“You’re the most beautiful when your eyes are lit up by stars.”
I turn to Finn, my heart pounding in my chest as he looks down at me. He never needs to say much, but when he does, he nearly knocks me off my feet.
“Oh good, it’s night,” Ryker comments, having no clue he just interrupted a moment as he walks right into the middle of Finn and me. Finn turns away as I look up at Ryker, wondering what he meant. He is looking over the city, and I can tell he does love the Reaper Realm like I love the Otherworld and some parts of Earth. “It will really piss off the queen to wake her up.”
“I couldn’t care less,” Finn deadpans. He really, really doesn’t like her, and I’m on the same team in every sense of the word. Once the queen loses her crown to someone in the test, preferably not me, she will be fair game to challenge and kill. I have a funny feeling I will be joining a queue.
Poppy and Toth come through next, followed by Seth and Sebastian last. Sebastian comes over to us and waves his hand, creating two shadow portals. “This one leads to their apartment, and this one is to my mother’s apartment.”
With that, he walks into the one to his mother’s apartment. Seth walks up to me, cups my face and kisses me softly. “I will be back tomorrow morning for you.”
“Promises, promises,” I whisper back with a smile as he lets me go. Seth bursts into flames and leaves us here a second later. Ryker looks tense as I walk up to him, and he waves his hand at the shadow portal.
“Are you okay?” I ask even though I damn well know what has pissed him off. He doesn’t answer, just crossing his arms. “We need to talk, I think.”
“Yes, we do,” he answers before nodding at the portal. “Get in, Dae.”
Bracing myself for anything, I head through the portal and step out onto thick cream carpet, hearing shouting nearby. I turn around the corridor I’m in to find the queen shouting at Sebastian while Finn watches close by.
“What kind of son wanders off into the Otherworld when his family needs him?” she is saying. “Did you take your sister there? Honestly, you are a terrible son.”
“Eira is safe and so am I. Shouldn’t that be your only concern?” Sebastian replies, his voice blank. She narrows her eyes at him. “If my son wasn’t such a completely useless—”
“Enough!” I shout, storming over to them. The queen’s eyes widen, and she almost stumbles a step back before stopping herself.
“Tell me why I shouldn’t call the spirits right this second to kill you,” she asks.
“Because I would kill you, destroy this castle and burn this world down if you dared try,” Finn coldly warns. The queen tensely looks between us and behind me once, no doubt seeing Ryker there. I can feel him close to my back.
“Fine, I will allow the test to continue because it is an agreement I swore to when I took the crown, but there will not be an Unseelie queen on this throne. Or in this world when this is over, do you understand?”
“How exactly do you plan on getting rid of me?” I ask.
Her eyes burn with pure hatred. “I’ve killed so many of your kind, you will be no different. Do not test me.”
“I will do when that crown is no longer on your head and you are nothing to anyone,” I challenge.
“I will always be his mother,” she replies with a satisfied grin, “and if you kill me, you will always be the woman who killed his mother to Sebastian. It will ruin whatever pretend love story you have going on.”
“You overestimate my opinion of you, mother,” Sebastian replies. “Now vow to let Daesyn, Poppy, Ryker and me finish this test while the gods are watching. When there is a winner, we will decide what happens next.”
“You best win because, I’m telling you now, that thing you have feelings for is a sinking ship, and she will take you down with her. She will take this entire world down with her!” the queen all but screeches.
We all watch her as she calms herself down. “But I vow to let the test continue with you four. May the gods judge my word.”
“Good, because they will be watching,” Finn comments.
“Does the Seelie king know you’re here?” she asks the second I turn away. “I bet he doesn’t.”
I look over my shoulder, a smirk lining my lips. “Yes, he does, and he sent me here. Seems you two aren’t as close as you think, your majesty.”
A short, frustrated scream leaves her lips as I hear her storming away, her shoes ticking across the floor. Sebastian leads us down the corridor and into an empty room with one door on the other side. He doesn’t look back as he walks across to the door and then finally turns to face me. “I will see you tomorrow.”
“Are you okay?” I ask, taking a step closer. Sebastian’s eyes scream no as he nods and walks out of the door. I take another step to follow him when Ryker catches my arm.
“Let him go. He needs to see his sister and relax a little. There is nothing you can do, and you need rest for tomorrow,” Ryker warns me, curling his arm around my waist. He looks over my head. “Finn, I’m taking her home. I’m certain you have a shit load of things to do for the test.”
“Yes, I do,” Finn comments, his eyes searching mine as I stare at him. “Be safe. I am only a shout away.”
“Thank you for coming after me,” I softly tell him. Finn nods and disappears instantly in gold dust. Ryker uses fire to jump us back to the apartment, and we crash into the middle of the room, nearly falling over the sofa.
“Something is hot!” Mossy cries out, and I crawl to my feet to see Ryker’s bag is on fire. Ryker thinks quick, snatching the bag from me and running to the bathroom. All I hear is Mossy screaming about water, mixed with Ryker’s growl at Mossy to not bite him seconds later.
I shake my head with a smile that stays as I look at our apartment, which is spotless. It doesn’t look like anyone broke in here and trashed it, and there are even freshly cooked pizzas and fries on the counter. “You have returned.”
I nearly jump as I look down at the tiny Bwbachod standing at my feet, its tiny arms on its hips. “Sword, it’s good to see you are okay.”
“I hear the monkey has come back with you,” Sword comments. “I am pleased to see all three of you alive.”
“We are, but we might have some guests staying,” I tell him. “Do you know if there are any spare mattresses or bedding around?”
“I will make up beds in here for the Seelie fae and the hellhound,” Sword says, bowing his head. “Be careful. This realm is not safe for you.”
“I know that, it’s why the guys are staying,” I explain to him.
He nods. “I will protect you.”
“I’m glad to hear it, Sword,” I gently tell him, walking around him to Poppy’s room. The door is open, and Toth is sitting on the chair by the desk while Poppy is digging in the bottom drawer of her wardrobe. They both look up at me.
“Just checking to say things are sorted with the queen, and Sword is making beds up,” I tell him.
Toth nods. “You need rest, Daesyn. I can sense it.”
Swallowing a yawn, I nod. “Yup, that’s my next plan.”
“Go, we are okay,” Poppy tells me with a small smile before I turn away and head out into the corridor, shutting the door behind me. Mossy runs past, soaking wet, and Ryker comes out of the bathroom, his shirt soaking wet with water and a towel in his hands.