30. Thirty

Thirty

Willow

Today’s going to be great.

My breathing stays even as the air in my lungs empties through my mouth and my heart rate stays a calm, gentle rhythm. The sun is just now rising above the trees, and I tilt my head toward it, seeking its heat.

I, according to Tillman, was a little too excited for this mission and he instructed me to come simmer down. He’s in full leader mode, and the rest of my men are preparing for battle. My apparent cheeriness was making them nervous.

I can’t help it, though.

Unlike any other mission we’ve been on, I haven’t had to keep any secrets from them. I don’t have any gut-wrenching feelings telling me something is going to go wrong, nor have I been plagued with awful visions. I mean, aside from the one that’ll happen if this does go wrong, but it won’t.

I refuse to accept it.

Regardless, I guess I was being a little too optimistic for my men this morning, so I was ordered to come balance myself out.

I don’t mind, though, because after I found my balance, I started running through everything on the portals and everything that’s been discussed since then. I have all the faith in the realm now that I’ll be able to detect if any of the portals have been open. I already know for a fact I’ll be able to tell if any of the makeshift ones my mom, grandma, or any before them opened are still open.

Tracking those will require me to bleed into the ground, connecting myself to the fabric of Elementra. Almost like Oakly’s imprint. The difference is I’ll be sending and receiving a signal from each individual portal, and its vibration will tell me if it’s closed, open, even if it’s been recently used.

My body will pretty much turn into a radar.

Explaining to the guys this process last night did not go over well. The second they heard I had to cut myself, they were already shutting it down. I went ahead and told them then, any and everything to do with a portal will require me to bleed.

We pretty much knew this from Franklin’s and the Summum-Master’s obsession with it, but none of us, not even me, truly understood. What I learned opened my eyes to the reality that even getting a sense of the strength of a portal will take a drop of blood. Nothing can be done to them without it. That’s why they’ve always been so adamant about having a stockpile.

Their extreme reactions came from knowing how much I hate getting my blood drawn. Their minds immediately flashed back to my kidnapping, and their consideration of my feelings melted my heart. I’ll admit, I felt a little queasy at first, but realizing that I was in control—doing this to myself, not having it taken from me—helped ease my anxiety over having to cut my palms open, possibly often.

They grumbled for a good few minutes before Tillman finally accepted it and Gaster said enough, it was the way it was and that’ll be that. His no-nonsense on my behalf will always make my heart happy.

Once they were all on board, Corentin had a plan in place, ready to go. Tillman decided to switch some things up and instead of taking multiple palace E.F. teams, it would just be our Nexus, Oakly’s, Lyker’s, Keeper, Codi, and Trex. All the recon teams who are currently positioned at the portals will be on standby for his call if we need them after we track my blood.

Caspian tore everything apart to the bones. Every step of the plan, my new knowledge and how easy it is for me to access it in a split second, Oakly’s and my ability to track my blood. He asked question after question until he was finally satisfied with the answers.

But there was one question he didn’t ask, that I thought for sure he would. Instead, it was Draken who caught on to the fact I can’t do my little radar checking on the main portals.

There was fire in Caspian’s eye when Draken called him out for that. Twenty more minutes of grilling ensued after I informed them that the main portals are too ingrained in the fabric of Elementra. It would take far too much blood and energy for me to sense them farther away and even then I could only do one at a time. It’s faster and safer for me to go there physically.

No one had any objections.

With one more round of my breathing technique, I stretch my arms above my head, then push up off the ground. My moment of settling myself and thinking through everything did, in fact, calm my excitement, but I’m just as confident today as I was when I first perched my ass in the dewy morning grass.

“About time, Willy. Thought you’d done come out here and fallen asleep,” Oakly teases from a few feet behind me, causing me to jump.

“First of all, you just scared the shit out of me. I didn’t even hear you coming. Second, I haven’t done anything today to deserve the name-calling.” I smirk.

