“You’re not the least bit bothered that we just appeared out of thin air?” Cassie asked.

“Tsk, tsk.” Syndra waved her off, “I’m more concerned that not all of you appeared out of thin air.”

“Elora took a detour to the human realm,” Tamsin told her as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Syndra allowed herself a moment to take comfort in his presence and to assure herself that he was safe.

“I thought I made it clear when I agreed to this whole queen thing that you were not to get yourself thrown in a dungeon by a dark-elf king,” she teased him.

“Forgive me, my queen,” he told her with a slight smile as he took her face in his hands and held her still as he kissed her. When he pulled back they were both breathing heavily. “I won’t let it happen again.” Tamsin stepped away and gave her some space.

Syndra fanned herself as she tried to regain her bearings and Cassie caught her eye. She was smiling and blushing and damned if the human girl's blush didn’t make her own face bloom bright red.

“Explain the Elora remark, please,” Syndra said needing to focus on something other than the very public display Tamsin had just put on for all to see.

Cassie felt Trik's warm hand on the small of her back just before she felt his warm breath on her ear. “Interested in seeing if we can outdo the light-elf king and queen on PDA?”

She turned her head so that she could look up at him. His silver eyes danced with mischief as he stared down at her and she wondered if there would ever be a time that she wasn’t taken breathless by his beauty. “I can imagine that you are rarely outdone,” she quipped, “so I don’t feel the need to attempt it.”

“I’ll leave you be for now, Cassie love, but later, you’re all mine.” His voice was smooth as velvet and laced with seduction, causing a shiver to run down her spine. She didn’t respond to his warning because she knew if she opened her mouth, she would just beg him to follow through with his threat, and oh, how dignifying that would look.

Tamsin was telling Syndra what had taken place at the Lorsan’s castle. He had just began telling her about the portal escape when Cassie tuned back in.

“So Lisa went through the portal to follow Elora, only she didn’t know where Elora had gone?” Syndra asked.

“There are pretty much only two places that Elora would have gone. So it was a fifty-fifty shot of ending up in the right place,” Cassie pointed out.

Syndra snorted. “Fifty-fifty under these circumstances begins to look a lot like screwed regardless.”

“So what do we do now?” Cassie asked.

“We wait for Cush to bring them back,” Trik spoke up.

Cassie shook her head. “Sorry, Babe, but I have to go home.”

“Nothappening,” Trik said matter-of-fact like. “It’s not safe.”

“My parents are going to be flipping out.” She glanced at Syndra. “You were working some mojo on them while I was at your castle, right?”

Syndra nodded. “I used a little magic on them to keep them from thinking you were missing. It was suggestive magic, so whenever they thought of you the magic made them think they had actually seen you recently.” And you’ve been gone for a couple months. It’s January in the human realm.”

“Holy crap two months, do you think the spell is still working?”

“Should be—my magic is good as long as I’m alive. But it is still a good idea for you to actually see them. It will reinforce the magic when you aren’t there.”

“I’m going to tell them everything.” Cassie met Trik’s eyes. “I don’t want to spend my life trying to hide this from them. If I’m going to be with you…,”

“IF?” Trik nearly growled. “There is no if Cassie. You’re mine, period. If you want to tell your parents we will tell them. I will tell them everything and that you belong with me.”

Cassie smiled. “Tell me how you really feel.”

A sultry smirk danced across Trik's face. “I’d rather show you.”

Syndra groaned, “Get a room.” She snapped her fingers at Trik cutting off his reply. “After you save the world.”

Cassie laughed.

“I don’t think he can wait that long,” Tamsin joked.

Cassie's laugh turned into a choked cough at Tamsin’s words. She glanced at Trik and saw the desire in his eyes and felt her face heat up. She shook her head at him. “We have to go to the human realm and talk to my parents,” she told him pointedly, “no time for messing around.”

“Baby, there is always time for messing around,” Trik purred.

“On that I have to agree with the assassin,” Syndra said with a wink.

Trik stared at Cassie thoughtfully. He knew Cassie was right, but he hated the idea of her in danger, and at the moment he felt that anyplace not the light-elf castle was a danger to Cassie.

“Okay,” he finally said, “we’ll go back to your parents, but,” he held up a finger, “only to tell them the truth and then we’re coming right back here. We have battle plans to make.”

Cassie smiled at him and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Trik kissed her lips softly. “I love you.”

She smiled. “I love you.”

“Now that I think I’m going to vomit, can we go?” Syndra asked as she took Tamsin’s hand and headed towards the mirror walls.