Once breakfast had finished, we stayed to talk about the less important things that I needed to know. Like which nobles fell out of favor with Mab and who made a strong political mating with who, which were rare these days but did still happen among the nobles. The day passed by in a blur of things I could’ve gone without knowing but was arguably better that I did. And before we knew it, we were parting ways after dinner to sleep in preparation for the long day tomorrow promised to be. 

But I had laid awake instead, staring up at the ceiling until the walls seemed to breathe and press in around me. Everytime I’d fallen into a light sleep the image of iron cuffs and cells were waiting. So, I kept my eyes peeled and was distantly aware that paranoia had begun to seep into my thoughts the longer I stayed awake. Did Puck tell Dougal we were coming? What if they were already hatching a plan to capture me as soon as we traveled there? No, no. I couldn’t let that happen. So, I made a half baked plan that had me jumping from my bed with more energy than I knew I had the moment the moon was high.

Shrugging the double sword sheath to rest in the middle of my back, I held my hands out palms up and willed the metal to reshape into my swords. It was only a few seconds before the comforting weight of them rested in each hand. Waist chains settled against my hips with another thought as I placed my swords into the sheaths. The handles poked up over my shoulders but that was okay, subtlety wasn’t needed. Leaving the black cloak on the end of bed, I pranced from the room and down the hall until I reached number five. 

Smirking, I stared down at the doorknob until a faint clicking sound hit my ears. The door silently swung open at my willed command and closed after I stepped completely into the room. Sheets swished as the person on the large bed twisted to lay on their back. So without a second thought, I took two leaps towards the bed before launching myself at the sleeping person. My knees had just hit the mattress on either side of her hips when pink eyes shot open and a shift in the air was the only warning I received. My back had barely hit her knees when a sharp rush of air surged over my body and cut the bedposts in half with a harsh crack. 

I laughed at the sound of splintering wood and Dani’s shouts filling the air, “Are you insane? I almost chopped your fucking head off.”

Still laughing, I arched my back until I was sitting straight, “Good thing I’m fast then.” 

“And surprisingly flexible. When did that happen?” She asked, once her breathing evened out. 

Shrugging, I said, “Not a lot to do in prison for fun.”  Learning how to flip over rails and bend over bars had been my one real source of entertainment. Well, that and starting riots.

“That’s not really an answer.” 

“No it isn’t, is it?” I grinned.

“Why are you here?” 

“It’s time to go. Get up.” I said, tipping to my side and rolling off the bed. 

Propping herself up on her elbows, she arched a pink brow,“Go? Go where?”

“To meet Dougal.” 

Dani shook her head, “No way it’s morning already.” 

“Correct. It’s still nighttime and we’re going now.” I said, waving a hand in a hurry up motion. 

Sitting up completely, she ran a hand through her black streaked curls and sighed, “Macha, it’s not a trap.” 

“Good, then there’s no reason why we can’t go now.” Ripping the comforter off the bed, I continued, “Be ready and in the hall in five.” 

Another long suffering sigh came from behind me as I walked to the door, making the grin on my face widen. Leaving Dani’s room, I took the two steps to the door across the hall and bent the lock to my will. Entering the room, I snorted at the sight of Puck wrapped up in cream colored sheets snoring away on his stomach with one arm dangling off the mattress. After a not so gentle kick to his hand, Puck’s eyes snapped open and he quickly scrambled back until he realized who was standing over him. 

“Macha? What’s going on?” He mumbled, rubbing a hand over his bare chest.

“It’s time to go.” 

A golden brow arched in curiosity, “Where?” 

Divines, it’s like I’m having the same conversation all over again. “To meet Dougal. Get your shit together and meet us in the hall in five.” 

“You said we were meeting him tomorrow.” 

I nodded.

Blinking, he clambered to his feet, “Well, okay.”

Turning on my heel, I exited the room to wait in the small space between their wooden doors. It wasn’t more than a minute later when Dani’s door opened and she came shuffling out to stand beside me with a yawn. We stood in a comfortable silence as we waited for Puck to exit his room next. Tapping my fingers against my leather clad thigh, I took a step to the side and leaned up against the wall. 

Just as I was starting to get impatient, Puck came out with a small brown pack thrown over his left shoulder. He stopped and held his elbows out in our direction, “Ladies.” 

“It’s been awhile since we’ve been called that.” Dani huffed in amusement before looping her arm through his. 

I hesitated for a moment and then tucked my hand into his elbow, the calluses on my palm catching on his smooth golden skin, “I think the last time was in Rome.”

“That’s right! Divines, Julius Cesar was delicious.” 

“Sinfully delicious. And the things he could do with wine.” I sighed wistfully, caught in the scandalous memory.

Pink eyes narrowed, “I’m still jealous about that.”

“You slept with Julius Cesar? How old are you?” Puck questioned with a tilt of his head. 

Dani gasped, “You never ask a lady her age.” 

