The Lost Fae (The Twisted Crown #3) - A.K. Koonce Page 0,59
within them. We'd probably give an unsuspecting troll a heart attack. We would have to go have dinner with their leaders in private."
"Is their leader any less creepy than the trolls we've already seen? Their statuesque faces really give me the heebie jeebies." I shudder. And they did. They look like sculptures that have been possessed by some wandering soul and that just doesn't sit well with me. Not in the least. Maybe I'm not too upset about having to skip a meal.
"Where will the portal take us?" I ask.
"To the Iron Court."
"Iron Court?" I grind my teeth, still pushing forward even though I have absolutely no interest in returning to the place Queen Avaleen resides. Maybe we are heading for King Dravid. He would hide us and I truly believe that. Maybe it's the pocket realm we are going to.
"Well, we have to stop to make some sort of a plan. It would be foolish for us to charge back into the Shadow Court without first assessing the situation."
We needed to know who lived and who died after we left. Specifically Jase, his safety is my first priority. What had come of Zeve and Lylix's outbursts? The outbursts that saved our lives.
"That makes sense."
The rest of the walk is silent. Each of us replay the events of the previous day. It had truly been the longest day of my life. Possibly the best day too. What could compare? Is there anything better than finding your spark? Anything better than the spark itself?
My attention remains focused on Lincoln as he weaves around the trees. My heart is so full it might burst. From the very beginning I'd been attracted to him. Even when I knew nothing about him besides his cocky stature. Even when he was just the man in my dreams. I wanted him. The want has only grown over time.
A broken limb, shattered wood jutting from its edge, balances between the tree it fell from and the one next to it. Old writing is carved into its branch. The air hums and fizzes, glowing green around the edges of the portal. It's the only thing between us and the Fae Realm.
Neither of us hesitates as we take the leap and step into the hollow nothingness between worlds.
Thirteen
Time Fuck
Stepping into the Iron Court... into the Fae Realm... is like coming home. It's my home. It's our home. I look to Lincoln. His gaze eats up the view of the large black stone castle that rises high into the sky. Behind it, pink and orange are messily splashing across the clouds like a splatter painting done by a child. It only makes the shining building look that much more beautiful.
"Let's go," he says in a hushed tone, grabbing my forearm and dragging me forward with him.
"We can't just walk into the castle. What if we run into your parents?"
"You think my parents sit in the foyer, waiting to welcome unannounced guests?"
Our steps are heavy against the pathed walkway from the forest up to the place I'd stayed in for so many weeks without Lincoln at my side. I promised myself that we’d never be apart like that again. Never.
Together, we take the few steps up to the large doors two at a time. Excitement mixes with dread like a lead ball in the pit of my stomach. I couldn't be certain what we would face on the other side of that door. Not certain like Lincoln seems to be, at least.
His hand brushes the door’s glossy wood and it soundlessly opens enough for us to enter. As Ziko had said, we couldn't expect that his parents would be on the other side, but someone is. A slender form emerges from the shadows to stand in the yellow light of a lantern. There's a paper clutched in her slender fingers. Her large cat-like eyes are bloodshot, her face, neck, and shoulders are flushed.
Violet.
She pulls her shoulders back and drops her hand to her side. "What happened!?" She shrieks, rushing forward. "Are you okay?"
Her pointed nails scratch at me and Lincoln as she dances around us, looking for any injury. She grabs Lincoln's face, pulling him to her level. "You all had me worried sick. I've been pacing this floor since you left for that stupid meeting with the Shadow Court."
She must be wearing a path in the stone if she's been pacing for that long...
"You've been waiting for us for three days?" I laugh.