Henry’s sister calls him, and I nod, letting him go to her even as his eyes search mine, both of us knowing we have a lot to talk about.
Before I can move, Thallon cups my cheeks and kisses me softly on my forehead. “You’re alive and safe.”
“And you’re an angel now?” I question, stepping back to run my eyes over his large black wings. They suit him, and his eyes lock onto mine. We don’t have to say anything, my missing wings are enough of an answer for us both.
“Bryne!” Vesnia’s shout jolts me, and I turn to see her run to Bryne the moment he steps into the room. He grabs her the second he is close enough and picks her up, swinging her around and burying his head into her hair as she cries. Gods, she loves him. I know that feeling well.
“Where is Masita, Kaitlyn?” Aala asks, and the world seems to slow as I turn around to face her. I go down on my knees, making us the same level as I pick up her tiny, cold hands. I think she knows...but having it confirmed is a different matter. How do I tell a little girl that all the family she had left in the world is gone?
“I— She didn’t make it,” I tell her, and she stares at me, blinking her big eyelashes a few times. “But I swear on my life, I will look after you. Your aunt saved my life, and I will care for the only person she loved: you.”
Aala bursts into tears, and I can only hold onto her, trying to soothe her by rubbing her back and just being here for her. Eventually she pulls away from me, and the room is a little emptier than it was before. I can still hear the vampires just outside the room though.
“Where do people go when they die?” she quietly asks, her words catching on thick emotions that break my heart. No one as young as she is should have to feel this way. I don’t have an answer for her, and I struggle to say anything, even as she stares at me like I should know. Thallon kneels down next to me and catches Aala’s attention.
“My papa used to tell me that everyone leaves this world only to find the next place their soul belongs, and you know what?” he asks, and she shakes her head. “I asked him how I would find my family in a new place. How would they know me?”
“What did he say?” she curiously asks as I wipe her cheeks of tears. I look down at her small hands, seeing a familiar ruby ring clutched in the middle of her palm. Why would Masita give her the ring? I wonder if she knew she would die; maybe Aala wasn’t the only one in her family with gifts.
“He took my hand and told me that souls remember other souls. That family and love are bonds that connect us far past the death of our mortal bodies,” he tells her and offers her his hand. “My name is Thallon, and I promise to protect you alongside Kaitlyn. We can’t replace your aunt, but we can be each other’s family. What do you think?”
We both pause as she slides one of her hands out of mine and into his, and somehow I know Thallon means every word. He will make sure she is safe and protected alongside me.
“We have to go and see the leaders of this place. They have a way of getting Ren,” Henry softly says behind me. Turning to see him, Vesnia and Bryne standing behind me. I look once at Thallon, and he nods, letting me know he will watch her and the other vampires while I go and get back their leader.
“Where the hell are we?” I ask as we step out of a cabin in the middle of a thick forest with one stone pathway through it, which is lit up with tiny solar lights. The sun is setting over the trees, casting thick yellow and vibrant oranges through the green leaves. It’s super beautiful here, but as I stare at the setting sun, I realise it wasn’t this late in the day before we came through the portal.
“That’s hard to explain, but I will try,” Henry says, linking his fingers with mine. “One of the tales leaders is hiding us in another dimension that is made with his powers. He literally made this world and can control what is in it. Effectively, it’s safe as long as he is alive,” Henry explains. “And the vampires won’t be sensed here.”
“How the heck do they have power like that?” I question, and Henry shrugs.
“At least they are the good guys, darlin’,” he replies, and I guess he does have a point. “We have been here, making a plan to rescue you. Ren spoke alone with Madi about a plan, and she promised to only tell you.”
“Let’s find her then,” I say, nodding once. As we walk through the forest, I start to wonder about Myles. He must have gotten off the academy somehow, but how is the question. I glance at Henry, taking in his curly locks of black hair, the fires in his eyes burning brightly as he glances at me, and they reflect off his golden skin. He looks tired, though, like he hasn’t slept well in a long time, and all things considered, that makes sense.
“Have you seen Myles since the academy fell?” I ask Henry, and he smiles at me.
“I saved the wolf for you, and he is on the tales island, waiting for you much like we all did,” he tells me. “Turns out wolves weigh a fuck ton.”
I laugh and rest my head on his shoulder, relief coursing through me. “I’ve missed you more than I can explain, Henry.”
“I’ve missed you more. I thought I might go mad while we had to figure out a plan. Gabriel was a good spy for us and told us they were planning to move forward with your trial after a month of arguing. It was a shock to us all when Ren decided to give himself up to be with you,” he sourly says. “The bastard left a bottle of his blood for me and a note that he would be back.”
“Sounds like Ren,” I chuckle, but it dies off when I remember he is alone with the angels that last time killed him. Gods, he can’t die.
We come out of the pathway to another small cabin with a pond outside the front and cute little white windows. I’m not surprised when Madi pushes the door open and steps out, smiling at me. Behind her are two men I don’t know, but the one with a cloak and staff scares me. As he would most people, I suspect. The queen of the tales is dressed only in a white T-shirt and jeans with Skechers on her feet, looking so…well, normal.
“Thank you for keeping the vampires safe and no doubt helping them rescue us,” I say, stepping forward, feeling a need to point that out. Madi walks right up to me and nods once.
“I told you before, I don’t believe killing an entire race is ever the right thing to do. You guys are struggling, and I’m on your side. Angels have never once shown us any respect until they demanded our help when the academy fell. Instead of being respectful that we did help, they acted like we were their slaves. I nearly killed them myself before Gabriel stepped in. He isn’t like the others, is he?” she says with a long sigh. “Either way, I’ve made my bed, and I plan to sleep in it.”
“I need more of your help,” I warn.
She nods and looks back at the men at the door. One of them clicks his fingers, and a portal made of smoke appears next to us. “Come through.” Madi walks in, and I follow, with Henry at my back. The room we come into is old, like really old. Thick stone walls surround us, and at least twenty glass boxes on alters are littered around the room.
“The room is magically protected so only those who are allies of the tales can enter. This is our treasury, and don’t ask me what any of the things do. We don’t have a clue, and I don’t want to test anything to find out. In fact, I didn’t know this room existed until Ren said we took something that belonged to his race, and we searched,” she explains and nods her head to the only glass box with a lid that’s lifted. I glance at the books, orbs and one oddly shaped pencil we pass before getting to the box with a rock inside. Just a plain rock one I couldn’t pick out of a lineup of rocks if I tried. “Ren told me you need to cut your hand on this, and it will take you to him. He said only one can pass through the rock, and it must be a true mate. If you go through and take one of these stones, you could open a portal wherever Ren is and get him back.”