by R L Medina
I shook my head. “No. They check for everything before they let you go through the portal.”
She laughed. “I know. But that stone is made from their very portal. It won’t set it off.”
I smiled at her. “Thank you. For your help. What… will happen to you? Do you want me to make them blind again so you can slip away?”
With a chuckle, she waved her hands at me, now free from the shackles. “I’m already ahead of you.” She threw me a wink and inched back toward the window.
The man and woman whipped toward her, hands on their weapon. My heart leapt into my throat. Before I could even summon my magic to help, she raced to the window, threw it up and jumped out.
I gasped.
“Keep them there!” the man roared as he and the woman ran after her.
I fought the urge to hurry to the window for my own look. Was she okay? Surely, she had planned that.
A cackling laugh echoed from outside, making me sigh in relief. The GRIMMS exchanged glances and curses.
The man raised his phone to his ears. “I need another unit, stat. The witch has escaped custody. I repeat the witch has escaped custody. Send another unit. Now!” he barked.
He whipped toward us with a murderous glare. “Take them to the portal. I’ll meet you there with the dragon. Don’t let them linger. They’ve caused enough trouble.”
Aunt Cindra returned his glare, her mouth opened to retort, but Des grabbed her hand with a warning look. Her lip curled, but she said nothing.
Gena’s face had gone pale. Her anguish rippled in the air. The Outer World was her home. She didn’t want to be banished with us.
“Wait! You can’t banish Gena with us. She was innocent. I forced her to help us. I used my magic on her.”
Mom shot me a dark look. Be quiet. You’ll get yourself into more trouble.
I ignored her and met their leader’s stare. If he didn’t want to listen, I’d make him listen to me.
Hope wavered on Gena’s face. The GRIMM glanced from me to her and scoffed.
“She will be interrogated separately.”
The woman with him shifted. “Command informed me that they don’t want us to interrogate them. Our orders are to get them out, quickly as possible.”
His face contorted in anger. “What? What do you mean they don’t want us to interrogate? We’re just going to let them go back without finding out exactly what they were doing here?”
She pursed her lips and nodded; her own anger radiated in the air.
“We were only here to hunt down a dangerous creature that had come through,” I argued.
Mom shook her head at me. Don’t tell them any more, Renée. We have to get home.
The man paused in front of me. “What creature? The dragon?” His eyes searched my face.
“Yeah. The dragon.” I fought the urge to flinch under his stare.
His eyebrows furrowed in suspicion, but he didn’t question me further.
“Command wants them out. Now, Green,” the woman interrupted.
He straightened and nodded to the other men and women. One threw up a glass box and chanted. I gasped as the object shattered and light exploded around us. My head spun. When I opened my eyes, we were no longer in the apartment.
Trees surrounded us and in the middle of the clearing stood the giant portal. Beside it, Fearless lay on the ground, metal chains holding him down. Ice shot through my veins.
Fearless.
I tried to run to him, but one of the GRIMMS stopped me.
Anger swirled within me. “What did you do to him?”
The dragon lifted its head at the sound of my voice. The fear I saw in his eyes made my heart twist.
Halfling? I tried to flee, but they have magic. Humans with magic! Fearless’s surprised voice entered my mind.
“It’s okay, Fearless. We’re taking you home now. It will be okay.”
At least I hoped it would. Who knew what the queen had done already? I pushed away the fear and summoned strength. I had to think positive.
Aunt Cindra glanced around at the forest and shook her head. “How did we get here? How did the humans get their hands on so much magic?”
Gena turned to her. “Where do you think they got magic? From us. Extraordinaires. Now they use it to control us.”
Des grunted. “And why would you want to stay here where you have to live under their rules?”
Gena’s eyes snapped to his. “You know why. This is my home, Des. I can’t leave it,” she scoffed, “Where would I go?”
“You can come with us,” I answered.
She gave me a sad smile. “Thank you, but I’d rather live here than in Feylin. With their rules and castes.” She frowned at Aunt Cindra.
“But we can change that. We can make it better,” I argued.
