Fen and Varis trail me as I leave Sly's office and head to the door we first came in. "Would they arrive through here?" I ask Fen.
"There are other entrances," he says. "But this one is most used."
When we turn a corner, I hear Sly’s voice coming from the main ballroom. "Well, well, aren't you a lovely creature full of feistiness. The princess failed to mention how utterly delightful her friends are."
"The princess? What are you talking about?"
I recognize that fake southern drawl! I run around the corner and into the ballroom, and see Es and Pete standing close to each other staring around the room wide-eyed. When Es sees me, she gasps. "Ari? What happened to you?"
Crap. My illusion spell isn't active, so my Fae ears and hair are on full display. And I'm dressed like a medieval princess from a fairytale, thanks to Sly and his obsession with costumes and playing doll with his guests. "Es! Pete! I can explain. Kind of."
We three crash into each other in a mingle of arms and hugs, and the feel of these two solidly real, relatively normal people I've known for so long calms my soul in a way nothing else does. But they are here—and in danger—because of me.
"What is this place?" Pete asks, running a hand through his red mop of hair. He scans the room, mouth agape, taking in the strangeness of it all. "Is that—"
He's staring at Marasphyr. "Yes, she's a real mermaid. This place… it's a safe place for people from all over," I say awkwardly.
"Like a domestic violence shelter?" Es asks, though I can tell from her tone and expression she knows this isn't a shelter.
"More like a neutral zone for paranormal or magical beings from different worlds," I elaborate.
Fen walks over and holds out his hand. "It's nice to see you again, Es." He turns to her boyfriend. "Pete. Nice to finally meet you. I have heard so much from Arianna."
Es shakes his hand, firmly. "I like you, Fen. I told Ari that too. But if you're getting her mixed up in something dangerous… "
I nearly choke at that. Then I start laughing, because what else can I do but laugh at the absurdity of this? How do I tell my best friend everything? About the contract and my mother and Inferna and Avakiri and my bloodline and that I'm to be queen of two kingdoms. How do I tell her I'm wanted for execution, that I spent the last several weeks in a dungeon, that I thought I would surely die and never see them again? How do I tell her she is now in danger because of the people who want me dead?
The words are resting on my lips, waiting to be spoken, when Dean saunters in, somehow once again missing his shirt.
Es stops paying attention to me as Dean's charms light her up and turn her to jelly. And he notices. His smile spreads over his handsome face as he glides to us, his perfect body glistening under the lights of the ballroom.
"Why, hello. I'm Prince Dean, but you can just call me Dean. Who might you be?" He's holding Es's hand to his lips when Pete smiles and holds out a hand to shake Dean's.
"I'm Pete, this is my girlfriend Es. We're friends of Ari's."
I stifle a laugh as Es regains her focus and steps back, allowing Dean to reluctantly shake Pete's hand.
"So, what's this about a princess?" Es asks, eyeing my pointy ears. "What did they do to you?"
"Well, I—"
Something screeches.
Someone screams.
Fen reaches for his sword, but it isn't there since Sly changed our clothes.
He stands closer to me, and Baron growls, pacing in front of us.
Es reaches for my hand. "What was that?"
"I don't know. It kind of sounded like… "
"Lopsi!" Sly sounds worried. Too worried.
"Who's Lopsi?" Pete asks.
"Sly's pet," I say. "I haven't met her, but I think we're about to."
More screaming, and then… the room fills with darkness that blocks out all light. I look up and see a creature of black fur and rotting flesh, wings spread, its massive body taking up half the ballroom, its head bent slightly to avoid hitting the very tall ceilings. The beast resembles a bat with huge ears and wings stretching from its front limbs, but its face is twisted and vicious, a face torn from nightmares. It hisses, and thick saliva drips from its razor teeth.
"What the hell is that thing?" yells Es.
"A Drakar from Vandaris," says Sly, stepping between us and the beast. "This pretty beast is worth a fortune, so no harming it." He turns to the bat and speaks with affection. "Now, Lopsi, how did you get out of your cage? Someone forget to close it? Come on, let’s just take you back there and—"
Lopsi screeches, and I have to cover my ears to block out the piercing sound. Sly steps back, frowning.