“Are you ready, my beautiful goddess?” Dev was so happy to be going home that I pushed all of my fears and worries down deep where he wouldn’t know them.
I simply smiled and said yes.
I glanced back at the long train of friends and servants behind us. This was a parade in honor of the newly ascended fertility god. All of Faery would welcome us. Devinshea and Declan would lead me in and behind us was Padric. Neil, Lee, and Zack came next, carrying that coffin between them where Daniel lay. I had kissed him as Dev closed the lid and promised to see him soon. Sarah and Felix walked behind the casket, leading the train of luggage we were bringing.
Dev took my hand and squeezed it encouragingly as the door to the sithein shimmered and faded. There, in the hill, was another world. I could see mountains in the distance and a palace of shimmering white. My mother-in-law waited there to greet us. It was stunning and the people lined the streets leading to the great city. A shout went up as the door opened.
Declan took my other hand and held it firmly. “It’s tradition,” he explained with a smile as I was caught. “I want everyone to know how much I care for my new sister. I want everyone to know how important she is.”
We moved forward and the twins helped me walk gracefully down the road as our train began moving into Faery. Dev’s face was alight with excitement as his people greeted him. Declan smiled as he nodded my way. I could practically feel his satisfaction.
I was in his world now.
I glanced back and saw the door that separated the worlds shimmer and close and wondered if I would ever see my home again.
Zoey, Daniel, and Dev will return in Steal the Sun, coming March 2014!