your journey, and remember the friendship you share with the half-ogre.”
Angel and I spent the next fifteen minutes getting ready. Regardless of whether we expected a fight, I still took my daggers. I wasn’t going to risk losing Brighid’s Flame—or even Serafina, my bow—over there, so I opted to take one of the agency short swords as well, buckling the sheath around my waist. Morgana told us to return before midnight.
“You must not stay longer than one day. If you pass midnight in the Underworld, you’ll be trapped there. Viktor, too. He must return today.”
“How do we get away?”
She pulled out a scroll, which I tucked inside the pocket of my jacket. “When you read it, you must all be touching—even by one fingertip. If any one of you isn’t connected to the others, they’ll be left behind. I would, of course, advise you to get the hell out of there before midnight if possible. You really don’t want to become a wight. Watches won’t work there, so be as quick as you can.”
She stood back, taking a deep breath. “As soon as Raven arrives, we’ll send you over. Now then, have you eaten?”
“That’s another thing,” Cernunnos said. “Neither eat nor drink while you are there. Remember the story of Persephone? It’s not a legend. It’s real. If anything edible should pass your lips while you’re in the Underworld, you’ll be forced to stay. I cannot emphasize this point enough. Let neither food nor drink touch your lips. If it does, we won’t be able to rescue you.”
I caught my breath, thinking of Viktor. “I hope that Viktor hasn’t eaten or drunk anything.”
“I hope not, either.” Cernunnos shook his head, the long braids draping down his back swinging almost like snakes. “Now prepare, and Morgana and I will open a vortex for you to cross through.”
Angel and I ate a couple of candy bars for a little extra insurance, then we went to the bathroom, and by the time we were ready, Raven walked through the door. She, too, had dressed for the journey, wearing a thigh-length black tunic, a pair of black leggings, platform boots, and a leather jacket. As I figured, she had Venom with her, her dagger that had a poisonous bite to it.
“Do you have your heart-gifts?” Cernunnos asked.
She nodded, curtseying. “My skull necklace was from Arawn. The cauldron charm hanging from the chain was from Cerridwen. I’m ready.”
We went back into the break room, where Cernunnos and Morgana had pushed the table to one side, leaving an open spot on the floor. They motioned for the three of us to step between them. My stomach fluttering, I took my place. I was afraid, but I had to be strong for Angel. This was her first big mission, and she’d need me to be steady. Raven joined me, her jaw set. Angel, with a nervous look at Talia, took her place.
“Tell Rafé…”
Talia shook her head. “You three will be back in no time, along with Viktor. But…yes…I know what you’re asking.”
“Mr. Rumblebutt…” I said, looking at Herne.
“You’ll come back to me and to him. I won’t have it any other way. But don’t worry about Mr. Rumblebutt.” He started to say more, then stopped, and I knew that he was doing the hardest thing he could—he was letting me go, letting me do my job.
Raven simply gazed at Kipa, and slowly blew him a kiss. He touched his lips and silently tipped his hand to her.
“Hold hands,” Cernunnos said. “Don’t let go until you hear the sound of a bell.”
Morgana and Cernunnos began circling us, their arms stretched wide. They moved slowly at first, Cernunnos humming a low note while Morgana began chanting in what sounded like an arcane language. I didn’t know what it was, though I knew it wasn’t a Fae dialect.
They moved faster and faster, and it was almost dizzying watching them as they spun around us, faster than any person could move. They became a blur of movement, waves of energy in their wake forming a circle. I couldn’t see anything beyond them. And then, the world began to blur and all I knew was that I was holding hands with Raven and Angel, and that we were floating in a dark space while spinning lights—purple and green fire—arced in a wheel around us. The wheel spun faster as the floor vanished from beneath my feet. I tightened my grip on Angel and Raven’s hands. My head was throbbing and I had