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Chapter Text

Kendra felt sick. Gavin, her friend, was a dragon, and a traitor. She continued shaking the rain staff rigorously, ignoring the ache in her muscles as she searched for any incomers. As a result, she identified Gavin as he approached from 50 yards away. She didn’t know if he could see her, so she stopped shaking the stick and pressed to the wall of the cleft.

When Gavin’s eyes met hers, she had to bite back a whimper. Looks like her night vision would not be an advantage to her this time. When he got within 10 feet of her, she began to back away, holding up the rain stick defensively.

Gavin laughed. “Kendra, you might as well just give up now. You’re no match for me, even while I’m in this form.” She glared at Gavin, unrelenting in her determination. Gavin sighed and struck quick as a viper. Knocking the stick out of her grasp, he yanked the knapsack away from her, spinning her around and trapping her against his chest. Kendra yelped and squirmed, but found that Gavin was much stronger than she thought.

He opened the knapsack and dropped the rain stick inside before closing the bag and swinging it up over his shoulder. Kendra growled with effort but froze at Gavin’s next words.

“You know, you’re gonna give a guy the wrong idea if you keep squirming against him like that.”

Kendra gagged, fighting her nausea as she tried to push him away from her more carefully. Gavin chuckled and let go of her, watching in curiosity as Kedra scrambled away from him.

“Who are you?” Kendra fought back tears as she awaited his response. Gavin scowled at her question. “I’m Gavin, Kendra. No one else.” Kendra gave him a flat look and he frowned. “I was someone else, centuries ago, but I refuse to acknowledge that version of me. I’m not that demon anymore.”

Kendra didn’t drop the flat look, making Gavin sigh. “Before I was Gavin, I went by the name of Navarog.” She inhaled sharply at his words. Before she could say anything, Gavin huffed and pulled her to her feet.

“We’re wasting time. We gotta find some shelter from this lovely weather you summoned until we can get out of here.” Kendra blanched. “I’m not going anywhere with you .” Gavin frowned in disappointment. “Kendra, I don’t want to force you. I’m not going to hurt you, but I still need you to come with me.”

“Why?” 

“Kendra, all those letters, all of our time together, every word between us was real to me. I actually do like you. I’m not going to let you go easily.” Kendra’s brain paused for a moment. It was…real to him?

“Come on, time is running out.” Gavin ushered a stunned Kendra through the cleft and out into the storm. About an hour later, Gavin led her into a deep cave with a spongey moss floor and an old fire pit.

Kendra sat shivering in her soaked clothing as Gavin hauled supplies out of the knapsack. It was only after Gavin started a fire that she realized just how cold she was. She collapsed, no longer able to sit up. Gavin spotted her and scrambled over to her side, already in panic mode as he reached her.

Kendra vaguely heard him muttering curses under his breath as he examined her but missed what happened next when she fell unconscious. 

~~~ 

When Kendra woke up, it was a slow, groggy process. The first thing she registered was the warmth. She felt like she was swaddled in a cocoon of heat, surrounding her on all sides. The next thing she noticed was the wind. The air howled and tore through the sky at an insane pace, buffeting creatures and ripping trees up by the roots. Then, she noticed that inside her cocoon of heat, she was lying with another person. She felt their muscular chest, toned abs, and strong arms before she realized one last thing.

She and the other person were both naked.

She screeched and tried to separate herself from the other occupant, but she was wrapped tightly in a cocoon of blankets and could not move away from them despite her struggling.

She heard someone grunt and wrap their arms around her and fought even harder. “Stop” a husky voice ordered. “Calm down. You’re safe, but you’re still suffering from hypothermia. Just relax. Once you’re warm enough you can get up and get into some fresh clothes. For now, just stay put.”

Kendra recognized the speaker as Gavin, and her cheeks flooded bright red at the realization that she and Gavin were lying pressed against each other while completely naked. She felt shame and embarrassment when her body reacted to Gavin’s unusually husky voice.

She prayed that Gavin wouldn’t notice it, but wilted when he gave a surprised chuckle and held her tighter. “Somebody’s excited, huh?” She groaned and opened her eyes, glaring at him half-heartedly. “Shut up Gavin.”

He paused for a moment, eyes blown wide in shock before he started laughing. Full-blown belly laughs with tears streaming down his eyes as he struggles to regain control. He pulled her closer as he buried his nose in her neck, inhaling her scent as he calmed down.

 “Kendra, I don’t think you comprehend just how hilarious that was. I thought my sides were gonna split open!” She huffed but ignored his hands wrapped around her body as she burrowed deeper into his warmth.

Gavin patted her head gently and rubbed her back soothingly. After a few minutes, she felt fine. She hesitated to say anything though. Gavin treated her gently as if she were a glass doll. She felt warm and safe in his grasp, protected from the world. Before she knew it, she was quickly lulled to sleep in familiar, comforting arms.

