I wasn’t surprised about that at all.
“She’s telling anyone who will listen that her family is going to end this war, so they don’t have to worry. She has a lot of faith in you two,” Kian added.
My throat got really tight then. I had to swallow a few times to clear it. “Gods, I miss her so much.”
Kade had his arms around me in a heartbeat, or as far around as he could get with my heavy pack. “We’ll all be together again soon,” he breathed into my hair, his voice rougher than usual. “Winnie will be back in our arms.”
I couldn’t break down now. There was no time to lose it, so, using my training, I pulled myself together.
“Why is there a portal to the Otherworld open in this room?” Kian’s voice was deeper now, suspicion clouding it. He had clearly seen the portal still spinning behind us, and the two magic born on either side of it.
Kade and I exchanged a glance, and I gave him a nod. I trusted his brother, Shelley too. “We’re going to the Otherworld to assassinate the winter queen and Dark Fae Lord,” Kade said, his voice very low.
The two brothers’ gazes remained locked, until Kian said, without hesitation, “I’m going with you—”
“We’re going with you!” Shelley interrupted.
I was already shaking my head. “No, this is a stealth mission. We need to get in and out without any detection. We aren’t even taking our familiars.”
Shelley stepped closer, her red hair trailing across her shoulders as she moved. “There is no one better equipped than me to help you get in and out of the courts undetected. My knowledge and gift will be very useful to you.”
I paused, giving myself a few moments to consider. I had forgotten that Shelley was a winter fae. A winter fae who used to work for the queen … kind of. The queen forced her to use her gift of confusing people in repayment for her father’s debt. She probably had a ton of useful information.
“If she goes, I am going,” Kian added. I would not expect anything less from a bonded mate.
What do you think? I asked Kade through our bond.
Swirling copper eyes caressed my skin. I will back whatever you decide. This is your mission. I’m just the muscle.
I laughed, which had a few people looking my way. I’m the muscle, buddy. You’re the pretty face.
Kade shrugged. “Nothing says I can’t be the pretty muscle,” he said out loud. I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes.
I turned to the couple across from us. “Thank you, we would really appreciate your help. Do you need time to pack?”
“Do you have enough supplies for us?” Kian asked, eyeing our huge bags.
A chuckle escaped from my tense lips. “Yeah, after starving and freezing last time, we kinda overpacked. I planned on sorting it out once we saw King Samson.”
Rowan piped up then. “The king will have everything you require. Now that the mecca balance has been restored, the Summer Court is filled with an abundance of food. And our weapons cache is quite impressive.”
Well … that was good to know. Rowan didn’t seem too surprised to learn of my assassination plot. She was taking it all in stride.
Kade and I linked arms again. Shelley stepped up to my free side, Kian beside her. The boys had us sandwiched in between them. The four of us took a deep breath.
“Good luck,” Violet and Rowan whispered together.
“We’ll keep your shifters safe,” Violet added at the end.
With a deep breath, we stepped into the portal. I let out a breathy sigh as my feet planted onto the soft green grasses of the fae land. My inner fae energy prickled to life the moment my body arrived in the Otherworld. New York City was now on its own.
Chapter Ten
Who bears the tides of winter?
As if he knew we were coming, Prince Caspien was waiting just on the other side of the portal, standing among a grove of huge trees just like those we had stepped into last time we arrived here. I hurried over to the royal, who was dressed all in black, looking like a very dazzling version of himself. His energy caressed my face like a strong brush of warm air. I could smell the summer scents, flowers, and a sweetness like honey or nectar.
“Prince Caspian, we are well met,” I said, stopping before him. “How did you know we were coming?”
He bowed, rising and flashing me his dazzling smile. “Rowan needs royal permission to open a portal.”
Ahh. “Well, that’s perfect, because we’re here to see Blaine and Bianca, and then you and your father. We didn’t want to speak over the flowers, or through a mirror, because it’s a … sensitive matter.”
He gave a brief nod to Kian and Shelley, before his attention locked on Kade’s staff. Even though it was in its protective case, it still oozed dark energy.
“Is that a dark weapon?” Caspien asked, his ageless face creasing with what looked like concern and trepidation.
I stepped closer to him and lowered my voice, unsure who was listening in these woods. “It is. And we intend to assassinate the Dark Fae Lord with it.”
Prince Caspien’s sharp intake of breath, followed by a tentative grin, told me everything I needed to know. He was worried, but he still approved of our plan.
“Come. We’ll see my father first, because he will leave soon for the war’s front. Right now he’s in his private study, so the timing is perfect. You can see your friends after.” With that, Caspien turned and we followed him through the forest, heading toward what looked like a shining white building in the distance, visible in between the trees.
The summer castle was spectacular. I’d likened the winter castle to a dark fairy tale. The summer castle was the opposite. It was the epitome of a five-year-old’s princess castle fantasy. White stone wrapped around shining turrets; golden accents gave the entire building an ethereal glow. And then there were the masses of rose vines, climbing ivy, budding flowers, and fruits that decorated the sides of the stone walls, climbing, spreading their rich, green goodness everywhere.
Unlike the last time we were here, the plants were thick and luscious; they did not crumble under my touch. I found myself wanting to linger in the outer courtyard with its pebbled stone underfoot, and birds chirping as they fluttered about the many tall trees. But there was no time for lingering. No time to lift my face and bathe in the warm, caressing sunbeams.
I must have actually closed my eyes for a beat, because a soft stroke along my cheek had them flying open again. Kade was standing right before me. I tilted my head back to stare up into his eyes.
“Feels like home,” he said.
I nodded. It must have really felt like home to him, being of the Summer Court. To me, being more than half fae, all of the Otherworld felt like home, but especially the icy lands of the Winter Court — as much as I didn’t want to admit it.