The Lost Prince

Wait. Maybe there was someone I could ask. I remembered his face in the locker room, the way he’d looked around as if he knew something was there. I remembered his words. If you need help, Ethan, all you have to do is ask. If you’re in trouble, you can come to me. For anything, no matter how small or crazy it might seem. Remember that.



Guro. Guro might be the only one who would understand. He believed in the invisible things, the creatures you couldn’t see with the naked eye. That’s what he’d been trying to tell me in the locker room. His grandfather was a Mang-Huhula, a spiritual leader. Spirits to faeries wasn’t that big of a leap, right?



Of course, I might be reading too much into it. He might think that I’d finally gone off the deep end and call the people in the white coats.



“What are you brooding over?” Kenzie murmured, her breath soft on my cheek.



I squeezed her hand and stood, pulling her up with me. “I think,” I began, hoping the others would be okay with a detour, “that I’m going to have to ask Leanansidhe for one last favor.”



* * *



She wasn’t entirely happy with the idea of us running off to Louisiana again. “How will I know you won’t just decide to go home, darlings?” the Dark Muse said, giving me a piercing stare. “You might see your old neighborhood, get homesick, return to your families, and leave me high and dry. That wouldn’t work out for me, pets.”



“I’m not running away,” I said, crossing my arms. “I’m not going to lead those things right to my home. Besides, they might already be hanging around my neighborhood, looking for me. I’m coming back. I swear, I’m not backing out until this is finished, one way or another.”



Leanansidhe raised a slender eyebrow, and I realized I’d just invoked one of the sacred vows of Faery. Damn. Well, I was in it for the long haul, now. Not that I couldn’t have broken my promise if I wanted to; I was human and not bound by their complex word games, but making an oath like that, in front of a faery queen no less, meant I’d better carry it out or unpleasant things might happen. The fey took such vows seriously.



“Very well, darling.” Leanansidhe sighed. “I still do not see the point of this ridiculous side quest, but do what you must. Since Grimalkin is no longer around, I will have to find someone else to take you home. When did you want to leave?”



“As soon as Keirran joins us.”



“I’m here,” came a quiet voice from the hallway, and the Iron prince came into the room. He looked tired, more solemn than usual, with shadows crouched under his eyes that hadn’t been there before. Annwyl was not with him.



“Where are we going?” he asked, looking from me to Kenzie and back again. “Back to the park already?”



“Not yet.” I held up my single rattan stick. “If we’re going to be walking into this lady’s lair or nest or whatever, I’m going to need a better weapon. I think I can convince my kali master to lend me one of his. He has a whole collection of knives and short swords.”



And I want to talk to Guro one more time, let him know what’s going on, that I didn’t just drop out. I owe him that much, at least. And maybe he can tell my folks I’m all right. For now, anyway.



Keirran nodded. “Fair enough,” he said.



“Where’s Annwyl?” asked Kenzie. “Is she okay?”



“She’s fine. The fight—the glamour-eaters—it took more out of her than we first realized. She’s sleeping right now. Razor is with her—he’ll come to me when she wakes up.”



“Do you want to wait for her?” Kenzie asked. “We don’t mind, if you wanted to let her sleep a bit.”



“No.” Keirran shook his head. “I’m ready. Let’s go.”



I watched him, the way he looked back nervously, as if he was afraid Annwyl could come through the door at any moment. “She doesn’t know we’re leaving,” I guessed, narrowing my eyes. “You’re taking off without her.”



Keirran raked a guilty hand through his bangs. “You saw what they did to her,” he said grimly. “Out of all of us, she’s the one in the most danger. I can’t take that risk again. She’ll be safer here.”



Kenzie shook her head. “So you’re just leaving her behind? She’s going to be pissed.” Putting her hands on her hips, she glared at him, and he wouldn’t meet her eyes. “I know I’d kick your ass if you pulled that stunt with me. Honestly, why do boys always think they know what’s best for us? Why can’t they just talk?”



“I’ve often wondered the same, darling,” Leanansidhe sighed. “It’s one of the mysteries of the universe, trust me. But I need an answer, pets, so I know whether or not to call a guide. Are you three going to wait for the Summer girl, or are you going on without her?”



I looked at Keirran, questioning. He hesitated, looking back toward the door, eyes haunted. I saw the indecision on his face, before he shook his head and turned away. “No,” he said, ignoring Kenzie’s annoyed huff. “I want her to be safe. I’d rather have her angry at me than lose her to those monsters. Let’s go.”



