Mom and Dad share a glance, and I’m afraid they’re going to argue with me.
But my dad nods slowly as he scratches his white hair. “I suspected this.”
“You did?” I’m surprised. “You’re not mad?”
Adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses, he chuckles. “I don’t know if you realize it, but you didn’t seem very excited about going in the first place.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You sulked the entire time we were there for that tour.”
“Oh.” That was one of the days I missed being with Kirian because I was busy on the campus at the university an hour away. I’d hated knowing he was here, waiting for me.
“We’ve never been able to stop you from going your own way,” Mom adds, tipping her head toward the window. “You spent half your life out in those woods.”
“Have you thought about money?” Dad sounds concerned. “It can be expensive to see the world.”
“That’s not an issue,” I reply. “I’ve been saving my money from the ice cream shop for two years.” Also true. Not that my money will have any value where I’m going. Maybe I could donate it to the animal shelter or something. And here’s the big lie I’d thought up on my way back to the house. “I was thinking I could get a job on a cruise ship. Cleaning rooms, washing dishes, maybe scooping ice cream. It’d be a great way to get some income while doing what I want.”
Plus, it would explain why I might not be reachable by phone at all times.
“Well, listen, Quinn,” Dad starts. “You’re an adult. These decisions are yours to make. As long as you come back home every once in a while, we’ll be happy.”
“I will,” I promise. Hell, I could visit every day with Kirian’s portals.
Dad smiles. “We’ll hold onto your college fund until next year, and we can talk about it then. But if you still don’t want it, your mother and I are going on a vacation.”
Grinning, I nod. Mom and Dad deserve that.
Now that the conversation is out of the way, I feel lighter.
I shove another forkful of pasta into my mouth, and my response is garbled when I say, “Deal.”
Kirian
Back in the Shadowlands…
“Don’t have a hissy fit,” Astrid says lightly, as if I’m not two seconds away from snapping her neck. “Quinn is fine. She’s home.”
My eyebrows furrow. “Delaveria?”
“No. Her world.”
“How? Why?” My heart feels like it might cave in when I wonder if Quinn asked to be sent home. She wouldn’t have left me without a good reason. My fury returns, because there can only be one person to blame for this, and she’s rocking in that fucking chair like my world isn’t imploding. “What did you tell her to make her want to leave?”
“She didn’t want to leave.”
“Then why did she?”
“I said she went home, not that she wanted to.”
Fucking witches and their riddles. I think Damon can sense I’m about to lose it, because he intervenes.
“How did she get there, Astrid?”
“Ah, ah—”
“No way. Come on,” Damon practically whines. “Most of my hair got burnt off in the explosion. Just tell us. Please?”
“Oh, all right. Only because I like you.”
“Thank you.” There’s a smile in my cousin’s voice, like he knew she’d give in to his charm.
Astrid directs her next words at me. “Someone sent her back through a portal.”
“Who?”
“Someone you trust.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake. “Did you give them the portal?”
“No,” she scoffs. “I like Quinn. I wouldn’t do that to her.”
“Where would someone get a portal?” I ask, more to myself than anyone else, but surprisingly, Astrid answers without hesitation.
“The same witches who cursed you.”
That information only produces more questions. The coven has been untraceable for centuries. Why would they resurface now?
It doesn’t matter. I know where Quinn is, and I have to get to her.
“I need a portal. Can you do that for me, Astrid? I’ll give you all my hair.” I’d give her a lot more than that if she could help me. Gold. Stardust. A position on the royal council.
“I don’t just have one on hand. You know how long it takes to grow a portal,” she replies, her voice soft and pitying.
I do know. Six months to a year, depending on how powerful the maker is.
That feels like forever.
Groping for the chair near me, I slump into the seat as desperation weighs down on me.
I thought the waiting was over. Quinn and I were going to get to be together, always.
We were so close to getting everything we’ve ever wanted.
What if she leaves for college like she’d originally planned? What if I go to the field and she’s not there?
“No chance of that,” Astrid says, clearly reading my mind. “When you go to her, she’ll be waiting.”
“Thank you.” My tone is defeated, but there’s a glimmer of hope. Astrid’s powerful. Probably the most powerful witch I’ve ever met in person. I can feel it emanating from her in waves. If anyone can grow a portal in record time, it’s her. “What do you need from me to make this happen?”
Quinn
My finger moves over the mouse pad, and I click the last button. It’s done. I’ve canceled my classes. Going all-in with the lie, I even looked up a few cruise ships that are hiring, filled out job applications, and printed the info for my parents.
I scatter the papers out on my white desk and think about what I’d like to take with me to the Night Realm. This time, I’ll be prepared.
Closing the laptop, I glance out my bedroom window.
The sun has fully set now. The stars are out, but it’s not the same. They’re too dim. Too far away.
Not as good as the Night Realm.
My new home.
I wish I could take back everything I said this morning about how I didn’t want to go to Delaveria. Honestly, I don’t care where I am as long as I’m with Kirian. I’ll endure snide remarks and insults. I won’t wither under the scrutiny of anyone with my king by my side.
