"Until someone recognizes us and reports us to Levi's men," Fen says.
"There are ways to remain unseen," Dean assures us. "Disguises. Illusion. It's the perfect solution. We get home, assess the damage, make plans, train up the princess until she can kick ass, and off we go."
"No," Fen says. "We don't go back until we're strong enough to defeat Levi. We can't risk it."
Sly yawns and opens the door to his study. "Okay boys and girls, you're boring me. Go sort this out elsewhere. I have matters I must attend to. This club doesn't run itself, you know. I—"
A loud screech interrupts Sly, who smiles. "Ah, Lopsi is awake. Time to feed my sweet pet."
"Your pet?" Dean asks.
Baron whines and stands closer to Fen and me.
There's another screech, and I shiver, wondering what kind of pet can make such a sound.
"Indeed. A darling little beast. I collected her as a gift from a realm known for their remarkable creatures. We're getting along smashingly." With a bow, Sly leaves, and the energy seems to get sucked from the room.
"What do we do now?" I ask.
Dean stretches and puts his drink on the table. "I'm off to enjoy some of the perks of being here. This is all too dry for my liking." He saunters out and Fen frowns.
"He needs to learn to take life more seriously," Fen says.
Varis turns to me, his face unreadable. "How is… Asher?" he asks softly.
"He's fine," I assure the Druid. "Caught in the middle of this, but unharmed last I saw him. Missing you, undoubtedly."
Fen raises an eyebrow at the exchange, but says nothing. Does he know about his brother's relationship with the Druid? It's not something we've ever had a chance to talk about.
"Varis, can you help me get Yami back? He was injured and disappeared. I haven't seen him for days." I've been holding in my fears about Yami for so long, it's a huge relief to talk to someone who might know where my baby dragon went and how to find him.
"He is young and weak," Varis says. "When injured, threatened or scared, it's not unheard for Spirits to retreat to an ethereal form while they recover. It shouldn't be hard to reunite with him once we return home. We cannot summon him here, however, not until you have much stronger control of your magic."
"Then help me."
Varis stares at me a moment, then looks at Fen. "So… the stories are true then?"
"What stories?" Fen asks before I can.
"When the last Earth Druid died, she was pregnant, this was common knowledge. It was assumed her child died in the battle, but there were rumors. Rumors that he yet lived and was raised by wild wolves." Varis looks down at Baron and pats the wolf on the head. "Rumors that he was taken by the vampires and used as a blood sacrifice to their gods. And one barely whispered rumor that he was the heir to the Earth Druid's Spirit."
"Did you know her? The woman who gave birth to me?" Fen asks.
I notice he doesn't say 'mother.' He clearly still isn't ready to accept who he is. I guess it makes sense, given how long he's been alive and how long he's been living with his current identity. He could argue that time makes this transition harder for him than it was for me, but I don't know. At least he already knew that all these beings and worlds existed. My entire worldview flipped and turned inside out when I met him.
Varis nods. "I did, of course. We were bonded by the Spirits, just as we three are now bonded to each other, and to the remaining Druids of Water and Fire."
"But--Oren's dead, right? He can't come back, can he?" Sweat breaks out on my forehead and under my arms at the thought of the Fire Druid coming for me. The way he cut into me with his blade of fire. The pain that ravaged my body. It's a terror that lives deep in me now, burrowed into my core memories. Fen reaches for my hand to calm me as I take a deep breath.
"He is dead, yes, and the Fire Spirit will have chosen someone new, someone worthy. So we have Metsi, who has her own agenda for the Fae, and one unknown who we must find," Varis says.
"Tracking down wayward Druids isn't my job or priority," Fen says gruffly. "We need to reclaim Stonehill and stop Levi before he destroys both of our kingdoms."
Varis tilts his head. "I think you'll find that to do one we must do both. But first, we must travel to a place where Arianna can access her magic. Without further training, she will not be useful in the coming war. And you, Fenris Vane, must move past your blindness and embrace who you are. You are not only the Earth Druid, but the blood heir to the most powerful Wild One we've ever seen. Your mother was highly revered for her ancient magic and knowledge of the Old Ways. You have her blood and her Spirit… you are stronger than you know. Your people need you."
"And who are my people?" Fen asks. "I've been raised a Prince of Hell, a vampire demon hated and despised by your people. You think they will accept me as a Druid after my kind nearly destroyed your world?"
"Times are changing," Varis says softly. "Our Midnight Star is half human and aligned with the vampires. Our Earth Druid is a turned vampire. We don't even know who our Fire Druid is. There are many of the Fae who resist these changes, who want our blood to stay pure, but they don't understand the truth of the magic that flows within us. It is not bound by blood alone. For our people to survive… all of our people, we have to broaden our minds and embrace a new world. I think we need to rethink our choices." Varis looks at me, and I nod.