* * *



It took most of the night. Leanansidhe’s piskie guide knew of only one trod to my hometown; Guro’s house was still clear across town where we came out, and we had to call a taxi to take us the rest of the way. During the half-hour cab ride, Kenzie dozed off against my shoulder, drawing a knowing smile from both Keirran and the driver. I didn’t mind the journey, though I did find myself thinking that I wished Grimalkin was here—he would have found us a quicker, easier way to Guro’s house—before I caught myself.



Whoa, when did you start relying on the fey, Ethan? That can’t happen, not now, not ever.



Careful not to disturb Kenzie, I crossed my arms and stared out the window, watching the streetlamps flash by. And I tried to convince myself that I still wanted nothing to do with Faery. As soon as this business with the glamour-eaters was done, so was I.



Somehow, I knew it wasn’t going to be that simple.



The taxi finally pulled up to Guro’s house in the early hours of the morning. I paid the driver with the last of my cash, then gazed up the driveway to the neat brick house sitting up top.



Hope Guro is an early riser.



I knocked on the front door, and immediately a dog started barking from within, making me wince. Several seconds later, the door opened, and Guro’s face stared at me through the screen. A big yellow lab peered out from behind his legs, wagging its tail.



“Ethan?”



“Hey, Guro.” I gave an embarrassed smile. “Sorry it’s so early. Hope I didn’t wake you up.”



Before I could even ask to come in, the screen door swung open and Guro beckoned us inside. “Come in,” he said in a firm voice that set my heart racing. “Quickly, before anyone sees you.”



We crowded through the door. The interior of his home looked pretty normal, though I don’t know what I was expecting. Mats on the floor and knives on the walls, maybe? We followed him through the kitchen into the living room, where an older, scruffy-looking dog gave us a bored look from the sofa and didn’t bother to get up.



“Sit, please.” Guro turned to me, gesturing to the couch, and we all carefully perched on the edge. Kenzie sat next to the old dog and immediately started scratching his neck. Guro watched her a moment, then his dark gaze shifted back to me.



“Have you been home yet?”



“I…” Startled by his question, I shook my head. “No, Guro. How did you—”



“The news, Ethan. You’ve been on the news.”



I jerked. Kenzie looked up at him with a small gasp.



Guro nodded grimly. “You, the girl and another boy,” he went on, as a sick feeling settled in my stomach. “All vanished within a day of each other. The police have been searching for days. I don’t know you—” he nodded at Keirran “—but I can only assume you’re a part in this, whatever it is.”



Keirran bowed his head respectfully. “I’m just a friend,” he said. “I’m only here to help Ethan and Kenzie. Pay no attention to me.”



Guro looked at him strangely. His eyes darkened, and for a second, I almost thought he could see through the glamour, through the Veil and Keirran’s human disguise, to the faery beneath.



“Who was that at the door, dear?” A woman came into the room, dark-haired and dark-eyed, blinking at us in shock. A little girl of maybe six stared at us from her arms. “These…” She gasped, one hand going to her mouth. “Aren’t these the children that were on TV? Shouldn’t we call the police?”



I gave Guro a pleading, desperate look, and he sighed.



“Maria.” He smiled and walked over to his wife. “I’m sorry. Would you be able to entertain our guests for a moment? I need to speak to my student alone.” She looked at him sharply, and he took her hand. “I’ll explain everything later.”



The woman glanced from Guro to us and back again, before she nodded stiffly. “Of course,” she said in a rigidly cheerful voice, as if she was trying to accept the whole bizarre situation. I felt bad for her; it wasn’t every day three strange kids landed on your doorstep, two of whom were wanted by the police. But she smiled and held out a hand. “We can sit in the kitchen until your friend is done here.”



Kenzie and Keirran looked at me. I nodded, and they rose, following the woman into the hall. I heard her asking if they wanted something to eat, if they’d had breakfast yet. Both dogs hopped up and trailed Kenzie as she left the room, and I was alone with my master.



Guro approached and sat on the chair across from me. He didn’t ask questions. He didn’t demand to know where I’d been, what I was doing. He just waited.



I took a deep breath. “I’m in trouble, Guro.”



“That I figured,” Guro said in a quiet, non-accusing voice. “What’s happened? Start from the beginning.”