~~~

When Kendra woke the next morning, she found herself still wrapped in Gavin’s embrace, tucked under his chin, and held closely as if she would vanish. She rested in his arms, contemplating the events of yesterday. 

Gavin had knocked Dougan and Mara off the cliff, whether it was intentional or not still had to be determined. He turned into a massive, deadly black dragon and killed four dragons and a Hydra to protect her and the rest of their team. He then proceeded to find her, lead her to shelter, and strip them both of their clothes in order to save her from hypothermia.

Kendra’s thoughts were interrupted as she felt Gavin stir. She sat up, the blankets falling to rest on her hips. She watched as he sat up with her before looking into her eyes. 

“Good morning.” He gave his crooked smile, filling Kendra with joy. It seems the boy she fell in love with was real, and not just a facade as she had feared. She pulled him into a hug, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Ignoring their current nudity, they both stayed in their embrace for a few minutes, just relishing in the peace that surrounded them.

She jumped and pulled the blankets back up to cover her again when she heard an awkward cough. Gavin spun around to see Raxtus, Dougan, and Mara standing at the cave entrance, eyes avoiding them as they stood there. Even from 20 yards away, she could tell that their cheeks were burning as they waited there.

“Well um, I hope I won’t have to inform Stan that his granddaughter is no longer a virgin.” Kendra’s face flamed as she sat there, shaking her head violently. The message could not have been more clear that they were still virgins.

Dougan sighed in relief, clearly wanting to avoid speaking of this with Stan. “Get dressed then, we gotta try and find Seth and the others.” Kendra and Gavin obeyed, quickly dressing and packing up their temporary campsite.

Mara, normally stoic and unphased, was blushing the brightest shade of red out of all of them. Dougan coughed awkwardly again and looked at the now-dressed teenagers.

“Can I expect a sensible explanation as to your state of undress?” Kendra flushed bright red again and found herself unable to speak or meet his eyes. Gavin sat down next to her and motioned for the others to sit. Once they sat in a circle, he explained the events of last night.

“I really am sorry you two. Sending you guys off the cliff was a complete accident. The last time I used my other form was when I renounced my identity as a being of evil over 400 years ago.”

They all subconsciously relaxed at the explanation behind his dragon form. They all got up and started packing things up as Dougan explained everything to Warren, who was still confined in the knapsack. Once everyone had a quick breakfast and finished packing, Raxtus announced that several griffins were approaching. Gavin pressed his body close to her, holding her securely as they waited for the griffins to arrive.

~~~~~

Seth was getting impatient. After confirming that the rest of their friends were alive and had shelter, Thronis had eased the storm slightly and summoned them all to dinner. Trask was eating infuriatingly slowly, eyes sparkling as he relished in Seth’s silent torture.

After they had eaten, Thronis had his dwarf lead them to human-sized accommodations for the night, with the promise to send them and their friends to the Keep after breakfast the next morning.

Seth paced the floor, quickly getting riled as he thought about what the giant had told them about Kendra. After Thronis got to the point where they started a fire in their cave, he choked back laughter and shock before telling them that they were safe. Nothing else.

He felt tempted to approach the giant and strangle the answers out of him, but he knew that it wouldn’t change a thing. He spent the next two hours pacing and grumbling under his breath before Tanu ran out of patience and made Seth take a sleeping potion and go to bed so that they could get some sleep.

The next morning was even worse somehow. Both Tanu and Trask had picked up on his impatience to leave by now and were taking their time with breakfast. They had engaged Thronis in conversation and were telling stories of past adventures.

Finally, finally, they had finished eating and were preparing to leave. Just as he was about to approach the griffins, he heard Thronis summoning them for one last farewell.

As he approached the giant, he saw a non-descript-looking leather backpack sitting on the floor. Once they had all arrived, Thronis finally spoke. 

“Seth Sorensen, for your unique gifts and impossible courage, I give this bag to you.” Seth blinked in confusion as he looked up at the giant. “Umm… okay?”

Thronis smiled with amusement as he spoke again. “This bag functions exactly like your sister’s bag, containing a storeroom as well.” Seth regarded the bag with more interest, examining it more carefully.

Thronis pointed at the ground and a slip of paper appeared on the ground in front of him. “This is a list of spells you can use to upgrade or improve the bag. They will apply to your sister’s bag as well. All you need to do is say the words.”

Seth looked up at Thronis, gaping in astonishment. There had to be hundreds of spells on here! Then he spotted something else. On the back side of the paper were instructions on how to use all…7 bags?

Thronis spoke again, answering Seth’s unasked question. “You will find bags in there for the rest of your traveling companions. All of them will function the same way. Your names are all sewn into the flaps of your respective bags, to prevent confusion. Each bag contains some of my treasure, as well as a special trinket or two for each of you. Kendra’s things from me are in Gavin’s bag, marked clearly with her name on it.”

Seth nodded, awestruck. Thronis paused for a moment to let the information sink in. “Ensure that only Kendra touches the things set aside for her. They will be useful in expanding her knowledge of her powers, but will cause severe harm to anyone else who does not have fairy magic in them.”

Seth grew more serious and nodded, committing the instructions to memory. After a few more instructions and exchanging farewells, they were collected by the griffins and were soaring away from the giant mansion.

After an hour in the air, he caught sight of Blackwell Keep. As he scanned the grounds, he spotted Kendra, Dougan, Mara, Gavin, and a small silver dragon waiting for them to arrive. The dragon looked exactly like Kendra had described during their mission inside the vault of the dragon temple.

Once they landed, they bade goodbye to the griffins and watched them soar back to their home until they vanished from sight. Seth turned back toward his sister and tackled her in a rib-crushing hug. Kendra made an “oof” sound as they collided and hugged him back. 

Seth looked up at her and made eye contact. After a few seconds of silence, they both burst out laughing, curling up and wiping tears from their eyes. It took a few minutes for them to calm down, as they would make eye contact and devolve into a fit of laughter all over again. 

The others chuckled at the display and exchanged looks as they patiently waited for the siblings to calm down. Once they had finished and stood back up, they all gave each other noogies and pestered each other as they made their way to the gates.

No one mentioned the events of the last 24 hours. They joked and sang and teased each other as they traveled, content to relish in the joy and peace that flooded their senses. Seth noticed Mara and Dougan giving Kendra and Gavin sneaky looks, making the teenagers blush bright red. Seth ignored it, figuring he would just annoy the details out of his sister later.

