Chapter Eleven

Ihad to make a quick decision. If Talia had been right and the Executors saw through the portal to where we were going, I couldn't risk taking us back to the safe house. The priestesses would find us, and then rescuing Mandy and Tate would all be for nothing.

I had to take us to the one place they'd never come. We had to face the enemy of our enemy if we hoped to survive.

"Good call," Chloe said in approval as she got to her feet. "The priestesses won't follow us because it's dangerous for them to be here. But don't forget that it's just as dangerous for us. Verla and Warren came here to find a way to the Abyss, but they don't know we're here, and we have no way to reach them. If we're discovered by the fae, we'll be killed."

"Then we're going to have to exercise extreme caution," I said. "We can't go back to Octavia Falls right now. The priestesses are hunting us, and if we return to the safe house, we're putting everyone at risk."

"Lucas is right," Nadine agreed. "We weren't expecting to come here so soon, but we're here now. We need to find Verla and Warren and gain passage to the Abyss, so we can obtain the Mentalist and Mortana Wands."

Grant's eyes darted around the forest. "I recognize these woods. We can't be far from Pruska, where we witnessed that deadly battle. This isn't a safe place for us to be. We have to get out of this area."

"We need to find a vantage point first to get our bearings." I looked upward, to see if there was a tree I could climb, but all the lowest limbs were high above our heads. Instead, I conjured the enchanted broom I kept in my stash ever since we found it at Wicked Alchemy a year ago. I hadn't used it since the night of the Burning. Nadine, Grant, and Talia all had one just like it.

"Be careful!" Nadine warned. "If the fae see a witch flying a broom, we'll be dead."

"I'll keep near the tree line," I promised. I mounted my broom, then kicked off. The broom was enchanted with a Mentalist's telekinesis magic and followed my command. I used the broom to fly me high into the trees, until I could see far across the landscape. Mountains rose along the horizon, and a large city loomed ahead of us. Behind me, I spotted a small town that had to be Pruska.

Miles away, large creatures looped through the skies, and their bird-like cries and dragon roars could be heard from here. My stomach dropped at the sight of the shifters, though they looked like mere pinpricks in the distance. Nonetheless, Nadine was right—we couldn't fly, or we'd be spotted.

I lowered myself back to the ground and subconjured the broom. "Pruska's behind us, and there's a large city a few miles ahead."

"That's their capital city of Dolinska," Grant said. "That's where we'll find Verla and Warren."

"We need to get moving," I stated firmly. "Nadine and I are powerful enough to portal past the Malovian wards, but getting around safely is going to be a challenge. We're lucky I portaled us somewhere secluded. I can't portal us any closer to the city, or we risk being spotted, but we also can't stay in one place for too long."

"We need to don our disguises," Talia said.

She conjured a pile of cloaks she'd made for this very purpose and handed them out. They looked nothing like the black cloaks we were wearing. These were colorful, with pretty embroidered designs all over the fabric and fur stitched along the hoods.

We ditched our black cloaks and subconjured them in favor of the robes Talia had designed. The one she handed me was a silky regal purple, with golden knots embroidered into the fabric. Nadine's was a navy blue with snowflake designs all over it. Grant draped a velvety green cloak around his shoulders, and I recognized the fabric from the curtains in our den. Chloe's cloak was red with a silver trim, and Talia's was a plush pink with white fur outlining the edges. My friends and I certainly looked like fae.

As I observed my coat, I noticed a large pocket inside. "What's this for?" I asked.

"The pockets are for our cats," Talia said. She picked up Gus and tucked him inside her pocket to demonstrate. He poked his paws out the top of the pocket, looking particularly pleased. When she curled the ends of her cloak around her, I couldn't even tell he was there.

We certainly couldn't walk into Dolinska with our cats at our feet. Disguises or not, our cats would be a dead giveaway.

"Good idea," I told her. I picked up Oliver and tucked him inside my cloak, and the others did the same with their cats. Oliver tucked close to my belly and remained quiet.

Grant conjured a small vial with a dropper. "This is the tincture I've been working on. Three drops under the tongue should disguise our scent for the next twenty-four hours. It's powerful, but it was difficult to brew, so there's only enough for one dose each. We can't waste any time finding Verla and Warren."

He passed the tincture around, and we all placed a few drops under our tongue. The cats took the tincture too, because if our scent didn't give us away, the smell of our cats would. Magic tingled over my skin, and I could feel the tincture working.

"I can feel the magic in all of us," Nadine said. "We should be safe now. Let's get moving."

We started toward Dolinska, which was at least a two-mile hike from where we started. We only made it a quarter of a mile when I spotted dark shadows through the trees. Three figures appeared to be walking in our direction, until I realized that they weren't moving forward at all. Instead, they appeared to be swaying in the wind.

That's when I noticed the ropes hanging from the trees, and I shuddered.

Talia's features paled. "Are those… people?"

"Dear Goddess," Nadine breathed, and her eyes widened in horror.

Grant stopped in his tracks, as if he didn't dare take another step.

I swallowed down the lump in my throat as I crept closer. I could feel death permeating the air. The bodies were in our direct path to Dolinska, so we couldn't go around them. "They must be traitors, left hanging as a warning."

"Uh… I don't think those are traitors," Chloe said in a chilling voice.

As we came upon the bodies, my stomach plummeted to my toes. Oliver must've felt the melancholy in the air, because he poked his head out of my cloak. I gently guided him back inside, but I couldn't take my eyes off the figures.

Two women and one man hung from the trees. I realized the black cloaks they wore were all too reminiscent of our own in our stashes. Then I spotted the skull tattoo on the back of the man's hand. I didn't want to look at their faces, but I forced myself to anyway. I didn't recognize them—thank the Goddess—but there was no doubt about it. These three people were from the Miriamic Coven. They'd been hanged as a warning, all right.

A warning to people like us.

Grant's voice wavered. "I don't get it. I thought the king and queen were sympathetic to dark magic wielders."

My stomach felt hollow as I answered, "This wasn't Emma and Ethan's doing. An execution by the monarchs would be a public spectacle. Someone else hanged these people and then left them here to rot."

"Who would do that?" Talia questioned in disbelief.

"I'm sure most fae would love to see us hang," I said.

"We need to cut them down and bury them." Nadine's hands shook as she moved forward, but Chloe grabbed her wrist to stop her.

