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Afterward, Eli smoothed ointment of some sort on my burns. It smelled like earth, but it slid on like crushed pearls. Iridescent and cooling, the paste seemed to sink into my skin and erase pain I hadn’t quite admitted to feeling.
I hadn’t thought to get clothes, but there was a wooden cabinet filled with clean clothes for both of us—practical utilitarian items for when time was short. Most of our clothes were in the bedroom, but it was nice to have a quick set of the essentials: a set of underthings, pants, and top.
As we dressed, I told him what I’d learned, and we pondered the dilemma of going to Scotland. There was an airline that specialized in fae-safe travel, but they were only accessible for chartered flights. The reality was that most faeries simply used the doorways to and fromElphame.Unfortunately, Iggy and Beatrice were unable to go into Eli’s home world—which was likely why Beatrice already made travel plans. My great-times-great grandmother wasn’t going to risk being left behind.
I went into the bedroom to pack a bag while Eli updated Beatrice and Iggy that we were going overseas.
Then he packed while I called and made travel arrangements. “I need a flight for the heirs ofElphame,thedraugrqueen, and a witch.”
The agent on the end of the line was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, “Cash or charge?”
“Either. We are going to Scotland, from New Orleans, tonight.” I figured those details were factors that would matter in sorting the cost.
Again the silence.
“Of course, your highness.” The agent cleared his throat. “Will you need secure transport to the airfield? Security is included. Likewise, will you need it on . . . which part of Scotland will you be visiting?”
“No ground transport here. We will need a secure, armored vehicle on the other side. Not obvious, but hex-proof and fae-friendly. Dark tinted windows.” I looked around as my grandmother sorted through my weapons like a houseguest investigating our bookshelves. It was odd to see her here, odder still to see her toying with a poleax and then a curved sword in a way that was familiar to me.
My own coping with stress often involved weaponry.
Once our travel was in order, we went to the garage at the ground level of our home. While we typically used Eli’s convertible, we now also had a car that was larger. It was a boxy SUV with everything a faery prince needed—and, in my opinion, a few things he probably didn’t.
Weapons and bags in the back, we headed to the air strip.
I felt lighter as we headed toward the flight, as if the mere fact of going to find this mysterious weapon was an adventure, not a way to avoid certain death.
Sure, the oldest living man wanted to kill all four of us.
Sure, hehadkilled two of us, but Beatrice was existing as a non-living being and Iggy had “gotten over” being dead.
Add to that the fact that he’d had me kidnapped and tortured, and that his machinations created a harsh rift between Eli and his uncle . . . and I think even the sliver of hope that we might be able to defeat him was giddy-making.
As we walked toward the plane, I started grinning. I had no idea what the weapon was, but I pushed the image of the place to both Eli and Beatrice. “It’s here. That was what he most fervently desired when I proposed a faery bargain. He desperately wanted no one to ever find what he had hidden. He thought clearly that he wouldn’t be safe if they did.”
Beatrice flashed a beautiful, vicious smile. “Wouldn’tthatbe a shame . . .”
And in that moment, in that smile, with these people, I felt like there was a chance of victory. It was a heady feeling.
12
ELI
After years of hoping to be exactly where he now was with Geneviève, and even longer wondering if the person for him was out there, Eli felt a wave of relief at her return to his side. He realized he was looking at her in the sort of awe that maybe ought to embarrass him to admit. He felt no shame though.
Centuries. He’d been alone for centuries, aware that the one who was destined to be his beloved was yet to be born.
When she had been born, he’d felt it, like a spark in his chest that was burning. The last years of waiting, knowing that she was in the world but too young to meet, were a challenge.
Then she was an adult. A warrior. A vicious creature the likes of which he’d never seen.
How was he to spend literal centuries waiting, only to have their time cut short by either this repugnant man or Eli’s own family? Love wasn’t a thing to be easily dismissed or denied.
At his side, Geneviève’s hand tightened on his.
“Are you okay?” She gestured around the plane. “They said it was fae-friendly, but is it bothering you or . . .”
“I am well.” He smiled at her.
