Chapter 9

Damon was at my side in a flash, even stepping in front of me, but he wasn't the only one. Justice brushed past me, blocking my view. I had two fierce protectors refusing to let the Unseelie King take me anywhere. Lisa had a similar situation with three of our companions shielding her from potential harm. We stood together, a united front against the unknown dangers ahead.

Justice met the Unseelie King's amused gaze, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Garrick, I didn't expect to see you. Where's Maggie? Is she here, too?"

Garrick's eyes darkened, and a flicker of emotion crossed his face before he masked it with a neutral expression. "No, she wasn't able to make it," he replied, his tone clipped and guarded.

Justice studied Garrick for several long breaths, but he didn't pursue it. I had a feeling he suspected something more was going on, and I made a note to ask him later.

"We had a message Chelby would be here," Justice stated as he scanned the crowded tables.

Garrick's lips curled into a smirk, his eyes glinting with mischief. "She is, but she sent me to find you." He stood straight, his imposing figure casting a shadow over our group. With a sweeping gesture, he beckoned us to follow him. "We have a table inside where we can discuss matters more privately."

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, a prickling sensation that sent a chill down my spine. The strange thing was my tattoo hadn't burned despite Garrick's presence. Did that mean he wasn't evil, or had he cast some spell to keep it from warning me of danger? I glanced at my companions, wondering if they shared my unease.

As we followed Garrick into the depths of the brewery, I couldn't shake the feeling we were walking into a trap. The air seemed to thicken with each step, the inviting atmosphere now tinged with a sense of foreboding. Justice and Damon exchanged a knowing look, their hands hovering near their concealed weapons, ready to defend us at a moment's notice.

Lisa leaned in close, her whisper barely audible over the hum of conversation around us. "I don't trust him. We need to be on our guard."

I nodded, my senses heightened and my mind racing with possibilities. What did Garrick want with us, and why had Chelby sent him instead of meeting us herself? The answers lay ahead, waiting to be uncovered.

We continued deeper into the brewery, the atmosphere shifted from the enchanting garden-like entrance to a more rustic, industrial setting. The scent of hops and malted barley grew stronger with each step, mingling with the earthy aroma of aged wood and the faint whiff of something otherworldly. A subtle, ethereal fragrance I couldn't quite place.

The steady hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses filled the air, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter and the distant clanging of brewing equipment. Warm, golden light bathed the space, casting a soft glow on the weathered wooden tables and the gleaming copper vats that lined the walls.

As we approached a large table tucked away in a quieter corner of the brewery, I spotted two figures seated side by side. One was a woman with long, golden blonde hair cascading down her back and bright green eyes that sparkled with mischief. She wore a simple white T-shirt and well-worn jeans, an outfit that seemed too casual for a Fae queen. I had to double-check that Garrick had led us to the right table.

The woman leaned toward the man beside her, a handsome fellow with long, sleek black hair pulled back into a ponytail and striking green eyes that mirrored her own. She placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, and he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. They were engrossed in conversation, their heads bowed together as if sharing a secret meant only for them.

Garrick plopped himself down at the table as if he owned it, his voice booming in the quiet corner. "Found them, Your Highness."

The woman glared at him, her nose crinkling in distaste. "Don't call me that." She looked past him, and a huge grin brightened her face as she spotted our group. "All my favorite men are here!"

She got up from the table, her movements fluid and graceful, and immediately pulled Justice into a big hug. "Oh, you look so good," she exclaimed, her voice warm with affection. In turn, she gave the other three the same enthusiastic embrace, her laughter ringing out like bells.

The dark-haired man rose from the table, his tall frame unfolding as he stood. He embraced each of them as well, his smile genuine and welcoming. "Good to see you all," he greeted, his voice deep and rich. "It's been far too long."

I watched the exchange, my initial surprise at Chelby's appearance and demeanor fading into a growing sense of curiosity. This was not what I expected from a Fae queen, but there was something undeniably charming about her easy affection and down-to-earth nature. I couldn't help but wonder what other surprises this meeting might have in store for us.

Justice put his hand on my lower back. "Chelby and Jonas Fox, this is Sawyer Grant and her brother, Damon."

My mouth dried up, and my tongue twisted so no words could come out. Even a queen dressed like Chelby was still a queen.

Damon didn't have the same problem.

He stood back slightly, observing the warm exchanges with amusement and skepticism etched across his face. As Chelby approached him, his posture remained relaxed, but his gaze was sharp, assessing.

When she extended her hand to shake his, he managed a lopsided grin, playing along yet not fully letting his guard down. "Well, aren't you a refreshing change of pace from the usual stuffy royals?" His voice was light but his stance firm. As he shook her hand, he winked. "Nice to meet you, Your Highness. So we're clear, I'm the guy who likes to know exactly what kind of magical party I've crashed."

Chelby raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I can assure you, Damon, this is no ordinary gathering." Her eyes sparkled with mirth, but an underlying seriousness edged her tone.

