Page 79 of Fae Farewells

I wasn’t going to be the one who told her she should probably wash the blood off her skin or change clothes. I didn’t want to get kicked in the dick.

Eventually, Palmer and York talked her into fresh clothing, saying if they could smell the blood, then so could everyone else. She washed her face and hands, though that didn’t really do much. Her hair was silver with red spots and streaks… It wouldn’t be difficult to guess that it wasn't a professional dye job.

Once her stained hair was tied back, she reluctantly grumbled, “I’m ready for my parents’ bullshit. But if you say we have to walk through—”

“I just need everyone to touch,” Vaughn interrupted, trying to calm her. “It’ll be quick. We’ll go and come right back.”

She rolled her eyes as she leaned her head against the fae’s shoulder. I tucked her hand in mine, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

Then Vaughn misted us to the portal.

I knew it didn’t sound like much... But he misted. All seven of us. In one trip.

If that wasn’t a fucking power upgrade, I didn’t know what was.

We’d only ever seen him take one person at a time. And while I trusted the fae with my life, I needed to know if that would work on Earth too, or if it was a homeland kind of deal. I didn’t want to be ripped to shreds accidentally.

Nate and Amelia stood near the shimmering doorway to Earth, patiently waiting for their daughter. Sloane dragged her feet, because that was the kind of mood she was in.

Apparently, death, blood, and sex didn’t perk her up anymore. Skittles didn’t work either. They didn’t have chocolate here, and we were running out of ideas fast.

Franklin swatted at something, and Pete stepped out of the shadows. The pedmar version of himself, not the giant nude man. He moved to Sloane as if compelled, but I thought maybe he could sense her unease too.

She stroked the side of his neck gently as he ruffled her hair, chirping excitedly. When she giggled, truly laughed without sarcasm lacing it, I felt like we had won the fucking lottery. All it took was the enormous creature swinging his trunk.

Several dirty jokes flitted through my mind before I remembered her father could likely read me as well as Novak could. Fucking vampires and their lack of privacy.

“Sloane,” Nate began, pulling her attention from the hellish elephant. “Do you think bringing Pete here is a good idea?”

“I sent him home, to our home. Not back to hell to be alone. If he’s here, it’s because he wanted to come.”

Franklin stood between Nate and Sloane. “Exactly as I told you, Nathaniel. Pete has changed. They’ve begun to slowly lift his curse. He’s here because he asked me to bring him to Sloane. This is Pelitore we’re talking about, not just an animal.”

“I know why you’re here,” she whispered. “You don’t need to show me. We’ll take you as soon as it’s safe.” She nodded. “When the queen is dead.” She snorted. “I know. I feel it too. We’ve added it to our list of shit to figure out.”

“Is he speaking to you?” Nate curiously asked.

“He’s still struggling to speak in this form, but there are some words,” she answered. “Mostly pictures. I don’t think he’s ready for everyone to be in his mind, though.”

Nate frowned. “I don’t think he should be here.”

“I don’t care,” she replied.

“Sloane.”

“No,” she told him. “You’ve made enough calls for Pete. He deserves his freedom as much as anyone else.”

He narrowed his eyes at Sloane before tugging on his bottom lip. “You can’t lift the curse unless Alric is dead.”

“And he will die,” Barbie informed him.

Amelia sighed. “I wish there was another way to settle this.”

“He doesn’t deserve a better ending.”

“He’s my brother. Nothing will change that.”

“You’re right.” Our mate shrugged. “I can’t change that. But you should understand, I don’t care who he is. His crimes have stacked up over the centuries, and now it’s his time to be judged.”