“As a matter of fact, you did. All your damn giddiness has got them in there freaking out. I just got kicked out and told to come find you and make sure we’re ready to track your blood.”

“I don’t know why my good mood freaked them out so bad. You’d have thought it’d do the opposite,” I say, shaking my head.

“Not on mission day, apparently. They’ve grown used to the chaos. This is too calm for them. All the reports are too good, the realm still hasn’t had any attacks, you aren’t riddled with worry or the tense energy you carry when you keep secrets. They’re thrown all the way off,” she scoffs playfully.

“Well, in that case, we can stay out here, and when they’ve figured out everything they need to, they can come find us.”

Not needing any more convincing to stay away from the command room, she plops herself down, laughing. I follow suit and grab her book of relics that she passes to me.

“Put this in your pocket dimension for me just in case we do come across some crazy-ass shit,” she says.

“It’s about time you make one of your own. It’s like a purse that you never have to actually carry.”

“Yeah, a purse that knocks you on your ass when you make it. You sound like Gaster. He’s been harping on me about it too.”

“Then after this mission, that’s what you’re doing.” I chuckle as she throws a handful of grass at me.

I’m pretty sure a few pieces fall into my pocket dimension, but after going shoulder deep, not being able to feel for them, and her just laughing at me like it’s hilarious, I give up.

“Okay, on a serious note, how do you feel about tracking today? Good, bad, scared, confident? Anything you want or need to go over?” she asks.

“I mean, I’m a little nervous but still feel pretty confident. I didn’t until we tracked Vince by his blood, and getting that right helped because I have no connections to him, so I didn’t feel like I was aided in any way.”

“Yeah, that was a perfect track and imprint as well. I honestly think this is going to be even easier since it’s your blood and we’ll be doing it together. I’ve got complete faith in you,” she says, tapping her shoulder to mine.

“Thanks. I really do have a good feeling about today. I’m not bullshitting or hiding anything, I swear. I have no clue how getting the blood and destroying it is going to go, but you’ve been nonstop reading, remembering. We’ve trained as hard as we possibly can. I’ve got faith in everyone today.”

“Good. I don’t want to hear any more shit from those men then.”

“And what shit are you referring to exactly? ”

She squeals as Ry’s voice sounds from behind us and I peer over my shoulder to see him and Tilman standing there with their arms crossed, staring down at us. I heard their approach but didn’t say anything because I wanted them to hear what I was saying. I should’ve known she was going to talk shit, though.

“You men freaking out about today. You all don’t know how to react to just a calm, cool, easy mission,” she says as she climbs to her feet, giving me her hand and pulling me up.

“Nothing about any mission is easy. Especially adding you two in the mix,” he says, glaring at both of us as we share a look.

“He may have a point,” I say.

“Don’t tell him that.”

Tillman’s stern look cracks and the minuscule twitch on his lip tells me he heard that. “Time to go. Ready, little warrior?” he asks before I can call him out.

“Been ready since I woke up.”

As we make our way through the freshly restored gardens—compliments to Tillman—Ry and Oakly can’t resist their playful bickering. Their banter echoes off the new flower beds and bushes while in my head, Tillman’s amused voice chimes in, mocking them about their weird love language. I can’t help but laugh, earning curious glances from the two lovebirds and everyone else who’s waiting for us right outside the garden path.

“You do look as excited as they warned,” Lyker says, cocking his head to the side before swallowing me up in a hug.

He was thrilled when I called him last night and told him I got into Mom’s book. He’s been so busy lately with getting everything ready to break ground on his new academy, we haven’t seen each other. Just the daily messages or calls.

Being able to spend more time with him is one of the top things I’m looking forward to on my list when we get this shit over with. Talking through a communicator is all fine and dandy if it means I get to hear from him, but nothing beats spending quality time together. I want to stay at Mom’s house, visit his pack lands in detail now that it’s not overrun, and just spend time with him, his brothers, and Aria.

“I’ve settled my excitement down as per their request. I just found something funny as soon as we walked up,” I say, cutting my eyes over to Tillman.

