“Wait, let me get this straight. You just threw random objects into a portal thingy, hoping it would find him?”
“Magic is not a skill I relish or, frankly, take pleasure in.” She shrugs. In this moment, her cool indifference makes her look so much like her brother. “I can open small rifts in the veil, but the magic is crude and takes a considerable amount ofeffort.”
“Well, I mean, I guess it worked, right?”
“Finally.” The sigh of relief is a nice break from the tough girl vibes she’s been giving off ever since Moth stepped away.
That explains all the random lost things he’s squirreled away in his burrow. I want to ask her to explain further, but she’s already glaring daggers at me—and holding a literal sword. I do my best to piece it alltogether.
“King Atlas is really gone?” I ask, unable to help myself. After all that work to get the crown, it seems strange he’d just run off, but then again, people do wild things when they’re in love.
“Of course, love led him astray like it has for many others.” She fiddles with her blade once more. “Running off with a servant in the middle of the night—it’s such a romantic notion,isn’t it?”
“But that’s not what happened, is it?” I ask, leaning in closer. “Did you banish him, or is he going to show up for like an awkward family reunionthing?”
“Oh…” She looks up only slightly from her shining sword. “He will not be returning to the castle.”
“Did you…?” I begin but can’t bring myself to finish the sentence—not when she’s smilinglike that.
Welp, Holly has officially gone from cool and intimidating to terrifying. I don’t know what the rules of this realm are, but I’d take a guess that murder is probably still abad thing.
“Oh yeah, cool.” I try—and fail—to sound unfazed. There’s just one other thing that has been bothering me.
“How doweget back?” I ask, and that’s when Holly’s face shifts to something cold and deadpan.
“You can’t.”
3.
“We’re stuck here?” I shout, my wings unfurling as I jump to my feet, knocking a few dozen books from a shelf. “Sorry, ah, um, no, no, no, that doesn’t work for me.”
“You are acommonerin a castle among royalty,” Holly says, cocking a thickeyebrow.
Clearly I’ve offended her, but hello? She can’t mean we’re supposed to be hereforever-forever,right?
“Okay, yes.” I gesture around Moth’s tattered bedroom. “This is all very impressive—”
Even in shambles, is it the most beautiful room I’ve ever seen? Yes. Would I have liked a little heads up before getting ripped from my cozy life in the woods?Also, yes.
“You will adjust.” She acts as if this is something as simple as a missed flight or canceled hotel, not a life-altering decision neither Moth nor I had a say in. “I understand it must be a lot for you totake in.”
“But you’re saying we’re going to be here… No—no, sorry! Oh my god. There are things from home I kind of like … need.”
Moth’s heavy steps rattle the floorboards behind me. I turn and both he and the queen have finished their conversation and returned from thebalcony.
“Surely that cannot be true.” For a split second, I think he might be agreeing with Holly until he stands protectively at my side.
“We must return.” From his lack of rage, I’m assuming he didn’t hear the part where she called me acommoner.Still, it’s good to know Moth hasmy back.
“Transporting you here took me years to master,” Holly begins. “I’m sure whatever you need can beacquired.”
“Do you have Synthroid, preferably in a 100-mcg dose?” I sigh, casting a painful glanceat Moth.
“I’m sure our chefs can make whatever manner of delicacies from your world.” Holly’s voice is flat as if explaining this to me isa chore.
Queen Plume nods in approval. “I too would like to try this Synthroid.”
Oh, my god.
