We kept walking, and Neva changed the subject from her curiosity about all things “secret island” to me. “You know, I haven’t forgotten how mad I was at you.”
“Does it help if I say I’m sorry?” I replied, realizing I’d been throwing that word around a lot lately. That was something I would have to ponder on my own soon.
She stopped walking, mouth hanging open.
Finn and I paused, turning to face her. “What?” I asked.
She still gaped. “I think you actually meant that.”
My arms shrugged, remaining casual in hopes she didn’t make a huge deal out of nothing. “Probably.” I truly hadn’t enjoyed worrying her. Sure, riling her up with things that pushed her prim and proper boundaries were enjoyable, but having her believe we were dead wasn’t a line I had purposely crossed.
Neva stepped closer, finger raised at me. “What happened to you?”
Finn tugged on my elbow. “I hear Mosi. We should hurry up. He’ll need to know there’s a sorcerer on his island before one or more of his men accidentally get themselves killed.”
Saved by the mate.
Neva was even more suspicious but kept walking with us. I’d sit to talk with her at some point, but I wanted to know what came next before that happened. Mosi hadn’t been very forthcoming with his visions previously and, if he didn’t have anything more for us now, I was going to insist we leave.
Not that I didn’t necessarily trust Mosi, but the longer we stayed away from the castle, the more Ivy’s image appeared in my mind. Seeing her within the king’s grasp, her determined eyes that told me she was okay with dying, and worst of all, the way he’d threatened to torture her in front of me.
I might not have qualms about her dying if Yury couldn’t do his job, but allowing Ivy to suffer when we were capable of storming the castle once again was eating away at me more and more as time passed.
When we approached the main circle of huts, Mosi was indeed outside and waiting for us. “It’s time for you to leave,” he said, shocking the shit out of me.
“Well, that’s rude,” I replied.
Mosi fought a smile. “But come inside first.”
“Do you think it’s Yury? Should I have not brought him here?” Neva whispered, her honey eyes wide.
“If it has anything to do with one of us, I’m sure it’s me. Don’t worry,” I replied as Finn coughed to cover up a laugh next to me.
Neva’s unease didn’t lessen as we entered the hut. Olida was already there, food in a hand and a smile in place.
“Oh, dear! You must be Neva.” Olida glanced at me and winked. “You didn’t deserve her. I can sense how pure she is from here.”
“I won’t argue with you on that,” I replied as Neva tried to take in all that was happening around her.
Maddox was no longer inside the hut, and neither was the bed they’d brought in for him. The floor pillows that served as the faes’ only offered seating were back, and I took a seat, hoping to get our conversation going quickly. Finn followed my lead, and Neva finally joined us once Mosi and Olida sat as well.
“There is a sorcerer hiding in your jungle. He’s friendly. I think,” Finn said first.
Mosi nodded. “Yury will not be a problem.”
“How did you…” Neva began, but I interrupted.
“Mosi can see possible futures. He doesn’t actually say everything he knows, but he usually knows, and it can be annoying.”
“I see,” she replied.
“No, he does.” I snorted at my own joke, but nobody else did. Party downers. “So, why do we need to leave?”
Olida handed out mugs, and I was disappointed to find it wasn’t her special tea or more hot toddies.
“You have everything you need now. Maddox is healed and bathing in our purified waters. Neva is here. There is a sorcerer standing by to hopefully help Ivy, and the two of you are bonded. There are no—”
Mosi was cut off by Neva spitting her tea all over his lap. “What did you just say?” Then, her hands covered her mouth as she realized what she’d done. “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled.
“Did I leave that part out? My bad,” I said while Olida got a towel for her mate.
Neva punched me in the arm, and it actually hurt. “Damn, elf. For a tiny thing, you know how to throw a punch.”
“You’re on my shit list,” she snapped.
I feigned shock. “Language, Neva.”
