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“Finally, all this guerilla warfare is going somewhere.”
    There was a bitter edge to Dad’s voice, but I would be the last person to call him out on it. The years since the magic wars ended had been tough on all of us, and if anyone deserved to express a little bitterness, it was Dad.
    Dad balanced the portal in the air, and the reflective surface stretched and lengthened until it was about the size of a closet door. Dad beckoned Max through, then looked expectantly at me. I grabbed my father’s hand, and we stepped out of the Otherworld into the Mundane realm, right into the backyard of the Raven Compound.
    Which was buzzing with drones.
    â€œCover,” Max said, pulling us into the protective shadow of a tree. The fairy tree, I noticed a moment later. “So much for no military coverage.”
    â€œIt’s pretty light,” I said, peeking through the branches. “I only see three—no, wait, four drones and no human guards.”
    Dad was silent, but I felt his eyes on me—after a moment I glanced over my shoulder, and saw him scrutinizing my left wrist. More specifically, the silver mark that coiled around it like a ribbon. Self-consciously, I dropped my hand and rubbed the silver.
    â€œHow did that happen?” Dad asked. “Did Micah do that to you?”
    â€œNo.” Could an Elemental even mark another like that? I made a mental note to ask Micah. “Micah used all the silver in his body to protect me, and he had to be covered in his metal in order to heal. I stayed with him, and I ended up with this.” I stroked it for a moment, my bit of Micah that was always with me. “Micah has a copper mark on his wrist.”
    â€œHe must have made quite an impression on youfor you to marry him so quickly,” Dad commented. “The Lord of Silver must have made all your other suitors look like bumbling children.”
    â€œOther suitors?” Max said with a snort. “Sara married the first boy she kissed!”
    â€œAs if you’ve ever had a first anything,” I sneered. “Date much at the Institute?”
    â€œChildren,” Dad said. He made an admirable attempt at parental disapproval, though it had little effect on Max and me. I mean, we’d grown up with Mom. Our bickering silenced, he glanced toward the Raven Compound. “The drones are gone. Let’s go.”
    â€œUh, what exactly are we looking for?” I asked.
    â€œThe old basement,” he said.
    â€œOh, it’s not here,” I said. Dad stared at me, dumbfounded. “Mom and Sadie activated the wards, and pushed it into the Otherworld.”
    â€œThe Otherworld?” Dad repeated, and Max and I nodded. “Where is it in the Otherworld?”
    â€œThe Raven will tell you how to get there,” I said. “All that’s left in the house is some dusty old furniture. The Peacekeepers scrubbed it pretty well after Max was arrested.”
    Dad was a bit deflated, since the purpose behind this excursion wasn’t even here. Although it was horrible, I was glad this little venture was a flop. I really,
really
wanted to go home to Micah.
    Dad withdrew another portal and balanced it in the air. Max hopped through, but before I couldfollow, Dad touched my elbow.
    â€œThis Micah,” he began, “you’re happy with him? He hasn’t… coerced you into marrying him?”
    â€œMicah would never do that,” I snapped. Dad winced, and I tamped down my anger. After all, Dad was only looking out for me, and it wasn’t like he knew anything about Micah beyond that he was married to his daughter. “He wouldn’t. Micah is a good man, Dad. I’d really like it if you got to know him.”
    â€œI just want my girl happy,” Dad said, his green eyes shining. I smiled, then stepped through the portal to the Otherworld. I could just see Silverstrand Manor above the treetops, and I knew my husband waited for me within. I