“Well, show me this magic trick they were telling me about then, little dragon.” He smirks, winking at me.

Little my ass.

My men surround me as soon as Lyker steps away and the nervousness that was ringing like an alarm through my chest from them earlier is still present. I don’t believe it’s going to fade, so I straighten my shoulders, let my smile slip away, and hope the seriousness in my expression will settle them.

“You ready, Primary?” Caspian asks.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” I say firmly.

“Good, princess. Once you do this and verify all the individual portals created are closed, we’ll move to the main portal in Pyrathia for Mystara Hollow. It’s the hardest to maneuver and less likely to have any activity. From there, Aeradora for Colosyree, Aquaria for the Valorian Veil, ending at Terrian for Essemist Keep and so Keeper can check on the vampires right there and the nonmagical realm. Missing anything?” Corentin asks. We’ve been over it a thousand times since yesterday, but I still appreciate him checking with me.

“Nope, perfect, your highness.”

I receive a kiss from each of my men, relishing the subtle shift in their moods. I know missions are nerve-wracking, and I’d never downplay that—just because I’m feeling confident today doesn’t mean I’m not mentally prepared or in denial that something could go wrong. There’s always the possibility and likelihood, but I’m not going to worry myself sick with nerves when I have no reason to this go around.

I slip off my shoes and walk away from the group, each step paired with a slow, steady breath. The earth hums beneath my feet, grounding me, and I focus on centering myself in its steady pulse, merging with Elementra’s raw strength .

My knees sink into the wet grass on my final exhale, bolstering the connection I started with each step. I rub my palms down my thighs a couple times, then turn them upward, calling forth a shift in my index fingers.

I begin on my right palm, carefully tracing the mark of the Nexus. This time, I only need one layer instead of all five. With steady hands, I repeat the process on my left palm, then hold them together, feeling the warmth of blood pooling between my fingers.

As the river of red starts to drip through, I open the earth beneath me. It mixes with the soil, turning to thick mud as I focus, gripping tightly onto the fabric of the connection buried within. The threads of magic tug at my own, and I set it free.

“Passages through time and space, show me your travels through this blessed place.”

With my hands pressed into the now damp earth, the ground trembles faintly as my magic spreads outward. Like a ripple in water, my blood forms invisible vines, snaking through the territories in all directions, seeking the portals scattered across the realm. Little throbs vibrate beneath my skin, reverberating through my bones, each one distinct, each one carrying its own unique frequency.

Then the first true pulse hits me.

It sends a buzz through my mind—a soft, gentle breeze. There’s no huge punch of power or overwhelming flow of energy. It’s just…there.

It’s closed.

I allow myself just a fleeting moment to cherish it—the first time I’ve ever wielded the power that has only passed through the women in my family. The weight of that hums through me, but I quickly refocus as the next pulse comes.

Closed.

Closed.

Closed.

My body feels electrified. The thump of the earth beneath me flows with every beat, every vibration, as I map each portal’s status across Elementra. The farther I push, the fainter the connections become, but the fabric of the realm remains ever present, its web of energy binding me to each closed portal.

As the vines of my blood reach the end of the territory’s lines, they snake their way back to me, and the tie to Elementra slowly starts to recede. The connection breaking isn’t a forceful one—I’m not shoved to the ground like when I closed my pocket dimension for the first time. It’s a gentle, tender release.

“Very, very good, filia mea. That was perfect. One step closer.”

The pride in CC’s voice reverberates through my body, adding to the lingering small aftershocks of the portal’s pulses. My skin shivers from both it and my water element flowing out to clean my hands off.

“Thank you for being here for this.”

“I’ll never miss the big things, filia mea.”

A warm smile crosses my lips, and I push myself up to stand, commanding my air to dry the water from my pants around my knees. That small breeze seems to be the only circulating air around. My anxiously waiting Nexus and family behind me sucked it all up, holding it in while they waited for me to finish.

The glow on my face stays in place as I turn to face them. “They’re all closed.”

