I opened the door to my cottage, and the others followed me inside. Ethan and Alexei, in their shifter forms, had to squeeze through.
I received a jolt when I realized someone was sitting on the couch near the fireplace, but settled when I saw it was only Delmare. She and Stefan had managed to achieve meditation into Edinnmyre in the past few weeks after loads of practice.
She got to her feet, relief evident on her face. “Thank the gods you guys are still alive.”
“What are you doing here?” Kiara asked. The shifters collapsed in exhaustion in front of the fire.
“We decided to all take turns waiting here, in case one of you guys showed up,” Delmare said. “How’s it going?”
“Terrible,” Alexei grunted. “We’ve found the stone, but it’s proving impossible to get.”
“Your absence is being noticed in Dolinska,” Delmare said. “You guys need to hurry up and get the stone, before the cult hears Emma and Ethan are missing, and puts things together.”
“We’re trying,” I said with a sigh. “Just give us a few more days. If we can’t get the stone on our own, Ethan will send a message to Arthur for you guys to come help us.”
“It’s a last resort,” Ethan noted. “Acolyte Vesper has the stone, and I’m certain if we raid the place, he’ll escape with it before we can catch him. He knows the catacombs better than we do, I’m sure.”
Delmare frowned. “Well, we’re ready to move when you guys are. Stefan is going nuts just sitting on his hands.”
“We’re so close. I can feel it,” Ethan insisted. “Just hold on a little longer.”
Kiara and I conjured up everyone’s favorite meal. It wasn’t substantial and didn’t provide any nutrition, as it was just an illusion, but it was at least more mentally satisfying than the crappy food they’d provided us in the cult. Being quiet in the cottage and just taking some time to rest restored a bit of our spirits. Ethan and Alexei were so tired of being boxed in, they spent most of their time outside, Ethan running through the woods and Alexei spreading his aching wings, which he’d confined for far too long in his human form.
We stayed at the cottage for hours, until dawn broke over Edinmyre. When we teleported back, time hadn’t moved on Earth. We took the extra opportunity to get some more rest, and slept until we were roused for duty the next morning.
Luckily, all of us were assigned to clean the meeting hall with one other initiate— a guy named Ludwig. He was quieter than the other cultists were, and hadn’t said a word to us the entire time we worked.
Alexei took the lead, and moved closer to Ludwig, sweeping the floor beside him. “Are you okay?” he asked. “You seem… I don’t know. A little sad.”
“I’m just trying to keep my head down,” Ludwig muttered. “It’s the only way to see my son again.”
I gave a start, and Alexei asked, “You’re not permitted to see your son?”
Ludwig frowned. “I… tried to escape a couple weeks ago. I’ve lost my privileges to see him. I thought it’d be better… you know, out there. But ifyoucame back, it really is pointless, isn’t it, Alexei?”
“Do you know where your son is?” Alexei asked.
“Not really,” Ludwig said. “I’m sure he’s being well taken care of.”
Ethan and I looked at each other. Alexei put a hand on Ludwig’s shoulder. He cringed, but didn’t flinch away. “I understand how you must’ve felt, trying to run away.”
“It was a stupid idea.” Ludwig looked at the floor.
“Why?” Alexei asked. I made a motion for him to stop asking questions, because he was dangerously close to blowing our cover, but it seemed like he had to know.
Ludwig let out a breath. "I just knew better. I tried to convince myself the world couldn’t be as awful as everyone said it was, but from what little I saw of it during my escape, I realized the family is right. The Seelie fae hate us. The Black Claw gives us jobs and invests in the Unseelie community. The acolytes can be cruel, but at least they’re like us.”
Ludwig went back to sweeping with a flat mouth. "Maybe the acolytes don't have power, and maybe they're not gods, but they have the right ideas in mind, and they're the only ones taking action for the Unseelie. No one else in Malovia gives a damn about half-breeds.”
“But are you sure it’s the right life for your son?” Alexei asked, voice strained.
“I have to keep my son in the family, because he should grow up in the Unseelie community, where he belongs. This is the only way to invest in our culture,” Ludwig replied. “I grew up in a time where my parents had to hide their religion and magical practices, because they were dark fae. Everything I remember from that time is gone. We Unseelie have a choice. We have to stick together to stay alive, or we die alone against the Seelie. With the family, my son can be with his own kind… and no one will judge him for having Unseelie blood.”
Ludwig glanced at Alexei. “I know you have different reasons for being here, because you’re full-blooded Seelie. You can’t understand what it’s like being an outsider. Consider yourself lucky that you’re a part of the family by choice, and not because you have to be.”
Alexei looked disheartened. Kiara pulled him away, so he wouldn’t ask anything more.
I wasn’t so sure Alexei’s family had a choice being a part of the cult. After all, his parents might be Seelie, but they wanted to change the world for the Unseelie fae when they joined.
