If I had been the winter queen, and a magic born was looking at me like that, I might have had a moment of worry.
“Burn in hell,” Violet spat, and suddenly my magic transmuted into purple fire, burning across the ground like hot lava, melting everything in its path and charging right for the queen.
Violet made two quick movements with her free hand and the fire spread out in a line as far as I could see, the flames licking up to the tops of the trees. The queen threw magic at it but nothing calmed the flames as they flared tall, like a sentinel protecting us from them. Fire and ice fought against each other, but in the end the fire could not be quenched.
“Eternal fire, eternal flame,” Violet whispered, and the fire crackled with a hint of blue.
Violet let go of my hand. “Let’s go,” she said, turning her horse around and giving the Winter Court her back. “That fire will burn eternal. They aren’t getting through.”
Holy sweet shifters. That was really amazing, and I wasn’t even tired. My energy, which had calmed the moment Violet let go of me, felt full and vibrant as it swirled inside. I had no headache or backlash from the power.
As I turned Finn around, Kade started his shift back to human, jogging slowly beside us. Violet magically fashioned him some clothes and he pulled them on. Despite being in his human form, he kept pace with us as we rode hard and fast, and in only a few minutes we reached the Summer Court camp at the base of Winter Mountain.
The first thing to come into view was a bunch of soldiers standing alert around Dalia and Rowan, the magic born fae. Off to the side I could see the cart, but there was no sign of Kian or Shelley. Before I could ask about them I was distracted by a portal above the burning fire. Another pale magic born stepped into view then. She had been hidden behind the flames.
Dalia came to me as I dismounted from Finn. Her eyes roved across my newly pointed ears and fae features, but she didn’t say anything about that – though I sensed she had a million questions. She wasn’t the only one.
She started with a half bow. “Your Majesty, we’re so pleased to see you unharmed from your time with the winter queen. Rowan and Lettie have opened this portal to the Summer Court for you – but that can be changed to your borough on Earth,” she quickly added. “We would really love if you’d honor my king with a short meeting. Forge an alliance in person.”
Even though she was leaving it up to me, I sensed there was a lot riding on my answer here. On the one hand, I needed to get back to my people, who were probably at war in New York. On the other hand, we needed this alliance, especially now that I had met the winter queen. She was brutal, and had been working to overthrow the shifters for many long years. My escape, and her loss of my power, would definitely tip her over the edge. Not to mention they had saved my friend’s life, and for that I owed them everything.
I turned to Kade, who was waiting a few feet away. He gave me that grin of his, dimples appearing. “This is your decision to make. Do you think we will learn anything from the Summer Court which might help in our battle on Earth? In the battle which will surely be brought from Selene and the winter queen?”
He made a really good point there. My instincts were telling me I needed to meet the summer king, and thank Prince Caspien. This court could become the greatest allies we had between the two worlds and the alliance might be the tipping point in the survival of the shifters.
I turned to Dalia and bowed my head. “I would be honored to meet your king.”
I sent my mate a mental message: We won’t stay long. Even though I need to learn about my fae powers, we can’t risk the safety of our people. War might be happening as we speak, so for now, we just thank the king and forge this alliance.
He nodded, and did not question me further. That level of trust and acceptance was just one of the million reasons I loved him.
Noise drew my attention then. A small group dashed up from where they must have been hidden close by. Blaine, Monica, and Victor were out in front. They rushed to my side and I gave them quick hugs. Nikoli crossed to his king, bowing first, before clasping Kade’s hand in a shake. Kian and his family were a few steps behind, a yawning Nathaniel draped in the bear shifter’s arms.
Addressing the group I said, “I must thank the summer king in person for his kindness. Then we will head off to New York.”
They nodded in understanding, and I turned to the two magic born. “We are ready. Please hurry. We really must return to Earth as soon as possible.”
They smiled, and an image of rare beauty opened up beyond the fiery portal: roses, waterfalls, summer. Somehow I could feel the warmth already, even though we were still standing in the land of ice and snow.
Lettie, the new magic born, looked at me. “The flames will not hurt you. They help keep it open.”
Kian and Shelley stepped closer. Nathaniel squirmed in his father’s arms and I could see the little boy was holding the rabbit tightly against his chest.
“Go on, it’s safe,” I said to them.
The bear shifter and his family didn’t move straight away and I turned to Kade, wondering what the problem was. Before I could ask though, Kian lifted his head to the sky and Nix let out a screech – followed soon after by another screech that sounded quite a bit lighter and trill-like. A different animal?
Was there trouble? Had the queen broken past the fire? I got my answer when the flapping of wings brought Nix closer. She swooped in to land on Kade’s shoulders, and despite it being difficult to read a bird’s expression, I was pretty sure she looked happy. Perhaps because she was not only back with Kade, but had also found an old friend. A huge black crow followed her path and landed on Kian’s shoulder. His familiar.
“We’ve been apart for most of the five years I was here,” Kian said, his voice low and rumbly. “Couldn’t take the risk that someone would see her and recognize that she was a familiar. It will be nice to have my old friend back by my side.” The black crow nuzzled his neck and my heart pinched. I couldn’t imagine being without Finn for that length of time.
He stepped through the portal, somehow holding his son, familiar, and mate close. My heart got a little tight … along with my throat. It was a beautiful sight to see, a man finally safe with all of his family. Monica, Victor, and Nikoli followed straight after. Blaine refused to go with them because he said his duty was to make sure I was safe and would only go behind me.