As our best security strategist, I’m inclined to follow Connor’s suggestion. I’m also used to the Woulfes insisting on protecting me and my brothers on a regular basis, so I’m not fazed by it either. But Taryn’s pride takes immediate offense.
“I appreciate your concern, Connor, but I don’t need anyone’s protection. I’ll go through first. I still hold royal status, so if I encounter anyone from the Elemental Courts, they’ll respect that, and if it’s anyone else, I can take care of myself.”
“I don’t doubt that for a second, Your Highness,” Connor says, using her title to show her proper respect and deference. “However, I have to disagree. Out of all of us, you’re the most important as you have the best chance of getting through to your mother. I’m not suggesting you not fight if we encounter a battle. I’m simply suggesting that if we’re able to lessen the chances for you getting in harm’s way, we take the steps to do so.”
Taryn shifts her weight as she contemplates his argument. Then she looks up at me and says, “I can’t argue with that, can I?”
A huge smile breaks out on my face. “No, you can’t. But if it makes you feel any better, he’s been emasculating me like that for decades.”
“It does a bit, yeah.” I chuckle as she turns her attention back to Connor. “Okay, fine, we’ll do it your way. But now I’m hoping it bounces you back on your ass.”
Connor winks. “That’s fair. Come on guys, line up.”
All three males stand in front of the portal, packs on and swords at the ready, as Taryn said modern weapons like guns won’t work over there.
Conall jumps on the balls of his feet, the adrenaline too much for him to stand still. “All right, boys, let’s do this. On the count of three. One, two—”
They step forward and disappear, the landscape behind the portal suddenly visible once again. “Holy shit, it worked,” I say, excitement making my heart pound in my chest. “They’re through.”
“I guess this is it, then.”
The tone of her voice is off and immediately has me checking in with her. Turning her to face me, I frame her face in my hands. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just a little nervous. It’s been so long, and with what I did before I left…”
She swallows hard, and I feel her fighting back the fear of how she’ll be received, not only by her mother but by her people. What happened that tragic day was an accident; one Taryn needs to forgive herself for. But that’s not anything she hasn’t heard before, and it’s not going to help her by saying it now.
“Whatever happens, I’ll be right by your side, and we’ll deal with it together. You, me, and the knuckleheads we brought with us. Sound good?”
Letting out a soft laugh, she pops up on her toes while pulling my head down to give me a quick kiss. “Sounds good.”
She gives me a grateful smile and pulls her short swords from the cross sheath beneath her pack, then I do the same. A rush of adrenaline hits me the same as it does right before a UFCO fight. We nod at each other and step forward into the shimmering circle together.
It feels like walking through a curtain of mist, the air charged with a palpable energy as the boundaries between worlds start to blur, and then we emerge on the other side.
All three males are turning around as though they themselves just stepped through, even though we were at least five minutes behind them. In a glance, it’s clear there’s no one waiting for us, and no one around to question our arrival.
Conall frowns in disappointment. “Well, that was anti-climactic.”
His brother gives him a droll look. “That’s what we want, numb-nuts.”
“Speak for yourself,” Conall says, sheathing his swords. “This place is pretty sick, though, am I right?”
We stop and take in our surroundings, and it’s so much more beautiful than the books and family legends described. There’s a resemblance to the lush landscape of Ireland with rolling hills blanketed in green grass and dotted in thick copses of trees; things that appear normal, yet extra somehow. Like the realm was designed by Queer Eye using only the most vibrant of colors with dashes of sparkles.
The sky is spectacular, painted in varying hues of purple that slowly whirl and blend, as though the artist is never satisfied with the result. I breathe in deeply, my lungs filling with air that smells faintly of whimsy, like dreams and wonder and infinite possibilities. And not too far in the distance, a majestic waterfall cascades from thin air, flowing into a pool of crystal blue that sparkles like liquid sapphires under a brilliant white sun.
My senses feel even more heightened here, the connection to my newfound magic more noticeable. But most of all, there’s an overwhelming feeling of being home. My chest tightens with emotions I wasn’t ready for. Despite living my entire life in Vegas with my family, the only other time I felt something even close to this was when I laid eyes on Taryn for the first time.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, I pull her into my side and dip my chin to place a kiss on top of her curls. She responds by tipping her head back to peer up at me, those lavender pools shining with her own mix of complex emotions.
Offering her the only reprieve I can, I give her a mission to focus on. “Lead the way, solnyshko.”
The determination burning inside her returns. Setting her jaw, she points in the direction past the waterfall. “Tír Tairngire is this way.”
Connor adjusts the straps on his shoulders and says, “Okay, listen up. We move as a group with me and Conall out front, then the royals, and Dmitri’s on their six. Agreed?”
We all reply in the affirmative. Conall nods, his usual happy-go-lucky demeanor hardening for the job at hand as he fist bumps his brother, adding, “Everyone stay sharp. Let’s move out.”
As we trek forward, I stay close to Taryn, keeping her in my peripheral at all times as I scan our surroundings. Since Faerie is so vast, it would take weeks to cross it on foot. Not an issue for the winged fae who live here, but according to Taryn, back when the realm was still mortal-friendly, humans used portals to magically travel from one region to another. Since the guys and I can’t fly, using the portal to get to the Summer Palace is our only option.
We walk for several hours—or that’s what I assume since our cell phones and other modern technology is useless here—only pausing to refill our canteens as needed.
“Shouldn’t be much farther,” Taryn says at my side. Her voice is steady, but I sense something is off.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
She scans the dark purple sky dotted with the first stars of twilight and shakes her head. “Aine should have sensed my arrival and sent scouts to collect me by now. We never should have made it this far.”
Dmitri speaks from behind us. “Maybe it is a test, sestra. Maybe she is waiting to see what you will do after all this time away.”
“I think that’s what I’d do in her position,” I say.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
Her words are convincing, but the way she chews on the inside of her cheek says something else. I don’t bring it up, though, content to let her play it off as long as we don’t appear to be in any danger.
Shortly after, the purple sky is so dark it’s almost black. The thin crescent of the silver moon and blanket of tiny stars doesn’t give us enough light to see by, so Taryn used her fire magic to create flames that float along with us like lanterns.