"No!" Chloe insisted. "We don't have time."

"They need a proper burial," Nadine shot back.

"We're disguised, but if the fae find us tampering with these bodies, we'll be buried alongside them," Chloe argued. "What happened to these members of the coven is unfortunate, but it is already done. I don't wish to join them."

I didn't want to admit it, but Chloe was right. "I don't feel lingering spirits," I admitted. "They must've already moved on to Alora."

I was still uneasy from the hollowness of death filling the forest, but my confession was enough to get the others to agree with Chloe.

Nadine dropped her gaze, like she couldn't bear to glance back at the bodies. "All right. Let's keep moving."

As we approached Dolinska, I could make out a large stone wall surrounding the city's borders. A road led into town, where caravans of merchants traveled on their way into the city. They rode in wagons pulled by alicorn shifters to bring their goods into town. The gated entrance was guarded by two big men in full suits of armor. I guessed they had to be dragon shifters. It wasn't going to be simple to slip inside unnoticed.

We ducked in the cover of the trees next to the edge of the road.

"There's a ward surrounding the city," Nadine whispered. "I can feel it from here."

Grant grimaced. "I didn't know the city was warded. Our disguises will work on the people, but I don't think we can trick the wards."

Nadine closed her eyes, as if concentrating on the magic. "I can move the magic aside long enough to create a hole in the ward to get us through. Fae magic is different from ours, but it's close enough that I can still manipulate it."

My wife never ceased to amaze me. I loved that about her.

"Nadine can get us past the wards, but we still need to get past the guards." I pointed to a large group of approaching merchants. The group was full of carts, carriages, and other supplies, with a group of people following behind one of the wagons on foot. "To get through the gates, we'll need to slip into the crowd unnoticed and act as if we're with the other merchants."

"Then we need to move quickly," Chloe said. "They're almost here."

The group of merchants passed our hiding spot, and we quickly ducked out of the trees and into the back of the group. A woman in a golden cloak shot a glance back at me, and I could've sworn her eyes flashed red, but she turned away and didn't say anything. My heart pounded, and I prayed she wouldn't rat us out.

We approached the gates, and I noticed Nadine's eyes lock straight forward. She was concentrating deeply to shift the ward magic aside to let us through. The guards' eyes roamed over the crowd and gestured each carriage through. I held my breath as the final wagon we stood behind approached the gates. The guards took a quick look in the back to inspect the merchandise, then waved the merchant team through.

We followed behind the others as if we belonged, though I noticed the woman in the golden cloak shift closer to us. She came so close to me that we were nearly touching.

"Hold up!" one of the guards ordered in a gruff voice. He had a thick Malovian accent, which sounded similar to Russian.

He stepped in front of me, and my heart stopped. He was huge—at least six inches taller than me, with big, broad shoulders. Magic tingled in my fingers, ready to retaliate if necessary.

The guard sniffed the air. "Something isn't right here."

I began to panic, and I shot a quick glance at Grant. His eyes went wide, and his expression was easy to read. His potion should work. It was the strongest thing we had.

Before I could think of a lie to give the guard to explain our strange scent, he reached toward me—except his hands moved right past me. Instead of grabbing me like I thought he would, his hands curled around the golden cloak of the woman beside me.

He yanked her forward and pulled her hood down. "You're no fae!"

"P-please, sir," the woman stammered, and that's when I noticed her fangs for the first time. "I am half-fae. I'm seeking refuge?—"

"Half-fae!" the guard spat. He inhaled her scent deeper. "You're part vampire. Our treaty with the vampires just ended. You aren't allowed here anymore."

"I have family in the city—" the woman started, but the man was already dragging her away by her hair.

"I don't care who your family is. Your vampire blood isn't welcome here," he growled. "You'll be escorted by the Arcanea Alliance to the palace dungeons, where the Circle will decide your sentence."

She tripped and cried out, but he continued dragging her along even as she lost her footing. It was cruel the way he treated her. All I could do was stand and watch. I knew if I fought back and tried to save her, my magic would be revealed, and they'd do far worse to us than lock us in a dungeon.

"Move along!" the second guard shouted cruelly to the rest of us. "Or you'll be next!"

We didn't have to be told twice. We hurried along inside the city with the other merchants, and I didn't take a breath until we were at least two blocks away from the guards.

Nadine dropped her shoulders in relief. "That hole in the ward wasn't easy to hold, but we made it inside."

"Thank the Goddess," Talia added. "If that's how they treat vampires, I don't want to see what they'll do to a witch. We'll be hung on the spot."

Chloe glanced around the street, which was beginning to bustle with morning traffic. "We're not out of the woods just yet. We still have to follow Hattie's instructions to reach Enchanting Whispers, which is where Verla and Warren should be."

"The sooner we get there, the better," I said. "Let's get moving."

We followed behind the merchant carts, which were headed into the center of the city. Thank the Goddess we had others to follow, because most of the signage here was written in Malovian. The fae spoke English, but it wasn't their mother tongue, and it was clear we were out of our element here.

We walked along cobblestone streets and passed by large family estates, before reaching buildings that must've been standing for hundreds of years. People emerged from homes and followed us deeper into the city to open their shops or start their morning shift.

Pubs and cafés stood on every street corner, and the most delicious scent of crepes and kielbasa skillets wafted through the air. We passed by a tiny café with outdoor seating. I witnessed a woman sip her tea, before heart-shaped bubbles formed around her head and popped once the illusion wore off. We passed by bakeries that had tiny faekin in the windows who dusted glitter over powdered sugar donuts, tempting us to come inside.

The city grew louder and more boisterous the further we walked. Large Gothic buildings and beautiful cathedrals rose above us. The clang of metal could be heard from blacksmith shops as the fae forged swords and other weapons. We passed by a shop selling shimmering armor and weapons of all kinds, including intricately crafted daggers and axes. Another shop on the corner sold lances designed for jousting, and the sign in the window read in English: Jousting Tournament Today! Place Your Bets Here.

As we turned the corner, the crowd thickened. Shops lined the entire street, and dozens of traveling merchants had already set up temporary shops for the day. We had reached the merchant district, where Hattie had said we would find her contact, Siona.