I’ll hold my head high.
After digging around in my closet, I find a small duffle bag. It’ll do. My dresser drawers creak as I open them, and I grab handfuls of cotton panties, a few T-shirts, and some skinny jeans. Some socks and a couple bras join the collection, and I zip it up.
If I were down in the kitchen, I’d raid the pantry of all our pudding cups.
But I’m too tired.
Climbing onto my bed, I recline on the pillow. My hair is still wet from my shower and I roll onto my side, gazing at the lavender walls. The color reminds me of Kirian’s eyes.
Although he’s never been in this house, he’s invaded this place.
Everywhere I go, I see him in everything around me. Because it’s not the location—he’s embedded so far into my soul, I know he’ll never leave.
I guess that’s what being fated mates is all about. A connection that goes beyond space and time.
I wonder what Kirian’s doing. I wonder if he’s happy, or if he’s losing his mind like I am.
My eyes grow heavy with fatigue, but I don’t fight sleep. The faster tomorrow comes, the sooner I can see him again.
I’ve spent so many nights like this. Lying here alone. Thinking about him. His eyes, his smile, the way he makes my heart flutter.
I’d thought it was a silly crush.
But now I know it’s more.
It’s destiny.
“I love you,” I whisper, sending it up into the universe, hoping it will make it to Kirian’s ears.
Kirian
Five and a Half Months Later
Agony. I thought I knew what pain was, but these past several months have been the worst of my existence.
During Quinn’s time here, I became addicted to her. That’s the
only way I can describe it. My sleep is restless. My appetite is gone. I physically ache and itch.
But today I’ll get my portal.
I’ll be reunited with my love.
The day Quinn disappeared, Damon and I made a pact—we wouldn’t tell anyone what happened. I let people make their own assumptions, and a rumor that Quinn had been killed spread like wildfire through the kingdom.
So many mourned her loss.
They still do.
Just last week, a sprite delivered a message to me in the Dream Realm to tell me the gnomes were sculpting a statue in her honor, even though they don’t have the resources to do so.
They’ll be rewarded for their loyalty.
Since Damon’s palace is just on the other side of the Shadowlands, I decided to stay there until further notice. I sent word to Delaveria saying Gia should take over while I’m gone.
I almost feel bad about letting people believe Quinn died, but I still don’t know who the traitor is. Whoever they are, they think I’m hiding out in Damon’s castle licking my wounds. Too depressed to face the world.
Never underestimate the power of being underestimated.
In reality, I’ve been planning my revenge. That’s the thing about missing Quinn. To distract myself, I’ve thought of every cruel and unusual way to punish my enemy.
They will pay.
My body hums with excitement as I make my way through the Shadowlands.
This is a trip I know too well now. Although Astrid said the portal wouldn’t be ready for months, I’ve visited her often. Just in case it developed sooner.
And also because I actually enjoy her company. Damon’s right—she grows on you after a while.
As soon as I enter Astrid’s cave, I smell the portal. Yeah, this one’s got some kick.
“Ready?” I ask, unable to hide the anxiousness in my voice.
“Ah, ah—”
“Right.” I pull the band from my hair, and the knot falls free. “Let’s get on with business then.”
This time, instead of scissors, I hear a tiny crank before a buzzing sound follows.
“Sit here, mighty king.”
“Are those sheep shearers?” I go to one of the dining chairs.
“Something like that.”
“You’re taking it all?”
“Just the sides and the back.” She ties up the top section of my hair before getting to work.
The vibrations feel weird on my scalp as at least twelve inches of my hair rain down to the floor. After she’s done, she puts the clippers away and starts to brush what’s left on my head.
“Can I go now?” I ask, impatiently.
She clicks her tongue with disapproval. “You can’t go to Quinn like this. You look like your hair got into a fight with a meat cleaver and lost.”
Pressing my lips together, I let out a hum. “A very apt description of what just happened.”
“I’ll fix it for you,” she says, her fingernails sectioning off rows on my scalp.
Doesn’t she know I’m in a hurry? This isn’t the time to play hairdresser.
I hold up a hand. “Really, you don’t have to do that.”
“I work fast.”
“Astrid.”
“Mighty king.”
“Fine,” I relent with a grunt, relaxing in the chair.
I’ll let her have her fun. She deserves it after helping me get to Quinn.
Besides, she’s not wrong about being efficient. In the short time we’ve been arguing about it, she’s already gotten through one braid.
She moves onto the next.
My scalp prickles as her gentle movements weave the strands together. It reminds me of all the times Quinn practiced her braiding skills on my head. At first, she was clumsy, and sometimes she pulled too hard. But eventually, she became an expert. I remember the way she liked to touch it, absentmindedly playing with the ends, twirling them around her delicate fingers.
“I miss her,” I rasp out, my eyes burning as my throat gets tight.
Crying isn’t something I do. Ever. But I’ve reached a breaking point.
“There, there, my king,” Astrid soothes. “You’ll be with Quinn soon enough. I’ve ticked off all the boxes to make sure of it.”
“What boxes?”
