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“Mia is going to be extraordinarily powerful one day,” Oliver explained. “She must not fall into the wrong hands. Her upbringing is very important. She needs to stay on the side of the light. If she ever fell into Myrddin’s hands… The things he could make her do would break this plane.”
Sarah’s expression went from grave to bright, though I could see the strain in her eyes as Mia ran back in. The girl had a backpack around her shoulders and a big stuffed bunny in her arms. “Hey, you ready?”
“Can we see Lee?” Mia asked.
Felicity got to one knee. “One day. I promise. One day you will find each other again and you’ll be ready. He will need you so much. But for now it must be this way so your mother can heal.”
Tears pierced Mia’s eyes, but she nodded.
“We cannot take you. Again, that would be too much interference,” Oliver was saying to Felix. “But we can show you the way and promise there is a village waiting to take you in. It’s a Heavenly plane.”
“One of the minor planes that the archangels don’t care about, I suspect.” Felix had relaxed.
“Yes. It’s very beautiful and peaceful, and they will welcome your wife and daughter,” Felicity promised. “They are eager to learn from you all and to share their knowledge with you. Mia can grow and learn without the trauma she would certainly experience on this plane.”
“It would have been nice if they could have taken all the kids,” I said with no small bitterness because my child had gotten a full dose of that trauma. So had the young woman beside me.
“Some heroes need peace to balance their souls,” the gnome said. “Some could turn if twisted the wrong way, as you have seen with your friend. And some are so solid they can wash themselves in the darkness and never once lose the light.” He turned Evangeline’s way. “You, Princess, are a light. Don’t forget. You are literally made of light, and no amount of darkness can take you if you don’t let it.”
Evan went still. “That sounds like a threat.”
I shook my head. “It sounds like he knows something we don’t, and we should probably listen to him.”
I was brought out of my revelations by Sarah taking a long breath. “If you can’t take us, then I should get ready. I suspect opening a door to one of the Heavenly planes is going to take a bit of magic. I also want to write a letter to Zoey. I need her to look for us.”
“Well, if we had time, I would hunt down one of the doors and send you through,” Oliver explained as they walked toward the back of the apartment. “There are a couple, but they’re well hidden. The Fae are good at hiding doors and piercing veils, aren’t they?”
“Leave the queen a letter, but you have to let her know Myrddin cannot be allowed to access the portal. If he could gain access to one of the Heavenly planes, the damage he could do would be terrible,” Felicity said. “And we must hurry. Our window is closing. You can’t stay another full day here. Be quick with your note and even quicker with your magic. Leave the queen a map she can follow so one day she can release you.”
The door shut, and I knew we’d seen what we’d had to see. The angels were playing fast and loose with their rules and regulations and all to help us. We had allies, and I intended to follow their sage advice.
I was going to have to go into the belly of the beast. I would have to get into that apartment and find a way to follow the Days to their refuge.
It looked like I would have to go to a place I’d never thought to see. Heaven.
“I will seek Mia Day as soon as I can,” I vowed. “I think I know a couple of young men she needs to meet.” I frowned as I thought about the whole “priming” situation. “Does Heaven take a stand on the whole one man, one woman thing?”
The gnome laughed, a surprisingly booming sound that filled the sad place with joy. “Ah, no, lass, and thank the goddess for it. That’s a human thing. On the plane I spent my mortal life on, it was quite normal to form triads. My own brothers shared a wife.” His smile became bittersweet. “I only wanted one woman. The most beautiful woman in all the lands. I get to watch over her though, and she’s happy. So no, don’t think there’s some punishment for loving more than one person. I have to go. The Sword of Light is ready for her fight. She’s angry about being touched by Myrddin, enraged about what he planned to do with her. But don’t forget—you count, too, Hunter. She does nothing without your good hand to guide her.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but I was ready to fight. “She’ll show me how to counter Liv’s spells?”
His lips kicked up. “All you have to do is follow her lead. You’ve got Myrddin’s power, and she’s been soaked in it. She’s figured out a thing or two and is ready to show off.” He turned Evan’s way and went somber. “Don’t forget what I said, Princess. Your light cannot be dimmed by anyone but you. Remember. This was the only way. When the consequences come, you can find joy in them or allow them to turn you bitter.”
“Consequences?” Evan asked.
“Aye.” He hefted his axe, leaning it on his shoulder. “There are always consequences. Some seem hard, but when they’re accepted we can find beauty in them. Are you ready?”
I steeled myself. “Yes.”
“No,” Evan said at the same time.
I turned to her, raising my brows.
She shrugged. “Well, you’re not the one bisected by a sentient sword and about to face some kind of weird consequences.”
There was truth to that. “It’s going to be okay.”
“That it will, Hunter. Remember that when you want to kill the queen,” he said with a grin and turned.
Wow. I wanted to ask about that but I got the feeling I would only get one more question, and I had to know. “Hey, what can I call you? Did you take Jude’s name?”
He turned and the lamp behind him made the sweetest halo around his helmet. “Bah, as though I would take that name. No. I like the one me mum gave me all those years ago. You can call me Duffy. And I’ll be around, Hunter.”
He lifted the axe and brought it back down, tapping the floor, and then we were back in the real world once more.
