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Uthe set the cherry on a napkin and used another to wipe the slight stickiness off his palm. "You could have stained my tunic."
"I put it in my mouth and sucked it clean before I tossed it," Keldwyn said casually. "But I've rarely seen a vampire caught off guard by a thrown object. You're like cats, the lot of you. The slightest movement draws your attention." Keldwyn gestured to the window. "Looks like we have a storm brewing. It's not far to the nearest portal. There's one inside the forest around the airstrip, and it shares the energy line with the portal at Council headquarters. We can cross here instead."
"Sounds good," Uthe said.
"I took the liberty of going through the pack you brought," Keldwyn said brusquely. "While most things fashioned from this world won't pass through the portal into the Fae world, because the Queen does not permit it, the sword is acceptable. I spelled them, compacting their matter much as I did the sorceress's weapon. They're contained in the pouch at your waist. When we reach the other side, if you have need of them, think your intent, and they can be drawn out fully restored."
"Useful." And impressive, though Keldwyn didn't act as if it were of any more consequence than packing a suitcase. "So I won't find an empty Diet Coke can lying in the grass on the Fae side."
"Only the occasional stray golf ball. Sometimes the Veil can be thinner when it comes to innocuous inanimate objects. A slice at the right moment, on the right calendar day..." Keldwyn shrugged. "The small Fae enjoy playing with them."
Keldwyn returned to contemplating his newspaper. Or brooding. It was hard to tell. Uthe shifted.
"My lord Keldwyn."
The Fae Lord lifted his cool gaze to him again. Uthe met it without flinching. "It has been a long time since I've had an intimate connection with anyone. I spoke out of haste, and it was cruelly and awkwardly done. It was not meant as it sounded. I ask your forgiveness."
Keldwyn's mouth eased, his eyes warmed. Remarkably, Uthe's tension, held in his lower belly, relaxed almost instantly. A sincere apology was its own magic, though it took some effort to work up to it on the front end. "Well said, my lord," the Fae said. "But my condition still stands, if you thought diplomacy could get you out of it."
Uthe grinned. "I never contemplated otherwise, my lord. A Fae changing his mind based on a vampire's apology might be too much for the fabric of the universe to handle."
Keldwyn snorted, spoke a phrase that Uthe was fairly certain translated to "smartass" in the Fae tongue. Then he returned to his paper.
Uthe brought his attention back to the window. Soon he would be in the Fae world, the true start to his quest. He had little idea where he was going or what he was doing. He only knew the head was in the Shattered World and he had a weapon intended to destroy the demon. But that was more than most quests had at the beginning, with very little to accomplish them but faith. He had all that, plus a Fae Lord as a companion. While disquieting in many ways, Kel would have his back in case of a threat. No matter how surprising that was, Uthe didn't doubt it.
He picked up the cherry and tasted the sweetness of it, recalling the sweet heat of Keldwyn's mouth. When he glanced over, only thinking in hindsight how what he'd done must appear, putting the same cherry in his mouth that Keldwyn had tasted, the look in Keldwyn's gaze made it impossible for him to regret the impulse. The coolness caused by Uthe's earlier stumble had definitely thawed.
"I would ask a favor, Lord Uthe."
It was an unusual request coming from Keldwyn. "If it is mine to give, it is yours, my lord."
"Your courtesy is a genuine pleasure, Lord Uthe, probably because it is never artifice. I know your quest is urgent, but going into the Shattered World...it is typical for those who enter to never emerge again."
Uthe leaned forward, brow creasing in concern. "Then you will only accompany me to that threshold, my lord. If such loss is a certainty, I will not risk anyone's life other than my own."
"You misunderstand the favor, Lord Uthe. You will not be rid of me. I fully intend to go with you, for I serve not only your interests, but that of two Queens, and I will not disappoint either of them."
Uthe didn't think Keldwyn could be inspired by regal authority to do anything he didn't want to do for his own reasons, but Kel pressed onward.
