"What are you doing?" Daisy asked in confusion, standing at Lila’s doorstep. The girl was hurriedly stuffing her things into a small backpack.
Daisy wasn’t alone. Ivy stood beside her, brows furrowed as she asked cautiously, "What’s going on, Lila? Where are you going?"
Lila finally looked up, registering their presence.
"Good, both of you are here," she said, turning to her desk and picking up a folded letter.
"I was going to co find you two, but things worked out anyway." She walked over and placed the letter in Daisy’s hand. "Give this to Violet when she returns."
Daisy frowned, trying to return the letter to her, but she wouldn’t take it.
"I don’t understand. What is going on, Lila? Where are you going? Why can’t you wait for Violet yourself? She and Griffin already called to inform us they’ll be back tomorrow. So whatever you have to say, you can tell her directly."
But Lila remained said. "You don’t understand, Violet will never forgive for the things I hid from her. If she’s truly mated to Griffin, then everything changes. I have to return to the Fae realm. The Queen must unlock her powers—trust , Violet needs it now more than ever."
"Do you have to go?" Ivy asked, her tone exasperated. "Can’t you, I don’t know, give the Queen a call or however you people notify each other in the Fae realm?" She sighed. "I don’t like this, Lila. Everything’s happening so fast and our group is falling apart. I don’t even understand what the heck is going on anymore."
Lila turned to her. "It’s more complicated than you think. I’ve been operating under the radar, that’s why Baron and his lackeys haven’t found . Or Violet. But I’ve been called back ho, and I need to know what’s going on."
She reached into the pocket of her pants and pulled out a strange dallion, pressing it into Ivy’s hand. "When Violet returns tomorrow, give this to her. Make sure she wears it. You know how stubborn she can be."
"What’s it for?" Ivy asked, lifting the dallion and examining the Fae engravings etched into its surface.
"It’s to mask her from any of my kind who might try to snitch her out in my absence. I’ve placed a masking spell on her already, but I don’t know how effective it will be once I cross realms. So think of it as backup."
"And the letter?" Daisy asked, eyeing it again. "What’s in it?"
"Enough clues to answer the questions she’s been asking herself all this while. It’s spelled so no one else can read it except Violet. Whatever knowledge she decides to share with you afterward is her choice."
She paused, then added with sincerity, "But I truly hope both of you stick by her side until the end. I can feel it inside dark tis are coming."
Daisy and Ivy exchanged an uneasy glance, visibly unsettled by her ominous words.
Lila turned back to her bed and slung the backpack over her shoulder, tightening the straps.
"When are you going to be back?" Daisy wanted to be sure.
"Ti works differently in the Fae realm, but let’s say in two weeks. If I don’t return by then, you should be worried. However, be rest assured once I’m back, things would be different. I’ll make it up to Violet for real. No more secrets and if it works out well, she might et her mother for real this ti."
Daisy and Ivy looked at each other and shrugged. That sounds nice?
"So," Ivy said, "How does this work exactly? Do we escort you to the bustop or sothing? Is there a route that takes you exactly to the Fae realm?" She was curious.
"You both don’t need to see out, I’m good." Lila said to them.
Ivy then stepped forward and pulled her into a hug, saying, "Co back soon, else I’ll find another person to fill your void."
"Yeah, you can try." Lila was not threatened.
Daisy said to her cooly. "Be careful out there."
"You too. Take care of each other."
"We would."
"I still think this is uncomfortable leaving without seeing Violet. " Ivy said.
"It’s now or never. Violet will understand." She said and took her leave.
Lila did not leave through the school gate, instead, she slipped away under the cover of the night, heading deep into the Silver Glade and reached the stream.
Looking around to ensure she was alone, she reached into her pocket and brought out a coin etched with Fae sigils.
She tossed it into the water and whispered. "Aeslién."
The lake rippled almost imdiately.
Then Lila took one last glance over her shoulder and without hesitation, she jumped in. Just like that, she vanished beneath the surface.
Monts later, Lila erged, gasping softly, into the familiar chill of the Fae realm. She was ho.
Earlier that day, she had planned to send a ssage to Queen Seraphira, updating her on Violet. But instead, a ssage from Zyrella had found her first.
Zyrella was her second-in-command, the one tasked with protecting the Queen in her absence. If anything had gone wrong, Zyrella would have been the first to send word. And she had.
Lila now stepped cautiously through the elusive moss-covered spot where they had agreed to et.
Zyrella was there already, standing at the center of the clearing, in her silver armor. Her dark braid hung down her back, and her sharp eyes softened slightly when they landed on Lila.
"Sister," she said.
"Sister," Lila replied, walking over.
They embraced tightly, foreheads pressed together in recognition. They have been apart for a while now.
But there was no ti for pleasantries.
Lila pulled back. "Tell . What’s happened with the Queen? Is the palace secure? What has Baron done to her?"
"The Queen is safe. Nothing happened," Zyrella said.
Lila froze, confused. "What?"
And then it hit her.
Her eyes widened as the truth clicked into place.
Zyrella smirked cruelly. "We only needed to draw you back to the Fae realm."
"You betrayal! How could you do this to Queen Seraphira?" Lila hissed, her hands already glowing with raw magic.
Energy surged through her fingers, and she hurled a bolt of light at Zyrella, but the woman was fast. She dodged it, retreating as the woods ca alive with movent.
Fae soldiers poured in from the trees, armored and ard, surrounding Lila. They were Baron’s loyalists.
Lila fought hard, taking down every soldier who got too close. But they were endless and it was not long before she was overwheld.
She scread as iron chains suddenly lashed around her throat, sizzling against her skin. Lila collapsed, writhing in pain as the chain burned into her collarbones.
Zyrella stepped forward, crouching beside her with an almost amused expression. "The great Lila, finally on her knees. This is going to be so much fun."
The Fae then punched her across the face, knocking Lila unconscious.
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