There’s an explosion of excitement as I’m surrounded by my guys. Their feverish kisses and praises are heady and I snicker at how the roles have suddenly reversed. I’m as calm and focused as I’ve been all morning, while all of them are jumping with joy.

I’m ambushed with sweet smiles, tight hugs, and warm endearments by everyone else when my men give them room. It’s emotional, thrilling, and settling all at once. Of all the things I’m able to do, that felt more natural than any of it. There was muscle memory within me, that’s never been present before, guiding me, coaching me, and silently supporting me from the depths of my mind.

“Using the knowledge of those before you is a sensational experience, Adored.”

“It is. I thought it was amazing to just know facts, but using my ability was something completely different just then. Certain portals I passed, I could pinpoint if it was my mom or grandma who opened it. I didn’t expect that to happen more than once or without me focusing on doing that.”

“There are moments when I speak of the Keep’s times long ago, and the elder of my flights’ knowledge will come through. His energy is ancient and distinct, easy for me to identify. A sense of wisdom falls over me when it comes forward. With time, it wouldn’t surprise me if you’re able to feel many more generations before you, depending on how your communal knowledge continues to be fed to you.”

I smile over at her, thanking her for her insight into this new and thrilling experience. I’m grateful that she’s here to help me navigate this and she will be as well when Draken’s fully comes forward. I know it will. I’ve already seen clues and picked up on the hints she’s dropped.

I’ve noticed changes in him lately, not bad ones, but more so, my dragon man coming into his own. Yesterday, there wasn’t much of a shred of the over-the-top energy jumping around him. He didn’t avoid or joke his way out of tough conversations, and when all was said and done between him and Keeper, he was freer.

“That was phenomenal, child. You should’ve seen the energy encompassing you. It was blinding,” Gaster says excitedly, bursting through the crowd.

“It felt otherworldly. I’m not sure how to even explain what it was like,” I say, matching his smile.

“It was ethereal as though Elementra herself was surrounding you,” he says, and an itch in the back of my mind starts up. I don’t have time to tug on it as it settles away, and he continues, “Be careful in your travels and pay keen attention to details. I want to see it all when you return.”

I laugh when he pulls me into a hug that’s full of wonder and excitement. I can’t help but hope when I’m however millennia old he is, things still get me going like they do him.

“Time to move out, little warrior. Anything we need to know?” Tillman asks as the four of them stand around me.

“No, not that I can think of,” I say, shaking my head and latching onto each of them with a tendril of my shadows .

“Let me see your hands before we go, Primary,” Caspian commands gently, and I turn them palm side up to show them.

“Has your healing increased somehow?” Corentin asks, bewildered, healing vial at the ready but not needed.

“No, it’s the mark. I use it with intentions and when those have been fulfilled, it seals itself back up,” I say as that tidbit comes forward.

To my shock, they have no follow-up questions. Actually, they seem relieved at the prospect of me not having to drink a healing vial at each stop, or that I’m going to be tearing my healed hands back up multiple times today.

I receive a nod and a smile from each of them, then the serious expressions return.

“First stop, Pyrathia,” Tillman orders and all three Nexuses get ready, with Keeper joining us, and Codi and Trex going together.

For the first two transports, everyone knows where to go, so we won’t be moving together. It’s when we move to Aquaria for the Valorian Veil portal that I’ll have to send an imprint.

Darkness closes in around me and I embrace its peace for the fleeting second before the heat of the territory slaps me in the face. Although it’s not as bad as summers in the nonmagical realm, there’s a world of difference between here and the heart of the Central.

At first glance, the landscape looks harsh and unforgiving—a span of jagged volcanic rock that seems to stretch as far as my eyes can see. But when I focus, just beyond the shifting shadows created by the towering rocks, a narrow path reveals itself.

The recon team isn’t in front of the path but spread out in front of the imposing terrain, standing silent, steady, at the ready when we pop in, although they knew we were coming. Tillman doesn’t outwardly show it, but his approval etches across my chest.