"If you feel we can sacrifice a few hours in our journey, I would spend it with my ward, Catriona. She knows we are coming and is waiting for us. She would like you to join us for the afternoon. If we cannot dally that long, I can make it a shorter visit, but I would like the opportunity to see her before we enter the Shattered World."
"Have you told her where you're going?"
"No. It is not the first hazardous trip I've made. Catriona is aware of the risks my role carries. It is senseless to overdramatize every perilous task I'm assigned."
Which meant this one was significantly more risky than others. Uthe nodded. "Of course we have time."
In truth, his urgency could have more to do with his uncertain state of mind than anything else. The head had been in its current state for centuries and, all things being equal, could remain that way centuries more. But the ability to release two innocent souls to the heavens was finally now possible. And it seemed the demon sensed things were about to change, and was coming up with unexpected ways to throw obstacles in their path. However, the possibilities Keldwyn spoke of were far more certain, and Uthe would not deny him the chance to see a family member.
"I'm grateful." Keldwyn settled back into a meditative silence. At least Uthe assumed he was meditating on other things, because the alternative was that he truly was reading about NFL draft picks. Uthe wondered if the Fae had sports. Most cultures did, but he couldn't imagine what that would look like in the Fae world. Dragon races? Whose magic could hurl a boulder the farthest? He supposed he was about to find out about that and many other things.
His most indelible memory of the Fae world had been waking in the silver tower with Lord Reghan. Any other impressions were overshadowed by the tragedy of losing his fellow Templars in battle, and wrestling with the guilt of not being with them.
Lyssa had spoken of some of the things she'd experienced during her time there, but like most things outside one's understanding, Uthe was sure it had to be seen firsthand for full appreciation. He discovered he was eager and curious to do so, especially now that he'd have an afternoon to simply absorb impressions of the Fae world. Another gift that Keldwyn's stipulations had given him, though this one had been couched as a favor instead of a demand.
He felt a tickle of amusement, thinking of Evan's reaction. Ever since the vampire Uthe had sired had found out that he and Keldwyn were spending more informal time together outside of Council, the y
oung artist had been dropping not-so-subtle hints about getting into the Fae world for further inspiration. If Uthe returned, he'd be grilled endlessly for every detail.
It was a shame he'd likely never see Evan again, let alone be able to make that happen. But perhaps, if Keldwyn survived--and Uthe was going to do his best to make sure of that--Keldwyn would agree to give Evan a short tour as a last favor to Uthe.
The plane bounced down on the airstrip. The stewardess and pilot wished them good journey, and then they were off the plane, headed into the terminal. Keldwyn's glamor among humans was always a seamless transition. While Uthe could still see his exceptionally beautiful appearance, the pointed ears and Fae clothing, the humans passing them in the terminal didn't give either of them a second glance. He figured Keldwyn had cloaked them as nothing more than a pair of businessmen headed for the next meeting. Uthe was more fortunate than most vampires his age. Thanks to the permanent sun damage to his skin, and his dark eyes that masked the crimson flickers which could appear with blood lust, he didn't have the preternatural look far more difficult for older vampires to hide. Lord Mason's amber eyes were more tiger than human, and the aura of power around Lyssa couldn't be disguised by a tsunami.
Once in front of the airport, they headed into the parking lot. Keldwyn indicated the tree line beyond the air strip, separated from them by a series of fences. Though the area was well lit, there were enough shadows for a swiftly moving Fae and vampire. "I expect we can both make it there without being seen. Shall we?"
Uthe made a noise of assent, then Keldwyn was gone, nothing to note his passing but a slight ruffle of wind across Uthe's face. Uthe counted down like he did before his morning challenge to the sun, and then he, too, was gone. If any humans had been watching, which he'd made sure they hadn't been, it would seem as if he'd vanished, but he'd simply moved as a vampire moved, faster than they could follow.
