by Anthea Sharp
He blinked, and awareness returned to his eyes. With one glance she saw him take in the clearing, the approaching faeries, his sister. The bonfire.
“Go,” Marny said, giving him a little shove. “Grab Emmie. I’ll buy you a couple seconds.”
She grabbed her knife, just in time to stop the first surge of goblins. They drew up short at the sight of the cold iron and hissed at her, baring sharp teeth. She thrust the knife at them and slowly backed toward the fire.
From the corner of her eye she saw Nyx grab his sister, then pull the talisman from his neck. Thankfully, Thomas did nothing to stop him. She supposed the bard was trying to help in whatever small way he could, without directly opposing the queen.
“Ready,” Nyx called.
“Go—I’m coming.” The only problem was, she couldn’t undo her bracelet.
The second she stopped waving her knife around and tried to get her trinket off, the goblins would swamp her. And if not them, the ogre who was clumping his way across the clearing would finish the job.
Nyx had his hands full, too, holding his sister and the talisman.
“Hurry,” he cried.
“Please, please, just go now! You have to get Emmie to safety, or this was all for nothing.”
An agonized look crossed his face. Nyx glanced at his sister, then at Marny. His eyes were stark with emotion—fear and hope. And love.
Holding her gaze, he cast his talisman into the heart of the purple flames.
The fire flared up, lighting the underside of the towering oaks and throwing violet reflections into the goblins’ eyes. The queen rose from her throne and let out a cry of bitter anger. Frost swept through the clearing and the flames faltered, but it was too late.
Nyx and his sister were gone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Marny stumbled with relief, and the goblins surged forward.
“No you don’t.” She tightened her grip on her knife and waved it menacingly back and forth.
The goblins hissed and halted—closer than before. Their red caps were the color of old blood, and their eyes glittered with rage.
Stalemate, but only a temporary one. At least Nyx had escaped, along with his sister. Marny’s heart squeezed tight; she was glad he’d made it out, but terrified of what her own fate might be.
The bonfire flickered weakly behind her, but she couldn’t remove her bracelet. Even if she cut it off, the moment’s inattention guaranteed that the goblins would swarm, overwhelming her and snatching it away. What a stupid talisman it had turned out to be.
Still, she wasn’t going down without a fight.
“Take her,” the Dark Queen said, violet sparks crackling from her hair. “We still have a mortal at our disposal. This one cannot be allowed escape.”
Marny shot a look at Thomas, who remained near the bonfire. He gave a nearly imperceptible shake of his head. No help there.
The ground vibrated with the heavy tread of the approaching ogre. Panic tightened Marny’s breath. Here she was, a lone human girl armed with a small knife, against the creatures of the Dark Court—including the queen herself. She was doomed.
“Tasty morsel,” the ogre said, staring at her and licking his fleshy lips. “Hearty mouthful, that one.”
“No eating her,” the queen commanded. “She must be saved for the tithe.”
Marny thought she might actually prefer being devoured by an ogre to being the blood sacrifice used to open a gateway between the worlds. She glanced at her blade. Turn it against herself? That might be the best solution, in terms of saving the world.
“Aieeee!” a shrill, raspy voice cried.
From across the court a small figure darted, pasty-skinned and bulbous-eyed. It dived in front of the ogre, then wove around the lumbering creature’s feet, confusing it so that it swayed and halted.
“Korrigan!” Marny cried, gladness flaring through her. At least she wouldn’t die totally alone and friendless.
“Seize him.” The Dark Queen’s voice was cold with displeasure.
The redcaps turned from menacing Marny and focused their attention on the changeling. Such a foolish, brave creature who dared interfere with the queen’s will.
The goblins were distracted, the ogre stopped—this was her chance, and she owed it all to Korrigan. Forcing back tears, Marny sliced the bracelet off her wrist.
“Korr—you are the best changeling ever!” she cried.
Then she whirled and threw her talisman into the fire.
