“What is wrong with her?” Cormac asked as Dakota carried her inside.
“She used too much power and drained herself. She’s been healing every injury that comes in and used a significant amount of power to get us here.”
“Add that to my injury and what she just did to save us. Poor girl, what can we do?” he asked.
“She needs rest,” Dakota said, and began searching through her bag for the portal vials. “How many of you are here?”
“Too many to leave, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“They will be coming back. Vincent does not give in.”
“We will be ready for them next time.” Orlaith smiled and continued to stare at the sleeping Anastasia. “It’s fascinating to me, to see her in person. Seems only yesterday she was coming to me in my visions. Riding the back of a firebird and leaving a scorching trail of enemies behind her. She is quite magnificent.”
“She is,” Dakota said softly, and lifted one of the vials. “Nallia, can you travel?”
“Yes, I am fine! It is only a twisted leg,” she said, pointing to her ankle.
“Okay, we need to get her back to Terrenia.” Dakota lifted her into his arms. “Are you sure you won’t come with us? We can come back and get you to give you time to prepare.”
“We will be fine, Fighter.” She smiled. “I had visions of you as well,” she said softly. “Apart, you are each only part of a whole. If you are to achieve victory, you must remain united.” She gently patted his cheek. “Go now.”
Unsure of what to say, Dakota threw the vial down and they stepped through it and back into Terrenia.
“What happened?” Tony stalked towards them, anger etched on his face. “You show up, then immediately leave?”
“We went to warn the Guisnows that Vincent may be coming for them, and when we got there, they were already under attack.”
“Is she all right?” he asked, noticing Anastasia in Dakota’s arms.
“Yes. She had to draw quite a bit of power to get us there safely.”
“Nallia? Are you all right?” Tony asked.
“Why do you men keep asking me this? I am fine,” she growled, and Nix smiled.
“It’s because we care for you, my sweet.”
She rolled her eyes and together they headed off towards their camps.
“I am going to leave her with Carmen. Then we need to go and see if we can’t get to the other worlds. I have vials left, but if Vincent keeps beating us to them, we will have no more allies to align ourselves with.”
“She is not going to be happy,” he said, and gestured to Anastasia.
“I’d rather have to deal with her irritation than watch everyone I love die at the hands of that madman.”
“I agree. I will grab my weapons.”
“Meet me out here in thirty.”
Tony nodded and then headed off towards the cabin he and Elizabeth were sharing. Dakota carried Anastasia into Carmen’s small cottage and laid her down gently on the couch.
“She okay?” Carmen asked as she came into the large room.
“She will be. Used too much magic.”
Carmen nodded. “That’s what I thought. Give her rest, she will be fine. She has been going solid for the last couple of weeks and it is taking its toll on her. Those two days were not enough.”
“Try telling her that.”
“I wouldn’t dare.” Carmen smiled.
“Dakota?” Anastasia’s weak voice sounded from the couch, and Dakota and Carmen turned towards her.
“Here, love. How ya feeling?” He took a seat next to her and brushed her hair from her face.
“Like I got hit with a truck.”
“I’ll make you some tea,” Carmen offered, and began moving around in the kitchen.
“What happened?”
“You drained yourself and passed out.”
“The Guisnows?”
“They are fine. You scared off most of the Brutes, and the ones you didn’t died.”
She nodded and pressed the heel of her palm to her head. “How am I supposed to defeat a man as powerful as Vincent when I have so many limitations on my magic?” Dakota wrapped an arm around her as Carmen brought her a cup. “You will defeat him, Ana. Magic or not, you are one scary chick.”
Anastasia laughed lightly and leaned into him again.
“You have to allow yourself to grow, Anastasia. You went your entire childhood without knowing what you truly were. You haven’t had nearly the time Vincent has to prepare. You have to give yourself time to get used to your magic.”
“We don’t have time.”
“True, but you are forgetting something,” Carmen said softly.
“What?”
“You were a formidable enemy before you gained your magic. You are forgetting that you have other strengths. Some that don’t come from magic.”
