and we still do not completely understand the situation we find ourselves in. I appreciate everything you have done for us and promise to be on my best behavior from now on.”
“I will accept your apology, but you should understand something. I won’t hesitate again, and I don’t give second chances.” Kaja settled back in her seat.
“Sure you do, baby,” Dante replied with a grin. “You gave me about a thousand chances, and I will always be happy for that. Now, let’s get this ship turned around and try to find a way into Tír na nÓg.”
My stomach rolled at the thought of going home. The White Palace wasn’t my home, but the plane was. I would be far from the golden beaches I grew up on, but there was something about the sun on Tír na nÓg that was different from anywhere I’d been before, something softer and warmer. The wind would blow sweetly across my hair and I would feel safe.
I’d missed that sun, but then I remembered all the Fae who would never see the sun again, never feel it on their skin and know they were alive. They had been family. They had cared for me and loved me.
I had betrayed them all.
Marcus squeezed my hand. “It will be all right.”
I wasn’t so sure about that. I’d left my plane after the incident and I hadn’t gone back. I’d let Erna drag me from plane to plane trying to survive, even while I didn’t care if I did or not. Only finding Dean and discovering I could help save my parents’ plane had brought me close to coming out of the long depression I’d been in.
“Charlotte Taggart told me the convergences only happen on the planes where I am physically present.” I wanted to figure this out more than anyone. If I couldn’t handle being responsible for killing my tribe, I definitely wouldn’t be able to live with taking down the outer planes. “So I don’t understand how Tír na nÓg is involved. I haven’t been back in ten years.”
“Tír na nÓg is the most powerful of the outer Fae planes,” Dante explained. “It’s the center of Fae magic, and for ten years that magic has been getting weaker. You were the product of a transference box, correct?”
“Yes,” I replied. “I was brought into existence during a time of political strife, so my tribe kept the knowledge of me limited. We were far from the seat of power, and not even the pretender wanted to mess with Haweigh and her people. After the kings took back their crown, I know she discussed my odd nature with them.”
“Yes, I believe my cousins thought you were a cat for many years,” Dante replied with a chuckle. “Haweigh hid you well. My cousins didn’t realize there was a magical source at all until she was willing to talk about you. But now they understand how powerfully you had integrated with the land. The lesser Fae of the plane are weaker than they’ve been in decades. I think it has something to do with you. My cousins have been investigating, and they think some force from a far plane is using the convergences to attempt to find you.”
“To find me?” I asked.
“Yes, Summer of the Gentle Winds. I don’t know what it is that you are supposed to do, but the time has come for you to do it.” The hovercar stopped suddenly and Dante hissed. “Gods be damned. Beck is going to kill me.”
There was a big hovercar in front of us, and it didn’t look like it was planning on moving.
“Can you back up?” Kaja clutched her daughter as she turned her head, trying to find a way out.
“He would just follow me. With the traffic on the main byways, I can’t outrun him.” Dante touched the screen in front of him. “Let’s talk, whoever you are. I’m sure there’s a bounty on us right now, but I can pay double for you to simply pretend you never saw us. How about you send me a link to the account you would like the outrageous amount of money sent to and we’ll call this a day.”
I moved closer to Marcus, waiting to hear if Dante’s offer would be taken, but nothing came over the line.
Then I watched as the hovercar door opened and a familiar face leaned out. His big body held on to the vehicle as he gave Dante his middle finger.