Purple light flared and the Dark Court spun before her eyes. She caught a glimpse of Korrigan, grinning fiercely as he fought off a goblin, Thomas with the faintest of smiles curving his lips, and the queen’s fathomless gaze, full of winter and night.
An arcing pain sizzled through Marny, as if she’d been struck by lightning, and everything went black.
Nyx groaned and opened his eyes. Afternoon light slanted through dust motes high above him. The ceiling of the warehouse swam into focus, and with it, the memory of what had just happened.
“Marny!” He sat up, shook off the dizziness trying to tip him over, and glanced around.
Emmie lay on the floor beside him, her eyes closed. Fear spiking through him, Nyx scooted over to her and felt for a pulse.
Alive, thank God.
Where was Marny? She should be coming through any second—but there was no sign of her. He scanned the warehouse, desperately hoping that she’d appear.
Time moves differently in the Realm, he reminded himself as the seconds ticked past. He waited, heartbeat ratcheting up as a minute went by, then two, and she still didn’t arrive.
Okay. He made himself take a deep breath. He could deal with this, despite the panic scratching through his brain.
First, wake Emmie up. By the time he got his sister going, Marny would be back in the human world, right?
“Em.” He gently shook his sister’s shoulder. “Hey, open your eyes.”
“Hmm?”
The sound of her voice made hot tears spring to the corners of his eyes. Her eyelids fluttered open and she blinked up at him.
“I had the weirdest dreams,” she said, yawning. “Why am I out here in the warehouse? What time is it? And why are you smiling like that?”
“I just…” He gathered her into a hug. How could even begin to explain?
“Okay, okay.” After a moment she pushed him away. “Why so sappy, big brother?”
“It’s a really long story. Are you sure you feel all right?”
“Did the club get broken into or something? Where’s Sula?” She glanced around.
“Sula went home.” He didn’t bother telling her it had been a couple days ago, in real-world time. “And the enchanted forest had some…issues.”
“Oh, okay.” She yawned again. “I’m so tired. And hey, wasn’t that Marny girl here? I remember her being around.”
“Yeah, she was with us.”
But where was she now? Still trapped in the Realm of Faerie? Worse than trapped? Urgency beat through him. He stood and held a hand out to his sister.
“Can you stand up?”
“Of course.” She let him haul her to her feet, then swayed. “Oh, dizzy. Oops.”
“Let’s get you back into bed. It was a rough night.” Let her believe it was only the next day. He could explain more later.
After he rescued Marny.
He got Emmie tucked into bed in the spare room, still groggy and happy enough to go back to sleep. The relief that she was all right warred with the clutch of fear in his gut every time he thought about Marny. Was she fighting for her life in the Dark Court? Was the queen even now preparing to kill her?
Only one way to find out.
This time, Nyx armed himself with as much steel as possible. No more wooden spears or plas-metal shuriken. He needed iron to fight the faeries. He slammed back another Haydeez, ate a protein bar in three bites, then went to face the enchanted forest.
He’d briefly considered entering Feyland via the sim system
, but ditched the idea. Going in by the forest was what he knew, and he’d make it take him into the Realm. Begging, tears, blood, whatever it took. No way was he leaving Marny at the mercy of the Dark Queen.
Besides, she’d saved him. He flashed on the memory of her warm brown eyes looking into his, the feel of her lips. Not for the first time, he decided she was the bravest person he knew. Especially since, when it counted, she’d been able to admit her feelings for him—and he had the suspicion Marny was not much into the lovey-dovey emotions.
Him, though, he’d gladly fall at her feet bearing a dozen tiger lilies. Once they were both safely back in the mortal world.
Nyx made a quick check of the various blades strapped about his person, resettled a couple of the knives, then squared his shoulders and strode into the soft light of the enchanted forest.
Over the last few days, Marny Fanalua had become as important to him as breathing. He hadn’t known what his type of girl was before, because he hadn’t met her yet: strong, serene, fiercely competent. And apparently embroiled in the magic of the Realm of Faerie.
