The Compasses both rested their gaze on me. Jacob was the one to answer. “Yes, time is much slower here, which is why the fey can live many more millennia on this world. We are practically immortal here, and yet there are so many dangers that our lives ended up being much longer on Earth.”

I rubbed my right hand across my face, trying to arrange my thoughts into a semblance of order. “So the rise of the dragon king…”

“Seven days,” Louis answered, with no extra frills.

Holy hell. Schooling my features, I finished stepping through the portal. The trip back was more intense than usual for a step-through. I felt extreme pressure and a mild turbulence, but eventually I made it to the exit. I arrived back on the edge of the sanctuary-forest-zone from where I’d disappeared.

I waited for the others to finish their journey back, and even though I was exhausted I didn’t let my guard down. I walked in a circle, keeping an eye on all angles, making sure nothing or no one got the drop on me. I wasn’t sure what the hell was going on with the jinn, but if they came for me again I needed to have a plan. But how was I supposed to find any helpful information on a race, that until this moment, I’d thought was no more than a supernatural fable?

A shimmer appeared in the air right before Jacob exited the doorway. I reached out and captured his hand, holding it tightly in my own. I was so glad to see him again. Braxton was next, and Louis the last through. He’d have held the shield until the rest of us were safe.

Braxton straightened to his full height, which was like somewhere in the clouds, his head shifting around as he took in the surroundings. He got right to business. “First thing, we need some rest, and then we have to deal with the potential future threat of the jinn.”

He’d had the same thoughts as me.

“A jinn sent you to Faerie?” Louis showed no surprise or fear in regards to the appearance of these ancient fey. Of course, he didn’t seem to fear anyone, so that wasn’t the best indicator.

Braxton growled low in his chest. “Yes, it was a jinn. I just managed to grab on before she disappeared.”

Louis’ expression didn’t change. I wasn’t sure he was grasping the true seriousness of the situation. “It was an elemental jinn.” My voice had a ring of challenge.

Louis pushed back strands of his light hair. Something flashed across those eyes, but still his relaxed expression remained. If it was still there in a minute, I was punching it right off his face.

“An elemental you say … well, there was no way lizard here just attached himself. That jinn allowed him to go with you.”