Soldiers prowled up and down the streets, waving Malovian flags and singing what sounded like a patriotic song. Posters hung from shop windows, encouraging people to defend the Malovian Revolution. Nearby, a group of protestors held signs that said things like, Unseelie Fae Don't Belong and Dark Magic is a Crime!

The sound of swords clanging caught my attention, and I turned to see two burly men sword fighting in the middle of the street. One of them had a beard, and the other was clean shaven. Both the men were laughing, and it was obvious it wasn't a vicious battle, but a cordial match between friends. A group had formed around them, and the city folk cheered them on. The men moved with grace, like they'd been training for this all their lives. The bearded man knocked the sword out of the other man's hand.

"Well done," his opponent said, giving a bow.

They congratulated each other on their fight, then the bearded man turned to the crowd. "Come! Who will fight me next?"

Someone grabbed me by the shoulder and started dragging me forward. "You look like a healthy young chap! Won't you join us?"

I hesitated. "I—uh… don't have my sword with me."

The guy lost all interest. He must've seen a friend, because he called someone's name and quickly wandered off.

I barely took a step before someone else cut in front of us. A woman shoved a potion vial toward Nadine and spoke in words I didn't recognize. It had to be Malovian.

"Um…" Nadine hesitated.

The woman quickly switched to English, but she spoke in a Malovian accent. "Did you hear me, or are you stupid? I asked if you wanted to buy a love potion, to find your mate?"

Nadine took a step to the side and spoke kindly. "No, thank you."

The woman eyed her curiously, like her refusal was strange—she had clearly expected Nadine to be rude back, and because she wasn't, she didn't know how to respond. "Are you sure? Best not to take chances. Don't want to end up alone."

Chloe stepped in front of us. "She's mated already. Now bugger off."

"Him?" The shopkeeper glanced at me and huffed. "She could do better than that scrawny thing."

"Let's see your mate, then. If you're such a great matchmaker, he must be a real stud. Bring out Prince Charming!" Chloe demanded.

The woman turned up her nose at Chloe. "You are a ruthless fae, girl. You would do well as a merchant. Would you like to have a job?"

"Not here," Chloe replied shortly.

The shopkeeper rolled her eyes. "Very well. Can't convince anyone what's good for them."

That's all the woman said before scampering off to harass someone else. She got into an argument with a nearby shifter, and seemed absolutely delighted about it, like the conflict was the one thing that had made her happy all day.

Chloe held her head high. "You have to be direct with the fae. They don't respect you unless you're a rude asshole just like them. Acting nice is suspicious around here."

"Well, at least one of us can handle them," I said.

I turned to continue onward, but a small child blocked my path. "The royal wedding is approaching!"

The child shoved a newspaper toward me. He had to have at least a hundred more in the messenger bag he carried. The top of the paper read The Annual Arcanea, and the front page showed a photograph of a red-haired woman in a regal dress. I realized it was Emma, the queen, and the girl we'd helped long ago.

"Get the inside scoop on what the queen will be wearing on her big day!" the child pressed.

"Sorry, kid," I told him. "We don't have any money."

"You must stay informed!" he insisted, really trying to sell me on it. "Enemy forces remain close to Dolinska. Don't you want to know what the king and queen plan to do about it? You can read all about it on page three!"

"He said we're broke, kid," Chloe snapped. "Now scram."

The boy gave a huff, but he hurried away and proceeded to shove his paper into someone else's face. Jeez, everyone was really pushy here.

We kept our heads down and walked quickly, so that no one else would bother us. My heart pounded faster than our footsteps. If anyone saw through our ruse, we were dead.

I caught sight of a sign in English. Enchanting Whispers, it read, with an arrow pointing down an abandoned alleyway.

"This is it," I told the others, recalling the instructions Hattie had given to Headmistress Verla and Professor Warren.

We ducked out of the busy merchant district and followed a twisted alleyway until we reached a stone gargoyle shaped like a griffin. The sculpture had the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion, with talons on its front legs and heavy paws on the back. A doorway stood behind the gargoyle, which had to be the entrance to Enchanting Whispers.

Grant went to step around the gargoyle, but the statue moved. The griffin jumped in front of him, blocking his path.

Grant placed his hands on his hips. "What's this? Some sort of illusion. Ooh, I'm so scared."

He wiggled his fingers at the gargoyle sarcastically, then went to step around it again. The gargoyle snapped its stone beak at him, then swiped out its talons. Grant yelped and jumped back. The sharp stone caught the edge of his cloak, tearing it. Bella yelped and jumped out of Grant's cloak. She landed on her feet and hissed at the stone statue. The gargoyle paid the cat no mind and swiftly spun around, smacking Grant in the side of the head with its tail. It kicked out its back leg and hit Grant square in the chest. He went flying and landed flat on his back.

"Grant!" Talia rushed to his side.

Bella quickly followed and licked his face. Grant coughed to catch his breath, then wheezed, "I'm okay."

The griffin statue went still again, as if it hadn't come to life at all.

"This is where Hattie said to go, isn't it?" Talia asked as she helped Grant to his feet. He picked up Bella and tucked her back inside his cloak. "Follow the winding path until you get to the stone gargoyle."

"We're in the right place, but I don't think brute force is going to work," I said. "There has to be another way through that won't get our asses kicked."

Nadine approached the griffin statue, eyeing it from multiple angles. "What else did Hattie say? Something about griffin private parts? It certainly seemed strange coming from her at the time, but there's got to be something to it."

Chloe approached the statue and peered between its legs. "You think she meant it literally? Like, maybe we need to… stroke it."

Nadine crossed her arms. "If that's the case, the fae are sicker than I thought. I figured Hattie meant we need some sort of herb to give up as an offering."

"I don't know any herbs referring to griffins," Grant said.

"Then what could Hattie have meant by it?" Nadine wondered. "Unless… it's a password!"

Nadine walked straight up to the gargoyle and simply stated, "Griffin dick."

The gargoyle stepped aside, revealing the door behind it.

Chloe smirked. "Siona apparently has a sense of humor. I like her already."

I opened the door to reveal a small coffee shop that doubled as a bookstore. The smell of sweet pastries hit my nose, mixed with the scent of old books and cinnamon. Patrons sat at tables sipping coffee and nibbling on baked goods. A couple by the door met our eyes when we entered, and they quickly scrambled outside, like the sight of strangers terrified them.

