Page 10 of Fae Farewells

“I do…” I truly understood that, but then again, “How do you tell someone something that you don’t know yet? All I can say is something is off. They’ll have questions, and I can’t answer them.”

He stood from his chair, shaking his head. “You still don’t want to put them in danger.”

“I don’t know what it is,” I hissed. “What if—”

“When you figure it out, do us all a favor and let us know.” Sarge patted my shoulder. “We all care about you. Stop trying to be such a loner. Whether you like it or not, you are a pack animal.”

“I’m not just a wolf.”

“No, you’re not. But, Lo? How many demons have you seen living on their own? What about vampires? Angels are usually the same. Those species stay in pairs or small groups, even if they’re not mated or with their own kind.”

I messaged my temples, a habit I clearly shared with the dragon. “All those times I tried to talk to you, and you never wanted to have a genuine conversation. Now all you do is drop shit like this in my lap?”

“You wanted to flirt,” he pointed out. “I have a mate.”

“Well, there is that.” I gave him a small grin. “Can you blame me? Have you looked in a mirror lately?”

"Yes, Lo... I’m sure Freya will find this hilarious.”

“Is that sarcasm I sense?”

He shook his head again, but this time, a smile rounded his cheeks. “Not at all. I think she’ll find it funny that you spent so much time hitting on me, only to find out that her brother is your mate.”

I tilted my head at the happy dragon. “Okay. That was sarcasm.”

“It’s not, but be ready for her to laugh at you when she finds out.”

“I like her already,” I confessed, climbing to my feet as York came outside.

“Are you ready to go, Sweetheart?”

“Yes?”

He furrowed his brows. “Why did that sound like a question?”

“Because it was.” I held my hands out, palms up. “I’m ready to go. I just don’t know where we’re going to get to where we’re going.”

“The portal is in Port Meadow,” Sarge enlightened me, like I knew where the fuck that was.

“Fantastic. It sounds like you just made that up,” I said as I stepped into the kitchen and glanced around at all the hiking backpacks. “But if you go first, I’ll track you and summon the guys. And I’ll bring Levi and Zyus with me through the void.”

“How will you track me?”

I scrubbed my hands over my face. “I forgot I haven’t given you a tracker yet. Let me see your foot.”

Surprise widened Sarge’s eyes as he tugged at his lip. “My foot?”

“It’s the best place to hide a tracking mark, and we may need to find each other while we’re in the Winter kingdom. So, yes. Sit down, take your shoe off, and stick your foot out.” As an afterthought, I added, “Please. It will take two minutes, and then we can go.”

It was actually closer to ten minutes, but I shared marks with Sarge, Levi, and Zyus before giving them the Third Devil’s seal. Because a bitch never knew when she’d need a dragon or an angel or a mer to… help?

I wasn’t really sure anymore. I think Joyner might have been right when he said I was a collector, though. Having people to protect felt good, even if killing everyone was easier.

“Now what?” Sarge asked.

“You go to the portal, and I’ll follow. I can summon everyone once I’m there.”

“That easy?” Levi queried, rubbing his thumb over the skull on his foot before pulling his sock on.