Wycke wouldn’t tell her he directed the energy flow. Typically, his portals took time to grow. This one glowed the moment Saris stopped her movements.
“Wow! Fast!” she exclaimed. “And without the help of a mirror.”
“Why can’t I just wish us there?” Piers stared at the shimmering nothingness hovering in the air next to a napkin dispenser.
“There are safeguards to keep people from popping between the realms.” Saris shrugged one shoulder. “We wouldn’t want to wake to an entire army crossing from another realm. Only a few in our realm are powerful enough to do this.”
“Then how did George get through? The elf?” Wycke asked, though he’d a sneaky suspicion. Why would the other races risk cutting off their escape route by letting humans know how easily they could flee?
“Trust me, I intend to find out,” Saris said with a toss of her head. A lock of hair stuck to her cheek. She’d never looked more disheveled—or more alive. “Later. Now, we need to return to our home. Piers, Wycke, with me. Chynne?”
Chynne nodded. “As you wish, Majesty. What about Jess of the magical fingers?”
All eyes turned to Jess. “I’m going with Piers.” She displayed her phone. “Any chance we’ll get cell signal where we’re going?”
“Absolutely zero,” Wycke replied.
“I have ways to contact you.” The elf flashed a shy smile.
“I don’t believe in waiting by the phone.” Jess batted her lashes.
“In this case, it’s more like the third elm tree on the left. Now, let’s go.” Wycke flourished a hand toward the portal before Jess decided to take her budding relationship to the next level. They did not need an inter-realm incident because of discordant sexual beliefs between species.
“George?” Piers asked.
“Nah.” George waved a meaty hand. “Y’all go on ahead. I’ll keep a lookout, see what turns up.”
Wycke had never met a do-gooder ogre before, which might explain why George preferred the human world. He’d be labeled odd back home.
Still, he bore watching.
“Because we go to my chambers, I’ll lead the way. Wycke, please ensure the others travel through.” Saris stood before the shimmering portal.
Bring up the rear. Oh, the innuendo Wycke could make. Instead, he bit his tongue, taking his place at the end of the line.
“This isn’t going to be a repeat of last time I left the human realm, is it?” Piers whispered from behind his hand.
“How so? Are we going to cross realms in a matter of seconds? Use magic to travel from one world to the next?” Wycke teased.
“Am I gonna scream myself hoarse and wanna puke once we get there?”
Oh. “I’ve traveled this way so many times I’d forgotten the effects on the uninitiated. Things should be better now,” Wycke lied. It had taken several trips to adjust to magical travel. And each person’s portal behaved differently. He’d never before used one of Saris’s crafting. Chynne wouldn’t allow her to send them into oblivion. Or would he?
Wycke secured his silver band on his wrist.
Chynne glared at him. Could the cat read his thoughts? Scary proposition. He deliberately envisioned Piers, naked, spread out on the bed. Beautiful. Nothing from Chynne. Whew. Good.
As the familiar brushed past to assume a position near the portal, he murmured, “Piers shaves his chest hair and has a scar over his breastbone. And no, I didn’t read your mind. You don’t hide your thoughts very well. If we’re dealing with what I fear we’re dealing with, you’d best get your facial expressions under control.”
What we’re dealing with.
What, indeed.
Saris self-consciously patted her hair into place, tucking a stray lock behind her ear. Worried her mate might see her mess of a braid when she wore Myrgren commoner garb?
“Remember, time flows differently in portals,” Wycke reminded her. “We could have been gone minutes, days, or even weeks if not timed right.”
Saris shook her hands out. Chances were, being new to this mode of travel, she experienced the same uncomfortable feelings that plagued Piers. She flashed a nervous smile over her shoulder, said, “We’ll meet on the other side,” and stepped through the portal.