Page 16 of White Little Lies (Four Ways to Fate #3)

16

“Are we sure we want to involve ourselves in this?” Crispin whispered as four guards escorted us back toward the portal.

I had no good answer for him. Turned out, Fiorus had made a deal with a devil to “curse” his brother, because his brother was going to try killing him first as a result of a power struggle over the nymph’s magical well. He wasn’t able to tell us what he had given the devil in exchange—secrecy on that front was part of the contract—but he was able to tell us that he’d gotten what he wanted. Only, his other brothers had grown suspicious. And so the devil had poisoned his daughter too. No one would ever suspect he would go so far to avoid suspicion.

I knew I was still having trouble believing it.

As we reached the end of the long, spooky path, I glanced at Sebastian. He had gotten what he wanted too— the devil’s name. And I knew why he wanted it. There were few devils in the city, and the news that one had delivered my mother’s orders to Lucas… chances were high it was the same one. Find the devil, and maybe we would find my mother.

One of the nymphs cleared his throat. There were three men and one woman, all dressed in a similar white toga style. Their different coloring hinted at a few forms of elemental magic.

Nervous, I returned my attention to the blank wall of wood where the portal should be. I would need to reactivate it to get us out of here.

When I didn’t do anything, the nymph cleared his throat again.

Sighing, Sebastian grabbed my hand and placed it on his chest.

Crispin did the same, only a little more gently and far less rudely. He gave me an encouraging smile.

Ringo shifted on my shoulder, clinging tightly to the collar of my coat as he prepared himself for the shift.

I took a deep breath. I could do this. It hadn’t been that hard the first time, and this time we were going back home. I didn’t need to attune my energy to the nymph realm. I just needed to focus on how home normally felt.

Both men’s hearts beat steadily beneath my palms. I could feel their magic. Sebastian’s, dark and unnatural. And Crispin’s like a clear flowing river and crisp green leaves. And even though he wasn’t there, I thought of Gabriel. His magic like woodsmoke and deep earth. And Mistral’s like night air and ozone.

The portal flashed to life, steady this time, not reaching out to grab us. Each of them keeping hold of one of my hands, the guys walked me into the light. For a moment everything was blinding blue, then we lurched forward, our feet crunching on dirt.

Seraphina ran to us as soon as the portal winked out. Gabriel followed just behind her.

“What happened!” She snatched my hand out of Crispin’s, pulling me toward her. “Where is my sister?”

I winced. Seraphina was not going to like what we had to tell her. “Let’s go get a drink and we’ll explain everything.”

“I don’t want a drink,” she hissed. “I want my sister here with me, safe.”

I looked at Gabriel beyond her. “Trust me, she’s safe enough for now, and you’re going to want a drink after everything we have to tell you.”

Her expression softened. She looked at each of us, then finally nodded her assent.

Gabriel gave me a knowing look. A look that said, Just what trouble have you gotten us into now?

Gabriel’s horse awaited us just inside the iron gates to the Bogs. After we had explained things to Seraphina, I had convinced Sebastian and Crispin I would be safe for the night.

Well, convinced was a rather strong term. I was pretty sure Sebastian had watched us the entire way, but whatever. My head was a little spinny from a few drinks, and I had gotten what I wanted. Or, what I thought I wanted. Now that I was faced with an evening alone with my two goblins, or three if you included Ringo, I was nervous despite the drinks.

But I had to face things sooner or later.

Shutting the gates behind us, Gabriel boosted me onto his horse.

I slid forward, making room for him as I tangled my fingers in the horse’s soft mane. “Has she been waiting here for you the entire time?” He had been with me since the previous day, and now it was probably just a few hours from sunrise. It seemed a long time to wait.

He climbed up behind me, settling me back against his chest with one arm around my waist. “She is a goblin horse. She knows when to wait for me.”

I shook my head as he turned the horse around and we started off toward the Citadel. “Now wait a minute, I might have had a few drinks, but I’m still sober enough to know that doesn’t make any sense.”

“A dog will wait at the door for its owner not at the first sound of their arrival, but as soon as the owner has the intention to go home. How is this any different?”

I glanced back at him. “Do dogs really do that?“

He simply smiled. “Are you ready? ”

Man, what a loaded question. “Are you ready, Ringo?”

His paws knotted in my hair, just like I was doing to the horse’s mane. Before either of us could say anything else, Gabriel nudged his horse into a gallop. I settled in to his warmth, watching the dark trees streaking past. Everything seemed calm, serene even. But I knew it wasn’t quite the case. The wild goblin magic was unraveling.

I just hoped nothing had happened while we’d been gone.