Page 108 of Shadows of Light
She’d offered to do this before, but Cole and Lexi both voted against it. They were running out of options, but Cole didn’t like it.
“No,” Lexi said. “If he’s gotten into trouble, or is dead somewhere, you could be walking into a trap. We can’t lose you too.”
Sahira waved her hand dismissively, but Cole didn’t miss the flicker of unease in her eyes. However, he didn’t know if that unease was from Lexi’s words or because she would have to deal with Orin.
“It will be fine. I’ll go quickly and leave the portal to him open. If there’s any hint of trouble, I’ll come back immediately.”
“Sahira—” he started.
“We have to find at leastoneof them. This absolutenothingwe’ve been living with is exhausting. Something has to change; we can’t keep living in this limbo, and Icanfind Orin, which means we’ll at least have answers about one of them.”
“I’ll come with you,” Del offered.
“So will I,” Varo said.
“No, all of you should stay here. I won’t be gone long. Besides, we must show a strong, united front against the merfolk. I don’t believe they mean any harm, but a strong display of unity is necessary to show toallimmortals. Word of that will spread through the realms.”
“You’re part of that strong, united front,” Lexi said.
Sahira took her hands and squeezed them. “And if I can get Orin back here before the merfolk arrive, it will be a stronger front.”
“How much time do you think it will take?” Maverick asked.
“Not long at all.”
“Where do you plan to open the portal to go to him?” Del asked.
“I’ll travel to the human realm and, from there, open a portal directly to him,” Sahira said.
“We’ll send guards with you too,” Cole said.
Sahira pondered this before relenting. “Okay.”
CHAPTEREIGHTY-FOUR
“I’ll be back soon,”Sahira said to the lycan guards. “Stay here. If there are any signs of trouble, you can follow me, but for now, I’ll go alone.”
She wouldn’t have anyone else getting hurt or in trouble if they didn’t have to. Lexi and Cole would disagree with her, but they didn’t order the lycans to follow her every move. They just requested for them to accompany her.
It was a fine line; for a second, she thought they might argue with her, but the lycans bowed their heads in agreement. They stepped to either side as she turned away from the portal that led them into the mortal realm.
She’d prefer to never deal with the annoying dark fae again, but she couldn’t leave Orin’s absence hanging over Lexi, Cole, and Varo. It was draining them all.
Knowing Orin, he’d gotten sidetracked by a piece of ass and completely forgotten what he was supposed to be doing.
That’s not fair of you.
And it wasn’t. No matter how much she disliked Cole’s brother, she had to admit he loved his family... in his twisted way.
Taking a deep breath, she drew on the tracking spell she’d cast over him while she pictured Orin. Normally, an immortal couldn’t open a portal to another immortal; they could only do it to other realms, but the tracking spell allowed her to find him anywhere.
When she got a bead on him, she smiled and looked at the lycans. “I’ve got him.”
One of them bowed their head in acknowledgment; the other remained stone-faced. Closing her eyes, Sahira continued picturing Orin as she waved a hand in front of her to open a portal to him.
When it fully formed, she entered it. Despite what might lie ahead, she strode confidently through as she erected a shield around herself.
If something tried to attack her, they wouldn’t get close enough to kill her before she fled back into the portal. She’d only take one quick look to ensure all was safe and either go back for the lycans, for an army, or drag Orin out of wherever he was by his ear.
