“Have you considered, my flame, that that is, in fact,becauseit is silly?” I ask, using my free hand to rub my temple.
“No?” she says after a long pause, and despite myself, I chuckle. She is ridiculous, but she is mine. “Yes! Yes, okay? But all the portals are warded and… look! I finally got my phone and I’ve been—are youlaughingright now?”
I should not be, but I cannot help it.
The tension I was feeling breaks as a deep chuckle rumbles through me. She is alright, and the sound of her voice swirls around me like smoke lingering on skin after sitting by a bonfire.
“You are alright,” I breathe. When I close my eyes, I picture the way she looks with her dark eyes creased in a smile.
“I’m alright,” she whispers back, and I imagine her leaning forward so that our foreheads touch, soft and tender.
“You are alright,” I repeat, shaking my head. “Here I have been worried about finding you in mortal peril, and you are playing matchmaker for your captor.”
“Yes, babe, I’m safe, I’m okay, and I think this plan is going to–”
“Fail,” I cut her off. The cold graveness of the situation brings me back to the moment.
“What? No!” She gasps. “I finally got the pictures we need for his profile. At this point, all we need to do is get swiping, and we should have Magnus enthralled with someone else by the end of the day. If he takes his dates to this gorgeous place, any mortal will be dazzled—if they can accept the whole vampire—”
“It is destined to fail,” I interrupt again, trying to mind my tone. She clearly believes this will work, but there is a fatal flaw she’s not considering.
“Wait, why? I am being so detailed and—”
“Because there is no one who would not fall in love with you. You cannot sway him, Heather. Besides, I do not believe his affections to be true.”
“But there’s only one person I could ever love.” She sighs and I wish I could hold her in my arms. “I’m trying to get back to you. If Holly knows how to disenchant portals, put her on the phone. Magnus seems like the only one that can use them, and right now, we’re in the Dragonfly Court. I only have a few minutes before he comes looking for me.”
“Where in the Dragonfly Court?” I ask, too afraid to hit the speaker button for risk of accidentally ending the call.
“Um, a restaurant. I don’t know what it’s called. It’s on the water with lily pads as the tables. Does that ring any bells?”
Of course it does not.
“Holly will know of it, I am sure,” I exhale, trying to be optimistic. “Do not think your plan will convince me to stop looking.”
“Oh my God, please don’t.” She sighs. “Just because I don’t think Magnus is dangerous doesn’t mean I don’t want to get home, just don’t—”
“Heather,” I warn, “do not ask me to spare the man who took you from me.”
“I mean, rough him up, obviously. You have my full permission to avenge, just don’t full-on murder him.” She laughs, and I wish I could see her smile, though none of this seems amusing.
“He will not be able to recognize his own face.”
“That might be a fate worse than death, to be honest.”
“Good. I love you, my foolish little flame…”
“I love yo—”
I barely hear her response before Holly springs up, taking the phone from my hands. It drags me back to the present moment. I am in a room filled with a people who have been staring, listening to my every word.
“Heather! This is important. You are helping him with a … task?” Holly presses her mouth against the phone’s speaker.
“Did you make any promises? Agreements?” she shouts, but the call has ended, and our chance to get further details with it.
Do we have enough breadcrumbs to lead us back to her location? Across from me, the room has erupted into conversations about diplomacy and negotiation. I overhear words like territories and allies. I barely register them, holding myself back from lunging into the nearest portal alone. Without Heather here as the angel on my shoulder, my restraint doesn’t last long.
“Where are you going?” Holly asks.
