Iron Master – Jennifer Ashley Page 0,87
keep, so I won’t be good for anything but a lion skin if I go back to the Fae prince. Besides.” He deflated. “I should go home anyway. Throw myself on Dylan’s mercy.”
Stuart closed his hand around the medallion. “Good choice.”
He didn’t trust Crispin entirely—any Shifter who had chosen to go over to the hoch alfar couldn’t have his priorities straight. But it was worth a try. He would have Cian keep an eye on Crispin while Stuart checked out whether the medallion worked. If the medallion did anything it wasn’t supposed to, Stuart would … Well, he’d think of something.
Cian showed him on the map approximately where Stuart and Peigi had been when they arrived, and where the ley line ran.
The closest point was about a mile from camp. Stuart explained the situation to Peigi, and together they walked out of the teeming camp, making for the ley line.
“That was hot,” Peigi said.
He started. “What was? Asking how to get to the ley line?”
Peigi walked closer to him. “You alone facing the hoch alfar. Whirling your sword like a bad-ass.”
Stuart grinned at her, then he sobered. “Cian was right that he needed an iron master. I didn’t realize what he was up against. And I never guessed the hoch alfar would be able to destroy the karmsyern.”
He didn’t like the tension his words put into Peigi’s eyes. “What will you do?” she asked, voice calm.
“I don’t know yet.”
She meant would Stuart remain in Faerie, lending his magic to Cian? Stuart had learned on his brief journey here years ago to save Cassidy and Diego that his family and all close to him were dead. He’d decided there was nothing left for him. He’d gladly gone back to Shiftertown to be with Peigi and take care of the orphaned cubs.
Now Peigi was his mate. But dokk alfar could die by the thousands if he did nothing. They were strong fighters, but without the karmsyern, and with Shifters turning on them, Stuart’s people needed all the help they could get.
Peigi pulled him to a halt before Stuart could continue. Mist surrounded them, and against it, Peigi’s eyes held warm comfort.
“I know you have to make a choice,” she said. “I’ve struggled with this decision, because I know this is your life, your people, your home.”
Stuart’s body went cold, his heart like lead in his chest. She was going to tell him to leave her, to stay in Faerie with Cian, to save the lives he could. To say good-bye to her, to the cubs, to all he’d come to love. Because it was the right thing to do.
Stuart drew a breath to speak, but Peigi put her fingers to his lips.
“Let me finish. I’ve decided that, whether we’re stuck here, or we go back, or you decide to stay, I stick with you. Doesn’t matter what.”
His throat went dry. “Peigi …”
“Doesn’t matter what. We’re mates. Mates protect each other. Remember what you said to me? That it was stupid that when things were the most dire we split up? Well, I agree.” Peigi slid closer to him, moving her fingers so her breath could touch his mouth. “We stay together. Until this is done.”
The knot in Stuart’s heart dissolved, until he felt light, floating, as free as the mist. “Yeah?” He swallowed. “You’re not just saying that?”
“Nope.” Peigi smiled, which was like sunshine bursting through the worst rainy day ever. “You’re stuck with me. But once we finish what you need to do, we’ll have to go back to Shiftertown, because we promised the cubs. Remember?”
“I remember,” Stuart said, voice gentle. “When I said I didn’t know yet what I’d do, I meant whether or not to come back and help Cian from time to time. I’m definitely going home with you right now. So help me, Goddess.”
Peigi’s smile widened, and she kissed him, quietly and with tenderness. Stuart kissed her back, getting lost in the sweetness of her.
She eased from him after a long, satisfying interval. “I’m glad that’s settled, and without hours and days of drama.” Peigi straightened. “Let’s go find this gate.”
“If Crispin isn’t shitting us about this medallion.”
“Ben was in the house when we were sucked across,” she reminded him. “If anyone can find the residual magic of that and act on it, it’s Ben.”
“Here’s hoping.”
Peigi leaned to him and kissed him once more. “Let’s go find out.”
Peigi sensed exactly when they reached the ley line and the thin veil that separated this world from the other.