He passes his commands silently, and none of us speak with more than nods to them as we enter the tight trail.

I feel the energy of the portal already calling to me from the short distance it is away, but we take each step carefully to avoid the fallen stones and sharp rocks. This had to have been easier to maneuver and get through when this portal was open, or I don’t see why any of the beings from Mystara Hollow would have wanted to make this trek.

“Shit,” Draken breathes through my mind, and I lift my eyes from watching every step I take to see what he sees.

At the end of the path, my gaze settles on what appears to be a chaotic stack of stones, deceptive in its appearance. My eyes trace the stones deliberately placed with their edges worn by time, but they still hold the power they once did.

I can feel it—the hidden pulse beneath the rocks, beckoning me forward, and I answer the call with a few more steps.

My fingers outline the worn runes that are still visible but barely. You’d easily miss them if you weren’t looking for them. They hum underneath my hand as if they know I can make them glow again.

With a deep breath, I carve the Nexus mark once again into my left palm, and my trembling hand lifts to lay against the stone. The buzz is immediate, heady, and I suck in a shocked gulp when the information assaults me.

“Closed. Has been for nine hundred and seventy-two years,” I mumble to everyone who can hear me.

Gaster’s and everyone else’s approximations are pretty spot-on. A thousand years is just easier to say, and records indicate the same. Drudy Vito was a stickler for rules and harsh punishments, but apparently, admin and accurate records weren’t a worry of hers.

I stare at my bloody handprint for the second it shows, then watch in astonishment as it fades into the stone, leaving no visible trace of me behind.

With nothing more than a confident nod to our group, we prepare to move through another transport. In and out. Silent and stealthy is how the entire mission will go until we reach the portal for Essemist Keep and prepare to track my blood.

This time, when the darkness releases us, fresh air and a cool breeze dries the sweat beading on my forehead. I take a large inhale, savoring the pure, clean air of Aeradora.

The trees stretch so high about me, I have no clue where they end and the sky begins.

It makes sense why this is where the giants would exist. There’s plenty of room between each massive tree, and there’s no overgrowth or foliage that makes the paths dense or hard to walk. It’s gaping space that the wind travels through, creating its own symphony.

If the four E.F. members standing in front of a random tree didn’t give it away, the broken bark, perfectly crackled in the shape of a rectangle, would. This particular tree is a few feet wider than the others, and the portal is shaped just like a door as if there’s a knob somewhere that we’d just turn to open.

As I approach it, laying my bloodied hand on the smooth brown bark, my heart hums with an easy thud. There’s a gentleness radiating off it that reminds me so much of Tillman, I can’t help but cock my head over toward him. If I could just assume solely based on what I’m feeling, it’s that his gentle, protective nature is more instinctual than we realize. I believe all the giants were like that. It’s only their size and strength that makes them so intimidating.

“Closed. Nine hundred and thirty-three years ago.”

I place myself beside Oakly this time, linking our fingers and pressing our shoulders together. Simultaneously, we’ll send an imprint to everyone, even our Nexuses that will be transporting with us. This way, it’s guaranteed if I slip up somehow, she’ll still be able to get the information to Lyker’s Nexus, Codi, and Trex.

“Deep breath. Pin the location, pass it to me, and then all of them. I’m right here with you,” she softly instructs in my head.

Closing my eyes, I call to the location on the map in my mind and stick a pin in it as she said, then I share it with her. Like a beep on a metal detector, the imprint flows from me, and we’re sucked into the fabric of the realm. Then we’re gracefully released right at our location.

This portal isn’t like the others.

The energy from it consumes me entirely. Everyone is busy getting their bearings, seeing where we are, while I’m on my knees, slicing my hand, ready to dive into the unmoving clear pool.

My hand gets sucked through the water and the sight sucks me in.

The vision unfolds like a storm ripping through the heavens.

Powerful figures clash with both weapons and gifts I’ve never seen, their movements swift, deadly, and realm quaking. In the midst of the chaos, the line is clearly divided.

