Chapter 4

Four

EMORY

Seeing Zephyr in sleep was reassuring, though not as settling as I’d hoped. The dream plane isn’t the same as that of the living. We can’t touch or feel one another. It’s a lot like talking through mirrors or bodies of water—just a call—but it showed me he’s okay, at least for now.

I roll onto my back with a groan, slowly blinking up at the ceiling. The floor is stiff and uncomfortable, nothing like sleeping in the forest. I don’t feel refreshed the way I usually do after sleeping, but that probably has something to do with visiting Zephyr; I wasn’t exactly replenishing my magic after all.

The one good thing we discovered was the time difference between the realms. We knew there was one, but weren’t sure exactly what it was. It wasn’t something we could ask around about without looking suspicious, either. Days apparently go slower in the fae realm, and whereas I’ve been here for one whole light cycle, it’s still the same night I left for Zephyr. Which is good, considering this doesn’t seem like it’s going to be over as quickly as I’d hoped.

I push myself to stand and go to the counter, grabbing Pixie, who is snoring quietly in the jar, as I drag my glamour back into place. Carefully, I drop the jar into my bag and sling it on my back. I'd prefer her to stay asleep so I don’t have to hear her yelling at me, but I doubt that will last long with how much moving around I’m doing.

I head out, down the winding stairs, and out the door into the harsh morning sun. It feels nice on my skin, but I have to squint my eyes at the harsh light. I’m not opposed to the sun like most of the Unseelie court. In fact, I rather like it, but I don’t find myself able to enjoy it often. Doing so would probably only make me stick out more, and I prefer to fly under the radar, at least for now.

The city is fucking huge, but even worse, it’s a maze. I couldn’t even tell you how many times I walk around the same area, but it’s enough that things begin to look familiar. It’s not until I take a moment to focus on the bond that I get my ass going in what I can only hope is the right direction. Pixie wakes up after a while, and while I hear her whines and grumbles from my bag, I ignore her. I’d brought her in case I needed her help, and right now, I don’t. I might not know much about the mortals, but I can’t imagine walking around talking to a jar will do me any favors.

I keep walking as the sun rises higher and higher, and then I walk some more, following the pull in my chest as it becomes increasingly harder to ignore. Worry takes over my thoughts as I imagine just how far away my mate could be. According to what Pixie said yesterday, this is one city in just one part of the state, and there are a lot of them. What if the veil took me to the wrong part of the realm, and I’m hundreds of miles from where I need to be?

Getting to them isn’t the hard part; I can walk or run for much longer than the average mortal, but going that far and coming back with them to the portal would add days to this trip. Days I don’t have. A huge building comes into view at the height of my panic, and with it, I feel the bond as it tugs at my chest hard enough that it damn near pulls me physically toward it.

My feet carry me faster until I’m sprinting, uncaring of the people in my way as I weave between them.

“Miss? Can I help you?” Someone shouts from my left, startling me, and I stop, turning toward the sound. An older man stands a few feet away from me, heading in my direction with a serious look on his wrinkled face. His outfit is strange—nothing like the rest of the people around us. Instead, it all matches, reminding me of Zephyr’s guard uniform but with less metal.

“Oh, um, I–” I stumble over my words, unsure of what to say. I can’t exactly say I’m looking for my mates; mortals don’t have mates.

“Tell him it’s your first day, and you’re looking for the office,” Pixie whispers from my bag, and not for the first time, I’m thankful I have her.

I tell him as much, and a small smile turns his lips. “Follow me. Let’s get you to the office. There’s no need to run. You still have plenty of time before class starts.”

He turns and walks into the building, and with no idea what else to do, I follow him. The bond pulls tight as we go, and I know I’m in the right place.

Too bad there are easily hundreds of mortals here.

Why can’t shit ever be easy?