Mom squeezed my hand. “We will.”
Des snorted. “If you can even get back. The queen could have banished you by now. Or the abyss could have finished destroying everything.”
His words cut me. I didn’t want to imagine that.
Aunt Cindra’s head snapped toward him. “You’re coming with us, no?”
He straightened. “Why? As you said, I’m no longer under oath, Princess.”
She jerked back as if he had slapped her. I couldn’t help but feel a smug satisfaction that he was forcing her hand—finally.
“Let’s go. All of you,” a harsh voice interrupted.
It was the brown-haired man from the apartment. He scowled at us and motioned for the other GRIMMS to escort us closer to the portal. Sacha stirred as they dragged him along with us. My heart pounded. Was he okay? I twisted to get a glimpse of him. He blinked and met my eyes. Relief filled me.
The magic buzzed around the tall metal arch. I could already feel its pull.
I turned to the man. “What happens if our world has already been destroyed?”
He shook his head. “Not our jurisdiction. We only handle the problems here. This version of Earth.”
I blinked. “This version? Are there other versions?”
His lips pursed. “That’s classified.”
“I’m staying too,” Des announced.
The GRIMM scoffed. “No. Not happening.”
Des’s eyes flashed. “Don’t you want to know why we were here? What we were doing? If you let me stay, I can tell you everything.”
Shock reeled through me. They’d imprison him, wouldn’t they? What was he thinking?
I shook my head. “No. You can’t do this, Des.”
His eyes flicked to me. “It’s not your decision.”
The man studied him. “Alright. You can stay. For now. But if you’ve committed any crimes, you will be punished.”
Dread rolled inside me. No.
“You’re leaving us?” Aunt Cindra’s voice was a whisper.
Des stilled. I saw the indecision written there. Aunt Cindra saw it too. She did nothing. Hurt flashed in his eyes and was quickly replaced with resolve. He bowed to her and started walking toward Gena and the other GRIMMS.
I whipped toward her. “Stop him! If you don’t stop him now, you will regret it forever.”
Mom nodded. “You are making the biggest mistake of your life, Cindra. He is your bondmate.”
Her jaw clenched. Anger at his abandonment rolled from her followed by anguish at the thought of losing him. Her emotions lashed at my barrier, threatening to crack them. I fought the urge to use my power on her and force her to stop him. Her eyes widened as something snapped inside her. I saw it. The future— her future— without him.
“Des!” Aunt Cindra ran to him and threw her hands around him.
Then she kissed him. My jaw dropped as she planted another one on him and he returned it. Their kiss was long and desperate, and their emotions burst around me, making me blush. I turned to see the other’s reactions. They looked just as shocked as I was.
One of the GRIMMS swore. “Can we please just finish this? We’ve already missed lunch,” he muttered.
/> The leader glared at him and turned back to us. “Get through the portal. Now.”
Des stepped forward, but the GRIMMS stopped him.
“You are staying for interrogation.” The man’s eyes narrowed at him.
Fire lit in Aunt Cindra’s hands. “No. He is not.”
I gasped as Des’s hands shot up and shadow magic engulfed him. He disappeared in a cloud of smoke and backed up into the portal.
“No!” the man swore turning an angry scowl back to us.
Fear crawled up my spine. I could see in his eyes. He wasn’t going to let us all go. He’d lost his prisoner and Baba Yaga. It wasn’t a good day for him. I had to get us all out of there. Fast.
“Let the dragon go through,” I pleaded.
A group of men and women tugged at the chains, poking Fearless. The dragon rose and blasted fire in their direction, making them jump back.
“No, Fearless. Let them unleash you. We’re going home.”
The dragon stilled as they unlocked the metal. He spread his wings out and nodded at me.
“We’re going. Come on,” I shouted to the others, motioning them to the portal.
Realizing he was losing his opportunity, the man lunged for me. I jumped back. Fearless charged, blocking the GRIMMS from getting closer to us.
“Let’s go!” I grabbed Mag’s hand and pulled her toward the portal.