"The Fae kind," Jonas added, his eyes narrowing as he took Chelby's hand, his grip a touch too tight. "The very powerful kind."

Oh, great. Another possessive alpha protecting his mate. I exchanged a knowing glance with Lisa, who seemed equally unimpressed by Jonas' display.

Chelby glanced at Jonas, her brow furrowing slightly. "Stop." Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

Jonas shrugged, his jaw clenching briefly before he relaxed his grip on Chelby's hand. He didn't apologize, but the silent exchange between them spoke volumes.

Chelby pulled him by the hand, her demeanor shifting from playful to serious. "Come on, let's sit. We have lots to discuss." She gestured toward the table, her eyes sweeping over the group, a sense of purpose in her gaze.

Justice pulled out my chair again and took a seat beside Chelby. "We did, but we were expecting to meet with you alone."

"Oh, Justice, I'm sooo offended." Garrick smirked as he eyed a red-haired waitress approaching our table.

A waitress came over and took our drink orders. I swear she was practically drooling over all these handsome men at this table. I couldn't tell if she was human, a Fae, a vampire, or something completely different.

Jonas leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he assessed our group. "And yet, here you are with quite the entourage. Including two hunters."

Damon's lips twitched into a smirk as he leaned forward, meeting Jonas' narrowed gaze with an unwavering one of his own. "Yeah, well, someone's gotta keep the party interesting," he quipped. He glanced around briefly as if sizing up the surroundings before turning back to Jonas with a shrug. "Plus, we like to make sure we're prepared. Never know when you'll need a few hunters in your corner, right?"

Jonas' lips tipped into a snarl.

Chelby looked between them as her face tightened. "Enough. We can't fight among ourselves. Not with what's been happening in the Court of Blossoms."

"What's been happening?" Brody asked as he crossed his arms on the table.

"It happened about two weeks ago. My cousin, Ash, started acting strangely. He's always been on the I'm-better-than-you side, but now…" She released a long sigh as her voice trailed off. "Now, he's vicious. He hits servants or the guards if they don't respond right away. His food is sent back on a regular basis because it's not good enough for him. And he's become cruel. He's using a whip when he rides his pegasus."

Her eyes narrowed, and she clenched her fist. "Never, never, never done that. I had to forbid him from riding or even entering the stables. And the worst thing is he's not the only one."

"It sounds like what's happening in the town of Glenraith," Brody commented. "It's a place we were going to investigate. We haven't gotten to the town yet."

The waitress returned with our drinks, and the conversation died as we waited for her to leave.

Garrick put down his mug. "It's always good to indulge in the drinks here in the human realm." He scanned the table, his gaze descending on our long, tight faces. "From what both of you have been saying, this sounds like a plague spreading through the human and Fae realm. If you don't stop it, there will be death and destruction."

"There's something else." Justice tilted his head toward me. "Sawyer had a vision or a dream you should know about."

The group grew silent, and all eyes were on me. My cheeks warmed, and beads of sweat broke out across my forehead. I shifted nervously in my seat, not wanting the attention. It was one thing to tell my brother, Justice, and the rest of the team about my visions or dreams, but telling a king and a queen of the Fae realms made me want to crawl away and hide in the corner. What if they ridiculed me?

"Go on," my brother urged.

I drew a deep breath, and Justice squeezed my knee as if to say I'm here with you.

As I drew on his strength and my brother's faith, I cleared my throat. "There was an ancient library with dusty tomes and old manuscripts. I think it held the first clue to our quest, but I don't know where it is."

I sipped my stout to give me more courage. "Then I saw a shadowy figure standing before an abandoned mansion draped with cobwebs. The figure beckoned me to follow him into an attic, where a dusty mirror stood, its surface reflecting more than the physical realm."

"How big was the mirror?" Jonas asked. His question stunned me since I didn't know whether size mattered. Maybe the size of the mirror determined how powerful the magic would be.

I blinked. "Um, it was a portrait mirror in an ornate gold frame."

Chelby tapped her glass nervously. "Go on, Sawyer."

"The last thing I saw was a serene lake. There was a statue of an angel at the edge, its gaze fixed on a point across the water. In the middle of the lake was an island with a dilapidated chapel house. I'm not sure what they all mean, but I feel like they're connected somehow."

"Mmmm," Garrick drew out. "Tell me more about this library. Was there anything in it besides books and manuscripts?"

I closed my eyes and thought about the library, then looked at him. "I remember a painting that hung in the shadows. It depicted a group of Fae dressed in formal attire under a blood-red moon. It looked like they had battled each other and were making a pact."

I stared at him as I thought of one of the figures in the painting. A chill ran up my spine, and every hair stood on edge. I frowned. "One of them looked like you."

Garrick chuckled, tossing his hair back while tapping his fingers on the table. His laughter faded, and his gaze met mine. "That's because it is me."