The burning city, the power of his dragon body. Dylan hadn’t had this dream for a while, and he knew instantly what it meant. Morgan had come for another visit. It had been two weeks since he’d last spoken to the dark fae.
He went straight for the untouched building, landing on the roof.
Instead of forming out of the shadows, Morgan was already waiting for him. “Greetings, dragonkin Dylan.”
“I’ve been making the blood potion. So what’s next?” Dylan shifted, claws scraping on concrete. So far he hadn’t been able to take this shape in the real world, but he kept trying.
“Patience, young one.” The dark fae smiled. “We must wait until the potion is complete, two and a half more cycles of the moon.” He tapped a long nail against his lower lip. “However, there is one task you can undertake. We must find a place of power, such as a fairy ring, or a mound, or a circular grove. It should be as close to the barrier surrounding your town as possible.”
“And why is that?”
“I need to draw on the power of the barrier to open the pathways between our worlds. It will take a large amount of magic, so we must have as much as possible.”
“And once you’re through, you’ll… take care of the wardens?” That probably meant kill them, and Dylan tried to figure out if that bothered him or not. One came to his house once a year to check on him, and that was the only contact he’d had with them. But he knew they were out there, preventing him from living a free life.
A smile curved the dark fae’s lips. “Yes. Freeing us all to do as we please. Returning things to their natural order.”
Dylan shifted, lowering his head. “Why were the pathways closed?”
Morgan began to pace. “Many of your years ago, before the treaty, the ancestors of your wardens decided that your world had too much magic, that it was too dangerous for mundane humans. So they built a powerful spell that closed off Faery from the human world to prevent us from traveling back and forth. I have heard they closed off other realms as well. It is very difficult to cross realms now. Those who can manage must use powerful magics and risk being trapped on the other side.”
It made him think of Aiden. Someone had brought him from Faery, traded him with a human child. “Do you know Aiden’s parents? Do you know how they got across or why they did it?” What would he do with the information if he got it, though? If he told Aiden, his friend would wonder how he got it, and he’d have to explain the visits from the dark fae.
The dark fae put his hands behind his back and stopped pacing. “Who is Aiden?”
“He’s my… he’s a changeling. So someone must have brought him over from Faery. He doesn’t know who his parents are, or why they brought him here. I was hoping you might.”
“Ah, a changeling.” His black eyes sparkled and Dylan regretted giving him the information. “Alas, I do not know all the fae in the realm and have not heard of anyone who might have made such an exchange. But I can make inquiries if you wish.”
“You know what, never mind.” Dark fae were dangerous allies, and he didn’t want to be in this one’s debt. Opening the pathways between their worlds would benefit them both, so it was an even exchange. And Dylan would be sure to bring that up if Morgan ever mentioned payment.
The dark fae made a little bow. “Very well.” The colors started to fade around him. “Find me a suitable place within your world. Remember, a place of power near the barrier that hides your town from the human world.”
“A grove, a mound, or a fairy ring. I’ll remember,” Dylan told him. He always missed his deep dragon voice when he woke up. His regular voice still cracked sometimes, and it was just… embarrassing.
“Good. I shall visit you again in one month. That should give you enough time to find a suitable location.” The dark fae made a deeper bow and was gone.