is for you to be quiet. Let Chynne tell us the plan.”
Chynne inclined his head. “My thanks, Your Majesty. Now, Wycke, Queen Saris, search Radre’s castle. Stealthily. Talk to servants if you can.” He turned to Piers. “Stay with me. If we’re separated for any reason, wait where you are for me to find you.”
“How?” Piers asked, looking very much like a man on his way to the gallows. Ashen wasn’t a good look for him.
“I’m your familiar, remember? We’re connected. Unless we’re magically blocked, I can always find you.”
Now might not be the time for Wycke to admit to Piers that they shared a similar connection.Guest what? We’re what those in the human realm call married!One shock to the system at a time. Piers appeared one shock away from living out the remainder of his life in a locked tower.
“Prince Wycke, Queen Saris,” Chynne continued, in a rare acknowledgment of Wycke’s title. “When you’re finished, return to the portal. It will reactivate if you call my name. We’ll meet back here unless you have an immediate need. If so, join us in the human realm.”
“How will we find you?” Maybe that one little detail would keep Saris at the palace and safe. The expectant look on her face said otherwise.
“Majesty? Extend your hand, please.” Chynne sauntered along the railing in her direction.
Wycke braced himself to attack. He didn’t entirely trust the one who’d once committed atrocities in Lady Nyanda’s name. Not with his sister, anyway.
Saris held out her hand. Chynne placed a paw on her citrine bracelet. The stones glowed. “There. When you need to find me, simply rub the stones and picture me in your mind. Then, the portal will open.”
Chynne drew patterns in the air with his paws. The air shimmered, creating two portals. He swept out a paw, indicating Wycke and Saris toward one, Piers toward the other.
“I don’t think I’m properly dressed,” Saris said, staring down. In her light silken gown in the harsh Myrgren winter, she'd freeze to death.
With a wave of his paw, Chynne changed Saris’s attire to something a villager from Myrgren might wear, complete with a warm cloak and a hood to hide her face and hair. Saris smiled. Much better.
They stood in front of their respective portals: Saris, stiff-backed and determined, Chynne showing no emotion at all, and Piers…
Piers stood, hands balled into fists, face devoid of color. He gazed at Wycke with terror in his eyes.
Something in the vicinity of Wycke’s heart twinged. No. He must do something to calm his mate’s fear. Come to think of it, Wycke didn’t much like the idea of being away from Piers either.
Wycke put his hand behind Piers’ neck, bringing him in for a kiss. For one moment, all else faded away, the mission, the upcoming separation, everything but Piers and Wycke.
“Uh, hmm…” Chynne cleared his throat.
Shock showed on Piers’ face when Wycke broke the kiss, but he managed a brief, if strained, smile.
“It’s going to be okay,” Wycke said, pulling Piers in for one more kiss before letting go.
With one last look over his shoulder, Piers stepped through the portal behind Chynne.
Wycke watched him go, his heart once more lurching uncomfortably. He took a deep breath and turned to his sister, feigning nonchalance and waving a hand toward their own portal. “After you, my queen.” Suggesting he go first would only delay them while they argued.
