me a second? I want to check on Augie.”
“I’ll wait right here.”
She slipped back into the room. He was sleeping soundly. Despite his cuts and bruises, he’d never looked more handsome. “I’m a lovesick fool,” she whispered to herself. Smiling, she bent and kissed him gently on the mouth. “I love you, Augustine Robelais. Now heal up. I have plans for you.”
The clanking woke Giselle, who until that moment hadn’t realized she’d been sleeping. Without the movement of shadows or a watch, time had lost meaning. Day, night, she had no idea. Around her, the noise level rose. Something was stirring the place into a frenzy.
Then she heard a familiar voice.
“This place is creepy.”
“It does the job,” a male voice answered. She recognized that one, too. The man who’d locked her in here.
She scrambled to her feet and backed away from the bars as he and Harlow approached. “What do you want?”
He studied her. “You. We’ve come to take you back to the mortal plane.”
Surprise coursed through her. “You have?” Thank the goddess. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from crying. She was finally going home. She couldn’t wait to see Ian. “Let’s go then.”
The man twirled his finger through the air. “Turn around and back up to the bars.”
She did as he asked. A moment later, he clamped handcuffs on her. Then he opened the cell and pointed toward the right. “Out.”
She took a few steps forward then stopped. “I don’t know where the hell I’m going. This place is a maze.”
“Walk,” Harlow said. “If you head in the wrong direction, we’ll let you know.”
Giselle started moving again. She kept her eyes focused on the dimly lit path, but as she passed other cells, it was impossible not to glance in. The things that glanced back at her quickly put that to an end. Things with too many teeth and limbs that were inhumanly long and eyes that glowed. Every now and then a whiff of something would pass her nose: flowers, bleach, dung.
Her skin crawled with the urge to be free. Once she was back in the human world and her magic was usable again, she was going to set both of the fools behind her on fire. They deserved it for what they’d done to her. Clinging to that thought, she kept moving until at last the dull light of the fae plane came into view.
Harlow fell into step beside her. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”
Giselle glared at her, but kept her mouth shut.
The man went ahead of them to unlock the massive gate surrounding the place. She shivered, not from being cold, but from utter disgust. “This place is miserable. Gray and windy and dirty and miserable. I’m so glad I’m not fae.”
Harlow leaned in. “I’m glad you’re not fae, too. Now shut up.”
Giselle shook her head. “You have no idea the kind of power I wield.”
“Lot of good it’s doing you now.” Harlow pointed her head toward the gate. “Go.”
Giselle walked through. They’d see once she was back in the human world. Then they’d be sorry.
Harlow followed and the man locked the gate, then pulled out a mirror. He looked up. “Harlow.” His gaze indicated something behind them.
Giselle turned at the same time Harlow did. Two shadowy figures floated toward them. Giselle backed up. “Keep Ava Mae away from me.”
The man laughed. “Harlow, if you’d like a moment with your family, I’ll take Giselle through and deal with handing her over to the police.”
“The police?” Giselle whipped around. “What are you talking about?”
“That would be great, Fenton,” Harlow said. “Thank you.”
“What police?” Giselle repeated.
But Fenton just grabbed her arm and pulled her through the mirror without another word.
Chapter Thirty-one
Olivia materialized in time to pull Harlow into her arms for a hug. She hadn’t expected to see her daughter again so soon. “How are you, cher? How’s my boy?” She kissed Harlow’s cheek. “I’m so happy to see you.”
“We’re both good. He took a little bit of roughing up recently, but he’s on the mend. How are you?” Harlow’s gaze slid sideways to land on Ava Mae. “How’s life on the fae plane, Ava Mae?”
“We’re just fine,” Olivia said. She let go of Harlow and her solid form to wrap an arm around her other daughter’s shoulder. “Ava Mae’s settling in.” She smiled at Harlow. “It’s really good to have company.”
Ava Mae nodded. “Good.” She clung to Olivia’s side.
Harlow’s mouth turned up in a little half smile. “I’m happy to hear that.