“I wish there was another option, but there are no neutral or safe places for them here. The winter fae will come to the mecca, we know that. They will try and destroy us all.”
Not to mention they would no doubt try to use the children to take me down, like the winter queen had in the Otherworld.
Violet’s voice was hard: “Why do you think they haven’t attacked yet? I mean, it’s been almost two weeks. What the hell is that Winter bitch up to?”
She had been tortured and almost killed in the Otherworld, and it had changed her. Unlike my changes, hers were all internal. She was harder now, more ruthless. And with a bloodthirsty need to cut the fae down. She wanted the Winter Court annihilated and Queen Isalinda’s head on a stick. Considering I was part winter fae, I didn’t know how I felt about that, but I did know that I would not hesitate to stop any and all fae who tried to attack my people. The winter queen’s head on a stick … completely acceptable … but the people … I would not take out an entire court just because they were ruled by evil.
“I have no idea, but whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not good,” I replied.
“Maybe it’s the timing,” Blaine interrupted. “We know time moves different between Earth and the Otherworld. So possibly, they are still on their way, it’s just going to take longer for them to send the army across.”
This was all true, but something in my gut told me there was more to it. I was worried. “I wish there was a way to speak with Prince Caspien. Violet, are you still working with the flowers?” I asked, veering off the garden path to follow a child’s shriek. Winnie was in the “pirate’s grove.” I should have known.
Violet nodded. “Yes, but I’m not receiving a reply. I’ve started working on that water spell. I think I’ve nearly got it perfected.”
I nodded, pushing my impatience down. After Dalia fell through the portal, I had tried to contact the fae, to no avail. I wanted to offer my condolences for the loss of Dalia, and also get specifics on this war. We had to assume they were either busy fighting themselves or had lost the flower we’d given them so long ago. Violet thought she could make some type of water two-way mirror, but it was a complicated spell, so I was trying not to push her.
“Have you had any more trouble with the council?” Violet asked, changing the subject, her voice flat. She had hated the wolf council as much as I did. I don’t think any of us were sad to see them go.
“Nope, they have all up and disappeared.” I had no time to bother with tracking them down. Nor did I want to. Traitors had better stay away unless they wanted to lose their lives. “At least it looks like they didn’t get back to the royal estate before fleeing. All of the spell books and Red Queen’s possessions are intact and well guarded.”
I would have to search through the Red Queen’s things again when I got a chance. For more clues. “I’m heading over there this afternoon,” Violet added, doing that thing where she seemed to read my thoughts. “You should join me.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Our conversation came to a halt when a tiny firecracker of a shifter burst out of bushes to my left, ambushing us, holding a long, thick piece of wood in her hands.
“Stop or ye shall walk the plank,” she growled, letting the wolf spirit inside of her free. “This be my treasure trove!”
The three of us immediately surrendered, arms up in the air, faces screwed up in exaggerated fear. Winnie’s red fox familiar, Rhett, was circling us slowly, trying to keep his bushy tail from wagging.
“You wanted to see me, Pirate Winnie?” I said, trying not to grin.
She growled again. “That be Captain Pirate Winnie to you barnacles.”
I couldn’t stop the smile then, or the laughter that burst out of me. “I think you’ve been spending too much time with Chase, Captain Pirate Winnie.”
Kade thought of Chase like a nephew, he was the son of his cousin and he’d known him since birth. Chase was a little older than Winnie, and very smart. He was teaching my sister a world of new words.
She dropped her weapon then, her tiny face crumbling. “I miss Chase,” she wailed. “Why did he have to go?”
I took two steps to her side, dropping to my knees and wrapping my arms tightly around her. “Winnie, sweetheart … I know a lot of stuff is happening that you don’t understand. And I’m sorry that everything is a mess again. We’re being attacked by some very bad people, so the children have to go away. To be safe. If you miss Chase so much, how come you don’t want to go be with him?”
She burrowed closer to me, tucking her little head into my neck as Rhett lay his face on her lap. “I would miss you more, so I had to make a hard decision.”
My heart hurt then, like someone had just wrapped their hand around it and squeezed tightly.
“I don’t want you to go either,” I murmured close to her, a few tears trailing down my cheeks. Queens weren’t supposed to cry, to show weakness, but I had decided to do things differently in my reign. I would not hide my emotions, I would not keep myself from my people. The rules were changing, and I was glad. “But I also can’t stand the thought of you being hurt. I need to know you’re safe, because if anything happened to you, Win. If you got hurt…” My voice broke. “I can’t let anything happen to you.”
I pulled back to see her face, and so she could see mine. “Do you understand? I don’t want you to go. I would do anything to make sure we never have to be apart again, but these bad people … they hurt kids. They would hurt you. So will you please reconsider staying with Chase, just for a few weeks?”
I was trying to make it seem like a question, but I would force her if I had to. I was praying it would all be over within the month, but without knowing the time of the fae attack, I was just guessing. She was quiet, staring at me, watery eyes locked on my face. Finally, she leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “I trust you to keep me safe. I will do as you ask and go to California.”
The tears in her eyes spilled over, which prompted fresh rivulets to track down my own cheeks. I wanted to sob, but I knew that would upset her more, so I just hugged her as tightly as I could.
I felt his presence moments before strong arms wrapped around both Winnie and I. Kade’s warmth encased us. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, and I felt him do the same to Winnie.
“It will be okay.” His low growly voice was the most comforting thing in the world to me now. “The fae picked the wrong packs to mess with. We’ll take them down and then all go on a vacation.”