Macy POV
Destin and I land in front of the portal. It is already glowing brightly, which I am thankful for because I have no idea how to open it. I stare at it, trying to muster up the courage to step through.
"How did it know to open?" I ask no one.
"It can sense your presence," Destin informs me. "It is old magic."
"Oh," I reply nervously.
"If you leave it open, just a little, time will flow equally between the realms," he whispers.
"I will do that," I nod.
I ball my fists up at my sides and try to be brave. When I step toward the portal, it grows invitingly.
"It was nice knowing you," Destin mumbles.
"You could always come home," I tell him. "You don't belong in this world."
He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. His wings disappear from his back, and the only thing left to indicate that he is Fae are his pointed ears. "The Immortal Realm holds nothing for me any longer."
"I couldn't choose you," I whisper. "You are not my path."
He runs his fingers through his black hair and takes a step toward me. He is too close, but I don't back away. His hand brushes against my red robes, and his eyes flicker with amusement. "You still look like a goddess in red."
"Destin," I sigh. "Please don't make this harder than it needs to be."
"I know," he steps away. "You are the reason I can't come back. I will never stop wanting you. I didn't think I could love again after Arabella, and then I saw you. You were clumsy and mean. Everything that I shouldn't have wanted, but I did. The only problem was that you belonged to someone else."
"I can't give you what you need," I reply. "Maybe in another time we could have been something to each other, but I have my mates. I will not betray them."
"And that is why I will stay out of your way," he says. "Go home to your mates. If you need anything, send a message through the portal."
"Goodbye, Destin," I whisper.
"Goodbye, Princess," he smiles.
I nod and turn to the portal. I glance over my shoulder one last time before I step through, but Destin is gone. It is like he was never even there. I face forward and try not to think about what I am leaving behind in the Human Realm. Just like Destin and the Immortal Realm. There is nothing left for me here.
I close my eyes and step through the shimmering veil of the portal. When I reopen them, I am met with the vibrant colors of the Immortal Realm. Only things are different. The trees are burned. The ground is sprouting with new life, but it is clear there was a fire here.
I do as Destin requested and keep the portal open just a little. Enough to keep the flow of time equal but not large enought for someone to accidentally step through. When I am satisfied with the size, I turn away.
No one is at the portal to greet me. I don't know why I expected there to be. No one could have known I was coming, but it feels empty. I run in the direction of the palace. The ridiculous sandals that Selene gave me keep slipping on my feet, so I kick them off.
By the time I reach the palace, my feet are burning, and I am sure they are bleeding. My body is fatigued from the flight to the portal, and I am doubled over as I skid to a stop in the front yard.
I look up at the remains of the palace. There is barely anything left. It has been burned to the ground. The new construction surrounding it is the only thing that gives me hope that anyone is still alive.
"Winston! Edward!" I scream.
No one answers me. They must have gone somewhere else. I groan at the thought of flying anywhere else. Then I get another idea. I round the corner of the palace and head for the stables. I let out a sigh of relief to see they are still standing. I dart inside and see that only one dragon is left in the stalls.
She looks small for a dragon, and she has thick black scales. They look like oil when the light shines on them. I hope she is strong enough to carry me. She lets out a small stream of fire when she sees me, but it doesn't ignite the ground around me.
The dragon paws the ground like an impatient horse, desperate to be let out of the stall. I raise my hand as I approach her. I don't have any idea what I am doing, but the dragon calms as I open the latch.
As if she understands my urgency, she kneels on the ground, letting me climb on her back. She stands upright and bolts through the stables. She pauses just outside, waiting for me to direct her where to go.
The forest is burned, along with the palace. The Gray Creatures are likely displaced as well. The only other place I know is the lycan city.
"Take me to the lycans," I whisper to the dragon, and she takes off.
She flies into the air and I survey the damage to the realm. Most of the damage is around the palace. The rogues knew exactly where they were going when Selene let them through the portal. Cassian set me up, just like Selene said he did. I try not to take too much satisfaction in the fact that he is dead.
The air is warm on my face, but I can't seem to relax. The closer we get to the lycan city the more my nerves turn. I have no idea how long I have been away. What if Edward and Winston have moved on? I am sure there are many beautiful lycan women who would be happy to be at their sides.
"No," I tell myself aloud. "I would have known if they betrayed the bond."
Would I, though? Is the mate bond strong enough to stay intact across realms?
The dragon begins to descend, and she lands gracefully outside of the lycan city. My heart is in my throat as I dismount. I pat her on the head, and she huffs proudly before finding some grass to graze on.
When I step through the gates of the city, everything is silent, but not like before. The city seems brighter than the last time I was here. Buildings have been repaired and painted, and flowers have been planted along the streets. Tears fill my eyes because everything is so beautiful.
A door opens and slams shut. Edward and Winston are standing in front of one of the buildings. Their eyes are wide as they take me in.
"Hi, boys," I wave awkwardly.
"Macy," Winston breathes my name.