This battle isn’t just one of physical, magical strength but of wills colliding. Echoes of their roars and swords clashing thunder across the sky, rattling the stars themselves. I can feel it—the raw, primal force that exists in the realms of gods.

This is a glimpse of destruction, a war that could reshape the very fabric of existence.

I gasp, my chest heaving as though I’ve just surfaced from deep waters, and I fall back on my ass, scooting away from the edge of the portal. My head throbs with the booms of fighting gods, beings, their energy still buzzing in my veins.

This portal cannot be opened, not now, and not for many years to come.

Hands grip me under my arms, and I’m pulled to my feet as the lingering effects of that vision cloud my brain. It takes me a second to get myself together before I can gaze around at everyone staring at me with fear etched across their faces.

“What was that, little wanderer?” Draken asks quietly.

“Did you all see and feel something?”

“Felt. A ripple of energy pulsed through all of us when you stuck your hand in. Not good energy either,” Caspian says, and by everyone, he means that. Not just my Nexus, our whole group experienced it.

I nod, catching my breath. “The realm is either about to have a war or is in the middle of one. The portal is closed for now, and it must stay that way. If their problems bleed everywhere else, it’s going to be bad. For all the realms.”

“How long has it been closed?” he asks.

“A thousand years,” I mumble.

“And some change or…?” Corentin tacks on.

“A thousand years exactly. ”

My mind whirls around the possibilities. Gaster said they were already having issues when he left, so did Elementra know our problems would only become worse because of theirs? What if the Summum-Master stealing the gods’ power from there is that what triggers this event? If so, is that what he was referring to when he said he’d rule this realm and any other he chooses?

Oh fuck.

That thought is even more petrifying knowing that the Valorian Veil is viewed right beneath Elementra’s in terms of power and strength. Granted, that could be biased opinions of the scholars who wrote that, which means they could be even more powerful than us.

“Time to go. We got to check the portal to the Keep, then get to my blood supply,” I say frantically, lining myself back up with Oakly.

No one argues or needs any more discussion. That taste of energy was enough to give us all a feeling of what more we could face if we don’t guarantee his access to other realms is cut off.

This time, I don’t need a pep talk, reassurance, or guidance as I latch onto the location of the portal and send everyone their signal. The calm I felt has been replaced with a desperate desire to find my blood and destroy it. The last thing I want is to drag this out, end up in a war with a whole other realm. I want to worry about my own home, not decimate others in a senseless war.

The cave mouth comes into sight, and it’s just as hostile appearing in person as it was in my mind, but that doesn’t slow our steps.

“It is closed. But while you verify, Adored, I’ll check the vampires and see if there’re any changes to the nonmagical portal,” Keeper says grimly as we cross the threshold of the opening before zooming away.

I’m positive he’s right based on the same low frequency of energy pulsing in the air, but just as the others, I check anyway.

The cool and damp wall at the back of the cave is cold against my hand, chilling the heat I’ve been feeling since being spat out of the vision. The energy is dejected here as though it’s absorbing the emotions on the other side and pushing them out this way .

It makes my heart hurt thinking about an entire realm so saddened by the loss of their heir, but it pains me even more thinking about how we’re going to have to let him go. One day soon, I’ll have to open this portal so he and all the others trapped can go home.

I don’t know what that will mean for us and our new blossoming relationships.

After fifty or so feet away from the cave entrance, Keeper reappears, joining us in stride as we give ourselves some distance to quickly regroup and get ready to track my blood. The anticipation is starting to kick up now and everyone feels it.

“The portal is still open as it has been, but the Summum-Master is in Elementra. The vampires haven’t seen him since he brought Drin in,” he informs us and we all nod.

“Put what we just learned as far out of your mind as possible, little warrior. We succeed in this, we won’t have to fear him getting to that realm, and their problems will stay their own. Breathe. Focus on Oakly’s and your task at hand. Stick to the plan. You’ll be pulling our Nexus, Keeper, Codi, and Trex. Oakly will be taking her Nexus and Lyker’s. Only focus on that,” Tillman says confidently, gripping the back of my neck before laying his forehead to mine.