The quick motions of Astrid’s fingers stop as she finishes the last row. Then she uses my hair band to form the long strands into a small bun.
The clatter of a bowl on the table makes me turn. I hear the pouring of liquid and the scraping of a spoon as she stirs the contents.
“Someone doesn’t want you to get to Quinn’s world. Not now, not ever. I see a spell. An unsuccessful one. She’s been trying to block portal access in Quinn’s area. She’s casting a pretty wide net.”
“She? One of the witches?”
Instead of answering me, Astrid continues, “But you have something that’s keeping her from being able to complete it. An object. A promise. It looks like a little glass ball.”
“Quinn’s marble.” My hand goes to the pocket of my leather pants where I feel the small bump. “She let me borrow it years ago. I carry it with me always.”
“A borrowed item.” She chuckles. “How very clever of you.”
The day Quinn let me have her prized possession, I wasn’t thinking of the future. Not like this, anyway. I just wanted her to believe I’d return. As long as I had something of hers—something she valued—I had to. And I’ve been going back to her ever since.
“Well, my work is done here.” Astrid places the portal in my palm.
It’s small, cold, and almost feels wet.
“Thank you.” For the first time since Quinn was taken from me all those months ago, I smile.
It’s time to go get my woman.
I throw the portal down right here, and Astrid doesn’t try to stop me. That means Quinn and I will end up in this spot when we return. I probably should’ve at least taken it to the Dream Realm first, but I’m too impatient.
Just as I step through, Astrid’s fading voice calls, “When you have children, bring the little ones to me whenever they need a trim.”
Kirian
Plink. Plink. Tick.
Tick. Plink.
As I toss pebbles at Quinn’s window, I hope to the stars it’s the right bedroom. Although I’ve never been this close to her house, she’s told me of the layout. I can hear three different patterns of breathing inside, and the one nearest to me has to be her.
Plus, I can feel she’s close. My veins buzz with awareness. The sensation isn’t as strong as it was in my realm, but I recognize it.
I welcome it.
The nighttime air is humid and warm. Anticipation and hope flood my system, giving me energy. Summoning my ability, I call on the cicadas and crickets to merge into a flowing melody.
Come on, Quinn. Where are you?
Tick. Tick. Plink.
The window slides up with a groan.
“Kirian!” Quinn whisper-yells. There’s so much happiness in her voice, and everything is right again. My heart is mended just by hearing her say my name.
“Quinn,” I choke out, overcome by emotion.
“Stay right there. I’m coming down.”
Not more than twenty seconds later, Quinn’s flying out the door and running toward me. I open my arms, and she leaps, latching onto my body by strangling my neck and wrapping her legs around my middle.
A canvas bag she carries smacks me on the back, but I barely feel it. What I do feel, however, is that she’s not wearing any pants.
Our lips fuse together like magnets. Palming her smooth thighs, I roam her supple flesh as I taste her mouth. Her sweet scent fills my nostrils.
I groan. I could get drunk on her.
“It’s three o’clock in the morning,” she says without moving her mouth away from mine. “How are you here?”
Stroking my tongue against hers, I deepen the kiss. I don’t want to answer her because I’d rather use my mouth for other things. Like mak
ing up for lost time.
Standing in the grass, we stay in this spot for several minutes, just holding each other. Soaking up every kiss. Every touch.
When she grinds her center against my hard cock, my patience unravels.
Turning, I start walking us back into the woods. Back to the portal. Back to where Quinn belongs—in my bed.
Twigs snap under my feet as I duck under a low branch, and I squeeze Quinn’s luscious ass to keep her anchored to me.
“Missed you,” she says between the frantic kisses she peppers onto my face. “So much.”
“Missed you more.”
She huffs out a laugh before pulling away. “I don’t doubt it. Kirian, I have to tell you—”
“Who took you?” I interrupt, needing answers.
Shaking her head, Quinn nips at my jaw. “I don’t know. I tried to find you in the Shadowlands, but it was so scary. So dark. Then the guy grabbed me, and I couldn’t see him. He never said anything, so I didn’t hear his voice either.”
“Shh,” I calm her, stroking her hair—which I notice is a bit shorter than I remember it. Astrid’s handiwork. “I know the events are fresh for you.” To her, this all happened about eleven hours ago. “None of that was your fault.”
“You didn’t figure out who’s behind everything?”
“Not exactly. My life has sort of been on hold ever since you got taken away. Astrid mentioned the witches who cursed me, but I know there’s more to it than that.”
“Are you okay? It must’ve been hard for you to wait so long to get to me.”
“You have no idea.” Nuzzling her cheek, I briefly summarize the hell I’ve been through. I tell her about the rumors of her death, my absence from Delaveria, and my unexpected friendship with Astrid. “All will be well again once we go back. We can stay at Damon’s until we find who’s after you. Then we can continue with our plans to marry.”
“Wait. Wait, wait.” Wiggling until I set her down, Quinn laces our fingers. “We need to go to the treehouse. We need to consummate the bond.”
“Now?” Our separation made me yearn for her as well, but I don’t know how long the portal will stay open. “What’s the hurry? I can wait.”
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