“Of course I will. Don’t forget Samael’s going with you too.”
Scarlet rolled her eyes at Ellery’s reminder. “How could I forget that?”
CHAPTER NINETY-TWO
Ryker
When I visited Samael last week and told him we’d decided it was time to open a portal out of Tempest, he wanted to know how we’d do so. I informed him that the baron’s youngest daughter had agreed to open it, and Scarlet and Callan were going to Dragonia to meet with the queen of the shadow realms.
It would probably be best, given my history with Brokk and Kaylia, if I went with them, but although Ellery was safe here, I couldn’t leave her or Lillian. Ellery was far from weak, and our daughter had proven she could protect herself too, but Lillian was still a newborn, and while Ruby would help with her, I didn’t want to leave my family.
I wouldn’t miss a single day with my daughter. She was already growing and changing so fast.
What Scarlet, Callan, and Samael were doing was for the good of Tempest, and I wanted the best for this realm, but I’d sacrificed so much for it already. I wasn’t willing to sacrifice time with my wife and daughter too. Callan, Scarlet, and Samael were strong and capable; they would succeed in this.
Instead of traveling with them, I wrote a letter for Brokk and Kaylia. I included details that only the three of us, and Tucker, would know.
Tucker also could have gone to Dragonia with them, and he’d offered to do so, but he’d also admitted he didn’t want to leave Georgie behind. The boy was still struggling with the loss of his parents, and Tucker didn’t feel right leaving him in someone else’s care.
Georgie witnessed his mother’s beheading, and while I didn’t know if he’d seen his father’s death too, I suspected he had. The child craved stability, and Tucker leaving would devastate him.
Ianto hadn’t offered to go; he wouldn’t leave the children or the orphanage, even if it was only for a few days. The children finally had some semblance of normalcy back in their lives, and he wouldn’t disrupt that.
Scarlet and Callan had eagerly volunteered to go. Ruby and Luna weren’t happy about it, but they didn’t stand in their way.
Upon learning about their journey, Samael offered to go, even though he hadn’t yet completed his sentence… or maybe because of that fact.
“I’ve met Orin before,” Samael had said, speaking of the queen’s brother-in-law. “I wouldn’t consider us friends, but I know the dark fae.”
“Would he remember you?” I’d asked.
Samael shrugged. “I’m not sure. We ran into each other a few times at some of the gambling halls and bordellos in the outer realms. I also met King Colburn once, before he was king of the dark fae and shadow realms, but he wouldn’t remember me.”
I’d rubbed my beard while studying him. “What good would your knowledge of Orin do us?”
“If he sees a familiar face, it could help ease any doubts they might have about your travelers.”
“Orin might not be in Dragonia.”
“True, but if he is, I could help. Besides, you know I’m an excellent fighter if something goes wrong. You’ve trained them well, but three is stronger than two.”
“True,” I murmured.
Sensing my weakening, Samael pressed his advantage. “Have Scarlet and Callan been to another realm before?”
“Callan has. He was a traveling minstrel before we were trapped here.”
“I’d forgotten about that. And the girl?”
“She’s never left Tempest.”
“Has the musician ever met anyone in the royal family?”
“Not that he’s said.”
“It’s up to you and the others, of course, but I can do more good out there than I can in here.”
“And what’s to keep you from running away the second you leave Tempest?”
