Page 35 of Fae Mates

“This doesn’t look good,” muttered McVittie.

Pokeweed side-stepped out of view, and I raced to the arched door that led to the underground passageway.

McVittie ran at my heels. “Where are you going?”

“To make a diversion like you said. If enough of those guards chase after us, Pokeweed might be able to fight his way out. “

The cat didn’t reply, but I picked up my pace through the darkened hallway. I moved so quickly, the tiny lights that illuminated the way turned into a streak of white. By the time I exited through a tree close to the pond with the lily pads, I could barely catch my breath.

A stream of smoke rose from deep within the orchard, filling the air with the scent of baked apples. The top branches of Pokeweed’s tree appeared unaffected by the fire, meaning that I’d made the right decision not to release Prince August from the top floor.

Seconds later, McVittie emerged and slumped on the ground. “What’s the plan?”

Searching for inspiration, I glanced over my shoulder at the weeping willow and found a stone a little larger than a cabbage. An idea formed in my mind. It was simple, but after seeing Pokeweed under attack, I couldn’t think of anything better.

“Unity?” asked the cat.

I strode in the direction of the orchard. “Follow me and get ready to run.”

“Why?”

“You’ll see in a minute.” I picked up my pace and jogged through the meadow and into the orchard, where I settled behind a tree with a thick trunk.

Soldiers gathered around one spot, hurling magical attacks that crashed against Pokeweed’s barrier. Every so often, someone would cheer or exclaim their glee at having created a breach that had hurt Pokeweed.

“These guys are a bunch of bastards,” muttered Mcvittie.

I cupped my hands around my mouth and shouted out in my deepest voice. “Oi!”

A few of the guards turned around. “Stay away. We’re here on business for King Oberon.”

“Looking for Prince August?” I let my voice carry.

The attacks stopped, and a few more soldiers looked my way.

“If you want Prince August back, drop a box of iPads into the pond.”

“What?” someone shouted.

I rubbed my throbbing chest. The pond looked too small to accommodate sentient beings like mermaids and sirens, so I guessed it was alright that I imply that Prince August had been taken by someone who lived in the water. It made sense since he had gone missing while bathing in a pool.

Deepening my voice to a low growl, I yelled, “He’s safe for now, but if you don’t give me what I want, I’ll drown him in his bed!”

“Get that person!” shouted one of the soldiers.

I ducked behind the tree and raced toward the weeping willow.

“What are you doing?” hissed McVittie. “There’s a perfectly good tree over here.”

There wasn’t time to explain myself. I continued down the path, only stopping to pick up the cabbage-sized stone. My feet pumped as I clutched the heavy item to my chest, but I managed to pick up speed. I reached the waterfront, ducked behind the weeping willow, and hurled the stone into the water with a mighty splash.

Just as a fireball whizzed past, I dove behind the weeping willow, where McVittie awaited with the door open, and tumbled inside.

Loud shouts filled the air as the doorway closed. I stood in the darkened hallway, shaking with the adrenaline rush. “Do you think we did enough?”

“There’s only one way to find out.” The cat ran down the slope toward Pokeweed’s tree.

I raced after him, trembling this time with trepidation. I doubted that even King Oberon could have withstood such vicious attacks. Time sped as we burst through the treehouse and made an opening close to the window where we last saw Pokeweed protecting this home, but as soon as I stepped out and inhaled the acrid smell of spell-fire and burned tree bark, my heart stopped.