“My apologies, of course.” Chrysanthe set her hand on Eclipse’s shoulder.
The night mare trotted over to our car and circled around it so she stood on the driveway in front of it.
Magic hummed in the air—it was an alien kind of magic that was cool like the night and soft like moonlight, but I could tell it came from the night mares.
With the grinding of stone on stone, an archway made of rock grew out of the ground, forming a perfect arch before a twisted metal gate grew in front of it.
The gate soundlessly swung open, revealing a foggy black swirl of nothingness.
Despite myself, I grabbed Greyson’s hands—which were still secured around my waist—and squeezed.
I thought he’d say something mocking as Chrysanthe and Eclipse disappeared through the misty door—which widened to allow Lord Linus to start inching our car through.
Surprisingly, Greyson glossed over my moment of weakness. “I was thinking we should try to picture the park outside Timber Ridge,” he said. “It has enough landmarks that it should be easier for the night mares to locate.”
“We could try the Pack lodge.” I gulped as the car disappeared entirely through the portal.
“I suspect the landmarks of Timber Ridge and the playground equipment are more easily traceable than the forest. The trees around the lodge are unique to us wolves, but I don’t think the night mares use scent like we do,” Greyson said.
“Good point.” I leaned back into Greyson’s chest as Solstice placidly trudged his way up to the portal. “The park it is, then.”
I stiffened when we passed through the portal.
The world turned into shades of blues and purples, and I saw a faint glitter that made me think of stars. It was a dizzying shift, but it wasn’t too far off from how I felt when I climbed a touch too high in a tree and happened to look down when I was contemplating jumping.
It made my stomach do a funny flip in my gut, but that was all.
Within a moment we were stepping out of the swirl.
It was night—the beautiful velveteen blue of midnight. A full moon hung in the sky, and the stars glittered more brightly than they did in the human realm and somehow seemed more…full.
The Night Realm itself was lush with greenery. There was a hedge shaped like a teapot, bushes full of flowers that bloomed in the moonlight, and all of this pressed against the beautiful castle of the Night Court.
Impossibly huge windows that were multiple stories tall made up one side of the palace, overlooking the gardens and huge horse statues with stars and moons positioned on their backs and fountains that gushed with crystalline water, and glass lanterns that had to be the size of a human hung from the peaks of the castle, marking immense archways and gorgeous fae architecture.
It glittered with fae magic and was simultaneously so beautiful it made my soul hurt, and so different that my mind reeled with the change.
“Woah.” I grabbed at Solstice’s neck as I tried to mentally adjust to the abrupt transition of day to night. Behind me, Greyson shifted, but he said nothing—apparently he was unmoved by the glory of the Night Court.
Eclipse picked her way around Greyson’s car, Chrysanthe still perched on her back. “Was the trip through the gate upsetting?” Chrysanthe asked.
“No—it wasn’t bad at all. It’s just…I wasn’t prepared mentally for it to be nighttime.”
“Oh, yes.” Chrysanthe peered up at the beautiful sky. “Time behaves differently here in the Night Realm. It doesn’t always match up with the human world.”
“It’s lovely, though. You two really should come stay in the Night Realm for an extended visit.” Lord Linus rested his forearms on the frame of the car window as he peered back at us. “Bring the whole Pack—you wolves love the moon, don’t you? You’ll have a blast here!”
“Thank you for the invitation,” Greyson said.
“Of course! Now, did Chrysanthe tell you that to get to your home, you’ll both need to clearly picture a location? Solstice will take you through first and anchor the gate, and then Lady Chrysanthe and I will follow behind.”
“We have a location in mind.” I tried to twist to look back at Greyson, but it was a little too awkward given how close he was to me. “We’ll have to do the road by the park? Because you can’t drive your car around on the park’s lawn. Then Mayor Pearl will fine us for destruction of public property.”
“This Mayor Pearl of yours sounds tyrannical,” Chrysanthe said.