Dean stands and reaches for a sword that's not there. "You're not welcome amongst our kind either."
"Stop it," I tell him, and I glare at Fen before he can argue. "Varis is my friend. He's the Air Druid. He was kind to me, and he helped us in the last battle. We need him." I turn back to Varis, and Baron approaches the Druid and pushes his head against him. Wow. Didn’t expect that to happen. By the look on everyone’s faces, they didn’t either.
Varis pets the wolf gently as Fen watches with a frown.
"Are you all right?" I ask the Duird. "Have you healed?"
He smiles. "Yes. I'm well." He glances over at Fen and then back at me. "I see things have changed since I last saw you."
"Yes, it appears they have. Varis, this is Fen, Prince of War… and the Earth Druid, as it happens." I reach for Fen's hand and pull him over. "Fen, this is my teacher, Varis."
Dean frowns and stands as if ready to break into fight at any moment. "I know who Varis is. He's one of them. He fought us once upon a time."
Varis sighs. "I didn't fight against you. I just… "
"Guys, it doesn't matter," I say. "You all live too long to hold grudges like this. If you hate everyone who's ever been on the wrong side of a disagreement with you, you'll have no friends or allies ever. Varis is one of the good ones. I vouch for him."
Sly puts out his cigar and downs the last of his drink. "Varis can complete your training. You can defeat Levi. And you can all get the hell out of my hair and get back to your own worlds. It's a win/win for everyone."
"There's one problem," Varis says.
"Just one?" Fen asks with a raised eyebrow.
"We can't train here," Varis continues, ignoring the irritated man at my side.
Sly frowns. "Of course you can. I can keep you safe long enough to get our girl here up to snuff."
Varis shakes his head. "This world is too removed from the source of her powers, from where the Midnight Star first originated. Even Yami isn't strong enough to manifest here yet. We must return to…"
He pauses and I realize he can't talk about Avakiri here. Dean and Fen don't know about it, though at minimum I need to bring Fen up to speed. He is Fae after all.
"Return where?" Dean asks.
"To our world," Varis says, evasively. "To complete the training."
"We are wanted on our world. It's not safe," Fen says.
"There is a place that could be safe for her. A place she can train," Varis says.
Dean claps his hands. "Great, when do we leave?"
"The invitation wasn't for you," Varis says. "Just Ari."
Dean shakes his head. "No can do. She's mine for the month. Bound by a blood oath. No breaking it, isn't that right, Princess?"
I look at Varis, frowning. "I'm afraid he's telling the truth. I have to stay with Dean."
Fen crosses his arms over his chest. "And she's not going anywhere without me."
"That won't work," Varis says. "I can't possibly bring two princes of hell to… this place. It would be instant war."
"Then we stay here," Fen says.
"We could go to my realm," Dean offers.
Fen turns to his brother. "Where Ari and I will be hanged upon return?"
"No one knows I helped you escape, and they will hardly suspect me at any rate," Dean says. "You'd be safe in my realm, at least long enough for Ari to train."
"Until someone recognizes us and reports us to Levi's men," Fen says.
"There are ways to remain unseen," Dean assures us. "Disguises. Illusion. It's the perfect solution. We get home, assess the damage, make plans, train up the princess until she can kick ass, and off we go."
"No," Fen says. "We don't go back until we're strong enough to defeat Levi. We can't risk it."
Sly yawns and opens the door to his study. "Okay boys and girls, you're boring me. Go sort this out elsewhere. I have matters I must attend to. This club doesn't run itself, you know. I—"
A loud screech interrupts Sly, who smiles. "Ah, Lopsi is awake. Time to feed my sweet pet."
"Your pet?" Dean asks.
Baron whines and stands closer to Fen and me.
There's another screech, and I shiver, wondering what kind of pet can make such a sound.
"Indeed. A darling little beast. I collected her as a gift from a realm known for their remarkable creatures. We're getting along smashingly." With a bow, Sly leaves, and the energy seems to get sucked from the room.
"What do we do now?" I ask.
Dean stretches and puts his drink on the table. "I'm off to enjoy some of the perks of being here. This is all too dry for my liking." He saunters out and Fen frowns.
"He needs to learn to take life more seriously," Fen says.
Varis turns to me, his face unreadable. "How is… Asher?" he asks softly.
"He's fine," I assure the Druid. "Caught in the middle of this, but unharmed last I saw him. Missing you, undoubtedly."