Daphne's POV:

Ember stared at me, her mouth hanging open. "No way," she said. "It's too dangerous."

"Is not. It's a perfect cover!"

"We're gonna be found out," she said, sure of herself.

I had called her over as soon as I'd realized a fairly good idea for getting information out of Erift. It was perfect!

Not according to Ember.

Shut up.

"Please?" I asked. "I'm not going to be insanely obvious, or anything. I'm not that stupid."

Ember sighed, rubbing her forehead. I just don't know... If we mess this up..."

"We won't," I insisted. "I promise. There's too much at stake for us. Also, I'm sure he actually wants to talk to me but hasn't had the time to, or something. If you suggest this, I don't think he'll have much of an excuse to say no. And then we can see Morgan and Mordred afterward."

Ember frowned. "...Fine. Fine. I'm just worried."

"I know." I tried to block out my nerves. "Yeah, I know."

***

Erift narrowed his red eyes. "What kind of 'game' is this?" he asked in suspicion, frowning. He didn't look very pleased to see me.

"It's fun," Ember promised, but I could tell she was still nervous. "Just something to lighten up the mood around here, you know?"

"There's no mood that needs lightening," Erift grumbled—moodily.

"Clearly," Ember said, raising an eyebrow. "So... Can we? Daphne and I are dying of boredom down here, and you could take this chance to get to know her better."

I crossed my arms and fought the urge to stick out my tongue at Erift when he glared at me.

"She's what, eight—"

"—ten tomorrow," I corrected.

"—which doesn't make her seem like much of a valuable asset."

Ember sighed. "Oh, brother. You're not thinking rationally." When Erift bristled she quickly continued, "You're taking into consideration only the fighting side of things. But Daphne has information."

I could tell Erift was internally cringing at his own stupidity.

"I'm right," Ember insisted. "Come on, let's give this a try. You've never played Truth or Dare."

The shapeshifter scowled, but held open the door to his room... well, rooms. The area we stepped into was kind of like a living room, with a short hall leading off to the side to what must have been the bedroom.

A single table sat in the middle of the room, a few chairs around it, and a couch along the wall. I would've expected there to be a TV somewhere, but I doubted they got good reception down here.

Erift led us to sit around the table. He sighed heavily. "So?" he asked impatiently.

I had to bite my lip to not laugh. The weirdness of this situation was beginning to hit me. Here I was, underground in the Scarlet Hand's base, with a magical alicorn necklace around my neck, about to play Truth or Dare with an evil shapeshifter.

I should write a book someday.

"I'll start," Ember said nervously, raising her hand. "Daphne, truth or dare?"

I grinned. "Dare. I never back down."

Erift watched us, eyes narrowed.

"I dare you to..." Ember hesitated. "I dare you to draw a moustache on my brother."

"What?" Erift stood up, outraged. "Don't bring me into this! It's her dare!"

"Now we really have the Truth or Dare mood set." I couldn't stop a giggle from escaping my lips.

Erift glared, and Ember handed me a marker she'd gotten from who-knows-where. "Be quick about it," she warned, eyeing her twin's somber glower.

"A dare's a dare," I said to him, shrugging. "Sorry." This wasn't going to better our relationship and make him trust me more, but I guess, in a sense, it would make us closer. More familiar?

"I'm surprised you haven't shifted and run away yet, brother," Ember commented, smirking.

"I don't back down either," he said adamantly.

I grinned and leaned forward with the permanent marker.

Sabrina's POV:

(A/N: Puckabrina time!!!)

"Okay so." I rapped my knuckles against the floor. "This has got to be without a flaw."

"Obviously," Pin started. "I mean—"

"We have to go to Baba Yaga's again, don't we?" Dad asked Granny grimly. She nodded and he sighed—as did Uncle Jake. Briar patted his arm reassuringly, and Dad looked at Mom, clearly expecting the same, but she just smirked and shook her head.

"We'll need the Coven," I agreed, hiding my smile at the exchange. "Baba Yaga, Bunny, and Morgan. Is there any way we could get a message to her, so she'll be ready when we get her out?"

"If we get her out," Puck reminded, and I frowned at him.

Don't be so negative.

He looked down. Sorry.

"Anyway." I cleared my throat. "Granny, wouldn't Baba Yaga be able to do something that'll reach Morgan?"

She nodded. "I'm sure. But it will take a lot of people to convince her. I'll go, along with Jake, Henry, and Charming"—the three frowned—"who'd better be on their best behavior. I suspect Bunny is somewhere near Baba Yaga."

"Okay. And what about you, Mom?" I asked, trying to think of what we needed to do.

"I'll take Snow and Briar to find Cindy and Punzie. And Tobias can go with Pin to find anyone else that'll help us out."

"Great!" I nodded, my heart rate picking up in excitement. We just might pull this thing off. "Puck and I'll stay here with Elvis and work on the finer details."

Jake clapped his hands once, twice. "Then it's settled! What are we waiting for?"

***

As soon as everyone was gone and the house was empty, I scooted closer to Puck, our backs leaning against the bottom of one of the couches. We were in the overflowing-with-books living room, sitting on the floor. Elvis trotted over and whined, laying his head in my lap.

He looked up at me with sad eyes, but I for once could tell that he wasn't asking about sausage.

"We'll be okay, Elvis," I mumbled, patting him on the head.

Puck pulled his knees to his chest and sighed loudly. "I'm useless. There's nothing I can do for you guys," he muttered.

"Hey, don't say that." When he didn't answer, I turned his head to look at me. "We'll get your wings back. Maybe Baba Yaga can help us someway."

"But last time—"

"There might be different methods than those of faeries. You never know. It's not like we explored other options much."

He dropped his head on his knees. I'm scared.

I almost laughed and joked about "the Trickster King? Scared? Never," but the situation was much more serious now. We were all scared.

I moved closer so that our shoulders were touching, earning a frustrated noise from Elvis, who was trying to keep his muzzle resting on my legs as I moved away from him.

"We'll figure it out, I promise." I reached up and brushed Puck's hair out of his eyes. "We have to." I hesitated. "I know you're scared. We're all scared. But... we'll get through it."

Even though I'd blocked off our emotional connection due to respecting Puck's privacy and the pain from his missing wings, I still knew exactly what he was feeling as I laid my head down on his shoulder.

"We can plan in a little while. For now..."

He tangled our hands together and I smiled, knowing what Daphne would have had to say if she'd been there.

Daphne's POV:

"There's no denying it now! You're one of those French commanders from wars!" I laughed, not really knowing what I was saying.

Erift glared at me for what seemed like the billionth time that day, but he did seem more relaxed around me. That was good. He was growing used to me being there.

It was a few hours after our game of Truth or Dare—which, surprisingly, I had found fun (despite having to make up a few lies for Erift here and there)—and Ember and I had just come back from our private visit with Morgan, who'd just wished us safety and promised she was gathering magic to find a way to break out of her cell. Mordred had woken up too, and had even said hi.

The moustache was still perfectly visible above Erift's upper lip, which was curled in a scowl. "How long will this stay on?" he demanded.

Ember shrugged. "I dunno. I guess that's for all of us to find out."

A/N:
I'm still dead over BTS's MMAs performance, and in like an hour there'll be the MAMAs?? I'm not readyyyy

If I don't update again it's because I fell off my chair watching the live stream and hit my head on the floor. Sorry, everyone.

No but really. Thank you guys so much for sticking with this story! Wow, I can't even remember how long this book series has been in my life for. It's kind of insane. I know these characters so well and it feels like home.

Watch out for another update!! (Unless I die, of course)

~Shadow