After hours of grueling hiking, the weak sun descended past the horizon, and the darkness of true night fell. Finally Rowan held up a hand to halt us. She had been out in front with Nikoli, scouting for danger, and basically leading the way. At this point we were partially hidden behind some huge rocky crevices, and as I peeked around I could see a huge stone fence in the distance. It looked to tower twenty or more feet into the sky.
“That’s the royal village of the Winter Court,” Dalia whispered to me. “Within those walls, right at the center, is the castle. The city swells out from there, and everyone who lives in here has sworn their allegiance to the winter queen. Once you are inside, there will be no one to help you.”
“You’re not coming in with us, right?” I was kind of hoping she had changed her mind.
With a brief smile, she shook her head. “I’m very sorry, I would love to aid you in this, but we cannot be caught close to the main village of the Winter Court. Prince Caspien did request, though, that you visit us in the summer territory before you leave. We will be able to aid your friend’s recovery much quicker than back on Earth. Fae magic will probably have been used to contain her, and you’ll need fae magic to heal that.”
My heart sank at the thought of having to trek a sick Violet all the way back to the Summer Court. I was kind of hoping we could grab her and make a portal and get out of here. But Violet’s safety and healing was my top priority and I would do whatever it took.
Everyone was pressed tightly together, waiting for the next move.
“Thank you so much for helping us get this far.” I reached out and placed a hand on Dalia’s shoulder, and lowered my head in a nod.
She surprised me by pulling me into a hug, before stepping back and saying, “We can stay a little longer so that all of you can rest while Rowan and I keep watch. Just before first light there is a change of the guards. This is your best chance to enter undetected. We’ll wake you in time and give you all the tools we can to help.”
“Thank you,” Kade said, from close to my shoulder. “Our family owes you a debt of gratitude.”
Both of the fae shook their heads, gorgeous hair floating around them. So not natural, but a cool trick. “No debt, just make sure you right the mecca and restore the health to the Otherworld. We ask for nothing more.”
That I was going to be doing no matter what happened, so I could definitely agree to the deal.
We didn’t bother to set up camp, Rowan just used mecca to clean and dry a section of floor in a small cave nearby, and we all snuggled down into our furs, backpacks under our heads. I didn’t think I would be able to sleep with my millions of worries – and you know, our comfy stone bed – but my eyes closed the moment my head hit my bag. The day’s exhaustion had won. Finn’s warmth seeped into my right side, Kade’s on my left, fatigue pulled me under, and when Rowan shook me awake, I felt like I had barely slept.
My body was stiff as I stumbled to my feet, stretching out my limbs. I looked around to find Monica, Blaine, Nikoli and Victor in the same half-awake state as me, but no Kade … or Dalia.
“They’re outside,” Rowan whispered to me, understanding my rapid scanning of the cave. “Scouting for guards. And Dal is showing him the best way to sneak in.”
“Thank you,” I whispered back, before quickly ducking outside to freshen up, and then back in again to grab my backpack.
Kade and Dalia still weren’t back by the time I was strapped in and ready to go, jerky in hand, chewing through the tough but tasty meat. Of course Kade would sacrifice sleep to make sure he got all the information. It was part of what made him an amazing mate and king. He never let anyone else handle the tough stuff.
I also liked to handle my own battles, and I was annoyed and worried about them being out in enemy land without backup. I had no way to know if they were in trouble or not yet.
Just as my patience ran out and I was about to set out and search, a scuffing indicated someone was approaching. All of us scrambled under bushes and behind boulders. There was no guarantee these were our friends, and it was better to take them by surprise. Sword down at my side, Finn at my back, I would not hesitate to strike if winter soldiers rounded that corner. My people’s lives were at stake.
A huge figure stepped in between two frozen trees, icy branches hanging low to form a curtain of sorts. The breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding whooshed out of me, and I straightened. Kade’s eyes dropped to the sword resting against my leg and he gave me a wink and that slow sexy smile that did things to me. Hot and swirly things.
It was kind of sexy that he was proud of me almost attacking him. He never tried to change me, make me act less warrior-like and more stereotypical female.
Nix moved on his shoulder as he waved us forward, and the others slipped free from their hiding spots. Dalia and Rowan both had lines of stress crossing their ageless faces, and I knew they were worried for us.
“We’ll wait nearby for your return,” Dalia said. “When you make it out, just head toward this cave and we’ll find you. Rowan is already working on a distraction so we can all leave the winter territory without issue.” Her voice got low and forceful as she drove her final point home. “Remember, this distraction will only work once you are outside the gates. You have to make it out of the village. May the mecca be with you through this journey.”
The formality of her final words jolted me into action, and I gave her a nod before sheathing my sword and stepping to Kade’s side.
“Let’s do this,” Monica said, joining me, the others behind her. “We should have enough time to slip in and out before the sun is fully up.”
I nodded. The light was still dim, not quite the black of night but not morning yet.
“The guards will change in about ten minutes,” Dalia added. “I showed King Kade the way but you need to hurry.”
There was no more hesitation. We gave the Summer Court fae one last wave and then Kade was moving. I hurried to keep pace with his long legs. Blaine was on my right and he reached out to briefly squeezed my hand.
“She’s going to be okay. Violet is tough. Winter won’t break her.”