“Which one is it?” Cheryl looks between the two.
“The Aquila castle is heavily warded. No one can enter by traveling the wind or the shadows,” Castiel replies. “Mom, you know this.”
The queen simply smiles, as if she knows something Castiel doesn’t. “Yes, that much is true, but you know how wards work, Cas. They’re keyed to specific vibrations.”
“Yes, and the wards are keyed against shadow wolves.”
“Yes, but not against a vampire–wolf shifter hybrid.” The queen looks at Cheryl.
“I don’t understand. I can’t travel the shadows,” she says.
“You can connect with Luna’s psyche. Luna will travel, but she will be masked with your frequency. You will also be able to see everything that she does.”
“Can that truly work?” I ask. It sounds too easy to be true.
Castiel’s forehead wrinkles. “In theory, but?—”
“I’ll do it,” Cheryl replies.
Queen Endaya nods. “Very well. The sooner the better. Come. We’ll do it in my quarters.”
I take a step forward, but the queen raises her hand. “I’m afraid you cannot come, my dear. For it to work, I need Cheryl’s undivided attention, and your presence might be detrimental to that.”
I open my mouth to protest, but Cheryl steps in front of me and places a hand on my chest. “It’s okay, Ronan. I’ll be safe.”
She believes she can trust the queen, but my chest feels heavy just the same. I can’t argue with her, though. She’ll go ahead with the queen’s plan whether I like it or not. I cup her face and bring my forehead to hers. “You’d better be safe, Cher. I can’t lose you.”
She rises on her tiptoes and places a soft kiss on my lips. “You won’t.”
Forty-Seven
CHERYL
ELLNESARI, PRESENT DAY
Unlike the other rooms in the palace, Queen Endaya’s quarters are decorated in light tones ranging from white and soft lavender to silver. The big windows allow the daylight to come through. The moment we enter, Luna rises from a pillow in the corner to greet the queen.
“Hello, my darling.” She rubs the wolf’s head, and the markings on Luna’s face glow.
“How does linking my psyche to Luna’s work?” I ask, anxious to get this over with. Each second wasted could be the difference between life and death for Karl and Manu.
“We need to be surrounded by nature. Give me your hand.”
I grimace. “We’re going to walk the wind, aren’t we?”
“Yes. It’s the quickest way to the gardens. I promise it will be over in the blink of an eye.”
I seriously doubt that, but I refrain from commenting. Instead, I take the queen’s hands and brace for another hellish trip. Luna stands between us, and then the floor vanishes from under me and I’m free-falling. My stomach tightens, and my heart goes from zero to holy crap in half a second.
Then it’s over, and there’s solid ground underneath my feet once more. I release the queen’s hands at once and press a palm against my chest as I try to catch my breath.
“Are you all right, dear?”
“No. Does walking the wind ever get better?”
“I’m not sure. It’s very pleasant for us Nightingales.”
My pulse finally returns to normal, and since I’m no longer freaking out, I scan my surroundings. We’re in the same gardens Castiel brought us to earlier, but closer to the pond and the bridge that leads to a beautiful gazebo on the other side.