“No. I can’t with you right now.” She turned to Mosi. “I really am very sorry, Mr. Mosi. Ms. Lucinda failed to tell me of her bonding to Mr. Finn. I did not mean to disrespect you.”
He laughed as he wiped his lap. “Oh, Neva. I’ve seen you, and you’re going to be alright. I promise.”
A part of me breathed a sigh of relief as Neva seemed to get slightly more nervous. Was Mosi giving insight to the future? If Neva stayed with us, would she be safe from the crossfire? I didn’t know for sure, but I would roll with it for the time being.
“And no more formalities. Just Mosi is fine,” he added once he was cleaned up.
I didn’t even bother telling him to save his breath. Neva was proper, through and through.
Olida nudged him. “Get back on track, dear. They need to rest and prepare to leave while I plan our feast.”
“Ah, yes. Let’s continue.”
Neva glared at me. Finn grinned. Olida’s eyes twinkled. Everyone was having a blast, and we’d barely gotten started. Super.
“As I was saying, you’ve done everything needed so far to put you on the path that will lead to the best chance at beating Zephyr as of now. You will have one night’s rest, and then there won’t be much sleep in your future, so don’t skip the opportunity. The islands are safe for you, but you can’t come back here until you’ve entered the castle once again.”
“You’re kicking us out?” Finn asked.
“I’m guiding you,” Mosi corrected. “I know it’s hard to understand, but I’ve done everything I can up until this point. If I am needed, I will be there, but that is a path that has not been set yet. You first need to find the Renegades, at least what is left of them. Then, you’ll know what to do from there.”
“So, we’re not saving my sister?” Finn’s voice was rough, tension rolling off him in waves.
“You need to find the Renegades next. That is all I can say.” Mosi at least appeared guilty for not giving us more information as his eyes pinched together and hands rubbed along his cotton pants.
“Well, that’s bullshit,” Neva stated, completely out of nowhere.
Olida burst into laughter. “Lucy, I think you brought back the wrong elf. She is nothing as you’ve described, and I love it!”
I reached a hand to Neva, and she pushed me away, tossing her curls out of her face and squaring her shoulders at me. “I’ve spent three days thinking every one of you were dead. Thinking everyone I’d met at Finn’s was dead. That was not okay. I spent hours scouring the supernatural community trying to find someone to save Ivy, and now we don’t even know if we’re going to do that? I am not okay with any of this.”
Mosi reached out, placing a hand on her knee. Power emanated from him, and she visibly calmed in her seat. “I’m sorry, Neva. You’ve worked very hard and you’ve done everything right. Your actions are not wasted and I’m sorry that you were worried.”
Even Olida was somber as we waited for Neva’s next reply. “I will accept that for now, but I’m not sorry for my outburst,” she stated with confidence.
“And you shouldn’t have to be,” I replied. “So, we wait for Maddox to finish and leave?”
Olida tsked. “We shall hold a feast tonight, and you will rest here before your journey continues.”
“You’re throwing us a party,” I said, then Mosi and Finn both groaned.
Olida held a hand to her chest. “I wouldn’t dream of that. A party wouldn’t be appropriate in these times, but we will indulge in the finer things the island has to offer.” Then, she winked at me.
&nb
sp; We were absolutely having a party.
Mosi stood first, and the rest of us followed. Olida went off to begin preparations, insisting she didn’t need help from any of us, and Finn decided he was going to be busy as well.
“I’m going to go check on Maddox. I’ll find you two later?” he said as we stepped outside, and I shook my head.
This new version we’d brought back of Neva was going to yell at me, and I wasn’t in the mood for that. Maybe after I’d had a couple of Olida’s hot toddies… but certainly not sober.
Finn disappeared like a coward when he knew I was going to object. Then, it was just me and Neva, and she was glaring daggers at my face.
“Quit. I didn’t do anything wrong,” I said, shooing her away with my hands as I took several steps back.
She followed, staying right on my heels before yanking me toward her. “You can’t avoid me. You brought me here, and I have no problems following you around until you spill what’s been happening.”
