Kade cleared his throat before saying, “I do. Now why?”
Calista exhaled slowly. “Because Baladar set up a vortex somewhere in Staten Island that leads right to his Manhattan loft.”
“What?” Kade and I both cursed as we leapt to our feet. My wolf was rising inside, fighting my control. A hidden vortex, that was … impossible … illegal … dangerous.
Calista spoke over our ire: “If we can find the vortex, we can travel to Baladar’s, and then sneak into the castle undetected.” Her words were all rushed together, trying to defuse us.
Lucky for her it was a good plan. Selene would have the regular vortex discs crawling with guards now that I was banished. Sabina hadn’t magically banished me, and I don’t think it was possible really. I was still somewhat a queen, with mecca flowing through my veins, so if Kade and I could get into that crystal room we could open a portal and jump through … then find Violet.
“Where is the hidden vortex?” Kade looked livid that this had been going on under his nose.
Calista shrugged. “I don’t know. I only heard of its existence. It’s how your people get into his club.”
Kade stood and reached out a hand to me. I grasped on without hesitation. “Where are we going?” I asked as he led me through the mansion and out onto the front steps.
“To speak to someone who I think will know where it is,” he replied as Calista and Finn followed after us.
Once we reached the porch, Kade called to one of his guards. “Is Trixie on shift?”
The guard nodded. “She’s on post at the water’s edge.”
Kade nodded and walked over to a golf cart. We all got in and Kade took off driving the cart out the front gate and down a steep side hill toward the shoreline, until the lapping waves came into sight.
“I’ve beefed up security all over after the attack,” he said as he maneuvered around the natural terrain.
I wasn’t surprised. If I had still been queen today, like I should have been, my first order would have been investigating the attack and making sure our lands were secure. Well, as secure as they could be. After seeing those two magic born just open a portal into our world like it was nothing, I knew without any doubt that nowhere was safe.
As we made our way through the dense bushes and out onto the sand, I took a moment to breathe in the salty air. Yes, my life sucked right now, and my best friend was missing, but I had always been soothed by the ocean. Violet had loved the ocean too; it calmed her energy.
Goddamn the fae.
“Why do you think they took Violet?”
The question burst from me in a short, angry eruption. I’d been so focused on the fact that my best friend was in enemy hands that I hadn’t actually stopped long enough to question why. Calista and Kade were both quiet for a brief moment, neither of them answering until the cart came to a halt.
My advisor worried at her lip. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot. The attack was odd. The Summer Court was supposed to be keeping the dark fae at bay, and yet they managed to attack in the hundreds.”
Kade interrupted her: “I’m not sure it was dark fae. They definitely weren’t from the golden court, but the energy was different from the one who ambushed us on Staten Island. I’m not sure they are all from the same court.”
Great! What was going on? How many of the courts were we fighting against now?
“So why do you think they took Violet?” Calista turned to Kade, nailing him with her famous glare. Her computer mind wanted to know everything.
Kade flicked his gaze across to me briefly, before throwing my advisor a mix of grin and grimace. “I think they want Ari. She has an unnatural affinity for the mecca. She can do what no queen has before, and she’s closely related to the Red Queen. We know this all started with the Red Queen, and somehow it’s not over yet.”
“You think it has something to do with me now?” I said, my nails digging into my palms. “That my people died because some of the fae are trying to get to me.” I forced myself to breathe a few deep breaths to calm myself.
The ercho, Finn reminded me. I let out a sigh. Dammit.
“Finn just reminded me that the ercho had been trying to drag me into the shiny water slick it came from. It was acting like it wanted me.” I was starting to believe that Kade might be right. I needed to get into the Otherworld right away. Who knew what they would do to Violet. I was desperately hoping that if it was me they were after, they’d keep her alive until I got there. Give me a chance to save her.
“I’ll never let them take you, Ari,” Kade said as he switched off the cart. Silence descended across the stretch of beach we were on. “You’re under my protection. Do you know what I do to anyone who touches those under my protection?”
The intensity and bristling anger he was exuding actually had the hairs on my body standing up. I didn’t fear much, but right now Kade was all kinds of scary. He was holding my gaze with ferocity.
“What do you do to them?” I murmured, needing to know.
He leaned closer, his warmth and scent everywhere. “My bear takes them apart, piece by piece, and enjoys every second of it.”
The urge to jump him then and there slammed through my body; my lower half clenched in need. I wasn’t a shifter who had ever wanted to be protected by a man – I was expected to do the protecting, alphas and heirs were the strongest – but from Kade it didn’t seem to take from my power. It felt like it built me up. We were a team and it made us stronger.
Before I could open my mouth and let all the emotions leak out, I noticed a beautiful female walking toward us. She was in full battle gear, all black leather and chain mail and holding a sickle that looked like it still had dried fae blood on it. Her skin was the color of caramel and her natural dark curly hair whipped back and forth in the wind. She was stunning, moving with the speed and grace of a shifter. But not wolf.
Kade followed my gaze, and we both watched as the female’s long strides ate up the distance between her and our cart in moments. “My king?” she said, her brow creasing.
Kade exited the golf cart and approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder for a brief moment. “All is well, Trixie, but I need you to tell me the truth now.”
She swallowed hard as if she knew she was about to be in trouble. “Yes?”
Calista and I exited also, stopping near Kade. Finn stayed in the golf cart, staring at the ocean. My familiar loved the ocean more than I did; it was a commonality he shared with Violet.
Kade’s fierce expression darkened more, if that was even possible. “I know that some bears have been going to Manhattan to Baladar’s club nights. I know you’ve been at the club, and now I need to know where the vortex is. I will not punish you if you tell me where to find it.”
Her eyes widened and I could hear her heart hammering in her chest. It was clear that Kade knew she was the partying type and would have the answers he sought.