with it if he did.
The others watched him expectantly, certain old Ben could instantly solve their problems.
True, Lady Aisling, who’d blown him away with her presence, had said that Tamsin could see things for what they were, and had claimed Ben possessed the same ability.
Ben knew this—he could sense something magical from miles away. He could also make people not see him. He’d love to do that now and slip away from the worried Shifters so he could decide what to do, but they were wise to his tricks and would find him quickly.
Ben knew he couldn’t go back to Faerie, but could he send others there? Or more importantly, bring Reid and Peigi back? He liked Peigi and Reid—those two kids needed each other.
If the Fae had murdered them …
Ben sucked in a breath.
“All right, Jaycee, conjure Lady Aisling. But whether or not she answers, we’re going in. Tamsin, I might need you.”
Angus growled, the wolf in him as protective as ever. “For what?”
“To change this drawn door into a true gate. And then we’ll find Reid and Peigi and bring them home. Agreed?”
Tamsin gave Ben a startled glance that held some fear. Last fall, she had entered a magical state—the only word he could think of to describe it—and had disintegrated metal. Even iron masters couldn’t do what she’d done. Tamsin had been elated and terrified at the same time, and she still hadn’t processed what had actually happened.
Behind him, Jaycee took a glittering stone from her pocket. Dimitri hovered near her as she held it up and said, “Lady Aisling? Can I bother you?”
Tamsin rested her hand next to Ben’s on the wall. “I feel something. You?”
“Yep.” Ben drew a breath. “But even if it opens, I can’t go in, so it will have to be up to you. And Angus—who is breathing down my neck, literally. Will you stop that?” He growled over his shoulder at the scowling black wolf, who didn’t move at all.
Only Reg wasn’t giving Ben hell, and not because the man didn’t care. Ben sensed him waiting in case Ben eluded the others. Then Reg would be on him.
Ben glanced at the tall black man, and Reg grinned at him. I’ll be watching you …
Beside him, Tamsin gasped. “I think—”
She broke off as the wall suddenly became a solid door, the door frame full of wild curlicues, carvings of roses in bloom.
She jerked her hand away. “I don’t know how I did that.”
Ben believed he knew. He’d felt the molecules of the wall change beneath his hand, had seen their structure alter. Tamsin had done this sort of thing before, when she’d changed metal to dust, though that time she’d had Lady Aisling’s help. Today, Tamsin had used the ancient power in her blood on her own.
This could prove interesting for the future.
The door banged open, making Tamsin and Ben—and Angus, still at Ben’s shoulder—leap back. The door revealed only darkness, but a few seconds later, a tall woman with bright red hair in looped braids appeared on the threshold. She wore gray trousers stuffed into boots, a white shirt, and a hooded cloak. She had a smudge of dirt on her nose—Lady Aisling liked to work in her garden.
“Ah, Tamsin,” she said. “And Jaycee. So nice to hear from you. Have you two had your children yet? Oh, yes, you call them cubs.”
“Not yet.” Jaycee came forward in welcome. “Hasn’t been enough time.”
“Hasn’t it?” Lady Aisling remained in the doorway, the darkness behind her complete. It was eerie, that darkness, and Lady Aisling’s brightness cut into it. “Ah well, one loses track of time. Did you need something? Or did you call for a little girl talk? If so, can we go shopping? Perhaps in Milan? I’d love some new shoes.”
Ben spoke before the others could answer. “We lost some friends to Faerie. We want to get them back.”
“I see.” Lady Aisling turned her very dark gaze on Ben. He found himself out of breath, as though fire had swept through him. “Why don’t you go in and get them then?” She stood to one side, gesturing through the open doorway.
“I can’t,” Ben said, his chest tight. “Exiled. Spelled. No goblin allowed back into Faerie.”
“On whose authority?” Lady Aisling’s brows climbed. “The hoch alfar’s? As though I bow to their dictates.” She again motioned to the darkness behind her. “Come on in, ghallareknoiksnlealous.”
“Um.” Ben studied the blackness, from which an icy breeze began to blow. “Even though I might explode into