Chapter 12

The halls of McDuff Manor were eerily silent as we made our way outside, our footsteps echoing off the polished floor. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, and I couldn't shake the feeling this was some sort of final march. Part of me wanted to turn back, to run and hide beneath the safety of my bed like a frightened child. But I was a Grant, and Grants didn't turn tail and run, no matter how much our instincts screamed at us.

I squared my shoulders and drew a deep breath, the crisp air filling my lungs and clearing my head. I focused on the task at hand, pushing aside my fears and doubts. There was no room for hesitation with so much at stake.

Justice followed my gaze that lingered on the manor. "We'll see this place soon enough."

I gave him a tight smile, hoping it was true.

"We have a lead," Damon announced as he and Lisa approached us. "Lisa's got a hunch about some local witches who might know a thing or two about her phoenix. Guess it's as good a place to start as any."

A premonition that I wouldn't see him for a long time came over me, and I gave him another fierce hug. "Be careful."

"You too, sis," he whispered in my ear, his voice cracking like my heart.

Brody looked at us. "Grady and I planned on renting a car to go to the Highlands. We will check in with everyone in twenty-four hours," he stated with a reassuring nod.

Seeing my hesitation, he softened his tone, his brow furrowing. "I know this might feel like a leap into the unknown, but we need to cover all our bases. Stay sharp, and remember, we're all in this together."

I glanced up at Justice, my stomach twisting with uncertainty, but he wasn't looking at me. His gaze locked on Brody, then flicked to my brother with an unreadable expression.

After a moment, Justice looked down at me. "Don't worry. We'll be in contact."

Damon scoffed, his arms crossed as he eyed Justice skeptically. "How you going to do that, vampire? Your cell phone works in other dimensions?"

A slow, enigmatic smile spread across Justice's lips. "Something like that," he replied, his tone almost teasing.

Damon shook his head and clasped Lisa's arm. "Come on, let's go."

Justice stared directly ahead, his jaw clenched and his eyes hard. "It's a matter of whether he will share this with us or not. He's the Unseelie King, and his whims are his own."

I frowned, studying his profile. "You don't trust him?"

Justice sighed. "No," he admitted. "But Chelby does, and I have faith in her."

People gave us curious gazes, with me holding my bow and Justice with his sword sheathed at his side. Hopefully, we looked like we were doing a historical reenactment of some kind.

Justice clasped my shoulder. "I must warn you that he might try to get you to eat. Whatever you do, don't indulge in zigitar. It's a wild animal in the Unseelie world."

Mark that off my to-do list. "Is it poisonous?"

He shook his head. "No, but if you eat it, you'll never be able to leave the Unseelie Realm."

Garrick was waiting for us, still leaning against the same wall. He cast his gaze over us, his silver eyes gleaming in the shadows.

"Ah, you're back." His smooth, rich voice sounded like honey poured over gravel. "Are you ready to embark on this little adventure?"

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding as I met his gaze. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Garrick tilted his head, studying me with a glint in his eye. A slow smile spread across his lips. "You are a pretty one, aren't you?" he purred, taking a step closer.

Justice's hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around my wrist as he pulled me back. "Don't even think about it. You already have Maggie," he hissed, his eyes flashing with a warning.

Garrick stiffened and hissed as if Justice had punched him in the gut. In a split second, the look was gone. His eyebrow arched, and he shifted his gaze to Justice, a mocking smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Yours?" His tone was laced with amusement.

I got the feeling Garrick cared for this Maggie. Yet, if he did, why was he flirting with me and setting Justice off? A chill ran down my spine as I realized something wasn't adding up. This didn't make sense. My gut twisted with unease, and I couldn't shake the feeling that Garrick was keeping a secret.

I yanked my wrist from Justice's grasp and squared my shoulders, meeting Garrick's stare head-on. "I belong to no one." My voice was as cold and sharp as a blade.

