Cin had created portals for them all. Finally, Niama turned to smile at Cin, jumped through the portal, and was gone.
“How about me, you and Bob go home now?” Cindrac asked Lanie, already creating a portal for them.
“I can’t think of anything I want more than a week of sleep,” Lanie agreed with a sigh and followed Cin through the portal. Bob jumped through last.
Their feet had barely hit the living room floor before Cin was taking stock of the house and searching the cameras and security systems.
“Something seems off.” Lanie checked her weapons and was glad to see they were still on her as she moved carefully into the kitchen.
“Feds have been here,” Cin warned and moved closer to Lanie. “Give me a minute.”
Lanie watched as Cin’s eyes flashed in a dizzying display of what appeared to be 1’s and 0’s before they went back to their usual white color.
“We’re good, but I need to go see the sheriff soon,” Cin promised and smiled when Bob meowed. “I’ll get you something right now, Buddy.”
“Are they still here? How long have we been gone?” Lanie went to the fridge and started pulling out sandwich items. She was starving and figured Cin was as well.
Cin thought about lying to her, which was always his first instinct until he remembered that Lanie knew just about everything.
“When I created the portal home, I made sure it would take us only a few hours past the moment I left to get you. In reality, we were gone for several weeks.” Cin finished giving Bob his wet food, a handful of his favorite treats and shook his head at the sandwich meats and cheeses on the kitchen counter.
While Lanie was digging in the cupboard for some bread and chips, Cin put nearly everything back in the refrigerator and placed new things down. By the time Lanie turned to put the bread on the counter, everything else was gone.
“Not in the mood for a sandwich, huh?” Lanie’s stomach growled at the sight of the steaks on the counter.
Cin chuckled. “I think we worked hard enough to deserve a real meal.”
Lanie’s eyes were drawn to her chest when a light flashed and reflected at her. Reaching out, she gently cradled the small elven figure in her hand and wondered at the beauty of the diamond-like perfect stone that made up the entirety of the pendant.
“This is so beautiful,” Lanie mused aloud. “Do you know anything about it? Do the elves make these a lot?”
Cin snorted, opened the french doors to the deck, and lit the grill before coming back into the kitchen.
“Honestly, it’s the elven version of spyware.” Cin shrugged and started slicing some onions and mushrooms while the steak marinated.
“You’re kidding, right?” Lanie couldn’t believe Niama would do something mean to her. It didn’t fit with the wonderful woman she’d met and fought beside.
“I didn’t mean that in a bad way,” Cin assured her. “Let me start from the beginning for you. No, a protection amulet is not created and handed out often because it takes a lot of energy for the elf to make one. It also leaves them bound to you like a debt until you use it.”
“Aw, I knew Niama couldn’t be mean.” Lanie smiled down at the pendant.
“The Princess respects you. The amulet Niama made for you is designed to give her the ability to see what happens here on Earth around you. If you are in danger, Niama can send her elven warriors to help.” Cin’s words stunned Lanie, and it took her a moment to think of a response.
“How far away is their planet?” Lanie watched Cin while he chopped vegetables and cooked, hoping to learn how to do it herself.
“Far enough that it would take them a week to get here by space travel, but about seven minutes through the portals they have on their ship, Hy-Brasil. Have you ever heard of Fata Morgana? Ghost cities in the sky? It’s them. They’ve been here observing Earth for millennia.” Cin’s words floored Lanie, and she struggled to process it all.
Lanie dropped the pendant, leaving it lay between her breasts as she walked over to the sink and got a glass of water, trying to understand the information before turning to Cin.
“Can I help with anything? I’d love to learn,” Lanie admitted, needing a break from the fantastic with something more mundane and easily understandable.
“Sure, let’s wash and cut some potatoes to cook on the grill with the steaks.” Cin handed