Vance-
Kenna, can you hear me? I asked through our bond.
Yes, came the reply and I noticed Portia visibly relaxed.
“Can you hear her?” I asked in a whisper, and she nodded.
“Perfect,” I replied with a grin. Kenna, your mom and I can both hear you. Can you see anything? We need to know where to go once we figure a way out of here.
I can’t see anything because of the hood, Kenna replied.
Count your steps, sweetie, Portia suggested. Try and pay attention to what direction you’re turning.
They’re tying me to something. Like a board of some sort, Kenna added.
I need you to concentrate on Kenna’s position, Portia. Try to make a mental note of everything. I’ve got a queen to deal with.
Turning, I placed my body between Portia’s and the approaching queen, hoping she wouldn’t be aware of Portia’s mental connection with Kenna. I needed to distract her.
Seth nudged me slightly. “You should know we believe the queen might be possessed by Dee Dee.”
“Well, now. That would make a whole lot of sense, wouldn’t it? Let’s see if we can trick her into giving herself away by using you as bait.”
“If it will help Kenna, then do whatever you need.”
The queen moved unhurriedly, slowly stepping down the staircase as her long black train trailed behind. The closer she moved, the more I became aware of her otherworldliness. Her skin was so pale her veins showed through in places, except where the skin moved into her fingers. Her flesh there was pitch black, matching her long black nails. Ironically, she didn’t look like the subjects she claimed to rule. It left me wondering if she was also a plant-based life source or someone who’d stepped into the role to champion them.
Pausing in front of the cage, she stroked my face with her inky fingers. “What shall I do with all of you? Killing you immediately seems like such a waste when there is so much fun to be had.”
“I’m not sure why you’d want to kill us at all. We’ve broken no laws and haven’t harmed any of your citizens. I’m simply here for my daughter. I could care less what the rest of your plans for the Fae are.” I could almost feel Rowan’s stare boring a hole through my back at that comment. Hopefully, he was wise enough to keep his mouth shut in this instance. I did care what happened to this race. If they were destroyed, it could change the course of history as we knew it.
“This kingdom has long awaited the day where it would be treated as an equal in the Lands of Fae,” Queen Luna responded. “I will not rob my subjects of their victory.”
“You will have to actually win for victory to happen,” Rowan said, pushing in beside me.
Queen Luna’s eyes narrowed on him. “And how is it that the great Fae Prince of Murias has come to join such an unlikely band of humans?”
Rowan squared to his full height. “The girl you have kidnapped is my intended bride. I demand you release her immediately.”
Now I found myself hoping Seth and Jett could keep their mouths shut. If Rowan could bargain with this lady, I would let him. It might be the only hope Kenna and my grandchild had.
“Your intended?” Luna glanced at Seth and Jett before allowing her mouth to twist up in a slight smile. “These young men would disagree with you. In fact, I believe the young woman in question has already been bonded to these two. How is it that she is your intended also?”
“Both of her previous unions were made while she was under duress or did not fully know what was going on. She has the right to decide who her choice for a mate will be once she has all the facts. I am asking that she consider me also.”
“Damien has other plans for Kenna. She will not be viable as a bride afterward.”
“If she or the infant are harmed, I will destroy every single person involved,” I warned.
Luna studied us with her dark, fathomless eyes that were so much like Portia’s. It made me wonder if whatever ran in this woman’s blood ran in hers also. She didn’t seem too threatened by any of us.
“Perhaps I could make amends for Kenna’s death by choosing to take one of you as a lover. It is a high honor to be the consort of a queen.”
“I thought you were with my father,” I reminded.
She gave a flick of her hand. “That matters not. He will take a lover, too. He already has a member of your party picked out.”
“It’s me, isn’t it?” Jett quipped sardonically. I appreciated that he was trying to keep Portia safe since I was sure she was the one Queen Luna was referring to. “Everyone is always falling in love with me. I’m gonna have to pass. Thanks anyway. I’d take a key from you, though. That would help us a lot.”
“Take me!” Seth suddenly added, and all heads turned to stare. If this queen did have Dee Dee inside her, Seth might be able to persuade her to change her mind. “I’ll willingly stay to be your . . . whatever, but only if you release Kenna to return to the future with her family.”
“Dude, what’re you doing?” Jett asked under his breath, but everyone heard.
“I’m trying to save the girl we love.”
“We aren’t going to leave you behind, either,” Jett stated. He looked at me. “Tell him, Vance.”
Luna held Seth’s gaze for several seconds, and I was almost certain she would agree, but then she looked deeper into the cage. “I will consider your request, but I think I’m more interested in this man,” she replied, pointing. At this time, everyone in the cage shifted to see who she meant.
“You. Come here,” she ordered.
“Me?” Kyle squeaked.
Queen Luna nodded. “Yes. I’ve been admiring your hair. Come closer so I may run my fingers through it.”
“Uhhh,” Kyle glanced helplessly in my direction. We’d all assumed the queen was being controlled by Dee Dee, but she didn’t seem interested in Seth one bit. She wanted Kyle.
I gave him a slight shrug, and he looked utterly dejected as he moved through us toward the bars as the queen requested. “If this doesn’t work out, you’ll have to explain it to Julie. She’ll never understand.”
Leave it to Kyle to inject some humor into the situation. It was all I could do to keep from laughing. If I hadn’t been so frantic about my daughter, I might have.
Kyle squared his shoulders. “Rub away,” he said with the same enthusiasm as someone facing a firing squad. “I always knew my luscious locks would land me in hot water someday. I’m gonna have to shave my head now.”
He stood stoically as Luna reached inside, twisting her fingertips deep into his hair.
“Mmmm. That’s kind of nice. Can you get behind my ear? There’s a sore spot. One of those mushrooms got me pretty good earlier. I’ll be sure to send your court my medical bills when I get home. Maybe Portia can just pop them over here and grab the cash from you. I mean, I will totally take jewels or gold, too. Whatever works best for your benevolent majesty.”
“Silence!” Luna ordered, and Kyle immediately stopped—for like five seconds.
“Sorry. I talk when I get nervous. Please don’t take it out on my companions.”
The queen rolled her eyes and yanked on his arm. As easy as Damien had plucked Kenna from us, the queen took Kyle. Turning, she began pulling him toward the steps.
“Vance? Help,” he said, looking over his shoulder.
“You were supposed to release my daughter if you took him,” I reminded Queen Luna.
“I cannot free her, but I will free one of you. You make pick which one will be let go. The rest will stay forever.”
Frustration boiled through me. “You can’t do this to us. We were brought here against our will. None of us intended to cause any harm. You must let us return to our time and set things straight again.”
“Decide,” Luna said. “Only one of you leaves.”
“It has to be you, Vance,” Portia said.
“I can’t beat an entire army by myself,” I reminded her.
“You don’t have to beat them. You only have to get Kenna and escape.”
“If you can find her, take her to Murias,” Rowan said. “My mother and her troops will see that you are protected. Tell her everything.”
“I have to find Kenna first.” Grabbing Portia, I placed a quick kiss on her mouth. “Please be careful. Whatever you do, just try to survive. I’ll come for you.”
“Go. Find our girl. Try and reach out through our connection.”
I nodded. “I will. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Be safe, son,” Hex added.
“You, too. Don’t let them hurt anyone.”
“You have my word. I will protect this family with my life if necessary.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s what I’m hoping to avoid. I want us all to leave here with our lives.” Turning, I faced Luna. “Set me free.”
Before I could ask again, I was released from the cage. I didn’t wait for permission, immediately running out the door Kenna and my father had disappeared through.