Chapter Twenty-Four

The next day, Arach and I waited on the Road of Neutrality before Castle Aithinne with a unit of Red Caps. The massive faeries with their hats dripping ancient blood shuffled their ponderous feet over the packed earth, churning up the steam that rose from the magma moat behind them. They looked fearsome, even in their impatience, but my husband was the most fearsome of all.

Arach stood with chest lifted and arms crossed, staring straight ahead at the Forgetful Forest with his bright yellow eyes. He was in his weredragon form, needing no weapons. His hands were weapons, tipped as they were in claws. His feet were weapons, also clawed. His head was a weapon, crowned with horns. His—well, you get the idea. The guy was danger personified, and he was waiting to pounce.

I was also in my weredragon form simply because it would get me to wherever I needed to go faster. With two possible entry points for the trickster, we thought it best to remain before Aithinne, which was between the two. And with our wings, wed get to whichever location in seconds.

Which was why there were winged Hidden-Ones and Hags among the Red Caps. The Red Caps were serious muscle, but they would take too long. So, either way, they would wait at the castle to receive whoever their King and Queen delivered into their eager hands. Plus, we had more units of Red Caps posted at the Imleag and the Great Tree. We were just waiting on—

The Great Tree!Faerie shouted in our minds.

And not just in Arachs and my minds. She also spoke to the winged warriors in our group. We took flight together, the Red Caps grumbling to be left in the dust, and shot toward the Great Tree at the End of the Road. Thoughts spun through my mind. The Great Tree. That was the public tracing point. It was good to know that the cavern below the Golden Citadel was still secure, but if they were coming through the tracing point, they were either Fey, a known friend of the Fey, or had gotten past one of the strongest wards in existence. Wait. If they had Viper, he would be their pass through the ward!

Hurry!Faerie cried. Your guards are just standing there. Theyre doing nothing!

“Is Viper there?” I demanded.

Yes. He looks as dazed as your Red Caps.

Dazed? What the hell? The group of Red Caps at the Great Tree included Fearghal, the Captain of the Goblin Guard. He was not a man to stand aside and shirk duty. And the only time Id seen Fearghal dazed was when I made a movie reference.

The Hags cackled and the Hidden-Ones howled, but my husband flew silently, only his wings making noise, though it was thunderous. I was as quiet as him, my stare set on the crossroads where the Road of Neutrality met the road that led from the Great Tree to the Castle of Eight. Almost there. I could see the Red Caps, and they were indeed standing still as someone dressed in dark clothes removed some manacles from Vipers wrists.

And Viper just stood there, even when he was freed.

I landed with a screech.

The stranger, covered in cloth like a ninja, swung toward me. Even their eyes were hidden behind a visor. I couldnt tell if they were male or female, but if they were male, they were a slender man. Graceful. And they gracefully launched the Devils pitchfork at Viper.

My war screech turned into one of fear as I watched the pitchfork embed itself in Vipers belly. I stumbled, hitting Arach, and the rest of our flying faeries were distracted by the chaos.

Leaving the trickster free to flee.

“Get them!” Arach shouted as he steadied me.

But it was too late. The trickster had reached the massive trunk of the Great Tree. Slapping their gloved hand upon it, they vanished.

The Dragon King roared.

My roar echoed his, but it contained more than fury. There was also terror for my husband. Viper was sprawled on the dirt road, a puddle of blood growing beneath him.

“Viper?!” I yanked the pitchfork out of his belly and tossed it aside.

Viper grunted, then blinked. As he came to, so did the Red Caps. I heard them growling and shuffling around me. But I didnt take my attention away from my husband.

“Viper?” I brushed the blood from his belly, then sighed when I saw that his skin was already healing.

Whatever magic was in the Devils pitchfork, it hadnt done anything to Viper. Maybe it recognized family. Or maybe it was another fake. I didnt care. As long as Viper was safe.

“Vervain?” Viper moaned and rubbed his stomach. “What happened?” Then he frowned. “Why are you in that body?” He looked around. “Are we in Faerie? How did we get here?”

“You have no memory of being taken?” I asked.

“Taken? Taken by who?”

“The trickster,” Arach growled. “Hes fine, Vervain. We need to go after the one who took him.”

“We cant. We need Torrent to track someone through the Aether.”

“Then go get Torrent!”

I looked down at Viper.

“Im fine, Starlight. Go.” Viper sat up and looked around. “Arach can fill me in while youre gone.”

I nodded and ran for the tree. With a slap of my palm, I was drawn into the Aether. My thoughts directed me through that living realm of possibilities and to the tracing chamber of Pride Palace. I swung open the door to find the God Squad waiting. The timing was perfect. They must have just assembled and were waiting for my return from Faerie. But they hadnt expected me to come through the tracing room.

Everyone jerked back at my sudden and dragonly appearance.

“Torrent!” I shouted and held out my hand.

“Im here!” Torrent grabbed my hand, and we went back into the Aether, this time, through a tunnel of Internet.