1
The windows were open in Crispin’s tower, letting in a breeze heavily scented with wildflowers. It could hardly contend though with Crispin‘s own spring-like scent as I peeked over his shoulder at the star maps spread across the table. Unable to make sense of the maps, I looked at the elf instead. His slacks today were houndstooth done in two shades of dark brown. His button up was deep green. In my opinion, no one could pull off an outfit quite like Crispin.
Not that the other guys couldn’t hold their own. Gabriel was more practical. Generic street clothes to fit in whilst in the city, or more antiquated goblin-style in the Bogs. Mistral was always goblin-style, and I really couldn’t picture him in anything else but the buttery soft fabrics that must have been spun by pixies to be so perfect. And Sebastian…
Well, he wore a lot of black.
And just recently all four of them had lost all of their clothing with me in a magical meadow—
I cut off my own thoughts, turning my attention back to the star maps. “You actually understand this?” I traced my fingers across a line between constellations. According to Marcie, the maps given to us by my mother were ancient, but since they werecreated by magic they were perfectly preserved. We might need them to track my grandfather, but if not, we would definitely need them to chart new smaller pathways to each of the realms, testing the waters.
“In theory.” Crispin’s gaze remained on the top-map. “I did use a star map to make it here from my home realm. Celestial maps, however, have a bit less detail. Navigating the stars is in your blood. You don’t need the specific calculations the rest of us do.”
I snorted, unable to make sense of a single thing on the map. “Not inmyblood.” I gently flicked one of the constellations, accidentally brushing Crispin’s hand as I did so.
Suddenly his sparkling eyes were on me.
“We aresupposedto be working,” I warned.
“Everyone needs breaks. We don’t need you tired and stressed when we finally face great grandfather dearest.”
The mention of my great grandfather had me slumping against the table.
Crispin turned toward me, mirroring my position to run a hand up my arm.
Magic pulsed between us stronger than ever. I knew he had meant to soothe me, but I could feel his worry too. We might be formidable with the five of us joined together, but we were still flying blind against a powerful ancient celestial. Someone scary enough to make my mom give up everything, take my memories, and run.
I wasn’t only risking myself, or even just the guys. While I wasn’t overly invested in what happened to the vampires or the fairies, Braxton and his pack were now behind me, and I wasn’t going to let anything happen to them.
Crispin slid a finger beneath my chin, lifting it so I would meet his eyes. “We have the vortex. Mistral will figure out just how to use it.”
I met his earnest blue eyes. He was the youngest of the guys, but still a heck of a lot older than me. I used that fact to comfort myself about how clever he was. When it came to magical know how, I was an absolute novice. “I’m surprisedyou’renot the one trying to figure it out.”
His finger left my chin as he moved to lean back against the table beside me. “Goblin magic works by condensing energy. It’s how Mistral forms that charming little light, and how their lanterns work. Considering the vortex is highly compressed energy, it’s only logical that a goblin unlock its power. Especially considering most of its power was stolen from the Bogs.”
“True.” I pursed my lips. It had been my fault that the Bogs swallowed the vortex in the first place. It had gone on to suck so much of the Bogs’ power that entire meadows were turning gray. And yet, all it had taken was me deciding to join with Mistral for the Bogs to place the vortex at my feet. I was still a little creeped out by it all, though I couldn’t bring myself to regret anything. The Bogs had been calmer since our joining, and Mistral was actually able to leave for short periods of time.
Not that I wanted him to leave again anytime soon. With all the wild magic there, it made a single being difficult to track. My great grandfather had only found me there once because someone had told him where I would be.
Sebastian believed that someone was his sister, Penelope, but it didn’t quite add up. She couldn’t have predicted that’s where we would be at that exact time. At least she was on our side now, bound by contract. Which only meant that she actually thought we had more of a chance at winning than my grandfather did. Cold comfort, that.
“Do I have to brew some coffee to bring you back to reality?” Crispin asked, watching me.
My stomach growled, bringing me back to reality more than anything else could. “Only if it comes with pastries.”
The rustling of fur near the window signaled Ringo waking up on his sunny perch.
Crispin sighed. “You’ll have to be content with elven fare. We promised Sebastian we wouldn’t leave until his return.” He cleared his throat, then quickly muttered, “Barring an appearance from your great grandfather, of course.”
“Which shouldn’t happen,” I said, more to console myself than him, “because Sebastian, Mistral, and Gabriel are the only ones who know we’re here.”
Crispin leaned in near my shoulder. “And Elena and King Francis.”
“You know what I mean. He shouldn’t be able to find us hereeasily. There’s too much magic to sift through. My relatively weak magic trail isn’t easy to pick up.” I clamped my jaw shut. I was telling him something he already knew, because that was the explanation Marcie had given us. Needing to borrow power from the guys for once was a boon, because when I wasn’t doing it, I didn’t really leave tracks. Not like my mother, who was currently being chased across the near realms to buy us time.
Ringo let out a littleeepsound as a cloud of darkness appeared beside him, quickly forming into Sebastian. In one hand he held a takeout bag I recognized, and in the other, a to-go cup of coffee.
“Can’t I doanythingfor her?” Crispin muttered at my back, but I was too busy marching up to Sebastian. I cocked back my fist, then punched him in the arm as hard as I could. Which of course had zero effect except to draw his dark eyes down to my face.
