Chapter 8

• Alexander POV
• I hated traveling this way, I'd rather be up flying through the air, but how was I to say no to my mate?
• Stepping outside from the portal, I took in the environment and noticed we were in the forest near the cliff that led to the secret world of the Dark Fae.
• “Ugh… is it just me or traveling this way doesn’t do well with a full stomach?” Ryder asked, taking deep breaths while Emily chuckled next to him, rubbing his back.
• “I think it’s more you mixing things that don’t go well together on your plate.” Emily replied to him, getting in return the look that silently said ‘O no you did not just say that.’
• Shaking my head, trying to contain my own smile, I looked around and saw Cole standing near the thick tree, looking away silently into the distance while Warit was sitting on a rock next to a wild blueberry bush, picking on the blueberries absently.
• Letting out a deep breath, I said to myself; ‘I really hope they figure out what is good for them before it’s too late to do anything.’
• I felt her coming before I saw her, and then there was her foot stepping out onto the grass, followed by the rest of her body.
• Smiling, I looked at my beautiful mate; “There you are.”
• She smiled at me as I approached her. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I leaned down, pressing my lips over hers.
• *Throat clearing*
• Hearing the sound, I looked up and noticed Allister, who was half standing in between the portal and the forest land.
• “Do you two mind moving so I can get out from here?” pointing at the portal, he said to us with a raised eyebrow.
• Nerissa’s cheeks grew red. Untangling herself from me, she stepped aside while I gave Allister a smirk.
• “I wouldn’t mind you staying this way.” I joked with him, earning a smack on my shoulder from Nerissa. “What?! You enjoyed the kiss the same as I did and do not try to deny it.” I protested, looking at her.
• Allister chuckled at that; “I’m sure you wouldn’t mind. I was just being polite by asking you to move while on the other hand I could have just as easily moved you and got out of here.”
• I looked at him and laughed; “Maybe, but since you asked so nicely, I’ll let you get out of there.”
• Rolling his eyes, he said; “Damn… I was hoping you will say no.”
• We both laughed at our small bickering with Nerissa and didn't find it funny as she glared at us with her arms crossed over her chest.
• Allister and I noticed her look. While she continued on tapping with her foot to the ground, we both whispered in union; “O- O!”
• A frown was showing on her face while she reprimanded us; “As much as I love that you two are getting along, I know very well that all you both are doing is staling.”
• The truth is that she was right. We were stalling, and we knew we couldn’t do it forever, but can anyone blame us for not wanting our mate anywhere near a dangerous dark witch?
• We didn’t say anything more as we walked towards her, each one of us flanking by her side.
• “Which way?” Nerissa asked, looking around. And while Allister and I were reluctant to answer, Warit got up from his sitting position and said; “Follow me. It’s this way.”
• Cole grunted, but that was all he did, and we all followed after Warit, who led the way toward the cliff where the secret entrance was for the Dark Fae World.
• The rain started to fall over us, soaking us up, making the walk through the forest difficult, but thanks to our shifter side, we were warm enough to endure the cold that followed with the rain and the wind.
• Sometime later we saw the familiar massive rock and the tree that stood by its side and I knew in just a few minutes we would reach inside the Dark Fae land.
• Emily slightly shivered from the cold rain while Ryder wrapped his arms around her, warming her up and shielding her from the cold rain while Nerissa looked at the massive rock and looked at Allister and me; “Is this the entrance?”
• Allister glanced over her head at me while I exhaled deeply, nodding my head at her question.
• “So how will we enter?” She asked, keeping her eyes on the rock.
• “Oh, please tell me you have the needed item because R…” Warit started to say, looking at Allister and me, but stopping as he was about to say Rhea wasn’t here, which we understood all too well.
• He was still hurt, the same as Cole was, but these two were the most two stubborn ass males I have ever met in my life.
• It was obvious they were missing Rhea, but what I couldn’t understand was why in the world they wouldn’t go after her? What is stopping them? It was certainly not Allister or me.
• Yes, Allister and I were glad that we had them help us with this situation, but both of us, we were worried about them too.
• Nerissa looked away from the rock, turning her head towards Allister and me.
• I saw her open her mouth to ask the question, so I was fast to give Warit and the others the reply they were waiting for.
• “Of course we have the item. I took it with me before we left.” I stated.
