Page 69 of The Cries of Monsters

“It does sound rather risky,” Darian added. “You know we can’t be far from Katakin or we’ll die.”

I whipped my head in Darian’s direction. “Wait, what? Did you just saydie?”

“Oh yes, when we try to go too far from the mountain where Queen Izla initiated the curse, we grow weaker and die within nights. It’s why we never stay long when we visit your island,” Darian explained. “There’s no telling what will happen if we go to the fae realm.”

“That’s it, then,” I said, throwing my hands in the air. “I’m going alone.”

Locke didn’t seem at all concerned with the idea of death. “We die because we’re away from the queen’s fae magic. If we go to the fae realm, I imagine we’ll be surrounded by fae magic. And even if it doesn’t work in the same way, we’ll have four nights before we have to return.”

“And what if we’re captured?” Darian asked.

“Then I’ll kill them,” Kade growled viciously.

Asher chuckled at that. “You and me both, brother.”

Darian shook his head at the pair of them. “Well, that’s obvious, but in the case we can’t? The fae have powerful magic. Or have you forgotten how the queen cursed us all?”

Kade growled again in response to Darian’s sarcasm.

“We’ll deal with that problem if it comes to it,” Locke said.

I wanted to tell them they couldn’t risk it, but as much as I didn’t want them to get hurt, as long as we were bonded, their lives were tied to mine. I’d have a better chance of surviving the fae realm with them by my side.

“If Prince Azaren has escaped through the portal, it could be closed by now,” I pointed out. “Not to mention, we still have to find it.”

“I think I know where it might be,” Kade said.

“Then there’s only one way to find out if it’s still there,” Asher said with an eager grin.

CHAPTER 30

~ Raine ~

Irestedmyhandon the pommel of my sword, letting my thumb rub circles over the fine steel. Kade had insisted that we all arm ourselves before leaving the house, and I’d been downright ecstatic when Asher had pulled out a trunk of weapons and handed me several throwing knives and a sword.

The moon was high by the time we trekked through the forest and Kade led us to the portal. The large circle of blue fire was still burning near a waterfall and between two ancient oak trees, just as Prince Azaren had described. The gnarled roots of the trees sprang out of the ground like wooden fingers, as if the trees were trying to drag us toward the portal, and the thought had unease slithering through me. The last time I’d gone through a portal, it had brought me to Katakin and the monster trials. This time? Well, this time, it would bring me to the fae, and once again, I wasn’t exactly sure what I would find on the other side.

“I can’t believe it’s still here,” I mused aloud as I stared at the doorway to another world. “Does that mean Prince Azaren is still somewhere in Katakin? But if he didn’t make it back, that means the fae will keep attacking.” A part of me had hoped we wouldn’t find the portal. That the fae prince had just returned home, and by some miracle, the fae wouldn’t return for war.

Locke had been silent the entire time we made our way through the forest, and his face was unreadable now as he said, “It’s only been one day. If he was as determined to get those books as he said, it would have taken him some time, but we should get moving. He might not be too far behind us.”

Kade was rigid beside me, and I brushed my shoulder against his arm, sensing the storm of emotions going through him. “You don’t have to come, you know,” I said quietly to him. Kade hated the fae for what they did to his family, and I wasn’t sure how he would handle being in their world.

Kade’s golden eyes fixed on my face, and his brows lowered as if the mere suggestion of him staying behind was a personal insult to him. “I’m not letting you out of my sight, Mahare. What makes you think I’d let you go to the fae realm alone?” he growled softly. The intense look he gave me was equal parts terrifying and reassuring.

“We’ll face the fae together, lovely,” Darian said with a smile, pulling my attention to him. His white teeth and silver hair gleamed in the moonlight, making the moment seem way more like a dream than the strange reality I found myself in.

Asher stepped forward beside the siren, crossed his arms over his broad chest, and grinned. “Don’t even think about asking me to stay. Life is way more interestin’ with you around, Sharachi,” he said.

I grinned back at him, but then I noticed Locke’s sharp onyx eyes were studying my face. “While our lives have been bound to yours, we should all remain together,” Locke said, his dark gaze not leaving me.

I didn’t miss his choice of words.While our lives…He made it sound like we’d be breaking the bond soon, and I forced myself not to react. I shouldn’t have been surprised. It was what I said I wanted. Wasn’t it?

“Then let’s go,” I said coldly and turned back toward the portal. Before I could step forward, Kade’s hand gripped my waist, and his body tensed.

“What is it?” Locke asked as Kade cocked his head to the side.

Kade’s nostrils flared as he scented the air. “Zacal’s wolves. Several of them are headed our way.”