Micah paced ahead, reaching my father.
“We think we can track Abelle, if you want us to try,” he said. “She headed off in the opposite direction.”
My father shook his head.
“We need you for this. Hopefully there will be time to track her down after we find the kids. I want her brought to justice, but she can’t be our priority right now.”
“Understood,” Micah replied, “but just say the word and she’s a dead woman.”
I felt a huge swell of pride. I knew that part of this mission was to solve the mystery of the fae king’s premonitions and the threat to the In-Between, but I knew deep down that the majority of GASP members were here because of their loyalty to our family—and they were all ready and willing to overcome any obstacle or danger to get the kids home safe.
“Mom, are you okay?” I asked as I drew up near her.
“I’m okay, thanks to Corrine. How are you?” She took my hand, something she hadn’t done for a while. It reminded me of being a kid again, feeling so safe when she was around. It made my heart ache. I missed my kids so much.
“I’m okay,” I attempted a smile.
“Your father says it’s a good sign that Abelle went in the opposite direction—if she’s trying to avoid the castle, it might mean that whoever’s there poses less of a threat to us. We don’t know how much of what she said was lies.”
I nodded. It was a possibility, but there was an equally large chance that they were just as dangerous to us as she was, if not more.
“Stop!” my father commanded, pausing mid-stride.
I froze, listening for noises within the forest.
“There are people nearby. Get off the track and up in the trees if you can. They might be heading this way.”
The team vanished, melting away into the forest, the jinni and vamps disappearing up into the leaves, the werewolves burying themselves into the undergrowth.
But I stood still.
There was something familiar about the voices…
Hazel.
Hazel.
Oh, God. It was my daughter’s voice…
That’s my daughter’s voice!
It’s her!
I started running.
Hazel
“Wait, Tejus.” I gripped his waist more firmly. “I think I can hear something…”
We were almost at the castle, and so far we had managed to escape the shadow’s approach. The feeling of dread that accompanied the shadow hadn’t been felt for a while now, and it seemed that at least for now, we were safe. We had ridden hard, only slowing to a less relentless pace a mile back, giving the bull-horses and riders a much-needed break.
“What is it?” he asked. “The whispers?”
“No…” I hesitated. Was it someone calling my name? It wasn’t coming from the direction of the castle though, but from the forest. Had Jenney come looking for us?
“Can you use True Sight?” I asked, pointing in the direction I thought the voice was coming from. “I’m too weak. It’s not working.”
He looked in the direction of the forest, waving for the other riders to stop.
“What is it, Hazel?” Ruby asked.
“I thought I heard something…”
Tejus put up a hand, silencing me.
“There are people approaching.” Tejus leapt off the bull-horse, drawing his sword. Ash followed suit, and so did the rest of the guards.
“Stay on the horse,” Tejus warned me.
I heard the voice again. It was definitely calling my name…
My throat constricted. I felt my heart starting to hammer in my chest. With trembling hands, I clambered off the saddle.
“What did I just say?” Tejus barked at me.
I shook my head mutely, lowering his blade with my trembling hand.
“Mom! MOM!”
“Hazel? Hazel, is that you?” The reply echoed across the forest, and a moment later my mom appeared, breaking through the foliage with my dad behind her.
“MOM?”
I thought my legs were about to give way. She ran toward me, knocking me back with the force of her embrace. I smelt the familiar, comforting smell of her—The Shade, the shampoo and conditioner she used, the smell of the laundry detergent we had at home.
“MOM! DAD!” Benedict screamed, and a moment later I could feel his body wrapped in the embrace, followed by my dad. Sobs rocked my mother’s body as she repeated our names over and over again.
Eventually, I leaned back—I wanted to look at her face. I still couldn’t quite believe that they were real. She smiled at me, taking in my appearance, then looking at Benedict and doing the same. I turned and hugged my dad, who almost squeezed the life out of me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, laughing. I felt giddy with happiness, like I was in some strange twilight zone. I just couldn’t believe that they were really here. Solid. Real. Safe.