~~~

”Seth, for the last time, leave it alone! I’m not telling you anything.” Seth smirked at his sister as they sat in an SUV, an hour away from Fablehaven. She and Gavin had been acting really secretive since they reunited at Wyrmroost. He had been pestering her for details on and off, but she was being stubborn. If he wasn’t the one having to deal with it, he would have been so proud of her. Scratch that, he was proud of her anyway.

Gavin sat next to Kendra in the back of the SUV, cuddling together and being all gross and lovey-dovey. Seth had already given everyone their new bags from Thronis. He discovered that each bag had a small journal containing all of the general instructions Thronis gave him, as well as elaborating on certain points and providing more details. 

After a few hours, Seth managed to get Bubda to move into his bag and stored his things in it as well. Kendra’s bag had been emptied and enchanted to her liking. She wouldn’t tell him what she did, but he knew that she spent hours going through all the crates and barrels to find usable items. 

Seth glanced over at Warren in the passenger seat. After a week under Tanu’s care, he was good as new, and as wonderfully irritating as ever. He and Seth grew closer, and bonded over pranks and teasing the others.

Seth groaned as the car hit a pothole and slammed him into the seat. Tanu and Trask sat on either side of him, squashing him in the middle, while Dougan, Mara, Grandpa, Dale, and Mendigo all sat in the other SUV behind them. Finally, they drove through the gates and parked in front of the house.

Once Seth finally escaped the death trap, he ran up to the porch and flung himself onto his stomach, dramatically sobbing about how badly he missed the house. The others ignored his antics except for Warren, who joined him in greeting the house.

Once everyone was inside, they all crowded into the living room, laughing and joking. They had already explained the entire mission to the others, so they all just focused on celebrating and enjoying the happy feelings that had swept through them all. Seth had never been happier.

Chapter Text

“Seth, leave it alone! I’m not telling you anything!” Kendra was sorely tempted to hit her brother right now. He was much too observant for his own good, in her opinion. She was saved by Dougan, who took pity on her and asked Seth if he wanted to go do some chores around Fablehaven with him.

When they got back home, they all agreed that the best way to keep Seth on any kind of leash would be to take him out on adventures before he got stir-crazy and did stupid stuff by himself. Seth felt offended by their assumptions but eventually agreed that he didn’t have much self-control over his curiosity.

Kendra was broken out of her thoughts by Gavin walking into the kitchen. She smiled up at him, only to blush a furious shade of red when he kissed her on the cheek before making his way to the stack of pancakes. She ignored Seth’s gagging at her and returned to her food.

“Seth, stop pestering your sister and finish your food before I ban you from any field trips for the day.” Seth pouted at Grandma but returned to shoveling an insane amount of blueberry pancakes into his mouth. Gavin took a seat next to her, his own stack of pancakes heaped onto his plate.