A counter stood in the corner, and shelves of books lined the opposite wall. One of the shelves housed wands and crystals, which was strange, because the fae classified tools like that as dark magic. I couldn't imagine any of that was legal here.

We approached the counter, where a barista was handing a patron their order. The sign next to her read Flavor of the Day: Spiced Chai.

The barista had dark skin, long black hair, and a green crystal hanging around her neck. The woman wore a kind smile and called the patron by name as she told him to have a nice day.

She turned to us as we approached. "Welcome to Enchanting Whispers. How can I help you?"

"We're looking for Siona," I said lowly.

"I am Siona," she replied. "Someone must have sent you, or you wouldn't have made it past my spell."

"Who are you exactly?" Chloe demanded. "We need to know we can trust you."

"I'm a griffin sorceress who helps supernaturals seeking refuge in Dolinska," Siona explained. "I own this undercover shop and sell contraband magical items to people who need them, most specifically, dark fae. I'm not a dark fae myself, but my parents taught me that this world is better when everyone can coexist and find strength in our differences, so I do what I can to help. How can I be of service?"

I glanced around, and though no one was watching us, I lowered my voice anyway. "Hattie sent us."

Siona's features brightened. "I've been expecting you, though not for another few days."

"Plans changed," I admitted. "How can we be sure it's really you, and that you want to help us? I know the fae can trick us using illusions."

"I assure you I will help anyone, even witches," she said. "This is a safe place for all dark magic users, including the Unseelie fae who are attempting to gain their rights back in Malovia. I'm afraid they are still persecuted here."

I had the thought that maybe the fae weren't all bad like we thought, but that some of them were just as desperate as we were.

"I understand, however, that my word is not enough," Siona added, lowering her voice so only we could hear. "Therefore, I offer you this… Hattie's Familiar is a gray wolf, and her name is Everest."

I nearly reeled back in shock. This wasn't just any random bit of information. The fae took names very seriously, and Hattie wouldn't give her Familiar's name to just anyone. For Siona to know Everest's name was confirmation enough that we were speaking to the right person.

I glanced to my friends, and they shared a look of approval.

"We believe you," I said. "Perhaps we could speak in private?"

Siona gestured to another barista behind the counter. "Can you handle the register? I'll be back soon."

Then she turned to us and said, "Follow me."

Siona turned on her heel, and we followed her down a hallway behind the counter. She stopped in front of a bookcase and waved her hand. The sound of a lock disengaged, and the bookcase swung open like a door, revealing a narrow, twisted stairway behind it.

We ascended the dark stairwell to a small room above the shop. Shelves full of boxes and books lined the walls, and the ceiling was short. There were no windows—just a small lightbulb above us that barely lit the whole room. Labels on the boxes read things like Highly Dangerous and Extremely Rare. It was some sort of hidden attic where Siona must've kept the most illegal items in her shop.

A narrow doorway stood in front of us, and I heard unfamiliar voices beyond it.

"Our soldiers are on high alert," a man said. "They're looking to infiltrate Pruska, and anyone who is found to be disloyal to the king and queen will be eliminated. It's going to be difficult to get your friends past the border."

"We're already here," I stated as we entered the room.

This room was larger than the last, with a table in the center. Verla and Warren stood over it, looking at a map. Verla's cat, Odin, sat on the table and peered down at the map beside them.

A guy our age stood beside them, and his gaze snapped upward as we entered, like he sensed us there before we stepped into the room. He wore an expression of worry, and I didn't think it had anything to do with us. A girl who looked a lot like Siona stood next to him—his mate, I presumed. She had long hair and dark skin like Siona, with lighter patches of skin across her face and arms. The guy wore a military uniform, though the couple looked young enough to still be attending Arcanea University.

Verla looked shocked to see us. "What in the Goddess's name are you doing here? We were going to send for you when it was safe!"

"We didn't have a choice," I explained. "The priestesses captured Mandy and Tate, and we were almost caught escaping their rescue. I portaled us here, because right now Malovia is safer for us than Octavia Falls."

Professor Warren stood from his seat, alarmed. "Thank Alora you're all right."

Verla relaxed, but she still asked, "Nobody's hurt, are they?"

"We're all right," Nadine promised.

"Then our first objective is complete," the man said, nodding politely. "If it is a portal to the Underworld you seek, then we must get you there as soon as possible, before our troops move again."

Nadine stepped forward, eyeing the couple curiously. "You both look very familiar."

"You do, too," the girl said. "I believe we met you once, outside Octavia Falls about a year ago. Our friend needed help."

I recalled the group of fae that had passed through Octavia Falls the night Professor Daniels was hanged. There'd been eight of them, though most of my attention had been on their friend Ethan, who'd been in the final stages of a demon possession and couldn't stand on his own two feet. They'd asked us to help them through the protection spell to get to Hattie. Ethan would've died without her help.

"I'm Kiara, a sorceress of the griffin Faction," the girl said, before gesturing to the man beside her. "This is my griffin mate, Alexei. My sister Siona asked us to help you find a way to the Underworld. She said the fate of your coven relies on it."

We had to be careful, because the fae didn't typically do anything out of the kindness of their hearts. Even if they really did want to help us, we could be tricked into owing them back later, whether any of us intended that or not.

I recalled what Nadine had said the night we first crossed paths with Alexei and Kiara. Pay us back later, she'd said after we helped them pass into Octavia Falls. She had no idea an agreement like that could magically bind one to a fae. I wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

"We appreciate your help," I stated honestly. "But you must understand that we are wary to accept help from the fae simply out of generosity. Fae require an exchange, and in order to avoid entering into any magical contracts, I suggest we trade something for your help."

Alexei nodded. "Fair enough. What did you have in mind?"

I turned to Grant. "We should give them the Crock. It belongs to the fae. They're friends with the monarchs, so they can return it to them."

"I agree," Grant said. "The Crock of Death was never ours to begin with."

"You have the Crock?" Verla asked in astonishment.

I quickly recounted the events of the night, and how we'd stolen the Crock from the office where the priestesses had kept it. Verla's astonishment turned to horror, as if she wished she could've been there to protect us.

"Thank the Goddess you all made it out alive," Professor Warren said.

Verla wore an expression of warning. I didn't think she trusted the fae any more than I did. "Are you sure you want to do this, Lucas?"