Eyes from other fae coming and going around us stared, making me uncomfortable. “Fine, but not here.”
I grabbed on to her arm and teleported us to the beach where I’d found the most comfort since being on the hidden island. The waves were rougher today, bringing driftwood and plant life onto the tan sandy beach and a stronger saltwater smell.
“Your email clearly didn’t relay everything that has transpired since I left,” she said first as we sat on the warm log.
“Well, I was trying to hurry,” I sighed.
“Sounds like we have time now, so why don’t you start from the beginning?” she suggested, but it sounded more like a demand.
I turned to meet her stare. “Did something happen to you back in LA? I know you’re upset, and while I don’t mind this new attitude, it’s cause for concern.” If one of the witches or packs touched her, I was going to kill the whole lot of them.
She sighed. “Yes and no. It wasn’t easy dealing with the supernaturals. They weren’t as forthcoming with information as they would have been if you’d been around. Even when I do things on my own for you, the underlying threat of you being just a call away always helped. I didn’t have that this time, and they knew it.”
“Oh, the threat is still there. It’s just delayed for a short time,” I said, cracking my knuckles as I stretched.
Neva smiled. “I knew that, but the others not so much. Nothing happened, it was just different. Then, when I didn’t hear back from you… It scared me, Ms. Lucinda.”
Clearly, she wasn’t too far gone given she was still using “Ms.”
“I really am sorry we worried you.”
Neva stared out into the water. “I know you are, and that helps, but the whole situation showed me I need to speak up more. There is a lot I don’t say, and life can be over in an instant. If I don’t speak my mind now, I might never have the chance.”
She was right about that. I should have died while trying to get to Zephyr. Now that I’d had some time to reminisce about the situation, I’d only been running on adrenaline and dark magic when Finn arrived. None of that would have gotten me very far once I was within the gates of the castle.
Though, I did find myself drawn to the thought of holding Gabriel’s sword again. He hadn’t owned the steel beauty when I’d been around, or never carried it, at least. I’d have remembered the power the blade exuded. I was still curious about it and wondered if the weapon could be the key to ending King Zephyr. I wouldn’t let it go again if I had the chance, no matter what kind of darkness it was filled with.
Neva nudged me while I was lost in thought. “Enough about me. What happened with you? More importantly, you and Finn?” she asked.
I laughed, shrugging off my thoughts of death and dark magic. “Did you bring the popcorn? It’s been one drama after another, it seems.”
She grinned at me. “But you’re bonded. It can’t be all bad.”
“Oh, it wasn’t something I intended to do, and I’m still not sure about it, but that’s a problem to handle when this is all over.”
She squeezed my hand. “Tell me everything.”
Chapter 11
Neva hadn’t let me leave the beach until I’d told her every detail that I could recall about what had happened while she was gone. Considering she’d been so insistent, I’d even given particulars on things she’d probably rather not have known.
The evening went by quickly once we were done catching up. When we’d arrived back at the huts, the area had been transformed into some sort of fae luau. Tiki torches lit the area, a fire pit had been made in the middle—though there was no animal roasting in it like humans often did—and the island fae were all gathered.
As the evening progressed, we drank, ate, and danced, pretending that the world around us wasn’t going to shit. Well, at least most of us had. Maddox was a bit of a downer for most of the evening.
Once the healing drugs wore off, Maddox slowly became awful to be around. He was livid, murderous with his words about the king, and angry at the world. Olida threatened to drug him again if he didn’t quit ruining her feast.
The following morning, our time to leave arrived much too soon. While I was eager to kill the asshole who called himself king, the night before had shown me I could have something more than the life I’d been living. The fae here didn’t fear me. They had no expectations of me to be someone other than who I was.
The feeling was… unfamiliar yet comforting.
