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Leaf’s stomach dropped. Had he been spying on the conversation with his father?
“Yes,” Nova replied slowly.
Alarm prickled. Too late, Leaf reached for the teen, but Aspen touched Nova’s arm with a recalcitrant wink and then disappeared into thin air.
“Little shit,” he muttered.
“Where did he go?” Nova’s panic bled into him. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Wasn’t you, Freckles.” Leaf’s tone softened. “The kid can portal like his father. He’s probably at the Order now, looking for his friend.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped.
“Hey,” he said, touching her cheek. “None of that. Tonight is going to be rough. Being alert is important. Shit is going to happen. Try not to dwell on it, and keep going.”
She looked at him with a mix of awe and bewilderment. “You really have changed.”
“Aspen!” Ada’s shrill voice pierced the rumbling din of troops and horses.
“Here!” Leaf called, lifting his free hand.
The blond queen ran around the soldiers and scrambled down the small embankment onto the shore. Trix wasn’t far behind. Both women were out of royal garments and in something less conspicuous. But neither were prepared for battle, Leaf noted. Which meant the two weren’t planning on coming through. He frowned. They needed all the help they could get, and Ada’s healing skills were second to none.
“He portaled to the Order,” Leaf explained. “Didn’t like that we tried to make him stay when he couldn’t find Jasmine.”
Ada made a frustrated sound. “Goddammit. That kid will be the death of me.”
Leaf grunted.
“Hi,” Ada said to Nova, touching her hips and catching her breath. “You must be Nova.”
Nova gave a nervous smile and wave. Trix bumbled down the embankment onto the sandy shore and almost tripped into Leaf.
“My bad,” she said, grinning from ear to ear. Her curly dark hair looked like a nest suitable for birds. Her cheeks were flushed and bright, and she held a few of her invented handheld glass devices. “I ran all the way here after Aeron told me about your—hi—I’m Trix. I’m…bloody hell, what’s on your face?” She widened her eyes and then apologized. “I mean, they look lovely. I’ve just never seen blue, Well-blessed freckles before.”
“Trix,” Leaf warned gently. “We have five minutes, and then we’re heading back through the portal.”
She startled. “Right! You’ll need these, then. Also—hi, Nova. I said hi, right?”
Nova’s nerves melted at Trix’s genuine appeal. “You did.”
“Cool.” She shoved the devices at Leaf. “If Nova can amplify, it’s worth testing the blood communication spells. These can help get the word out to everyone if she’s nearby. Give one each to Thorne, Rush, and Forrest. Aeron has one already.”
“Good thinking.” Leaf nodded.
Trix stood back and raised her brows. “Did you just compliment me?”
Ada’s brow lifted wryly. “I think he did.”
Leaf’s gaze darkened in a scowl, and he grumbled, “Tell your mates to hurry the fuck up.”
Nova whispered in Spanish to watch his temper. The other women gawped at him. Both were clever—Trix was a genius in her time. Her finger waggled between Nova and Leaf, her lips parting to speak, but he tugged Nova toward the portal before any questions could pop out.
He would answer them later. Hopefully.
ChapterForty-Three
Nova’s anger at Leaf’s brash reaction evaporated when she stepped on the lawn outside the Twelve’s house. Reality sank in and she realized such worries now were silly. Soldiers were everywhere, from all sorts of kingdoms in all sorts of armor. People were shouting. Panic, fear, and excitement thickened the atmosphere. But Nova felt dread.
