“So, um, exactly how does this portal thingy work?” Ray couldn’t help grumbling. “We jump through a busted-up billboard and end up somewhere nobody inhabits on our plane? What if it dumps us in the middle of the ocean?”
The Princess shrugged. “I do not know. I have never used it.”
“Don’t worry, Ray,” I said. “You can fly, remember. However, if we end up in the ocean”—I gestured between Rourke and myself—“it’ll be one hell of a swim. So on that note, who wants to go first?”
“We will,” Tyler volunteered. “I want to go in ahead of you. We don’t know what the time frame will look like once we arrive or what may have happened while we’ve been gone. If I can get back home and secure the area by the time you come arrive, that would be ideal.”
I nodded once. “That sounds good. You and Danny go first. We’ll plan to meet up at home.” I turned to address the Princess. “Are you positive there’s no definitive way to calculate the time change?”
She shook her head. “The time is ever-changing. It is because our planes do not relate in time, only in space.”
The Princess had given me her summoning name before we’d begun our walk here, which meant I could summon her instantly to my plane if there was a dire emergency. I had sworn only to use it if absolutely necessary.
Two demon guards stepped forward. Tyler and Danny turned so they stood back to back. The demons went to work binding them with the spelled rope. The Princess uttered something harsh in Demonish, then said in English, “Make sure it is secure.”
These demons appeared comfortable around her. She had chosen only those who had been loyal to her in the past. The Underworld was going to be in upheaval while the reign changed from Prince to Princess. We’d discovered that the demons who had fled the arena had ended up gathering in the square, and the Prince had gone to address them and likely calm them down. The Princess would have a battle on her hands if the Prince tried to fight her to keep his throne. But she hadn’t asked for our help.
“So now what?” Danny asked. “Once we’re tied up you’re just going to toss us through the advertisement and it’s done?”
“Nobody is going to toss us anywhere,” Tyler griped, irritated by his circumstances. He was trying not to move too much while they tied him up, but it was hard for him. “We can get close enough and jump through on our own.”
“I’m not sure jumping will be in the cards once they secure your ankles. We may have to push you through.” I chuckled. “But I promise to do it gently.”
“One more question,” Danny asked. “How do we get out of this magic rope once we hit our side of things?”
“Our magic will fade quickly on your plane,” the Princess replied. “It may take a moment or two, so be patient. Make sure you are clear of the portal or the magic may linger for longer. Once it fades the ropes will disintegrate.”
“That sounds easy enough,” Tyler grumbled. “Just so long as we don’t get dumped into a volcano.”
“No matter where you end up, I’m positive you’ll find your way home. You have innate wolf senses,” I reminded him. “Plus, the witches had to have put in some precautions. They wouldn’t risk hot lava either. The main objective will be for all of us to make it back to the Safe House. I’ll call there as soon as I can find a phone, you do the same. Make sure Nick or Marcy monitor the office phones at Hannon & Michaels if you make it back before us.”
“Will do,” Danny said, trying to give me a small salute, but only managing a flick of his wrist since he was firmly tied up. “Just do us a favor and keep yourselves safe. I don’t like that the witches are unresponsive. That spells nasty trouble.” Danny was the head of security in the city. Trouble for the witches meant trouble for the city. “We won’t know what we’re getting ourselves into until we reach home, but that also means we could be plowing headlong into danger.”
“Jess, Danny’s right. Stay vigilant,” Tyler said. “And I never had a chance to ask you what happened right after I was taken. Did Dad go after the fracture pack? The Made wolves have to be stopped or it could turn into the worst supernatural breach the world has ever seen. From what I saw they had no control, no leadership, and there is no way they can be corralled for long without it being catastrophic.”
I shook my head. “No, as far as I know Dad hasn’t gone after them,” I answered. “But, like you, I have no idea how long we’ve been gone or what’s happened in our absence. My trip here ended up being… a little unexpected, and I didn’t have the opportunity to check in with Dad before I left.” Rourke grunted at my understatement. “He was sending wolves down to do recon, I do know that.” I actually hadn’t let myself think about the Made wolves, because that situation was another huge complication I didn’t have any no control over while I was here. “But you’re right, whatever is going on with that will have to be our first priority.” Pack came first. Always.
Tyler nodded. “Making contact with Dad will be the first order of business. I know the Hags will be an issue at some point, but before we help the witches we deal with the wolves.”
“Agreed,” I said. The sorcerers were going to be another obstacle. They weren’t going to stop their pursuit. I needed them off my back. I turned to the Princess. “Do you know anything about the deal the demons struck with the sorcerers about finding me?” I asked.
“Yes and no,” she answered. “I was aware of what was happening, and a deal was being made, but I was not consulted on the details.”
“Is there any way you can offer them another deal or make them back off permanently? Or threaten them in some way? They’re trying to steal my power, just like Lili was, and I need something that will scare them off the chase.” The sorcerers were desperate for a way to increase their magic and they weren’t going to back off without a substantial threat.
“I owe you a life debt and I will work to see it done,” she agreed. “I gave you my summoning name, but I also want to give you this. It’s called a zplexy zsafy, which translates to ‘scribe stone.’ ” She reached into a pocket of her long dress and drew out a perfectly round, flat stone with a metallic sheen, and placed it in the palm of my upturned hand. “If you rub this with salt while saying only my first name, it will connect us. There are several ways to use the stone, but the easiest way is to place it against what I’ve been told is called a telephone.”