Chapter 11

“Troy.” Daxx held her face over the garbage can.

Her mate was holding her close as she heaved again. “I’m here.”

Daxx spit into the can. “I was wearing pink fuzzy slippers.”

Firo didn’t know a great deal about the Alterealm royal women, but he couldn’t help but smile at how offended she sounded over that. They’d been drugged and had a spell weaved around them, and she was upset about what had been on her feet.

“We’ll cut them in pieces when we find them.” Her mate told her.

She nodded and leaned her head back against him.

Firo looked around the room. Queen Alona had been rushed to medical as soon as she woke up. The rest of the women were listless and heaving. He didn’t know how they had managed to break the spell, but he held great admiration for their ability to do so.

“I have hair.” Prince Rafael’s mate whispered to him.

“You didn’t have hair?” He cradled her in his lap on the floor.

She shook her head. “It was all wrong. Daxx kept saying that, but we couldn’t see it.”

Aireese was moving from woman to woman and placing her hand on their forehead. He wasn’t sure if she was checking the magic or was helping to calm their stomachs, but as usual, she left a sense of calm in her wake. She really was nothing like her sister had been. Avaline left so much energy behind that no one was left feeling peace after being near her.

“I’m telling you, Iceman, I was in a bright red dress with gunk in my hair.” Princess Autumn struggled to her feet. “I have to go check on Viola.”

The large man that was her mate was right beside her. “She’ll be fine for a minute. Wait for Clairee to come back.”

The powder had been identified quickly, and it was a miracle that none of the women had been poisoned by it. Firo didn’t know where someone would get the knowledge that had been required to pull this off, but he knew one thing. They were either very old or had been taught the old ways.

“I knew you could get us out.” The seer was sitting in her mate’s lap. She looked over at Daxx. “I couldn’t think how to. I knew it was wrong and that what we were saying and seeing wasn’t real, but I didn’t know how to get us out.”

“How did you do it?” Prince Quinton glanced over at Daxx before pulling his mate into his lap.

“I just started saying what was real.” She pointed to Princess Kara. “Kara said she wished she could hear what Raf was thinking, so the information was there, but whoever did this.” She shook her head. “They didn’t know us that well.”

“Isn’t that the truth. There wasn’t a single song on my phone.” Paisley snorted. “And I said something about our mother.” She looked at Autumn. “The mother neither of us knew.”

Firo looked over the bodies sprawled all over and made eye contact with Aireese. She had the look on her face, the one that said she had ideas but wasn’t sure enough yet to share them.

“Vic. Vic.” Crissy stood up. “I saw it before when we were sitting here talking.” She turned in a circle and then rushed over to her bag. “It’s happening now. I can feel it.”

The men all got to their feet and watched her.

Firo straightened. The tension in the room was astronomical.

“What is happening, Heart?” Prince Victor spoke in a soft voice.

Crissy dumped out her backpack on the floor and then picked up a notebook, and started flipping through the pages. “I don’t see it all. I see enough.” She mumbled. “I saw the symbol before, but not the same as the one when we were talking.” She jumped up and staggered sideways for a few steps. “This?” She moved around the room, holding the notebook open. “This and the fire, and there’s wings.” She stopped with a look of horror on her face. “It’s Ava.” She rushed over toward Firo, the book held open. When she stopped in front of him, she looked right at him. “Ava is in trouble.” She said it softly.

Firo looked at the open book, and his breath caught in his throat. It was the mark he had on his chest. The one he had appeared when he’d lost Avaline. “What do you mean she’s in trouble?”

Crissy slapped the book closed. “I see flames and wings. I don’t have more pieces.”

Firo looked over her head at Aireese. “I can find her.” He said it loud enough that his princess would hear and know that when this was over, there would be questions. Her expression was closed off, but she inclined her head. “I will find her.” He said once more and then closed his eyes and focused on her. On the bond that had been made so many years before. He didn’t use it except when he needed to know if she was in the forest again, but this time, he had no choice. It would change things, but nothing could happen to her.

He saw the flames and smoke and drew in a breath to find the tether that he could follow to reach her. Opening his eyes, he looked down at Crissy. “I know where she is.” Lifting his hand, he moved it up in the air, grasped the tether, and vanished himself to her location.