Mom and Aunt Cindra pushed me forward first and followed close behind me. Sacha brought up the rear. I picked Mag up and held her tightly against my chest as I stepped through first.
Blackness exploded around me. Sounds echoed in my ears. Nausea rolled inside me, and I had to fight the urge to throw up. My head spun as I floated in the emptiness. Light and dark swirled around me, making my eyes burn. I clenched the shut and held Mag tight.
We were going home.
26
I opened my eyes and glanced down. Mag clung to me, her body trembling with fright. I squeezed her and used my magic to soothe her. The poor brownie had been through so much. We all had.
My head snapped up as I looked around. We were back in Feylin. Right in the palace. How did they know to send us back to the same exact place we’d left?
“Renée!” Mom’s voice caught my ear.
She ran to us and threw herself around me. I smiled. We’d made it. The queen hadn’t banished us. I glanced up to see Sacha, Aunt Cindra, and Des there too. Only Gena was missing. I bit my lip, worried that she’d get in trouble for the chaos we had caused in the Outer World.
The Outer World. I’d never be able to return and though I couldn’t remember what it had been like to live there, I knew I’d miss it. Forgetting my past temporarily was a much better alternative to losing the pieces completely but having the opportunity to return taking away by the GRIMMS left me reeling.
Now there was only Feylin left for me.
My eyes swept across the throne room. Where were all the guards? And the king, Aunt Maloret, and Belle? Dread struck me.
Were we too late?
We are home, halfling. Fearless’s voice entered my mind.
I glanced up, flushing as I realized I couldn’t see him through the ceiling. Sacha walked toward me; concern etched in his brow. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly. My heart pounded against my ribs.
Voices shouted from outside. We exchanged worried glances and ran for the courtyard. Fear spread within me as I tried to match Sacha’s pace. Emotions hit me full force.
Anger, fear, and anguish.
The courtyard was filled with soldiers and fae. I threw up my wall against their raging emotions and thoughts. B’Zahir spotted us and walked over. Mom threw her arms around him. I settled for a smile. Though I was still unsure about the goblin, I was happy to see him.
In the center stood the queen and Belle. I sighed in relief. Alive.
Rage rolled off in waves from the elf as she stared down the queen. We joined the crowd, trying to figure out what was happening. My eyes landed on the Raj’ani. It was still out cold. Dread coiled in my gut. It had been days now, and it still hadn’t woken up. What would we do without it?
“I did not kill the king!” Belle’s voice rose above the crowd’s murmurs.
Her words struck me like a fist. For the first time, I noticed the body lying prone on the cobblestones, surrounded by the guards. Horror filled me.
The king was dead. Try as I might to muster any kind of emotion, I couldn’t. He’d never been much of grandfather or anything to me and if I hadn’t won the trials, I knew he’d have executed me with no remorse, but seeing him lying there shook me. The king of Feylin was dead. Just like that. I glanced at Belle. The queen’s accusation rang in my ears, but I couldn’t believe it. Had the elf killed him?
Ice magic blasted through the air. I stepped back, pulling Mag behind me.
“I return to find him dead and you by his body.”
Belle’s eyes flashed with fury. “Lies.”
Aunt Cindra strode toward them, fire lighting in her hands. “We don’t have time for this. If the spell has been broken, the destruction is no longer paused. We need to wake the creature and stop the abyss. Now.” She fixed them both with her deadly glare.
Aunt Maloret clapped her hands together. “Brilliant idea, Cindra. I vote for that.”
The queen turned her icy stare on Aunt Cindra. “She will pay for what she’s done.”
Aunt Cindra stiffened. “Yes. But not now. We need her to wake the creature.”
I glanced at the Raj’ani. Its body stirred. I blinked, wondering if I’d just imagined it. Its feathery head moved again.
It was waking up.
Belle whipped toward it and threw up her hands. Her magic poured out as she directed at the Raj’ani.
The creature rose stiffly to its feet. Its head swiveled and its blue eye fell on me. My breath hitched. Pain ripped through me, sending me to my knees. The connection we had shared flared back to life. Images flashed in my mind. Fire and destruction. Blood and pain.
