Page 7

Fergus groaned, reminding me to continue scratching him. “Not that you should just go on an adventure. For that, you could backpack around Europe or whatever. I got the distinct impression,” I continued, “that he thought you being able to test your own mettle would benefit you, not that he wanted you to go away and be in danger.”

Coco stared into space, considering. “My grandmother could never know. That’s for sure.” She shook her head. “This is crazy. I can’t believe I’m even contemplating it.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and read the text from Clive. “I’m going to go and let you think. Clive says the flight is set. We’ll leave at eight tomorrow morning. Clive’s plane is in the hangar next to where your grandmother’s plane is kept. If you decide to join us, I’ll see you on the plane. If you choose not to, no hard feelings, and, honestly, it probably shows good sense on your part.

“Oh,” I added, “it won’t just be the two of us. My great-uncle is coming as well. He’s a very powerful wicche-fae hybrid. He’s also a historian, who will no doubt know everything we need to know about the gods, goddesses, and Underworld.”

I stood, and Fergus got up with me. “Hopefully, I’ll see you in the morning, but if I don’t, I’ll see you when we get back.”

She started to get up to escort me to the door, but I waved her down. “You should leave him here,” she said, “if you’re flying out in the morning.”

Damn it. She was right. I knelt down and hugged my huge baby. “I’ll be back before you even miss me. Have fun with Miss Alice. No driving her crazy. Be the polite young man I know you can be.” I kissed his head as he tried to burrow under my arm. “I’ll miss you.”

Blinking back sudden tears, I looked up at Coco. “Can you tell Fyr that I’ll leave a bag of doggy stuff at work for him and that I’m sure Alec would love to take him too, so dog sitting isn’t all on him.”

She nodded, pulling Fergus back so I could stand up.

“Okay. You all have a good night.” I gave Fergus one more kiss and then left before I started crying outright. I’d already been feeling this trip was doomed—who the hell asks someone to visit the land of the dead?—and now I had to say goodbye to Fergus with no preparation. I needed time to work myself up to that kind of thing.

The tears started as I jogged down the back steps. Clive waited below, leaning against the passenger side of his car. He gave me a sad smile as I approached.

Reaching out, he pulled me in for a kiss, wrapping his arms around me. “He’ll be fine. He’s getting a vacation with his favorite friend.”

Much like my dog had done to me, I burrowed into Clive.

“I’m still hoping Stheno changes her mind,” he murmured. “We’ll see.” He rubbed my back, soothing some of the stiffness. “Vlad will be flying with us. It’s time for him to return to Europe. He’s had some calls requesting his assistance. We’ll take him as far as Greece and then he’ll be on his own to Romania or wherever he’s going.”

I nodded into his chest.

“Let’s go home and pack, love. We’ll need to arrive at the airport before sunrise and then wait for the others.”

“Assuming any others decide to join us,” I replied, mentally preparing for an empty flight.

Chapter 4

PREPARE THE CABIN FOR TAKEOFF

Packing was tricky. It wasn’t as though I’d be taking a rolly bag into the Underworld. I found an old backpack stuffed into a drawer in my closet. It was a light, cheap nylon bag, so clearly mine before we’d married. I rolled spare pants, tees, socks, and undies into it. In a plastic baggie, I added a toothbrush and toothpaste, a comb, deodorant, and a few hair ties.

Clive was sitting on the side of the bed watching me, his expression dark. I knew the idea of me walking into danger without him was killing him.

“Do you think the Underworld is like Faerie? Do I need to pack all my own food and water? I mean, I’m sure there’s no food down there, but there are rivers.” I grimaced. “I’m almost positive I’m not supposed to drink from any of the rivers, though. Right? Each one is known for something: forgetfulness or woe or fire or whatever. Okay, big water bottle it is.” I was rambling at this point.

He stared unblinking for so long, I didn’t think he was going to respond. Finally, he stood and walked into my huge closet, taking the backpack from my hand and dropping it on the floor. He wrapped me in his arms, so tightly I thought my bones might break.

“I don’t know and it doesn’t matter because you’re not going,” he said, his grip tightening. “We agreed, Sam. We took vows. One of us does not get left on the side of the road while the other races into certain death.”

I worked my arms down from his chest and wrapped them around his waist. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“And I’m sorry for whatever Meg is going through, but I’m not risking you in order to repay a debt. She’ll have to come up with some other way we can help her. It won’t be this. It won’t be forcing you to go somewhere I can’t follow.”

I didn’t say anything. I just held him as tightly as he was holding me.

Eventually, his lips found mine, desperate and needy. This was nothing like the other times we’d fooled around in a closet, getting ready to go into battle. There were no jokes about leather pants or promises of future trysts. All the previous times, we’d known we were risking our lives together, side by side. It might have been dangerous, but we knew we’d protect each other, that we’d fight twice as hard to shield one another.

When Clive began to peel off my clothes, I ripped at his. I needed him every bit as much as he needed me.

“Not the floor of the closet,” he groaned, picking me up and carrying me to our bed.