"We've already retrieved the treasure inside," I said. "This was their goddess's cauldron, and we need to return it. I'd expect them to do the same for us. I'd rather fulfill a deal now than owe them later."

Verla must've agreed with me, because she stepped aside. "Very well. If it will get us closer to the Oaken Wands, then we'll do what we must."

Grant conjured the Crock and set it on the table.

Kiara's eyes went wide as she looked over the Crock. "I thought Milonna's Cauldron was merely a legend! Our people will be pleased to have it back. This gesture is quite a sufficient exchange. We'll keep it in the royal treasury, where it belongs."

"So how do we get to the Abyss?" Chloe wondered.

"Portals to the Underworld are difficult to locate," Alexei said. "They can open and close at random as monsters slip through. However, there is a dark pit our friends found a while ago. We haven't been down there to investigate it, but we know there's dark magic there. The pit is guarded by a terrible beast. If you have any hope of finding what you're looking for, this is the place to start. We've been discussing how to best get you there without being spotted."

"Why not ask the king and queen?" Chloe asked. "They seem sympathetic, and they surely have resources."

"Ethan and Emma are sympathetic, but their rule is already insecure with the rival monarch opposing them," Siona explained. "If the people knew they were making alliances with witches, they'd certainly be overthrown."

Kiara wore an apologetic expression. "We want to help you, but not at the cost of our own monarchy. You must understand—my mate and I have agreed to help you, but you must swear that the king and queen can't know about this, nor can any others who aren't inside this room. Emma and Ethan know that my mate and I are helping witches who may be stuck inside Malovia, but they do not know who or why, and I believe it's better that way. We are unable to lie to them, so keeping quiet is the only way."

"Why can't you lie to them?" Nadine asked. "I mean, you shouldn't lie to your king and queen, but why can't they know anyway?"

"Our goddess set us on a very important quest, to find items of great power," Alexei explained. "Kiara and I once swore a powerful magical oath not to keep secrets from our friends, so we are unable to lie to them about anything pertaining to this quest. But aiding you has nothing to do with finding these items, and the king and queen can't be distracted with trying to help witches when the country is on the line."

"What about the Crock? They're going to ask questions when it shows up in the royal treasury," Chloe said sarcastically.

"We will tell them that a witch who stole the Crock from her priestesses gave it to us in exchange for directions through Malovia. It is the truth, after all. Once the revolution has come to an end, we will explain everything to them. Otherwise, this secret will die with us," Kiara insisted.

"There's a merchant trade route that goes through here," Siona said, running her finger along the map. "We can take my wagon and hide the witches in the back. You have disguised your scent, but taking this many people out of the city at once when the revolution is in full swing will raise suspicion. The problem will be getting past the checkpoint here. Most fae aren't allowed out of the city, for their own protection."

Alexei pressed his lips together. "I'm certain I can persuade the officers on duty, but we should wait until nightfall. We'll have a better chance of getting out of the city when most fae are sleeping."

"In the meantime, you should all rest, as you have a long journey ahead of you," Siona suggested.

I was grateful for the suggestion, because we'd had a long night. Siona was kind enough to provide us with a meal after we cleaned up in the bathroom. She fed us breaded pork cutlets and some sort of potato dumplings called pierogi, which were absolutely delicious. I really didn't like the fae, but I had to admit, they had some damn good food.

Once our bellies were full, Siona led us to another small room, where it was obvious Verla and Warren had been staying. Two twin beds covered in warm blankets stood on opposite sides of the room. Siona cast an illusion, and several more beds appeared. I reached for the closest mattress and was shocked to find it was solid. I thought for sure my hand would go straight through it.

"The illusions will remain solid until you wake," Siona explained. "Now get some shut eye. You're going to need it."

Nadine and I snuggled up in one of the beds, and Isa and Oliver curled at our feet. It felt like we were out in moments. We must've all been really tired, because we didn't wake until after sunset. Just as Siona said, the beds disappeared before my eyes once we climbed out of them.

Siona fed us another meal, then led us downstairs and through a door at the back of her shop, which was empty now. We entered a private stable, and I stopped in my tracks when I spotted a white alicorn with a golden horn. Nadine came to a halt beside me, unable to take her eyes off the magnificent creature. His horn glowed a sunny yellow hue, and his white mane sparkled.

"Is something wrong?" Siona asked.

I shook my head. "It's just… I've seen magical creatures in Hok'evale, but I don't think I'll ever get used to it."

"This is not just any alicorn, but an alicorn shifter," Siona said as she stroked the alicorn's nose. "He is a dear Unseelie friend, but you will understand if I do not give you his name."

I couldn't say I understood why the fae were so particular about names, but I respected that it was a big deal to them. To them, names were power, so it made sense why she didn't want to share his name.

"Into the back—all of you." Siona ushered us into the back of a large horse-drawn cart, while Alexei and Kiara readied the reins. We had to lay down, and it was a tight fit. Siona draped a large canvas tarp over us and our cats to conceal us, then hopped onto the seat in front beside her sister.

Soon, the wagon began moving beneath us. We rode through the streets of Dolinska, to the opposite side of the city than we'd entered. It seemed to take longer than it had to walk to Enchanting Whispers. Dolinska was huge, and crossing it was no easy matter.

"We're almost to the edge of the city," Alexei whispered. "It's just past Arcanea University."

I'd never seen the fae college, and I was too tempted to pass up the opportunity. I lifted my head to peek past the corner of the tarp. Arcanea University was absolutely massive. Behind a golden gate resided a massive stone palace, with an elaborate garden, tall towers, and intimidating statues of shifters and sorceresses. It was the most expensive and grand building that I"d ever seen, and it made Miriam College appear small.

Voices came from up ahead, and the carriage slowed. "State your business and uncover your merchandise for inspection," an officer ordered as we came upon the exit point of the city. Footsteps approached us, coming far too close for my liking. I held my breath, and Nadine stilled beside me.

Alexei hopped down from the front of the carriage and spoke in a strong tone. "That won't be necessary. This shipment contains important military supplies for our troops stationed around the city and has been ordered by the king."

"All shipments are subject to inspection," the officer argued. The tarp rustled as he reached out for it, but Alexei jumped in front of him.

"Do you really think you know the king's wishes better than I do?" Alexei sneered. "I am a general of the king's royal guard."

