And from the look on Tavlor’s face, his brows lowered and his lips twisted, he agreed with my thoughts. He wasn’t happy to be going today.
He continued. “They are not at war with anyone at the moment, or we would not be taking you there,” he said though I wasn’t sure how that assurance was actually working. “However, they are naturally, a very rough people. They have gone through much. The cloak you are wearing is traditional garb and will help them accept you. It shows respect to their history, their culture.”
“Okay... but why would we go there?” He still hadn’t explained why I simply couldn’t go to the Fae realm I knew and ask questions of them.
“Because you need to see what’s wrong with the realms that the Council lorded over. Not look at this magical realm, and Abigail’s Fae realm, and think that everything is okay. Not pretend that life is simple and easy across the realms with minimal discord that can be reduced to petty crimes. Things are not okay, and I believe... and your father believes, that if you’re going to take this role on, you need to see our worlds at some of their worst. Not their best. So you truly understand what you will be stepping into.”
“Their worst?” I asked, not sure my defensive skills were good enough to sustain a proper attack yet. I understood what my father and Tavlor were trying to do, but at the same time, I didn’t think they needed to prove anything to me.
His lips kicked up a little. “The realm we are visiting is not the worst, not by any stretch of the imagination. But it will show you the sort of wars, and pain, that can be possible, if the Council has their way. Trust us.”
I grabbed his hands, looking into his dark gaze. “I do.”
Then I realized that we were still alone.
I glanced around the room we stood in, a large chamber just outside my father’s offices. A transportation room.
“Where’s Dad?” I asked slowly. “And are you sure the Council’s bounty on me has been called off? I’d hate to get into another fight with a pack of wolf shifters who want my head.”
Tavlor put his hand into his cloak pocket and pulled out an official looking document. A scroll, similar to the other contracts I’d been offered. How and when he got it, I didn’t know. I narrowed my eyes, chewing my bottom lip. He unrolled it so I could look at it myself.
“Yes, this is the official decree to say you have been cleared of all charges against you, and I have been promised that word has been sent out.” Tavlor patted his chest. “Though, I brought extra protection just in case someone refuses to listen to a piece of parchment, even if it is magic.”
He was armed to the teeth, both in magical ability and physical weaponry. But there was still a tremor of fear that I felt pass through me that I recognized. Mostly due to uncertainty. I felt like I was walking into a trap, although I knew that wasn’t the intention. While I trusted Tavlor and my father, I didn’t trust the unknown. I didn’t trust that the Council would keep their word, even with laws and decrees and the shaking of hands.
But I couldn’t do anything about that now.
I put a hand to my belly, where my tattoo lay. I still hadn’t had use for it yet, thankfully. But my journey was nowhere near ended. “Me too.”
A door behind us opened and my father walked in, looking the least- official I had ever seen him.
“Woah... what’s with the casual attire?” I asked him, waving my hand to encompass his plain black suit and the cloak he held that looked similar to the one I wore.
These Fae must be pretty passionate about killing wolves for all three of us to be wearing them. I hated that I had to wear it, but it seemed like dressing the part proved to them we could be trusted. I made a mental note that if I did decide to do this, to claim my birthright, I would make it illegal to use the skin of an animal to make any sort of clothing.
My father grinned. “It’s a disadvantage with these people to shove my position in their face. If I could disguise myself, and you, I would. However, such a thing would be considered trickery, and treachery. It would offend them, and that is not something I would like to do, especially when they are powerful enough to figure it out for themselves.”
I put both hands up and pushed one at each of the men before me. I’d had enough of this.
“You know you guys are scaring me,” I said.
My father laughed. “Don’t worry. Tavlor and I will protect you.”
My heart pumped a little too fast, adrenaline pulsing through my blood in preparation for the fight to come.
But there was no fight. This was a diplomatic mission, of a sort. I hoped these creatures would understand that we meant no harm and had no intention of causing discord. So I took a couple of deep breaths, aiming to slow my racing pulse. I had two of the most powerful warlocks in the Universe on my side. I shouldn’t be worried. Or scared.
“Alright.” I said, gathering my wits about me. “Let’s go.”
My father walked over to a portal door, waved his hand, then opened it. He walked straight through, and Tavlor held out his hand to me. I glanced at his fingers, shivering with unease, then braced myself as I took his hand. My Fae man tugged me straight into the portal after my father.
There was no going back now.
As soon as we’d passed through that strange, cold, empty space between the realms, we were launched into a completely different world.
One unlike anything I’d ever seen.
“Woah.” I gaped at my surroundings, staring unblinkingly into the vastness.