Blaine stepped onto the disc, vanishing in an instant. Victor and Monica followed right after.
Kade turned to his brother then, who was waiting patiently with his family. “I’ll go through first, to make sure it’s all secure. I’ll leave Nix here with you so I can send word if it’s safe. She’ll shriek twice to alert you. Then you can come across.” He turned to his magic born. “Nikoli, can you make sure they’re safe during the journey across?”
Nikoli, who was standing very close to Violet – I’d noticed that he hadn’t been far from her since the moment I saw them all again in the Winter Court – gave his king a nod.
“I will protect them with my life.”
“I’ll help him,” Violet added, her tone hard to read.
I wanted to protest. I didn’t want her out of my sight, but I knew she would never accept me overprotecting her. I had to let go and trust in her ability to keep herself safe. Baladar’s home was secure, and this vortex should only lead to Staten Island, so I really had very little to worry about … which helped in no way at all.
Nix took off from Kade’s shoulder, hovering just above Kian and his family’s heads. Kade and I stepped on the disc – Finn remained close to my side. I took a deep breath. This was the first time I would travel in the vortex since finding out about my mother … about the Red Queen. It had been her voice in the vortex this entire time, and I wondered if she would try to contact me. Part of me was hoping she would, so I could hear her voice again, could ask her the million and five questions I had. Another part of me knew there was no time right now to deal with it. Unless she had some information or a weapon which could help in this war, a reunion would have to wait.
As Kade took my hand, I felt that familiar pull of mecca and let it take me, sucking me through the magical lines. I was tense the entire time, waiting to hear that chiming voice … but for once there was nothing.
In a blink, we were at the bench seat on Staten Island. Finn took off immediately, briefly saying: Will scout for trouble. Keep an eye on the vortex until everyone else is through.
Thanks, buddy.
I focused back on Kade, who had tilted his head down, his eyes asking me all the questions. I shook my head as we both stepped off the disc to get out of the way of the others coming through. “I didn’t hear her. There was nothing at all.”
His arms went around me then, lifting me up into his body as he gave one of those big bear hugs, a hug I was quickly becoming addicted to, like his strength alone was enough to keep me together. I could only hope I offered him the same comfort.
“We’ll figure it out. Once we return the mecca to the Otherworld, we can focus on the Red Queen. On how she is using the vortex to speak with you.”
Rising up on my toes to stretch as tall as I could – and still only reaching his chin – I smashed my lips against Kade’s. He was in my corner no matter what the world threw at me. A true partner in every single sense. Was there anything sexier than someone who completely and totally had your back?
Hell no there wasn’t.
Our kiss was just getting heated, Kade’s hands somehow finding their way under my fur coat to cup my butt and lift me closer to him, when the roar of engines broke through our haze of emotion. I was breathing hard when I pulled away. Kade reluctantly lowered me to the ground, although he kept an arm around me. As we turned toward the approaching vehicles, Blaine, Monica, and Victor walked into view, stopping close by us. I’d actually forgotten that they were already here. No doubt they had been giving us some privacy, but as the two SUVs closed in on us, pulling up by the curb, they were back on guard duty.
Gerald, Annette – Kade’s mother – and Jen my dominant who had stayed behind to be on the bear council, were all there with excitement on their faces.
Annette reached us first and she pulled me in for a hug. I was surrounded by warmth and energy and it was very clear where Kade had learned to hug so thoroughly.
“Thank the gods! You’ve returned safe and sound.” She pulled back when she saw my ears and blinked a few times, reaching out to graze her fingertips across them. The slightest of frowns crossed her lovely face. “Well, that’s interesting.”
Interesting wasn’t even close to covering it. “Yes, a lot happened in the Otherworld. It’s a long story though. There will be time later to go over everything. First though … we have some news for you.”
Kade took over then, stepping closer so his mother could wrap her arms tightly around him. I could just hear his low voice as he said, “Kian’s alive, Ma. He was trapped in the fae lands.”
The words had barely left his mouth when the vortex started making a popping noise behind us. Before I could even turn, Kade’s mother let out a cry, one filled with so much emotion I had tears pricking my eyes. Then she was running, pushing through all of us and leaping onto Kian. Seeing a mother reunited with a child, weeping in happiness, it brought a happy ache to my heart. Not just mine either, by the looks of the leaky eyes and cleared throats going on around us. Even Gerald, the big toughie, had shiny eyes.
Violet, standing close to my side, even reached out and gave my hand a brief graze. Neither of us looked at the other, but I could feel her torn emotions, her joy and sorrow. Her time in the Otherworld was still controlling her, but she would take this one moment to feel a sliver of happiness. Might as well take them where we could. We both knew there would be many dark days ahead of us.
Finn, who was back from scouting, pressed into my legs. I dropped my hands down into his thick fur. After that very emotional reunion, Annette led us to the cars and we split into two groups. I got into the first vehicle with Kade, Violet, Blaine, Monica, Finn, and Gerald, who was driving. Nix and Kian’s familiar, whose name I learned was Jota, took to the air. They would follow us in their preferred mode of transport: flight.
Leaning forward, I said to Gerald, “How did you know to meet us here?”
Kade’s war councilman chuckled as he started the powerful car and pulled away. “Calista emailed me a few minutes ago. Annette had us all out the door in about eight seconds. We’ve been so worried. The shifter world needs its leaders.” He cleared his throat a little. “We need our friends.”
It was totally a hugging moment, but Gerald was driving, so I settled for a hand on his shoulder.
“How’s Winnie?” I missed my little sister dearly and wanted to make sure Selene couldn’t get to her. One of the things on my to-do list was to ensure she was not touched by this war. I would protect her innocence.