He must've flashed one of his military badges, because the officer quickly stepped away from the wagon, "No, sir. You may pass."

I let out my breath, and the carriage began moving beneath us again. After a few minutes, the terrain turned bumpy, as if Siona had led us off the normal path. Darkness enveloped us from all angles, until we finally came to a halt. The fae hopped off the carriage, then yanked the tarp off from us.

We all sat up, breathing a collective sigh of relief. The air under that tarp had been hot, and I was starting to feel claustrophobic. I jumped over the side of the carriage, then helped Nadine down. Our cats hopped out of the wagon and followed at our feet. Verla cast a witch light and tossed it into the air to illuminate the forest ahead.

We stood at the edge of a steep hole in the ground, and a dark forest surrounded us at all angles. I could hear the sound of a stream nearby, but otherwise the forest seemed dark and foreboding. We couldn't see far into the cave entrance, and it seemed like the darkness lasted forever. The pit appeared to swallow light completely, as if it were a black hole waiting to suck us inside, too. All I could make out under Verla's witch light was the piles of boulders and rocks surrounding the hole opening, which was big enough for a small dragon to fit through.

It certainly looked like an entrance to the Abyss—or at the very least, a monster's lair. It wasn't the kind of place you wanted to explore. Just looking into its depths gave me the chills.

Kiara pointed into the massive hole. "What you seek is within the pit."

Nadine started for the opening. She'd already braced herself against the rocks before any of us could move. "Well, are you coming?"

"My mate and I cannot accompany you," Kiara stated. "We are important people in Malovia, and our absence will be noticed. We can't risk alerting anyone of your location or what you might be doing, so we must go. We'll come back for you at sunrise."

"I'll wait for you here in case something goes wrong," Siona offered. "But I can't stay long, so please hurry."

"One more thing," Alexei added. "These woods are full of monsters, some of which have made that cavern their home. Beware of the questing beast."

"The questing beast?" Nadine asked warily.

"You will know it if you see it," Alexei said. "Good luck."

That was all he said before he turned and shifted into a griffin before our very eyes. One second a man was standing before us, and then feathers were everywhere, drifting down slowly to the forest floor. A massive bird stood before us, and I swore when he spread his wings, they were wider than The Hearse was long.

Alexei was an impressive creature, and he looked incredibly strong. No wonder the king had assigned him as a general in the royal army.

Kiara swung her leg over Alexei's back and waved goodbye. Alexei then pumped his wings and took off toward the skies.

Nadine's gaze followed them upward, but she looked skeptical, like she was trying to decide if they were leading us into a trap. She must've made up her mind to take that chance, because she turned her gaze back toward the rocks and continued her descent into the pit.

Grant leaned over to me. "It's quite big; a dragon could fit through there. You don't think this questing beast is that big, do you?"

"It doesn't matter how big it is," Nadine called up to him. "Do you really think it can take on seven witches?"

"The fae train their whole lives to hunt these monsters," Grant argued, his voice rising several pitches. "If the fae haven't killed the beast yet, what makes you think we can?"

Nadine shrugged. "Call it a hunch. We need to get to those Wands before the priestesses do, and nothing—not even a questing beast—is going to stand in our way."

I started following Nadine downward. The incline was so steep I had to lower myself to my ass to shimmy down the rocks. "We can either stay out here talking about it, or we can enter the pit and see what we find. Besides, I don't see any beast guarding the opening. Maybe it's already dead."

"Or out on a lunch break, hunting for its next meal," Grant squeaked, shooting a glance around the forest.

Chloe smirked. "Then let's get going before it comes back… unless you're too chicken."

Grant hurried to follow us. "No way."

"Then we better get moving," Professor Warren said as he helped Verla down the rocks.

The cats moved with agility, jumping from rock to rock until they were the ones leading the way. Verla guided her witch light in front of us, illuminating the rocky sides of the cave. I could've sworn her witch light looked dimmer than it should have, as if the darkness inside the pit fed at it.

Nadine and I helped each other down the slope. The rocks were loose, and I nearly lost my footing more than once. Pebbles tumbled around us as we gently maneuvered onward, the sound echoing off the rock around us. The temperature dropped several degrees as we traveled deeper underground.

Eventually, the tunnel floor evened out, until we could walk upright without using our hands to steady ourselves. We must've been walking for half an hour, and we'd seen nothing but rocks and dirt. There weren't any other tunnels branching off from this one. The tunnel ahead seemed never-ending.

"This has to be some sort of joke," Grant said, his voice echoing off the cave walls. "I bet the fae are laughing at us right now. There's nothing here."

"I'm sure if journeying to the Abyss was quick and simple, the fae would've found a way to utilize the realm to their advantage," Chloe said. "We just have to keep walking."

"Hang on, what was that?" Talia asked, pointing ahead.

Verla narrowed her gaze ahead. "It looks like the tunnel widens."

"Not that," Talia said. "I thought I saw something… sparkle?"

Verla shifted her witch light, and I caught sight of something in the distance, as if reflecting off water…

Or eyes.

I pulled Nadine closer to me, and she shivered. I lifted my hand, and a shield bloomed in front of us. We waited for a beat but heard nothing. Slowly, we crept forward.

As we approached the area where the tunnel widened, more shimmering objects came into view. They weren't the eyes of mysterious cave-dwelling creatures. They were jewels.

The cavern widened to reveal the lair of some sort of jewel-hoarding beast—a dragon, perhaps, or the questing beast Alexei had mentioned. There was no beast in sight, just treasures the monster had stored for safekeeping.

Piles of coins scattered the cavern, along with various pieces of jewelry. A sword lay on the ground, though it seemed it'd been down here so long it barely had any shine left to it. Grant picked up a twisted silver crown with blue gemstones and inspected it.

"Don't touch anything," Professor Warren warned cautiously. "We don't know what kind of magic or curses may be on these objects."

Grant quickly tossed the crown aside.

Our cats slunk forward, sniffing the cave floor. They surrounded three large pits in the ground. At first, I thought they were new tunnels opening below us, but when I gazed into them, I found that these pits were bowl-shaped, like they were once pools that no longer held any water. They weren't very deep—six feet max. The cats circled the pits to nowhere, seeming particularly interested in them.

