"And you came upon this knowledge how, exactly?"
"Our father."
Dean's eyes almost leave his skull. "He came to you?"
"Yes. He answered my summons." I throw my supplies back over my shoulder and head for the next mountain.
Dean follows, his legs sinking up to his knees in the snow. He has searched these lands as I have these past few days. He has scouted day and night but found nothing. "So what next? We continue to scour the Outlands?"
"No," I say, sighing, wishing I did not have to share this knowledge. But Dean is the only prince to lend me his aid. Even Asher refuses to search. The Prince of Pride hasn't been himself lately, but I have neither the time nor attention to find out what ails my brother. "There is another place," I tell Dean. "Another place where the Fae dwell." And then I tell him about Avakiri.
"I heard whispers. Rumors of rumors." Dean shakes his head in wonder. "But I thought them false tales conjured to give the Fae hope. If this place does indeed exist, can you imagine the history we will find there? The culture?"
I shrug. "I only hope we find Arianna."
Dean grins like a child promised candy. "So do you know how we get to this… Avakiri?"
"Varis and I spoke of it briefly. Before he left to search the skies for Arianna." The Druid has not sent word for weeks. I hope he is safe. He likely returned to Avakiri, hoping to find the Midnight Star, and if what he said was true, his people would not have welcomed him with open arms.
"There is a door nearby," I continue. "A Waystone, they call it. A passage into Avakiri. I do not know if I will be able to open it, but I will try. My Druid blood may be enough. Should be enough."
Dean nods, and then we do not speak for a while as I guide him over freezing mountains and through dense forests. Baron stays close to my heel as we walk, and I occasionally lay a hand on his head as my thoughts turn to the days after Arianna disappeared.
Dean, Asher, and I met to discuss plans. Small parties had been sent out to search for Arianna already, but they returned with no news, and we could scarce afford the extra manpower when every body was needed here. Es and Pete, her best friends, had volunteered to search as well, but they did not know the land nor how to defend themselves in the wild. So Dean escorted them back to earth, after a long talk that involved alcohol and promises to keep them informed the moment we found Arianna. So we had to reassess, and I needed advice.
The Prince of Pride adjusted his collar, cursing under his breath, then turned to the map before us. "How will you find her?" he asked. "Where will you start?"
I pointed at the different Outland villages and forts scattered across the map. "Dean and I will travel north, leaving no stone unturned, sweeping across the entire border. We will—"
"You won't find her," said Asher. "You didn't find her before. And you won't find her now."
Dean tilts his head to the side. "It was you who brought her back the first time the Fae took her, wasn't it, Asher? Perhaps you can offer some advice instead of whining."
"Very well," said Asher, sitting down and adjusting his black suit. "Send the Druid after her. He knows the Fae better than us all. If they have her, and they likely do, he will know where to look."
Dean nodded, twirling a finger through his blond curls. "Sounds pretty good, actually. But what if she's not with the Fae? What if Levi has her?"
I shook my head. "There have been no reports of him. Likely, he is dead or taken as well."
Dean frowned, searching the map. "Or perhaps he took Arianna somewhere secret. Perhaps he is trying to… guarantee his ascension."
If he were to get her pregnant and turn her into a vampire, then the contract would be fulfilled. Her time with the other princes would be forfeited, and Levi would become king of all. The thought disgusted me. The thought of Levi and Arianna somewhere alone. The thought of him…
I could not even imagine it.
"If that were true," I said, "and Levi did indeed have her in his clutches, I think he would have returned triumphant by now. Instead, it has been days."
"It has," agreed Asher. "So why not do as I propose and send the Druid? He will fair far better than the two of you."
I clenched my jaw. It was true that Dean and I had already begun to search and found nothing. But we had not strayed too far from the castle yet. My castle. "We must look farther north," I said. "We will leave today."
"And who will run Stonehill?" asked Asher. "Who will watch the Moonlight Garden?"
"I suppose it has to be you," I said. "Don't worry. It won't be all that difficult. The Keepers will tell you what needs attention."
Asher mock-laughed. "Not that difficult? Running three realms? You must be out of your mind."
Dean shrugged, pouring himself a glass of wine. "I find it pretty easy."
"That is because your realm is built on alcohol and sex," said Asher. "But other realms are not so simple."
Dean snickered. "Yeah, some are built on nail polish and flowers. So difficult."
Asher jumped from his chair and pinned Dean against the wall. He gripped him by the collar and pushed him up to the air. "You will not insult me again. Do you understand?"
There was a panic in Dean's eyes. And then it turned to laughter. "Smooth Asher losing his temper. Times are changing, indeed. What next, brother? Shall we jump into an arena and spar? I so look forward to kicking your ass."