As I dressed in all black and prepared for hunting, a realization settled into me. I needed to live my life in the moment. If that meant being one person while I was on the secret island, another when I was in LA, and a monster while I hunted the king, then so be it. Maybe I didn’t have to be any one thing. I could be all of them, and that would be okay.
“Ready?” Finn murmured, placing a kiss on the back of my neck as he pushed my braided hair to the side.
“I am. Are you?”
He spun me around, jerking my body against his. As my skin heated, I wished I hadn’t gotten dressed so fast.
Finn kissed me until we were both breathless. “I’m ready now. Let’s find the Renegades and save my sister.”
I pulled my head back before he could distract me with anything else. “And kill the king.”
“And kill Zephyr,” he corrected, Mosi’s sentiments clearly having worn off on him.
We left our hut in search of Maddox and Neva. They’d shared one of the main structures closer to Mosi and Olida in case Maddox had any issues. From what I’d seen the night before, the only issue he had left was a temperament one.
He and Neva were already outside, ready and waiting next to Mosi and Olida when we arrived. I didn’t like seeing Neva’s ebony curls pulled back into a tight bun and her ready for battle. She wasn’t made for this kind of life, but I wasn’t her mother. I wouldn’t force her to stay behind.
“Everyone rested and ready to go?” Olida asked with a bright smile.
“Rested. Sated. Same thing, right?” I replied.
Maddox grunted and mumbled something under his breath that was probably best we couldn’t hear.
“Should we tell Yury that we’re leaving?” I asked, also curious if he should be coming with us.
Mosi shook his head. “I will visit Yury. He’s settled now, and we have much to discuss. The four of you need to leave. Find the Renegades and trust your instincts. Please know we will all stand by your side when the time is right, but we only get one shot at this, Lucinda.”
His mahogany eyes bored into me like he was trying to tell me something, but I had no idea what. Still, I nodded. “We’re fully aware of the consequence should we fail.”
Olida passed out hugs and held on to me a little longer. “You’re special, Lucy. In time, you’re going to see that, and I hope I’m there when you do. Please be safe and know everything we’ve done has been to help you,” she whispered, and my chest tightened with emotions I preferred to avoid.
Instead of replying with words, I smi
led briefly and distracted myself by grabbing Neva’s hand and spreading my wings. She could teleport like us, but she couldn’t follow our trail—that was only a fae thing. Better if one of us always had a hold on her. We didn’t have time to waste trying to find each other.
“We still need to be careful, but don’t forget Yury concealed your magical presence,” Neva said.
He’d been such a demanding not-witch that I’d completely forgotten about that. “Thanks for the reminder. I missed you always stating the obvious.”
“We see the world differently, and there’s nothing wrong with that, Lucy.” Neva grinned from ear to ear at my shock.
“You said ‘Lucy’ and you’re not even trying to sway my choices. Why?” I asked.
“You’re not the only one who has changed. Now, let’s go before Maddox does something he shouldn’t.” She nodded at the fae who’d already flown off without the three of us.
“We’re going to have to keep a close eye on him,” I said loud enough for Finn to hear as he finished speaking with Mosi and joined us.
“Just give him time. He’ll be okay. Maddox didn’t know about Mosi before, so it’s harder for him to trust,” Finn replied.
Finn could deal with Maddox then. As long as the fae didn’t cause us extra trouble, I didn’t mind if he pouted, but I would step in to remind him that his actions had consequences if it was necessary.
As soon as we were all grouped together, we teleported to Finn’s farm, but further out into the trees than last time. Given he’d been seen coming out of the bunker, we didn’t trust it was a safe place any longer.
Slowly, we crept toward the house. I had plenty of items left in there that I hoped to still use, and this was step one to finding what remained of the Renegades.
“Do you smell that?” Finn asked as we got closer to his home. The scent of destruction permeated the stale air.
I had, but I’d been hoping it was smoke from the previous burn areas we’d seen.
Maddox began to walk faster, nearing a run, and Finn stayed with him, leaving me and Neva behind.
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