When he releases me, I can’t help but cut a glance at my brother. I hate that he isn’t coming through my imprint and transport, but at the same time, I’m humble enough to admit when someone is better at something than me, and Oakly most certainly is. I’d feel safer with him going with her, while I take the smaller group.

Each of my men gives me quick, passionate kisses, none too distracting but enough that their confidence in me blooms in my chest and relaxes the nerves I’ve finally started to feel.

“When we get wherever we’re going, we’ll observe and analyze before making a move. We’ll decide from there on backup. Willow and Oakly, stay as close as possible if there’s a delay in our arrival with you,” Tillman orders once more and everyone moves in.

“Ready?” I ask Oakly.

“Yeah, you? ”

“Nervous now.”

“Oh, thank fuck, me too. I didn’t know if we were still pretending not to be.”

I smirk, thanking her for that recess from the seriousness as I shift my finger back into a claw. Her left hand stretches out, cupped, waiting for me to pool enough of my blood for her to use.

Once my palm is full, I carefully pour half into hers, the warmth of the liquid lingering between us as I hold the rest in my own. Our clean fingers interlace, and we squeeze tightly, grounding each other before tilting our heads back toward the sky.

“Track.”

The command echoes in my mind as my blood surges back into my palm. I count down the seconds, tension building with every heartbeat, waiting for the signal. When it finally hits me—faint but undeniable—I grasp for it, wrapping my energy tightly around the line, refusing to let it slip away.

“Got it,” I say.

“Got it.”

We snatch—pulling ourselves through the fabric of the realm once more as our imprints pass to the others.

The phantom feel of Oakly’s hand in mine seems to tighten as we tumble through existence. The strain on my skin sends panic rippling through me because it feels as though we’ve just transported through a ward that didn’t want us to pass through.

I fear we’ve imprinted on the exact location of my blood, rather than close enough to know where but far enough away to get ourselves together again.

I prepare myself mentally for a fight as soon as we step out of this never-ending darkness, knowing we’re going to be face-to-face with someone in enemy territory. But all those thoughts flee me when we’re shoved out of the transport, hitting our knees with a bone-jarring thud.

As soon as I hit the ground my stomach bottoms out, and the sounds of my sickness echo loudly, mingling with Oakly’s .

“What the fuck?” she groans, gripping her head in one hand, stomach in the other.

My vision blurs as tears from throwing up so forcefully blind me, but I reach my hand over, rubbing her back.

“The others?” I choke out.

The words pass my lips as a loud pop booms in front of us. Instead of the faint, almost undetectable sound of a transport, this one is deafening as our entire group is spat out unceremoniously.

I sway harshly as I try to get up to check on them, but they all rebound so much faster and easier than Oakly and me. Neither of us even gets to our feet before they’re helping us up.

“Fuck, that was not in the plan. What happened?” Corentin asks, placing a healing vial to my lips as Jamie grips Oakly and me by the arms.

“We passed through a ward. Fuck, I don’t—”

“Primary, I don’t believe that was a ward,” Caspian interrupts, low, cold.

The tone instantly draws my attention and makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. His gaze isn’t on me but behind me, and true fear takes hold as I see the alarmed gleam in his eye.

Slowly, with my heart pounding in my throat, I turn to face whatever it is that has my most fearless of men looking like that.

No.

“Elementra,” I breathe.

The moment my eyes locked onto it, the realm seems to lurch sideways. My breath gets caught in my throat, and suddenly, everything else fades into the background. A sharp ringing fills my ears, growing louder with each passing second. It feels as though the air has been sucked from the forest, leaving me suspended in a suffocating silence.

“Willy.” Oakly’s soft voice penetrates the eerie emptiness of my mind, and the loving hands that grip me as I stumble hold me up. “Is that…”

“That’s my willow tree.”