• Reaching into my backpack, I searched inside it until I found what I was looking for.
• Pulling out the bracelet, the same one that belonged to Rhea, I showed it to Nerissa and others right before I went to search for the spot that we used last time we were here.
• Finding the opening, I reached with my hand inside it, holding onto the bracelet until we all heard like a massive mechanism opening and the familiar glow of a portal opening for us, allowing us all to enter the Dark Fae World.
• “This is so exciting! I was never in the Fae world.” We heard Emily’s excited voice, making us all look at her and her cheeks to blush.
• Ryder chuckled, kissing the top of her head. He whispered to her; “This is not a field trip, babe, so stick to me at all times, ok?”
• Emily gave him a wide smile and rushed to stand next to Nerissa, who was silently watching at the blue glow of the portal.
• “Nervous?” I heard Emily whisper to Nerissa.
• Nerissa breathed in deeply, answering; “A little.”
• Emily took her hand; “Don’t worry, we all are going there together.”
• Nerissa smiled at her, feeling grateful, and I knew it was time for us all to enter the portal.
• Turning around, I looked at my friends, my new family; “Are you ready?”
• Cole and Warit glanced at each other, standing next to each other; “Yes.”
• Ryder on the other hand eyes the portal, groaning low as a curse fell out of his mouth; “Fucking portal travel… there goes my meal…”
• “Ryder?” I called his name, drawing his attention to me; “It’s ok if you wish to stay here or return home, I am… we are not forcing anyone to come with us.”
• He stood up tall, taking in a deep breath; “No, you need us all and I’m going.”
• Looking at him warily I asked; “Will you manage another portal?”
• “Yeah, I’ll survive, no worries.” He replied, chuckling.
• “I’ll go first,” Warit said, stepping towards the entrance and walking inside the portal.
• Cole was second, following Warit’s lead, leaving Emily, Nerissa, Ryder, Allister, and me only.
• Emily looked at Nerissa and asked; “Shall we?”
• Nerissa looked at Allister and me, silently asking for our approval, which we reluctantly gave her.
• We both stood there watching the two walk into the portal and disappearing into it, making the three of us feel uneasy as we watched them go.
• Ryder rushed to the entrance and without a word entered while Allister and I followed their lead and one by one stepped inside the portal.
• The portal opened, granting us entrance on the other end into the Dark Fae World.
• As I was last to enter the portal, I stepped out of it, making the portal immediately disappear behind me.
• I looked around, noticing we were in the dark forest.
• It was too dark to wander around it and try to find Hilda, so we found a clean spot and decided we will use it to camp for the night.
• We were tired and wet so getting a much-needed rest was most welcomed by us all.
• Ryder, Warit, Allister, Cole, and I set up tents and fire while the girls started to prepare some food for us all.
• Soon as we were all set and ready, we sat on the sleeping bags and had our meal.
• Everyone was too tired to bother to speak, as traveling through portals drains out your energy so we bid each other good night and walked towards our set up tents.
• Ryder and Emily shared a tent, while Cole and Warit shared another since Warit forgot to carry his tent, so Cole was kind enough to bite his tongue and let him join in his.
• At least I didn’t have to worry they might kill each other by the morning since everyone was too tired to even lift an arm.
• Allister, Nerissa, and I went inside a bigger tent that was set up for the three of us and soon enough we got settled in as the sleep took over us.
• Morning came, and I could hear the creatures of the forest waking up. The wind blowing through the forest, swaying the low branches of the tall trees.
• I looked next to me at a peacefully sleeping Nerissa, noticing Allister slowly opening his eyes, blinking away the sleep in them.
• “I’ll go prepare fire so we can make coffee and some breakfast,” I told him, seeing him nod his head.
• As I walked outside the tent, I went to gather some dry woods for fire.
• Returning to our little camp, I saw everyone was up and some were sitting near the fire pit, some were stretching while Nerissa and Emily started to prepare breakfast.
• “Good morning,” I said to all, placing dry woods into the fire pit with Allister’s help.
• Nerissa walked towards me and kissed my cheek, smiling; “Good morning.”
• I couldn’t help the smile that showed its way on my face as I looked down at her. We prepared food and coffee when we heard a noise of twigs snapping from behind the tree.
• “Who are you?