An hour later, her mates stood at the "Gate," as the Fae called. It was the access point through which Griffin and Roman would return to the human realm.
There was nothing particularly special about it at first glance. It was simply an alcove-like brick structure, built into a quiet corner outside the palace grounds, almost as if it had been forgotten. If one didn’t know its purpose was to summon portals to other worlds, it would be easily overlooked.
But magic lingered there. It was subtle and invisible, but Violet could feel it buzzing on her skin, waiting to break out.
They had decided to send Griffin and Roman to the West pack, hoping they would et up with Ezra and Nancy. Ti ran differently in the Fae realm. A single day here could stretch into several in the human world. Which ant stay too long, and the world you left behind would move on without you.
Her mother, Seraphira, had co to see them off. The news of Griffin and Roman returning was bound to spread, and the Fae would question it if the queen failed to appear. After all, what kind of ruler would not stand beside her daughter while she sent her mates away?
Already, Seraphira had been absent from far too many gatherings she was known to attend. Whispers would start soon.
And whispers, in the Fae realm, were dangerous.
They could only hope Seraphira found a suitable body—and transferred into it—before the citizens began to notice her weakness and challenge her for the throne.
"I don’t know what the situation is in the human realm, but promise you’d stay safe," Violet said to Griffin as she bid her final goodbye.
Her gaze shifted to Roman. "Both of you."
Griffin and Roman shared a look before saying at the sa ti, "We’d be safe."
Violet breathed out in relief. Those were not just words but promises.
"Keep an eye on him, would you?" Violet told Griffin, nodding toward Roman.
Roman lifted a brow. He was right here, you know.
But Violet knew exactly what she ant. If there was any of her mates who had a penchant for getting into trouble, it was Roman Draven. Trouble was practically his second na.
"I will," Griffin promised.
Roman rolled his eyes in exaggerated annoyance. "And I’ll make sure to be there to rein in his temper."
Griffin shot him a look. His temper was short, yes—often enough to let his beast slip through—but lately, he had been better. Ever since he bonded with Violet, there was just this peace between him and the beast, as if his mate brought the balance they had been missing.
"Both of you should simply be there for each other, idiots," Alaric jibed, clearly annoyed with Roman always trying to have the last word.
Asher cut in, more serious. "You have the stones, right?"
Since the Fae did not use phones like humans, the two alphas had been given enchanted stones—Summoners, as they were called.
All they had to do was hold the stone before a reflective surface, preferably a mirror or a body of water, and focus on the person they wished to reach.
Mirrors and water, in the Fae realm, were not just reflections. They were diums. Natural conduits that bridged spaces, capable of carrying intention, magic, and even presence across realms.
When activated, the Summoner would send a signal to the one being called. And if the other party accepted, the surface between them would ripple, connecting both sides for communication. Simple and efficient.
Griffin and Roman nodded.
Asher said. "Good. Hold the line over there. We’ll be back sooner than you think."
"We know." Griffin replied.
There was no world where they would leave them to face whatever storm was brewing in the human realm alone.
Violet stepped forward and threw her arms around Griffin, hugging him tightly. He held her just as firmly.
Roman didn’t wait his turn. He simply stepped in and wrapped an arm around both of them, pulling them closer.
"Oi," he muttered, voice lighter than his grip. "Group hug, apparently."
Alaric snorted and joined in, slinging an arm around them as well. His gaze flicked to Asher pointedly, practically daring him to stay out of it.
Asher hesitated. Then, with clear reluctance, he stepped in and wrapped an arm around them too. For a mont they stayed like that, drawing strength from one another.
Then Lila’s voice interrupted the mont.
"It’s ti."
They broke apart slowly.
Violet’s chest tightened as she stepped back, her gaze lifting toward the Gate.
Two Fae stood before it, chanting in the ancient tongue, their voices low and rhythmic. The air around the alcove began to shift, vibrating with power.
Then like a generator roaring to life, the portal condensed into view with a deep, humming pulse. Dark purple nothingness swirled within the alcove, a vortex twisting inward, pulling at the edges of reality itself.
The air grew heavier and charged, but it didn’t stop them from walking toward it.
Queen Seraphira ca forward, her gaze settling on Griffin and Roman.
"May the goddess be with you both."
They inclined their heads in subtle acknowledgnt.
Lila gestured toward the portal.
"Go."
Griffin and Roman stopped just before it, both staring into the swirling void.
The East pack Alpha tilted his head slightly. "So... do we go in together, or one after the other?"
Roman grinned, all teeth. "Definitely one after the other. Just in case the portal isn’t what it looks like and you end up cut in half. Our mate can only mourn one person."
Violet face-pald.
What exactly was she supposed to do with this man?
Griffin shot Roman an incredulous look. Then, as if determined to prove he wasn’t a coward, he walked straight into the portal, and the vortex swallowed him whole.
He was gone just like that.
Now it was Roman’s turn. He took a step only to pause, turning back with that familiar gleam in his eyes.
"Perhaps, Violet, I could get one last—"
He never finished because Alaric kicked him straight into the portal.
Roman’s voice cut off mid-sentence, the rest of his words dissolving into a garbled shout as he disappeared into the swirling void.
The portal pulsed for a mont, then flickered and vanished. It had served its purpose.
Silence fell over the space.
Violet stood there, staring at the empty alcove. This was it. Roman and Griffin were gone.
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