Revealed in Fire (Demon Days & Vampire Nights #9)(62)

“No, that won’t be necessary,” the elf said, taking a step back, indicating it was time to go.

“Don’t be as ridiculous as the clothing you’re wearing.” Callie huffed and filed in with the rest of our crew, Dizzy joining her with a pleasant smile.

“You are not on the list,” the elf said loftily.

“Yeah.” I turned to Callie and Dizzy. “It’s a VIP party that you will want to miss, I’m sure of it. Why don’t you stay here?”

“Reagan Somerset—” Callie started.

Dizzy put out his hand to stop her, and I was thankful he had sense. Until I realized he didn’t.

“Let me, hon.” He turned his pleasant smile on me. “We didn’t come all this way to sit out in the final hour. We’re going with you even if we have to fight our way there, so the best thing you can do is just accept it.”

“I am only instructed—”

“It’s fine, Bobo,” I said, sighing and motioning him on. I didn’t honestly think they would back down—they’d forced their way into this journey in the first place, and clearly didn’t care whether they were welcome—but I had hoped. I didn’t foresee this next phase going well. “They’re with me, and I won’t be going anywhere without them. You’re welcome to try to force me, of course.” I flashed him a grin. “But you’ll die first.”

“Yes, she does make an excellent point. Please.” Romulus put out his hand to get the elf moving. “The king and queen are waiting, are they not?”

“I—” The elf cut itself off, clearly at a loss, and just turned and walked through the door, his guards stepping back and to the sides so we’d pass through the middle of a guard twenty deep.

Halvor stepped up next to me.

“No.” Penny pushed him away. “For the love of lollipops sucked on by bucktoothed men, be with your own people for this one. The triangle of power needs to stick together or we’re all going to die.”





Twenty-One





I looked at Penny, surprised Halvor had relented, falling into the middle of the formation that included both Arcanas, the secret weapon that was anything but secret in this castle.

“What’s this now?” I asked her with a grin.

“Go, go.” Callie shooed us onward as the gap lengthened between us and the fae. Only the Arcanas’ assistants and a couple of others were going with them. Apparently it was understood that Arcanas couldn’t do things for themselves, probably like elf royalty. “We don’t want to get separated. That’s when they’ll attack.”

“We should’ve called a demon or two, hon,” Dizzy said softly, eyeing the elves lining the sides of the hall. “Just to create a little pandemonium, you know? This is too smooth sailing for these elves.”

“Shh, shh.” Callie batted at him. “Don’t give them any ideas.”

“I doubt these are new ideas,” I murmured, reaching the end of the hall and hitting the stairs. Down we went to the first floor, and from there to the back of the castle, decked out in the same style as that in the front, with red carpet lining the halls, large crystal chandeliers, and finely wrought wood and metal. “How you doin’, Emery? Hanging in?”

The elves who’d been waiting to the sides now filed in behind us in two neat columns. There were elves ahead, elves behind, and walls to our sides. Whenever we passed a doorway, someone was standing there, blocking it off. They wanted us contained.

They didn’t seem overly worried about the windows, though. Did they not think I’d break through one and jump through at a moment’s notice? Because it wouldn’t be the first time.

Thanks for the easy exit, fuckers, I thought, wishing I could send the thought to the mages.

The space opened up into a huge sitting room decked out with conversation areas, couches arranged around tables holding bowls of fruit, little pastry-like foods, and beverages. At the back of the room, two enormous double doors stood closed, nestled in an archway that reminded me of the castle’s entrance.

I felt magic balloon around us, the spell giving us some privacy from eavesdroppers.

“They won’t let me walk away a second time,” Emery said softly. “And it’s clear they’ll take Penny with me.”

I huffed out a laugh, and my blood boiled fire. “Nah. They won’t.” I stopped with the others, the lead elf pausing and then putting out a hand, indicating we should have a seat and wait for an audience. “On the off chance you guys are pardoned, what are my odds of heading back to the rooms after this, do you think?”

The mages and I clustered together as the fae pretended like this was a polite visit and there was a chance they’d have some refreshments while they waited.

“Next to zero,” Emery said.

“And the fae?”

“Almost certainly they will get to go back to their rooms and think over the offer they receive, whatever that might be.”

“So you’re basically saying they are going to drag you, Reagan, and Penny away?” Callie asked with a hard set to her jaw.

“Karen should’ve come.” Dizzy lifted the flap of his satchel and peered in. “We tried to get her to, but she said she had to remain with that nut ball fae Seer. If she’d come, we’d have some insight into what happens next.”