Mom and Sacha rushed toward me.
“You will help us, Raj’ani.” Belle’s voice rose above the piercing shriek in my mind.
Black spots clouded my vision. My heart pounded. The Raj’ani was awake, and he was furious. I couldn’t move, the pain paralyzing me. Around me voices echoed, but I couldn’t make them out.
She thinks she can control me? I am not going back to prison. The creature’s voice boomed in my ears.
I gasped. No. I saw it before it happened, but I couldn’t stop it.
The Raj’ani spread its wings and flew at Belle. I screamed. Her face paled as she tried to throw up her magic.
Fire, water, and shadow magic leapt into the air as the others realized what was happening. I pushed against the invisible bonds that held me. Pain roared through me, making my stomach churn.
With a sickening snap, the Raj’ani tore through her. I clenched my eyes shut and when I opened them, she was gone. Just like the dwarf.
The Raj’ani threw its head back to look at me. Without a word, it flew off. Fearless darted towards it. My heart stopped.
“No! Fearless, don’t!” I screamed.
The dragon hovered in the air and turned back to look at me. My hands shook as I watched the Raj’ani race away.
“Go after it! We have to stop it.” Aunt Cindra’s voice rose.
The queen glared at me. “You.”
My mouth dropped open. “This isn’t my fault.”
Mom threw a protective hand on my shoulder. Sacha edged closer, his sword lifted in warning.
Aunt Cindra turned to us. “You have to stop him. This is our only chance.” Desperation bled into her words.
The ground trembled beneath us. My eyes went wide. Fae shifted, their fear filling the air. I met mom’s gaze. The abyss. My heart raced.
No. Just a little more time.
Wind howled and grew closer and closer. Dread filled me. The ground cracked and shook. Everyone scurried back. The wind whipped around us.
>
Screams tore through the air. Marble came crashing down. I stared in shock as the castle fell. Mom tugged me away. We ran. My heart beat wildly as I grabbed Mag and pushed myself faster. I didn’t dare look back. My mind raced, worries spilling in. Where were the others? Had they made it out? I was too scared to look. Mag clung to me, her eyes clenched shut.
Emotions overwhelmed me. Terror and pain slammed against my barrier. I winced, trying to push the feelings away. At least I knew it meant some of them were okay or at least alive.
“We have to get the Raj’ani,” Mom screamed over the noise.
The snowy ground split into two beneath us. Mom sank down. I tried to grab her, but I couldn’t reach her in time. She disappeared as the earth fell away.
My blood ran cold. “No! Mom!”
B’Zahir leapt to the rescue, pushing me away from the edge.
“Run!” he bellowed at me.
His words rang through me. The ground trembled underneath me. Trusting he could save Mom; I held onto Mag and ran. I didn’t dare look back. Wind roared in our ears and tore at our clothes. Everywhere the ground was breaking. The fae screamed in terror.
“Princess!” Sacha called from ahead.
I pushed myself toward him, holding Mag to me.
I threw her at him. “Take her, Sacha. I have to get the Raj’ani.”
His eyes filled with fear as he held out his hands for the brownie.
“Renée! Get in the carriage,” Aunt Cindra roared from the distance.
Ahead, a white carriage hovered above the ground. I nodded for Sacha to take it. Grief flashed across his face as he ran for the open carriage. A lump grew in my throat as I watched him, and Mag open the door for the other fae. Icy fear struck me. It could be the last time I saw them.
Aunt Cindra’s voice rang out, but I couldn’t see where she was.
Summoning my magic, I steeled myself. There was only one way to stop the destruction.
“Fearless!” I called.
The dragon flew toward me, his distress filling the air.
“You have to take me to the Raj’ani,” I pleaded.
He circled and landed in front of me. I swallowed my panic and climbed on top of him. The scales scratched but weren’t as sharp as I expected. It was like sitting on a bristly brush. My stomach churned at the idea of riding a dragon. I fought the urge to throw up, trying to settle my queasiness. I clenched my eyes shut as he stood.