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“It’s good for all of us, and you’ll see,” he answers, a knowing smile at the corner of his mouth.

Fucker.

When we reach the bottom of the steps, I expect him to turn us to the communal areas where I’ve been catching up with my mother, Leila, and even Sammi a few times, but instead, he turns toward the front door.

The moment we step outside, I start to panic.

A gateway gleams ahead, enticing us forward, but I freeze on the spot. “Are we going somewhere?”

“Yes,” Eldon answers with a grin, but my frown only deepens.

“Where to and for how long?” Brax gives me a deathly stare, not impressed with my questioning, but I can’t help it. “It can’t be for long. I promised to help the Drakes?—”

“They’re already on their way home. Guided, I might add,” he interjects with a sigh.

“Wait, what? Without saying goodbye?” My jaw falls slack. That’s some shit right there.

“Of course not. Well, technically, yes, but we’ve made agreements to go and visit them in the next few weeks,” Creed explains, tampering down the disappointment inside of me.

Clearing my throat, I nod. “Fine, but I also have to help Ari and Gia with the magical creatures from the?—”

“Done.”

I blink up at Eldon. One word. One word and another job on my to-do list seems to be completed.

“How?” I question, narrowing my eyes at him.

“They actually really love the island off from Silvercrest Academy. Figgins has helped put a new set of wards in place for them. Wards that allow them all to come and go as they please while keeping unwanted guests out,” Eldon adds, and my heart clenches.

Damn, that’s the best idea. I’ve been trying to tackle one thing at a time, and I hadn’t gotten around to that particular issue yet, but it makes total sense.

“Thank you,” I breathe, but my mind is still racing, trying to piece together something else I have to handle. “Well, we can’t be gone long because…” My words trail off when I come up blank, but my heart continues to race.

“Raven, everything is going to remain exactly as it is until we get back. Your mother is going to stay here with Leila, take a little R&R in a place they feel safe,” Creed states, waving his hand at the huge mansion behind us. The mention of my friend hurts my heart a little. She lost her father in this battle too, and she’s hurting. It’s a feeling she can’t quite comprehend since he was working with Burton. She’s never going to have an explanation for his actions, understand his motives. Nothing. But she’ll get through this, she’s stronger than anyone else I know. “The Monarchy is in tatters and it’s going to take more than a few days or weeks to recover. Rhys is heading all of that, and if he wants our input on anything, you know, we’ll give it to him. The academy is not in service right now, or for the foreseeable future. Some big changes are going to have to happen, and I’m not trying to shock you or anything, but that’s not our shit to deal with.”

My eyelids fall closed as I take a deep breath. He’s right, he’s really fucking right. It’s just hard for me to switch off when I’ve been alert and handling so much shit for what feels like an eternity. They’ve taken care of everything within their control while swiping things off our to-do list that didn’t require my direct attention. Fuck, I love them.

Blinking open my eyes, I look up at them as a smile grows across my face. “Okay, so what’s the plan?”

“Step through the gateway and you’ll find out,” Zane answers, sweeping his arm dramatically in that direction.

A bubble of excitement rushes through me and I nod, moving toward it, but before I can step through, Brax beats me to it, always leading the way. I’m right behind him, and the second the new scenery comes into view, my chest clenches.

“Where is this?”

“This is paradise, Shadow,” Brax breathes, slinking his arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his side as I stare out at a long stretch of sand and a little hut shack situated all alone. “And it’s ours for the next five days.”

The sun beams down, warming my soul along with my body, and I sigh contentedly. Relaxing isn’t the norm for me and I don’t know how I’ll handle it, but remaining calm for five days doesn’t sound too bad… I don’t think.

“We’re going to work your body so hard for those five days, Dove; I hope you’re not planning too much relaxing in your head,” Zane murmurs against the shell of my ear, and I shiver, excitement coursing through me.

“I would never.” I can’t keep the smile off my face.

“We’ll let her relax a little, at least. Especially since we’ll be heading to Shadowmoor before we go home,” Creed states, and I frown in confusion as I look to him for further explanation. “Rhys agreed that it’s time Shadowmoor wasn’t suppressed anymore, and felt there was only one person suitable to oversee it be done properly.”

I blink and blink again, in awe of his words.

Holy fuck.