Nightshade, Devin, and Twister outside the back door of the Bunker. The Seelie king and queen had finally replied to Twister’s request for Ruby’s audience with Aila, and she wanted to visit as soon as possible so she could get rid of her power and get back home.
Before she stepped out of the Bunker’s magical protection, she paused to smooth down the skirt of a long leather dress they’d found her. “As soon as I step outside and my affliction kicks in, this dress will go crazy. It’ll probably grow ears and udders or something.”
“No problem.” Nightshade swept her into his arms.
“I
should carry her, as she’s meant to be my queen,” Twister grumbled. “There might be Seelie specters watching.”
“No,” Ruby and Nightshade chorused. The last time he picked her up, he’d thrown her over his shoulder. No doubt Twister had conveniently forgotten that.
“Are you sure about coming with us?” Twister asked Devin, as if continuing a conversation they’d started before Ruby arrived.
“Will you stop going on about this?” Devin sucked in an angry breath. “I’m Master of the Darkling Road. Eavan and Nairne cannot deny me entry to the Seelie Court, much though they might wish it.”
He sounded determined, but he also flapped his long purple coat around his legs and nervously fiddled with the thong holding back his hair. When he glanced at Ruby, she pointed to the tiny leather bag attached to her belt to show she had remembered his gift for Aila.
“I want the djinn with us in case we have to fight,” Nightshade said.
“Anyway,” Devin added, as they started along a mossy path between stunted trees, “taking my route will save you hours of travel.”
When they’d gone about fifty feet, he glanced behind them and halted. “This is far enough from the Bunker not to mess with its magic.” He raised a hand and sketched an intricate symbol in the air, smoke trailing behind his fingers. Devin slapped his thigh while they all stared expectantly.
“What’re we waiting for?” Ruby asked.
“Devin’s opening the Darkling Road that leads directly to the Seelie’s Emerald Palace,” Twister explained.
A shimmering staircase unfolded out of the sky, the bottom step coming to rest at Devin’s feet. He released a satisfied breath. “Every time I want to use this route, I wonder if it will open. Eavan has his mystics working to deny me entry. It sticks in his craw that I hold dominion over the Darkling Road through his realm.”
Ruby urged Nightshade forward a step before peering down from where she rested in his arms. The glistening crystal lattice of the steps didn’t appear strong enough to take their weight.
“I vote for the long way round,” she said.
Twister’s breath hissed out. “Don’t be ridiculous. It would take us hours to reach the proper entrance to the Crystal City.Then we’d have to gain access. This way we walk right into the Emerald Palace itself.”
“I’ll carry you up,” Nightshade said.
Ruby gave him an incredulous look. “You’re missing the point. This staircase is a glorified spider’s web.”
“The crystal’s sturdier than it looks,” Devin promised. “Try it.”
He ran up the first few steps and extended his hand. Ruby hesitated. What was her fear? Was she just putting off the awkward confrontation that was sure to ensue when they reached the Seelie Court?
She grabbed a breath, steeling herself. “Okay, Nightshade. Put me down. My affliction isn’t affecting my dress.”
He deposited her on the bottom step and she gripped Devin’s offered hand. Now she stood on the steps, they appeared as solid as white marble. She hitched up her leather skirt so she could see the low-heeled pumps Twister had found for her.
From behind, Nightshade lightly rested his hands on either side of her waist and leaned close, his head level with hers as she was on a higher step. “I won’t let you fall,” he whispered into her ear.
Ruby’s eyelids drifted down as
Before she stepped out of the Bunker’s magical protection, she paused to smooth down the skirt of a long leather dress they’d found her. “As soon as I step outside and my affliction kicks in, this dress will go crazy. It’ll probably grow ears and udders or something.”
“No problem.” Nightshade swept her into his arms.
“I
should carry her, as she’s meant to be my queen,” Twister grumbled. “There might be Seelie specters watching.”
“No,” Ruby and Nightshade chorused. The last time he picked her up, he’d thrown her over his shoulder. No doubt Twister had conveniently forgotten that.
“Are you sure about coming with us?” Twister asked Devin, as if continuing a conversation they’d started before Ruby arrived.
“Will you stop going on about this?” Devin sucked in an angry breath. “I’m Master of the Darkling Road. Eavan and Nairne cannot deny me entry to the Seelie Court, much though they might wish it.”
He sounded determined, but he also flapped his long purple coat around his legs and nervously fiddled with the thong holding back his hair. When he glanced at Ruby, she pointed to the tiny leather bag attached to her belt to show she had remembered his gift for Aila.
“I want the djinn with us in case we have to fight,” Nightshade said.
“Anyway,” Devin added, as they started along a mossy path between stunted trees, “taking my route will save you hours of travel.”
When they’d gone about fifty feet, he glanced behind them and halted. “This is far enough from the Bunker not to mess with its magic.” He raised a hand and sketched an intricate symbol in the air, smoke trailing behind his fingers. Devin slapped his thigh while they all stared expectantly.
“What’re we waiting for?” Ruby asked.
“Devin’s opening the Darkling Road that leads directly to the Seelie’s Emerald Palace,” Twister explained.
A shimmering staircase unfolded out of the sky, the bottom step coming to rest at Devin’s feet. He released a satisfied breath. “Every time I want to use this route, I wonder if it will open. Eavan has his mystics working to deny me entry. It sticks in his craw that I hold dominion over the Darkling Road through his realm.”
Ruby urged Nightshade forward a step before peering down from where she rested in his arms. The glistening crystal lattice of the steps didn’t appear strong enough to take their weight.
“I vote for the long way round,” she said.
Twister’s breath hissed out. “Don’t be ridiculous. It would take us hours to reach the proper entrance to the Crystal City.Then we’d have to gain access. This way we walk right into the Emerald Palace itself.”
“I’ll carry you up,” Nightshade said.
Ruby gave him an incredulous look. “You’re missing the point. This staircase is a glorified spider’s web.”
“The crystal’s sturdier than it looks,” Devin promised. “Try it.”
He ran up the first few steps and extended his hand. Ruby hesitated. What was her fear? Was she just putting off the awkward confrontation that was sure to ensue when they reached the Seelie Court?
She grabbed a breath, steeling herself. “Okay, Nightshade. Put me down. My affliction isn’t affecting my dress.”
He deposited her on the bottom step and she gripped Devin’s offered hand. Now she stood on the steps, they appeared as solid as white marble. She hitched up her leather skirt so she could see the low-heeled pumps Twister had found for her.
From behind, Nightshade lightly rested his hands on either side of her waist and leaned close, his head level with hers as she was on a higher step. “I won’t let you fall,” he whispered into her ear.
Ruby’s eyelids drifted down as
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