Anastasia smiled softly and nodded. She took a sip of the tea and immediately felt relief in her head. “What kind of tea is this?”
“A good kind.” Carmen winked at her. “I put together some more vials. You have to use these, Anastasia. You need to preserve your magic where you can.”
Anastasia stood and stretched as she felt whatever was in that tea work its way through her aching body.
“You two be safe, and Anastasia, refrain from using your magic. You need to give yourself time to rest.”
“I will.” She smiled and walked with Dakota outside.
“How are you?” Dakota turned her to face him and then cupped her face with his hands.
“Stressed, but okay. We have to get to those other worlds.”
“Tony and I are going to head out.”
“I’m going with you.”
“Ana—”
“Absolutely not, Dakota. We have to stay together.”
Dakota thought back on what the Guisnow queen had said. He couldn’t deny that he felt stronger with her by his side, and he knew she felt the same.
“No magic.”
“Agreed.”
“How do you feel physically?”
Anastasia quirked an eyebrow. “I hardly think this is the time for that,” she said with a wicked smile.
Dakota blushed. “Not what I was referring to. Can you fight?”
In two moves she had him on the ground pinned beneath her. “You tell me.” She kissed him softly and he rolled her over.
“I win.” He grinned. They both turned their heads at the sound of a throat clearing.
“You ready?” Tony smiled awkwardly at them.
“Yes.” Dakota stood and pulled Anastasia to her feet.
“How are you feeling?” Tony asked Anastasia with a worried look.
“I’m fine, Tony. I have agreed to use no magic and Carmen drugged me.”
At his look, Dakota let out an exasperated laugh. “She drank some tea, and not like the kind my mother likes to serve.”
“What kind does she like to serve?” Anastasia asked curiously.
“She and Tony served me some tea that knocked me out.”
“We were only trying to help,” Tony insisted.
“Yeah, yeah, so you say.”
“Are you sure—”
“Tony, I’m fine, and you aren’t leaving me here.”
He sighed. “Very well. If a situation looks dangerous, we pull back and get home.” Tony pointedly looked at them. “I promised your mother.”
Dakota nodded knowingly. “Let’s get going, then.” He tossed a vial down and they stepped into a new world.
* * *
Two hours later they were coming back through the portal and into Terrenia with new allies. The Mamsets were large beasts that looked similar to mammoths, only their tusks were barbed, their feet clawed, and their teeth razor-sharp. Anastasia looked at the fresh wound on Dakota’s arm. That had almost caused her to snap, but they needed the beasts. They were a lot more irritable than the beings from the other worlds, and Anastasia had almost wanted to say screw it and leave them behind. They didn’t have time for creatures who believed themselves above everyone else; they were already dealing with one man like that.
But once the creatures heard Vincent wanted to take over their world as well, they were more than happy to offer their services in killing him.
“We do not want to be bothered until it is time,” the large beast grumbled as he followed Tony towards the last empty space they had in the village. There was one other small spot, but she was saving that for the fairies Argento had warned her about.
The empty campsite was right between the Brutes and the Guisnows. She figured that was a good spot to make sure they didn’t try anything.
“All right,” Dakota said, and stepped next to her. “One more before the Tinkerbells, right?”
Anastasia snorted and Dakota laughed. “I haven’t heard you snort in years!” he said through his laughter. Anastasia rolled her eyes and punched him lightly in the arm.
“Don’t go picking fights you can’t win,” he said with a smile.
“Who says I can’t win?”
The tone of their conversation had switched from playful to something else. She saw the desire in his eyes. As much as she wanted him, and she absolutely did, she knew the lives of the next world may rely on them getting there in time to warn them.
Dakota saw the change on her face and kissed her lightly. “Later I can show you who.” He smacked her butt and she let out a laugh.
“All right. Let’s get this over with,” Tony grumbled as he walked back towards them. “Any more creatures like that and I’m going to need a hell of a drink.”
“Sounds like a plan. Shall we?” She tossed the vial down and the same swirling blue light that had once been her shot at freedom appeared.