He leaned in closer, his breath ghosting my cheek as he whispered, "That can change, my dear."

Anger burned through me, hot as a scorching stove. "I am not property to be claimed."

Garrick tilted his head back and laughed. With a flourish of his hand, he gestured toward the alley, his silver rings glinting in the moonlight. "Follow me to my home," he commanded.

I hesitated, my feet rooted to the spot as my gut tightened, a sense of unease washing over me. Justice stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on my back. "Stay close," he murmured.

With a deep breath, I forced myself to move, following Garrick into the shadows.

As we navigated the narrow alley, Justice walked behind me. His gaze darted around, scanning the darkness for any sign of trouble, his body tense and ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

At the end of the alley, I noticed a small chapel. Garrick stopped abruptly and turned, a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

Justice clasped my arm tightly and unsheathed his sword. "This is it." His tense voice turned my gut upside-down.

The world around us began to change as if a powerful, unseen force had taken hold of reality. The air grew thick and heavy, pressing against my skin like a tangible weight. I struggled to catch my breath, each inhalation feeling like I was trying to breathe underwater.

The ground beneath my feet seemed to come alive, undulating and shifting like waves in a turbulent sea. I stumbled, my balance thrown off by the sudden, unnatural movement. I desperately tried to steady myself against the alley walls, but they, too, had transformed, the once-solid bricks now pulsing and writhing like living, breathing entities.

Colors swirled and blended before my eyes, creating a dizzying kaleidoscope that made my head spin. The edges of my vision blurred, and I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze. Nausea rose in my throat as the world continued to twist and warp around me.

A gasp tore from my lips as I fought to maintain my grip on reality, my mind reeling from the impossible sensations assaulting my senses. It was as if the fabric of the universe had been torn apart, leaving us adrift in a surreal, ever-shifting nightmare.

I squeezed my eyes shut as an invisible force wrenched me off the ground, the wind roaring in my ears like a thousand angry voices. My heart pounded against my ribs as I was tossed and spun through the air, my body a rag doll in the grip of an otherworldly power.

I prayed Justice was beside me. It was like I had been caught up in the Wizard of Oz's tornado, whisking me off to the land of Oz. In my case, it was hurling me toward the Wicked Witch's domain, where darkness and danger lurked around every corner.

I landed with a thud. The impact knocked the wind from my lungs as I struggled to catch my breath and calm my thundering heart. My head rattled like a baby's toy, and my swirling gut threatened to spill everything out. Slowly, I pushed myself up, my hands sinking into the damp, spongy ground. The air hung heavy with the scent of decay and a cloying sweetness that made my stomach churn.

"Welcome to the Unseelie Realm," a smooth, mocking voice cut in through the eerie silence.

I whirled, my heart pounding as I hunted for Justice, desperate for the reassurance of his presence. But he wasn't there. The emptiness surrounding me was sweltering, pressing against my skin like a suffocating hot blanket. My blood turned ice-cold, and my breath froze in my lungs, fear gripping my entire being.

Shit-shit-shit-shit.

The curse echoed in my mind, a frantic mantra that did little to calm my frayed nerves. I was in deep trouble—the understatement of the year. The realization settled in the pit of my stomach like a lead weight, and cold tendrils of dread snaked through my veins.

I gasped for breath, for words, for anger, but I stood there stunned, knowing I was completely cut off from everyone. My team, my brother, Justice. He had broken his promise to protect me.

Garrick gave me a movie-star smile that would have melted any girl's heart. "You said you didn't belong to him. Now, you must give me a chance to claim you, or you'll never leave the Unseelie Realm."

Something snapped in the woods, and a low, menacing growl froze my heart. I flinched, my gaze darting toward the sound as every muscle in my body tensed, ready to flee.

His words had chilled my bones, the implications of his ultimatum sinking in like a lead weight. I struggled to comprehend the twisted game he was playing, my mind racing to find a way out of this nightmare.