"I don't see any entrance to the Abyss," Grant said. "This is it—there's no way forward. The only way out of here is back the way we came. We've literally hit a dead end."

"Perhaps that's a clue that things aren't quite what they seem here," Verla said thoughtfully. She circled one of the dry pools, following the cats' lead. "There are words carved into the edge of these pools. It's written in Unseelie runes."

"Can you read it?" Nadine asked.

Verla shook her head. "No, but I may know a spell that will translate it for us. Everyone stand back."

Verla raised her hand. Magic swirled out of her palms, shimmering off the riches surrounding us. "Verbis revelare!" she shouted, bringing her hands down in one swift motion.

A loud poof sounded, and a gust of wind whooshed through the tunnel. The cats jumped in unison, and Oliver ducked behind my leg. Magic erupted inside the pools, billowing smoke upward toward the cavern ceiling. As the smoke cleared, I saw that the runes had rearranged themselves into letters.

Professor Warren's eyebrows shot up, and he gazed at Verla in admiration. "I might say, that was quite an impressive spell. I have yet to learn it."

"How did you do that?" Nadine wondered.

"Witches can do many things with enough power," Verla replied. "You didn't think we could just cast shields and unlock doors, did you?"

"You're going to have to teach me that," Chloe said.

I peered into the empty pool and began reading the carving aloud. "Beware those who enter the Pits of Despair, for your worst fears lie along the path to the Underworld. Speak now your Unseelie intention. What does that mean?"

I took a step back, waiting for someone to answer, but they all shared a puzzled expression.

Nadine tapped her chin. "These must be the Pits of Despair. I'm assuming the Underworld is another term for hell? Alexei kept calling it that."

Talia nodded. "It's the fae's term for it."

"So the pits are a path to the Underworld," Nadine determined. "So… could these pits be an entrance to the Abyss? Maybe they aren't pits at all, but an illusion."

Nadine bent to pick a coin off the ground, then tossed into the pit like she was throwing a coin into a wishing well. The coin clanked against the stone, then settled at the bottom of the pit. It obviously wasn't an illusion.

"Speak now your Unseelie intention," Professor Warren repeated. "It's asking us to perform a spell, perhaps to open a portal."

"But the Unseelie are a type of fae, which means our witch magic won't work," Chloe pointed out.

"Actually, it might be just the magic we need," Talia said thoughtfully. "There are two classifications of fae—Seelie and Unseelie. Seelie draw magic from within themselves, while the Unseelie take magic from outside energy sources, or utilize tools like crystals and wands. The fae would consider Unseelie magic dark, just as they would classify witch magic. The translation may not mean Unseelie magic literally, but dark magic. By technicality, what the fae believe to be dark magic is the kind of magic witches use, so we should be able to do something here."

Chloe placed her hands on her hips. "Okay, say we could cast a spell to open a portal to the Abyss. How can we be sure the portals will stay open so we can return?"

"We will have to sustain the spell," Verla said.

"So someone has to stay behind?" Chloe wondered. "We have a better chance in the Abyss if we go together."

"Someone has to stay behind to sustain the spell and keep the portals open, but it does not have to be one of us." Verla's gaze turned toward the cats circled around the pits. "Cats have one foot in the spirit realm at all times, and therefore can assist in spellwork. If we succeed at casting this spell and a portal appears, the cats must stay behind to keep the gateway open."

"Then let's get to work," I stated.

The seven of us circled the largest pit and conjured our wands, before joining hands. Each of our cats sat at their respective person's feet.

"We need a simple incantation," Verla suggested. "Our dark intention is simply this: We seek passage to the Abyss."

We repeated her words in unison, and tendrils of magic surrounded our circle, blowing Nadine's hair back beside me. I could feel the magic growing, pulsing through the cavern as we spoke the incantation a second time. The cats peered into the center of the pit, until their forms began to glow with the power of our magic.

We spoke the incantation a third time, and I witnessed movement from deep within the pit. A dark, slimy liquid bubbled up from the center, rushing into the pit as if spilling out of hell itself. I shot a glance to the pit behind me and saw that the sludge was filling that one as well. Each second that passed, the pits filled another inch, bubbling and snapping with a tar-like substance.

"Uh… that doesn't look like a portal," Grant said warily.

"You must trust the process," Verla stated calmly.

The sludge continued to rise to the lip of the pit, and several of us took cautious steps backward.

"I'm trying to be calm, but if that stuff keeps rising that fast, this place is going to be flooded," Grant pressed.

Just as the sludge was about to tip over the edge of the pit, it stopped rising. Several tense beats passed as we waited to see if the sludge would do anything else, but nothing happened.

"So… now what?" Talia started, but she was cut off as the sludge in the largest pit blasted upward toward the ceiling.

We leapt back, and black liquid splashed down on us. A clump landed on the ground with a heavy splat, and then the entire pit of sludge began to bulge upward.

The clump moved… and I realized it wasn't a clump of sludge at all. It was the leg of a beast crawling out of the pit!

"Everybody back!" Professor Warren shouted. He grabbed Nadine and me, shoving us behind him. Verla stood at his side, a battle orb at the ready. Grant, Talia, and Chloe ended up on the other side of the pit, their backs against the wall of the cave. Our cats stepped aside, their forms still glowing with the magic of the spell.

Nadine peered over Professor Warren's shoulder. "That must be the questing beast. And it's in our way!"

The creature pressed a hoof to the cave floor and hoisted itself out of the pit. Black sludge dripped off its form, showing patches of leopard spots on its fur. The creature had a serpent's head and a horse-like body, with a long narrow tail that whipped from side to side. It opened its mouth and bared its sharp fangs at us. My hands trembled as I pulled Nadine closer to me.

Professor Warren blasted off a battle orb straight into the creature's mouth. The magic sizzled through the air, but the beast did nothing except shake its head. The questing beast narrowed its eyes at us and let out a loud roar.

"Not helpful!" I cried. "All you did was piss it off."

Professor Warren took another step backward, shoving Nadine and me closer to the wall. "If you have any better ideas, I'm all ears."

"It's got to be magical to withstand your spell, right?" Nadine asked. "If I can touch it, I can withdraw its magic. I've done it before with other monsters. Cover me."

Before I could stop her, Nadine slipped past Professor Warren, aiming her sights straight on the beast. Nadine intended to grab the monster, but before she could, the questing beast kicked out its front leg. Nadine let out a pained oof as she landed on her back.