He didn’t know what the future held for either of them, but he wasn’t giving her up without a fight.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
June 30
Marny opened her eyes, then groaned at the pain flaring through her. She was lying down on something soft. Was she safe?
She turned her head, blinking to focus her gaze, and almost fell off her bed. Somehow, she was in her bedroom on the fortieth floor at Intertech.
No. How could that have happened? Slowly, she sat up. Judging from the light falling through the window, it was early evening. Her brain throbbed and she felt dizzy, but other than that she seemed unharmed.
A wild sense of victory flashed through her. They’d done it! She and Nyx had gone into the Realm of Faerie, rescued his sister, and escaped. She needed to message him right away, let him know she’d gotten out of the Dark Court. Thanks to Korrigan.
Earlier that year she’d saved the changeling’s life, and he’d insisted that the fey folk always paid their debts. Guess they were even now. She hoped the little guy was okay.
Where was her messager? Marny rubbed her forehead, realizing it must be back at the club, along with her tablet. Maybe Anjah or Wil would let her borrow theirs. They might be the worst roomies ever, but surely they’d at least do that for her.
Moving carefully, she stood up and went out of her room. She peered through the half-open door of Anjah’s room, grateful to see her roommate was there.
“Hey,” she said, her voice coming out as a croak.
“Marny? Ohmigod!” Anjah jumped up from her armchair and rushed to the door. She reached out—her nails were fuchsia now, Marny noted—and set her hand on Marny’s shoulder. “Where have you been? Are you okay? You are in deep trouble with von Coburg, let me tell you. Do you feel all right?”
“Slow down.” Marny held up her hand. “What time is it? What day is it?”
“Tuesday evening—I just got home from work.”
The answer sent a jolt through Marny, though part of her already knew it was true, after looking through that one arched doorway in the misty hall. She’d lost almost three days in the Realm of Faerie.
“Where have you been?” Anjah continued. “Come sit down, you look like hell. I’ll make you some tea.”
Marny blinked at her. “That’s nice of you.”
“Hey.” The other girl gave her a wry look. “I haven’t been the nicest person to you.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
“I’m sorry.” Anjah glanced at the floor, then back up at Marny. “I guess I was just jealous.”
“Jealous? Of me?” Marny stared at her—gorgeous, stylish, smart. Anjah had it all.
“Of course.” Anjah led her into the living room and settled her on the couch. “You’re so relaxed and self-confident, and you’d created the most prime app of the century. How could I compete with that? When you disappeared…” She flushed, looking more uncomfortable—and real—than Marny had ever seen her. “I thought I’d driven you out by being such a bitch. And I realized that making you miserable wasn’t really a solution to my own issues. I felt guilty as hell.”
Whew. That was a lot to process. Marny leaned back against the cushions.
“How about that tea,” she said. “And could I borrow your messager?”
“Sure.” Anjah handed over her glitter-embossed messager, then hurried into the kitchen. Anjah nodded and hurried into the kitchen. The hiss of the electric kettle warming was strangely soothing. Normal.
Marny sent a quick message to Nyx, but there was no reply. Then to her family, reassuring them that she was fine and it had all been a misunderstanding.
“I was the one who found the medical report,” Anjah said, coming back to the couch and sitting a little awkwardly at the other end.
“Medical report?” Marny frowned.
“When you didn’t come back by early Monday morning, and I realized all your clothes and stuff were still here, Wil and I figured something must have happened to you. We called the hospitals, and Wil even went around to the unregistered clinics to see if you were there. Then I found the med-tech report about the accident at Club Mysteria, and we knew you’d been hurt.”
“Right. That.” It seemed like her injury had happened a thousand years ago.
“Are you okay?” Anjah peered at her arm. “It sounded pretty severe.”
“It was. Is.” Marny forced herself not to look at her completely normal arm. Better to pretend it was still hurt—because how could she explain away the fact that she was miraculously healed?
