“You don’t say.” I shuddered. “She made vines grow through their bodies and rip them apart. I’ve never been appalled and pumped at the same time.”

Everyone laughed.

Then I sobered. “I have so many questions . . . starting with how did that start as an astral projection and lead to me being there?”

“I feel Everest has to answer that. But you started screaming Seelie and that’s when you vanished physically. I’m guessing it’s not a coincidence that your body went to Seelie when Thorne and Sage did.” Tegan grimaced but then a piece of paper appeared out of thin air, with little orange flames on it. She snatched it, opened it, and then scowled as she read. We all waited patiently. She cursed. “Thorne says you were right. The missing people had been on the news. They’re all half-breeds the Unseelies kidnapped, hypnotized, and used to get the barrier off the archway. The Unseelie Prince did most of the heavy lifting in taking the barrier down. He just needed someone on the inside to help.”

Knots formed in my stomach. Everyone grumbled.

“There are some minor injuries among the civilians but no deaths for Seelie.” She took the note and crumpled it in her hand and then it vanished into a cloud of rainbow mist. “Thorne and Sage are going to remain in Seelie, with Saffie, refortifying their safety. They were able to remove all Unseelies from the realm, so they are safe for now and the Unseelie shouldn’t be able to repeat that.”

“How did you find me so fast?”

Tegan shrugged. “I sent enough magic to locate you and tell Tenn where to go.”

“Well, thank the Goddess you’re back. For fuck’s sake, I was good and lost and stuck.”

Tegan grinned. “Sorry, Everest is quite annoying with you.”

I scowled. “What do you mean?”

“Like, I had it under control, so did Thorne and Sage. We realized well-enough what had happened, which is why Saffie went after you, but nooooo, Everest had to swoop in and hide you from everyone’s sight. Thorne, Sage, Saffie, Tenn, and even me. None of us could see you. Took me a second to find you. It was quite impressive, actually. Can’t wait ‘til he’s on our side officially. I wanna set him loose.”

My heart couldn’t handle it anymore. “I don’t know what he’s trying to do to me. Why he won’t join us . . . Why he’s always hiding me⁠—”

“Keeping you alive,” Hunter said softly from the couch across from me. His golden eyes were haunted and distant. He didn’t look at me as he spoke softly, “Your soulmate feels unbearable, suffocating terror that he won’t be able to save you, and so he hides you as a precaution.”

I opened my mouth, then shut it. My chest grew tight like it was trying to squeeze my heart and lungs.