“Are you ready?” Crispin asked, morning light making his eyes look extra blue.
I shrugged, jostling Ringo. “No time like the present.” We didn’t have any supplies this time, because we would only needto travel the pathway to check for extra darkness, and to anchor the vortex, then we could return.
As Mistral, Sebastian, Gabriel, and Crispin all moved closer, I drew the Realm Breaker. It was a pretty flawless unsheathing, if I said so myself. Penelope watched us with pursed lips as I pointed the blade skyward, balancing it with a two handed grip on the hilt. Crispin had already shown me the star map, and I knew the feel of the Crystal Vale. I focused on that energy and the map in my mind, and that was enough.
Magic from each of the guys poured into me, and that magic poured seamlessly into the Realm Breaker. Light flashed, then shot up into the sky. I held on, letting the power flow through me until the pathway solidified.
When my vision cleared, Penelope’s perpetually pursed mouth was hanging wide open. She stepped toward the pathway, unblinking eyes staring upward. “It’s just like it was before.”
Isadora’s eyes reflected the light. “This issocool.”
Varian cleared his throat, stepping around Penelope and closer to the pathway. He looked up, then at me as I lowered the sword. “Consider us even.”
I resisted the urge to snort. I’d hardly call us even, but I was glad I could finally be done with him.
“Shall we depart then?” Penelope looked at me expectantly. The other gathered fairies watched the imp as it hopped excitedly from foot to foot.
Sebastian stepped up to my side, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You shall depart when you please. We’ve created your pathway. Our contract is done. We need only anchor the vortices.”
Penelope’s childlike wonder died in the blink of an eye, and suddenly she was a sharp-tongued devil once more. “It takes ages to travel a pathway without a celestial! She must take me to my desired location. It’s only fair.”
Varian had turned to speak with his gathered people. They had plenty of supplies, and were prepared to travel on their own. As far as Varian was concerned, the less celestial involvement, the better. Beyond making the pathway, that was.
A day ago, I would have been content to walk away and let Penelope figure things out, but now that I had seen Sebastian trapped in his own darkness, I had a better idea. Before he could say whatever disparaging thing he had planned, I held up a hand. Reaching the fairy realm quickly was obviously important to Penelope. We just had to figure out how important.
“I’ll take you,” I said, pointing one finger on my raised hand before Penelope could say anything. “On one condition.”
“Name it.”
Hells, this was actually going to work. “Destroy your original contract with Sebastian. Let him return to the hells as he pleases.”
“Now—” Sebastian started.
“Done,” Penelope said. “But you have to bring me through the pathway, and to a place of my choosing.”
Sebastian scowled as I held out my hand, and Penelope took it. Magic flared between us, sealing the new bargain.
“That was entirely unnecessary,” Sebastian huffed.
Mistral stepped toward us, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Gabriel and I should get back to the Bogs. We are expecting new arrivals through the pathway soon. I imagine you can handle this yourselves?”
I kissed his cheek. “I’ll be back before dinner.”
Gabriel smiled at that.
“I should report to the king,” Crispin sighed. “He’ll want to know that the fairy pathway is done.” He looked up at the shimmering path. “Though I would love to go…”
Later, I mouthed. Because even if Varian decided to keep the guys out of the Crystal Vale after this, he couldn’t exactly keep me from jumping someone directly to the pathway.
Crispin gave me a little bow, then joined Gabriel and Mistral.
I gave one last questioning look to Varian, who scowled. “We’ll travel on our own, thank you.”
I didn’t think he really meant thethank you, but it would be a lot easier just bringing Sebastian and Penelope. And Ringo and the imp, of course. And looking at Isadora bouncing with excitement as much as the imp, it seemed like we were bringing her too.
I held out my hands and was surprised when Penelope latched right on, twining her fingers with mine. Her imp held onto the hem of her coat and Isadora took her other hand.
Sighing loudly, Sebastian took my free hand. He could act annoyed all he wanted, but I knew he was just as curious as I was to see what his sister was so desperate to find in the fairy realm.