“Anyway. Wil went to the club a few times, but it was all locked up, nobody answered, and he couldn’t get in. When we couldn’t find you we… well, we covered for you.” Anjah smoothed the back of the couch with her hand, like she was petting a cat.
“You did what? How?”
“We basically called you in sick. I showed your team the med-tech report, and said you were resting and shouldn’t be disturbed. Then Wil kept looking for you, and I contacted your family to let them know you were missing.”
“But you didn’t tell Intertech?”
“Oh!” Anjah jumped to her feet. “Wil’s meeting with Brenna right now. Let me message him.”
Marny handed back Anjah’s messager, and the kettle dinged in the kitchen.
“I’ll get that,” Marny said.
She needed a minute to collect her whirling thoughts—and come up with some kind of alibi to tell her roomies. And her family.
“What did my family say when you contacted them?” she called over to Anjah.
“Your uncle is on his way.” Anjah tucked her messager away. “Also, Wil and Brenna are coming up.”
Marny fixed herself a mug of tea. It felt like forever ago since she’d bought her colorful mug. She made a cup for Anjah too.
“Thanks.” Anjah came into the kitchen and picked up her cup. “Sorry. So much for taking care of you. I suck as a caregiver.”
Marny gave her a half-smile. Despite herself, Anjah would always be a princess. But maybe a more thoughtful one in the future.
“I appreciate you guys covering for me,” Marny said as they took their tea back in the living room. “And getting ahold of my family.”
She was about to ask to borrow the messager again—she had to reach Nyx, and Uncle Zeg—when the apartment door slid open and Wil and Brenna came in.
“Hey!” Wil said, grinning when he caught sight of her. “You’re here. Prime.”
Brenna raised an eyebrow, the pale streak in her hair catching the light. “What’s been going on, Marny? First we get accounts that you’re injured and resting, then Wil comes to me this afternoon saying you’ve been missing for days, and now we find you sitting on the couch drinking tea.”
“Well.” Marny took a sip to buy time, then set her mug on the table beside the couch. “As Anjah knows, we went to a club and I met a guy.”
Anjah’s brows went
way up but she nodded. “Nyx Spenser. Ooh, you move fast, Marny girl.”
Marny felt a blush heating her cheeks—but that was okay. It helped create the impression she wanted them to have.
“Anyway, he’s a martial arts pro. We were hanging out this weekend—in fact, Mr. von Coburg’s guards can confirm that we had a breakfast date. So, Nyx was showing me how to use one of his spears, and I got hurt. I guess the pain meds the techs gave me were way strong or something, because I was knocked out for practically two days. Nyx took care of me, and brought me back here earlier today.” Kind of true, in a way. If by true you meant almost completely fabricated.
“Nice.” Anjah sent her a knowing look, clearly jumping to all the wrong conclusions.
“While I appreciate the camaraderie that prompted not immediately informing Intertech that Marny seemed to be missing, I cannot condone it,” Brenna said.
“Of course not,” Anjah said.
Wil nodded, looking contrite. “We just didn’t want her to get in trouble.”
“The company is liable for her safety,” Brenna said. “At the very least, you would’ve gotten me fired, since I’m your liaison. Plus, you could have opened Intertech up to a potentially huge lawsuit. This is serious business. I’m tempted to recommend that all three of your internships be terminated over this.”
Whoo, Brenna was bringing the hardass.
“This is entirely my fault,” Marny said. “I know I’m going to get the boot, but please don’t punish Wil and Anjah, too.”
Brenna raised one eyebrow, her gaze resting on Marny. “I’ll have to sleep on this. Marny, do you need another day, or are you good for working tomorrow?”
“I can work. I don’t want to let the team down any further—I know I missed a crucial meeting yesterday, and I need to apologize to them for that.”
Somewhat mollified, Brenna gave her a short nod. “Then I expect you all to arrive at work bright and early tomorrow morning. I’ll let you know my decision at the end of the day. Now get some rest.”
This last was directed at Marny, along with a sternly sympathetic look.
