Chapter 27
"Where are we?" Cara gripped Hayden's hand in the dark as their heavy breathing filled the room.
"Hayden...." Nora looked around. "Did you...."
"What is this place?" Birdie shivered, feeling an odd chill run up her spin.
"What the hell, Hayden?" Nora hissed, flipping on the light. "You brought them to the island?"
"It's the safest place for all of us right now," Hayden held out his hand.
"Are you kidding me?" Nora began to sweat, her eyes running to make sure the door was locked.
"If we are anywhere else, Maaz will sense us," Hayden said.
"Well, now Afet and the rest of the feys will sense us," Nora sat Noor down on the bed and began to pace the floor.
"We should go back," Birdie looked around with unease. "Mom and baba might need help."
"No!" Cara shook her head. "Are you crazy? Going back would be putting them more at risk. We're barely trained. If we go there they will have to worry about keeping us safe."
"Wow, you're really smart," Nora stared at the demigoddess.
"Zeus blessed me with wisdom," Cara shrugged.
"Nora, is there any place on this island where we can stay for a little while without tipping off Afet or anyone else?" Hayden asked, walking to the window and peeking down to check the guards at the door.
"I... I don't know this place," Nora shook her head. "I can't think of anythi-"
"What is it?" Birdie looked up from where she had taken a seat beside Noor.
"There's a cottage," Nora's heart began to pound. "It belonged to my parents."
"Where is it?" Hayden asked.
"Outside of town," Nora said. "I've been there only once. I can portal us."
"Everyone, gather around," Hayden reached for Noor as the little boy jumped into his arms.
"Hayden," Birdie jumped to her feet and followed her brother. "Do you sense it?"
"Sense what?" Hayden asked, making sure Cara and Noor were together as Nora spun the ring on her finger.
"You don't feel the chill?" Birdie rubbed her hands over her arms.
"You are in the mouth of the beast," Cara looked over her shoulder. "There are more fey here than jinn."
"This is just temporary," Hayden put his arm around his sister and pulled her closer. "I won't let anything happen to you, Bird."
"I don't like it here," Birdie's eyes began to water. "I want to go back."
"We can't!" Cara grabbed her cousin's hand. "Snap out of it, Birdie."
"Birdie, I promise we will go back as soon as they send word that it is safe for us to return," Hayden said, feeling Noor's arms tighten around his neck.
"I think I got it," Nora said, staring at the portal she had just opened. "Maybe I should go in first to make sure it's the right place?"
"No," Hayden shook his head. "We go together."
Birdie, come here," Cara pulled her cousin closer as Hayden took Nora's hand.
Together, they all walked through the hovering portal, stepping out from the warm room and into the icy rain.
