BY THE TIME WE got back, Jill and Ricci were not just in this world, but they already had the elves crawling up the walls and stretching the chicken wire over the entire place. Any fairy trying to get through would get fried.

We were lucky enough to get back at dinner time. I could smell the roasted meat being brought to all of the tables set up in the middle of the yard. Soldiers from our camp sat side by side with Lord Dralik’s, and even Misavan mingled with the other elves, wearing green pants and a white tee-shirt. He didn’t look as cheery as the rest, but these things took time.

Seth pulled the chair out for me, then took the one to my left. Our little group that had started it all in the first place was back together. If we could capture this castle, what couldn’t we do?

Even Nikorik seemed a little less scared now as he sat at the table with us, wolfing down his meal. Vinsor had never been this bad because he was taken from the witch that had turned him at a much earlier age, but he still struggled to overcome the trauma. Not that I knew him when Lord Dralik had taken him from Snaina. Maybe time had healed him some.

“Hey, little man, I got you something.” Seth pulled out a few candies from his world and helped Nikorik open one.

The boy tried it cautiously, then smiled at the sweet taste. We had to be careful, or he’d eat nothing but chocolate.

“This place looks a lot nicer than I remember it.” Jill’s eyes were on the people sitting together for dinner, not on the actual castle.

“It’s stuffy, cold, and wet. All I smelled in there was mold and mildew,” Seth said. “We need to install more windows or at least vents. Ideally, get central heating and cooling. Maybe redecorate a little. Paint the whole thing with mildew resistant masonry paint.”

“Pink paint,” I said, remembering his earlier offer.

Seth smiled at me and nodded. “Why the hell not? It’ll look like a fairytale castle.”

Jill nodded at us, her eyes sparkling with humor. “It’ll increase longevity.”

A few of the elves turned their heads when they heard her. Their entire belief system revolved around the search for immortality, so if we told them that painting the castle would give them a few extra years, they’d do it in a heartbeat.

“I got some tools we can bring here,” Seth offered. “If we can set up another landing bay in my house, we’d probably be able to bring a whole bunch of things in just a couple of days.”

I wanted his couch and bed. Would he mind? He had told me I could have anything I wanted from his place. It might have to wait, though. First, we needed to bring a whole lot of empty porta potties.

While I had waited for Seth to finish his shopping, I had looked up a few events that were happening in Harrisburg. If we came the night before their outdoor fairs started, we could steal a whole bunch of their toilets using a portable landing bay, then teleport the full ones we had left in the forest to replace what we took.

“Let’s get some rest and barbeque fairies first, then we’ll decide on the decor,” Ricci said.

He was right. It had been a long day, and I couldn’t wait to lie down in the room set up for me and Seth. We just had to bring his bag and my new chair inside. Knowing our elves, they already had the tent erected, and the mattress inflated, exactly the way I liked it.

But first, I had to know, “Did you guys find the sorceresses?”

Vinsor shook his head. “It's as if she never existed. Everyone thought Lord Dralik didn't get a new one after you had left.”

I looked at Nikorik. He shrugged and didn't answer. Maybe he had orders about that.

“Alright, we'll worry about it another day.” I got up with Seth and went to the landing bay to get our things, then headed to our room. Seth insisted on carrying the beanbag chair, even though it was light, and he already had his backpack.

Our room sat on the opposite end of the castle from the one I used to share with four maids two years earlier. Good thing. The fewer reminders of that time, the better. Besides, this one had a tiny window, so we got some fresh air.

Seth set his bag down and pulled out a few things he had bought, including a pair of boots that went up to the ankle. They looked way too small for him.

“For you,” Seth said as he put them down. “There is too much moisture in the castle. The floors are slippery. These shoes are made specifically to prevent you from slipping on wet floors.”

I ran my hand over the black leather boots, not sure what to even feel. He was so sweet and caring, it made me want to cry and not necessarily tears of joy.

“You’re okay, beautiful?” Seth asked.

“Yes,” I answered and tried to give him my best smile. I wasn’t used to people caring about my safety. “Thank you.”

Seth brushed my cheek with his thumb, then pulled me into the tent where the mattress waited for us. We had never slept together in the same bed. Was that what he wanted right now? Was that what I wanted?

“It’s been a long day. I’m sure you’re tired, but I wanna talk to you about something.” Seth sat next to me, his hands holding mine. “Lord Dralik told me what he did to you. I wanted to make sure you understand I would never force you to do anything you don’t want to do. All you ever need to do is say one word, and I’ll stop.”

I nodded. “I’m not trying to use you.” My voice barely rose above a whisper.

“I know,” he answered. “And I don’t want anyone else to have the wrong idea about us, so if you wanna make it official, whatever that would be in this world, I’m fine with that. You’re not some girl I wanna have fun with for a few nights. You deserve better.”

I smiled to myself and leaned against his chest. “We call it fancy man and fancy woman here because we fancy each other.”

Seth kissed the top of my head, and I could hear a smile in his voice when he said, “I like it better than a boyfriend. No one should be called a boy anything when they are thirty-five.”

“Does that mean I can bring a landing bay to your house and steal your couch?” I asked. “And your mattress is a lot more comfortable than this one. I tried it out while you went shopping.”