"Nadine, no!" The sound of Verla's cry echoed off the walls of the cavern. She leapt forward the same time the questing beast snapped its fangs at Nadine. Verla lifted her arm protectively, but her shield failed as the beast snapped its jaws forward so fast that he blasted straight through her spell.

The beast's fangs sank into Verla's arm. Its jaws clamped down tightly, even as the rest of us aimed deadly spells at the beast all at once. The spells had no effect on the creature, other than to royally piss it off.

The questing beast wrenched its head to the side, then the other, dragging Verla along the floor. I heard the crunch of bones, and then came her cries of pain. Blood spurted over the cave floor. It all happened so fast that only mere seconds had passed.

A shield blasted from my palms, smacking straight into the beast's nose. He dropped Verla as my spell sent him spiraling over one of the pits. He landed hard against the wall of the cave and slumped to the ground.

"Clarice!" Nadine screamed. Verla collapsed, and Nadine rushed to her side.

The questing beast wasn't done with us yet, though. It shook its head and began to rise from the ground. Its eyes narrowed on Verla, like it'd already had one taste of her blood and wanted to finish the job. The creature jumped, soaring over one of the pits, its fangs aimed straight for Verla's throat.

Professor Warren didn't hesitate for a moment. He caught sight of the sword beside the pile of treasure, and he dove for it. He snatched up the sword then leapt in front of Verla, aiming the blade straight at the questing beast.

The sound of tearing flesh and a pained yelp filled the air. The beast immediately backpedaled a few steps. The sword remained lodged in its flesh, right above its front leg. Professor Warren's aim hadn't been precise enough to kill the creature, but it'd slow it down for sure.

The beast's back legs slipped into one of the pits. It let out a loud cry as it tried to climb its way back out, but with an injured front leg, it couldn't manage. The beast slipped into the pit, and the black sludge swallowed it up as it fell backward into the hole it came from.

We all rushed over to Verla. My stomach bottomed out when I saw the blood dripping down her arm. The beast's fangs had sliced deep twisted cuts through Verla's forearm, leaving chunks of hanging flesh behind. The white of bone poked through the gruesome wounds.

Warren stripped off his coat and wrapped it around Verla's arm as her whole body trembled. Odin lay at Verla's side, meowing loudly.

"Why did you do that? You didn't have to save me!" Nadine shouted. I could see the pain written across her face. She blamed herself for getting Verla hurt. "That thing could've killed you! You should've let it bite me."

"I would've snapped you in half," Verla argued.

"It almost did that to you," Nadine shouted.

Verla winced as she pulled her injured arm closer to her chest. "I'm stronger than you think. If it didn't hurt me, it would've hurt you, and I couldn't let that happen. You need to survive, Nadine, for the coven's sake."

Tears leaked from Nadine's eyes. She didn't want to see anyone get hurt, especially for her sake. It was too similar to what had happened to Helena.

Verla's eyes drooped. "We must follow the beast through to the Abyss…"

Her words trailed off, and her head lolled to the side, like she couldn't quite see straight. She'd lost a lot of blood, but this was something else…

"That creature was venomous!" I realized.

Horror filled Professor Warren's features. "We'll need an antidote to counteract the venom."

"Great," I replied sarcastically. "Where are we going to find that?"

"We'll have to turn back and request help from the fae," Warren insisted. "We know nothing of questing beasts and don't know how long it takes for that venom to take hold of her bloodstream. If we don't act now, she could be dead within the hour. We have no choice but to leave."

"No," Nadine said firmly, her mind already made up. "We aren't going to get another chance to return to Malovia, and we aren't leaving here without the Oaken Wands. You can carry Verla back to the entrance, where Siona can provide help, but the five of us must go on."

I didn't have to read her mind to know what she was thinking. Nadine didn't give a shit about the Oaken Wands right now. All she cared about was Verla, but Nadine had told me she didn't want people dying to protect her. If we left now, then Verla suffered for Nadine—and Nadine alone. If we kept going, then Verla's sacrifice would be in the name of the Oaken Wands. Nadine didn't want anyone else getting hurt for her.

"Nadine's the chosen one," I said. "It's up to her."

"It's what has to be done," Nadine insisted. "Any time we sit around talking about it is wasted time."

We all knew what that meant. Professor Warren had to get Verla back to the cave entrance as soon as possible, or it could be too late.

Chloe caught on. "Nadine's right. We don't have a choice."

"All right," Professor Warren agreed reluctantly. "I suppose there is no other option. Clarice and I will be at the entrance when you return."

Warren stood and lifted Verla in his arms. Odin cried out and followed them back up the tunnel.

Nadine stared after them long after the sound of their footsteps faded. I wrapped an arm around her, and she leaned in to me, sniffling. "Verla shouldn't have stepped in front of me. The creature was coming for us. We didn't have time to talk out a plan. I knew what I was doing. I could've weakened it."

"Don't beat yourself up, Nad," Grant told her gently. "Verla's going to be all right."

Nadine scoffed bitterly. "Yeah, so long as I'm not there to kill her, I'm sure she'll be just fine. Can't say the same for the rest of you though, since you're traveling with me. Who else wants to die for me?"

Talia reached out to squeeze her shoulder. "That's not going to happen, because we're all going to walk out of there alive."

"You can't know that," Nadine argued.

Talia conjured the Seer Wand, and the tip began to glow. "Yes, I can. I can't see what we're getting ourselves into down there, but I know we're going to make it."

Talia could've been lying for all any of us knew, but nobody questioned her, because we all wanted to believe she was telling the truth. It was the hope we needed to push onward.

Slowly, Nadine nodded and got to her feet. She approached the largest pit and peered into the dark slime. "We named our movement The Coven's Shield, and the coven needs us now to get those Wands. Let's keep moving."

Grant gazed into the pit beside us. "We're like a band of superheroes. Might I suggest we call ourselves the Shield Squad?"

Chloe frowned. "We don't need a dumb squad name. We just need to get this done. To hell and back…"

"Even if it kills us," I added with a heavy sigh.

Talia gingerly approached the pits. "Into the Abyss?"

I nodded, and Nadine and I spoke in unison. "Into the Abyss."

Nadine took my hand, and we leapt into the darkness of the pit.