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“Mhmm.” Viktor seemed deep in thought for a moment. "Looks like a fae prince tried to pull you into a hex. Arthur sensed it long before Milo caught a glimpse of it with his foresight ability. They notified me but you were on the phone with Saint just as he told me something was wrong. Arthur sent his double to come and slice through the illusion which was why I was able to cast a spell and venture into the trap he was trying to keep you in,” he explained. “The only way to get out of hex is winning a challenge the host fae sets out. His challenge was if you thought about the incident within the minute you came out of the hex, you’d die.”
“Well, shit.” I was truly surprised. “I guess fae enjoy dark humor.”
"They love challenges that leave another dead or in a state of insanity. Being imprisoned only further entices them.”
“But…” I drew out the word because I could see in his eyes that he was purposely not telling me something.
“He seemed attracted to you and that immediately gave me bad vibes.”
“Don’t tell me you think he’s the fae the Vile Queen stole energy from.”
“He’s not.” Viktor further shook his head. “Your energies repel one another. Meaning, his magic is practically poison against yours.”
“My fae magic, you mean?”
“Mhmm,” Viktor replied and helped lower my legs so I could try to stand on my own. He kept his arm around my waist while he lightly tapped the magical necklace that sat just above Dimitris’s bond mark.
It instantly shimmered a soft silver mixed with pink and purple that grew and spread down my body until I was completely cloaked in black with Viktor’s cloak on my shoulders.
“That will do,” he commented more to himself. “The others should be in the main lobby.”
“So, we’re regrouping.”
“Regrouping and staying together until you walk that runway,” Viktor concluded. “You may feel a bit overwhelmed with all of us around, but I’m sure Dimitris isn’t going to let you out of his sight. And neither will the others.”
“Fun,” I hummed. I didn’t expect Viktor to lean over and kiss me. “W-What was that for?”
“We won’t slip up like that again,” he vowed as he held me tightly. “You were scared, weren’t you?”
I actually didn’t want to admit it, and yet he saw right through me. Swallowing the lump forming in my throat, I slowly nodded as my voice was but a whisper.
“The grey room reminded me of that experimentation room. Closed space…dark…the energy so consuming. I tried to focus on Saint’s voice but I just got pulled into the changing environment and the confrontation with that fae being. I…get a bit anxious in closed spaces that remind me of a box, you know? It’s different from a boxing ring or cage where you know what surrounds you and how to escape if you need to,” I explained. “Can’t escape a box that’s locked…no matter how many times you scream that you’ll be good.”
He pulled me against his side into a tight hug, and I felt his lips lightly press on the top of my head.
“Never again,” he stressed. “We’ll do everything in our power to ensure it never happens again.”
I nodded to him as I took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves down. This wasn’t the time to show my weakness, especially when we were about to walk into a room filled with beings we’d never encountered before.
“How did you manage to get through the hex?” I asked as I pulled away to compose myself. “You made it seem like you’ve cut through one before.”
“I have,” Viktor admitted. “Though I was accompanied by a fae.”
“Really?” It seemed like a tale I’d like to learn about after all this was over. “Were you able to get the person out of the hex?”
“Mhmm,” Viktor replied as he watched me carefully. "I freed him thanks to the fae’s help.”
“But didn’t the victim have to undergo a challenge?” I inquired as I took a few more deep breaths.
“He did. It was a bit easier than your case, I guess,” Viktor noted as he seemed to be remembering the incident.
“What did the victim have to do?” I wondered out of curiosity.
Viktor took my hand as he cracked his neck and snapped his free fingers to summon another cape of silver to set upon his shoulders.
“The challenge was simple. The victim had to reveal what his biggest regret was.”
That was surprising as I thought about it.
