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She took off running towards the front of the Fae lands. Everett kept pace with her, maybe picking up where her thoughts were going from their bond.
“Where are you going?” Bethany called after them.
“To get us more help. Get them to the Academy!” Claire called over her shoulder, repeating her demand.
“What are you thinking?” Everett asked as Puck kept pace above them.
“My mother foresaw all of this, right? She knew we would need more help than just the Fae right? But she built the barrier, she would have known that portals didn't work so how are we supposed to get reinforcements? She had to build a failsafe.”
Everett picked up the image from her mind. “The trees. The Elven trees we passed on our way in.”
Claire wasn’t surprised he remembered them. “Yes, those. They look young, right? I think my mother planted them knowing I might need them one day.”
“And you can open a portal with them?”
“I think so,” Claire frowned. “Right now it’s the only thing I can think of.” Maybe it wouldn’t work.
“It’s a good idea,” Everett reassured her. “It’ll work.”
As they ran, they passed Fae warriors running around. Urgency created a sharp taste in the air. A copper taste. One that tasted like blood. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be too late in getting their allies here.
In a few minutes, they reached the small cluster of Elven trees. From here, Claire could see what the Fae commander was talking about. The barrier was being attacked by black specks of dark magic. If she stared closer, she could see the black specks of dark magic consuming the magic of the barrier.
Right now the barrier was holding but when Claire sank deeper into her magic and connected to the barrier, she could feel it weakening. She hoped Desmond and Malcolm made it to the Dragon Mountains safely but also made it back in time. They were going to need them.
“I’ll call them through the bond,” Everett said as they stared at the barrier. “You focus on the trees.”
Claire looked past the trees to the stone arch that stood next to them. When she had first seen it, something had been familiar about it, now that she was closer, she realized why. The stones were the same color as the Academy walls. When she stepped up and laid a hand on the sun-warmed stone, the magic of the Academy that lived in her center danced in recognition. Claire smiled. This was how they would get the others here to the Fae lands. But first, the trees.
Puck landed on her shoulder as Claire stepped up to the young Elven trees that were growing together to form an arch. She ran her hands over the purple and silver bark of each of them. They thrummed under her touch. They might be young but they held the wisdom of the thousands of trees that had come before them. More importantly, they held the key to opening a portal here to the Fae lands.
Closing her eyes, Claire thought back to her coronation day in the Elven Forest and connecting to the Royal Tree and the rest of the Forest. She knelt in the grass underneath the small archway in between both trees. She sunk her hands into the sandy soil, so different from the Forest floor, and let the earth ground her. She took a deep breath. As she breathed in, she allowed the urgency and panic to fill her. As she breathed out, she released all of the emotions, focusing on the trees. She took another breath, repeating the same process. And then another.
She focused on the pathway she had opened to the Royal Tree first. She found its Energy easily and it flared brighter at her connection, feeding off her magic slightly. She pushed further, finding Synora’s tree and strumming on the bond, calling it to her. She pushed open as many pathways as she could, sending the same message down each one. Their Queen was calling.
She felt the magic she had sent into the trees for the call come rushing back at her. Instead of absorbing it back into her center, she focused it into the trees in front of her. This wasn’t an established gate like the one from the Academy’s woods to the Elven Forest. There were no keys waiting for her to find them. No, this time she had to forge them herself.
Her magic wavered and Puck’s tail was there, brushing against her shoulder as he stabilized her magic with his own. With his help, Claire formed the returning magic into the trees. Focusing on layering it into a stable connection that opened straight to the base of the Royal Tree.
Warm hands touched her shoulders and Claire jolted. Her eyes flew open and she looked up into her Uncle Toan’s warm face.
“Uncle,” she breathed.
“My Queen.” Toan helped her to her feet and guided her to the side. Behind him, Elven warriors were stepping through the newly created gate. Claire spotted a familiar face.
“Synora!” She called out to the Elf.
Synora spotted Claire and gave her a warm grin that turned into a surprised ‘oof’ when Claire threw her arms around her.
After a moment of surprise, Synora returned Claire’s hug briefly before stepping back. She opened her mouth to say something when something over Claire’s shoulder caught her eye. Her body went rigid, her expression stunned.
Claire turned to see Holly standing behind her, the same stunned expression on her face. Magic practically crackled the air between them and Claire’s eyes widened as she realized what was happening. Kallan and Kieran stood behind Holly and Claire flicked her eyes to them. They didn’t have the same expression but the slight widening of their eyes clued Claire in that they felt it too. Holly had more than two mates it seemed.
“Kallan and Kieran,” her Uncle Toan greeted. “You survived. We had heard rumors that you fell in battle with Prince Erick.” Toan broke the silence, drawing Claire’s attention away from the new mates.
Kallan rubbed the back of his neck, an uncharacteristically nervous action for the normally stoic Fae warrior. He seemed to shake himself off and answer Toan. “No, we survived. I don’t know where those rumors started.”
“Well for protection of course,” Greta’s grumpy voice came from behind Toan. “Step aside, the lot of you. Make room for an old woman.”
