Oh my God. That’s happened to me. A few times.
“Is it normal for people to be able to sense truth or dishonesty here?” I ask, wondering if that’s a common power.
Kirian’s lips twist. “Like they can tell when someone’s lying?”
“Yeah.”
“Not that I know of. We have clairvoyants, but they’re more into connecting with spirits or telling fortunes. Why?”
“Well, this might sound crazy, but I swear I can tell if someone’s being honest or not.”
Touching my blue silk scarf, I think back to the first time it was noticeable. I remember being so sure Fallon was telling the truth about his motives behind throwing it at me.
I quickly explain that particular instance, and what I felt when Farrel was spilling his past with Gia. Come to think of it, I also experienced the same sensation when Torius and Kai denied any involvement in trying to hurt me.
“It’s definitely a possibility,” Kirian says, stroking my cheek. “The longer you’re here, the stronger it will get. Let’s test it out once we get back home.”
Home. This time, instead of feeling dread at the word, I’m relieved. It feels right. I couldn’t care less about what the fae think of me—I have a purpose.
Getting the women and gnomes back from the Day Realm is priority number one.
There’s a teeny tiny worry in the back of my mind about what my parents will think in the morning when they wake up and I’m not in my bed. They’ll probably just assume I spent the night in my treehouse. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve disappeared into the woods at night.
And then on Kirian’s birthday, we’ll use his portal to go back. I’ll be able to visit with my parents one last time before I “leave” for my new adventure.
It’s going to take some time for me to get used to the new time conversion. To my parents, only a day will have passed. But for me, so much is going to happen.
Kirian and I already talked about it, and we decided the best plan is for me to not return for a while after that. After all, Mom and Dad will think I’m off working somewhere. We can use Kirian’s portals to go other places in the world where I can make a phone call, but I won’t see them until Thanksgiving. Which, in Valora, is like ninety-some years from now.
I’ll miss them, but I’ll be okay as long as I have Kirian.
His wings bust out, and it’s seriously sexy when he does that.
“You ready to go back to the shit storm we left behind?” His expression is serious as he lifts me up. “Our people will need extra care and time to recover. I don’t think anyone will be better at mending their hearts than you.”
“You really mean that.” It’s not a question. That hair-raising thing happens again, and I know he has a hundred percent faith in me. “Let’s hurry back. The sooner we get there, the sooner we can get married.”
A growl rumbles in his chest as we leap into the air, and his response is almost lost in the wind. “I can’t wait.”
Kirian
The carriage rocks and sways on the uneven path as we enter the city. Quinn dozes peacefully with her head on my lap. Kai is at the reins and Torius rides behind us.
Gia’s betrayal still stings but having Quinn and my best men with me dulls the pain.
Soon, all will be right again in the Night Realm. We’ll retrieve our people from the Day Realm, we’ll outlaw distilled Day water, and Quinn and I will have the best wedding Valora has ever seen.
The love I feel for her is overwhelming. It grows with every passing minute, and I wonder if there’s a limit. Will it ever stop or plateau? Or will it keep expanding until I can no longer stand to be apart from her for even a few seconds?
My pleasant thoughts are interrupted by the distant sounds of rioting, and my mood plummets.
Fuck.
Riots don’t happen often, but when they do, the fae take it to dangerous levels. Think of a normal angry crowd, then add in special powers and the ability to fly. Cities can be burned to the ground and reduced to rubble in minutes.
Kai snaps the reins and we speed up. I carefully move Quinn, trying to slyly slide a pillow under her face, but her eyes pop open.
“What’s going on?” Sitting up, she blinks sleepily. “What’s that noise?”
“Stay inside.” I hate to leave her in here without an explanation, but whatever’s happening out there needs to be stopped, and I don’t want her involved.
The carriage is still barreling down the road when I open the door. With my hand on my axe, I hop out. My boots land on the familiar cobblestone, and as my wings unfurl, I break into a run, getting ahead of our caravan.
But what I see has me stopping in my tracks.
Smiling faces. Flailing arms. Dozens of Night Realm flags waving through the air.
The streets are filled with people, and they’re not yelling or fighting—they’re cheering.
Having spotted us, Delaveria guards are already approaching. Kai stops the carriage and jumps down beside me, and Torius joins us after dismounting his horse.
“The women and children have been brought home,” one of my newest guards says, smiling. I can’t remember his name. He’s young, just turned twenty-five last spring, and he hasn’t experienced a true battle yet.
“All of them?” I ask skeptically.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Every single one.”
“Unharmed?”
His grin falters. “Queen Zella is assessing the damage herself as we speak.”
That’s a no. “And my father?”
“He is well.”
“My soldiers?”
“Six dead and thirty-nine injured.”
We’ve had worse outcomes. I’m actually surprised we fared so well. I feel like there has to be a catch somewhere.
“Kirian?” My mate’s voice causes chills to sweep through my body, and I turn to see her leaning out the window. “Can we go to