At the same time I dramatically hissed, “How dare you.”

Golden eyes widen, “I didn’t-but I just wanted-”

Raising my nose in the air, I replied, “Just travel, Puck.” 

“Yea, Puck. Just travel.” 

The poor Seelie sputtered for a few seconds before getting his thoughts together and closing his eyes. Dani and I looked at each other behind his back to snicker silently and then the world bottomed out beneath our feet. 

Traveling felt like how one would imagine going through a wormhole would feel like. Complete darkness swallowed you whole to the point where you forgot if your eyes were open or closed, paired with the feeling of floating caused extreme disorentintation. After the first thousand years though, traveling was as easy as breathing and no longer gave the Fae any sickly side effects. 

Just as suddenly as it disappeared the ground solidified under my feet followed by a sharp wind that raised goose bumps along my arms. Opening my eyes, I was taking in the sight of an endless looking forest bathed in moonlight when a retching sound drew my attention. Puck had pulled his arms from our grip at some point and bent at the waist with his hands on his knees to gag. His back hunched and contracted as he tried to rid his body of the fake sickness that traveling inflected on his nervous system. 

Dani placed a comforting hand on his back while I slowly spun to soak in the forest around us, seeing no civilization in sight. After accepting our destination, my heart rate spiked harshly and I shoved Dani to the side to grab Puck by the shoulder. Pulling him roughly backwards, I stuck a foot out and had a sword pointed to his throat before he could hit the ground. 

“What the fuck did I say about traps?” I snapped. 

The tan fled from his face as he paled considerably, “It’s not a trap! It’s a-”

“Nymph glamour.”

My head shot up in the direction of the male voice to see Calvin slinking out from between the trees. Pale skin glowed against the brown tunic he wore making the bright pink streaks in his shaggy black hair blindingly obvious. The black eyed male barely had enough time to open his arms before Dani launched herself at his slender form. They embraced tightly for a few moments and then pulled back to share a deep kiss.

A deep kiss that was only growing more intense by the minute as Calvin hefted one of Dani’s legs around his waist. Rolling my eyes, I flipped my sword into my other hand and offered my right to Puck. When his hand slid into mine, I yanked and helped him stand to his 5’10 height. With cheery ‘thanks’, Puck went about brushing the dry grass from his backside and then stared at me expectantly. 

When he continued to stare, I raised a brow, “What?” 

“Uh, aren’t you going to apologize?” 

Laughing, I slipped my sword back into its sheath and walked over to the kissing pair. Stopping a foot away, I cleared my throat loudly and was surprised when they broke apart at the first sound. Dropping her leg, Dani moved to Calvin’s side and tucked herself underneath his arm with a blushed. Calvin however looked smug, thin lips quirking up to the side as he tightened his arm around her shoulders with an affectionate squeeze. 

“Macha, it’s good to see you again.” He smiled, extending his free arm to me.

Reaching out, I clasped his forearm in greeting, “You too, Cal. Dani didn’t say you’d be here.” 

“Where else would I be, My Queen?” Calvin mused, eyelashes lowering to cover black eyes as his head bowed. 

The motion brought on a pang of bittersweet nostalgia to my heart, at least one person still wanted me to be their queen. The action meaning more to me than he realized, I placed my other hand on the back of his still bowed head and pressed our foreheads together. “Your loyalty will not be forgotten, Dearthair sa dli.” 

He pulled back with a winced, “I told her we should’ve waited until you got out.”

“Nu-uh, you’re the one who wanted a spring ceremony.” Dani objected with a slap to his chest.

Chuckling, I waved them off before they could start bickering, “It’s fine, I’m happy for you both. Just don’t expect an invite to mine.” 

“Oh, I’ll be there. Whether as a guest or a Fae up in a tree is your choice.” Dani snarked. “Hey, wait a minute. Why didn’t I get the same greeting as Calvin?”

“When’s the last time you showed a shred of formality, Babes?” I asked, a smirk curving my lips.

“Oh! So, you want to talk about formality? Was it formal when you let Julius pour wine over your-” The rest of her sentence was lost in an incomprehensible mumble as Cal slapped a hand over her mouth. Something her poor mate had to do more often than not but honestly it was just too easy to antagonize her. 

Wiping the amusement from my expression, I nodded gravely, “The sacrifices a Queen must make for interdimensional relations is thee height of formality.”

Pink eyes widened and I could almost feel her jaw drop at the utter bullshit that had just left my mouth. Fucking Julius Cesar had been anything but a sacrifice. That man had oozed war from every pore and it’d been like sugar to me. I never could resist a warrior. A wicked smile tipped my lips at the memory of Cleo joining our little lust affair not long after it started. 

“Are we going in?” Puck beamed, though his voice sounded a bit stressed. 

One look and it was more than obvious he was uncomfortable with the direction our conversation had taken. “Find us a Nymph then, Lord Prude.” I sassed with a wave of my silver tatted hand.