“What’s the plan for today?” Kendra shrugged. “I was thinking about playing with Hugo. He’s getting better at picking favorites and choosing things to do himself.” Gavin nodded. “Should we have Warren or Dale join us?”

Dougan shook his head. “Warren and Dale are doing the everyday chores with Mendigo today. If Tanu wants to, he can join you.” Tanu walked in, armed with his broadsword and crossbow. “Can’t today, I’m heading out to follow a lead on some rare potion ingredients. What about Trask or Mara?”

Grandpa shook his head. “Those two are out doing some digging at a nearby preserve in New Jersey. We need to find any information we can.” Kendra frowned in thought. “Shouldn’t me and Seth have gone with them? We can read languages the others can’t.”

Grandma, Grandpa, and Tanu all disagreed. “We’ll let you know if we need any help on your end. You two just relax. Play with Hugo today, you deserve a break.” Kendra sighed but eventually agreed. “Fine. Gavin, you almost done?”

He nodded, taking one last swig of orange juice before standing up to take his dishes to the sink. Once they finished cleaning up breakfast, they headed outside to the gardens. Kendra spotted Hugo kneeling next to a bird bath, watching the fairies dart around the water and stare at their reflections.

“Hugo!” He got up and loped over to them, earthen body sprouting a few dandelions here and there. “Hey Hugo, do you want to play?” Kendra smiled when Hugo gave her a lopsided grin, craggy mouth turning up at the corners.

She handed Gavin a small list of different activities Vanessa came up with to help Hugo develop his own will before she was put in the Quiet Box. “Here. Pick one, or ask Hugo which one he wants to do.”

Gavin scanned the list, before pausing at one item. “Pull a Seth?” Kendra snorted, remembering what happened when Seth came up with that one. “Do you want to try that one?” Gavin glanced at her warily. “I have a feeling I’ll regret this, but sure.” Kendra smiled and took the list back.

“Hugo, do you wanna pull a Seth with Gavin?” Hugo nodded and grabbed him, who shot her a terrified look, before launching him into the deep end of the swimming pool. Kendra cackled as she watched him scramble out of the water, coughing and sputtering.

He shot her a guilty look. “I have to admit, that was kinda awesome.” She giggled and helped him to his feet. “I know. Seth came up with that one the last time we played with Hugo together. It’s his favorite.”

Gavin chuckled. “I’m not surprised, it’s Seth after all.” Kendra grinned at him. Gavin scanned the list again, still dripping wet. “Hmm, none of these look very interesting. What do you think?” Kendra shrugged. “It’s up to you. You can come up with one on your own if you want.”

He nodded absently in thought. “I wonder… does Hugo know how to play any sports?” Kendra sighed in exasperation. “Thanks to Seth, he knows some like football, soccer, tag, and tennis.” He quirked an eyebrow at her. “You don’t sound very thrilled about that.”

She sighed. “Seth has always been his own special brand of crazy for wanting to play tackle football with Hugo and the satyrs.” She heard an offended scoff and turned to find Newel and Doren at the edge of the yard, staring at her with mock offense.

She sighed. “Seth isn’t here right now, and you know he ran out of batteries last week. What is it?” Doren dropped the act and grinned at her. “We got bored beating each other up with our tennis rackets. We were wondering if Hugo was busy.” 

Kendra shrugged. “You wanna play with him?” Newel nodded, also dropping the act. “We brought a couple of other satyrs with us, can we borrow Hugo for a game of football?” Kendra turned to Hugo. 

“Hugo, go play football with the satyrs, but stay within earshot and come when we call you or when the satyrs are done playing with you, whichever comes first.” Hugo nodded and followed the satyrs into the woods, quickly vanishing into the trees.

They made their way to the house, eventually wandering back into the attic bedroom. Kendra wondered about what to do for a while, before finally settling on research. She turned to Gavin, who just smiled at her.

“Go ahead Kendra, I know you want to help any way you can.” Kendra smiled and ducked into her knapsack, climbing back up the ladder with a massive stack of books in her arms. Gavin settled on the floor next to her bed, pulling a few random things out of his own bag.

They sat in comfortable silence for a few hours, just enjoying each other’s company. Eventually, Kendra set down her current journal. “Hey Gavin, what is the difference between being fairystruck and fairykind?”

Gavin frowned. “I don’t really know. Apart from you and one other person, around 800 years ago, I’ve never met anyone like that. From what I can tell, the main difference is the amount of magic the fairies share with you.”

Kendra hummed. “Interesting… how do you know that?” Gavin shrugged again. “Rumors, mostly. I didn’t really take an interest in the topic until I met you, so I know very little about it all.”

They continued chatting until they were called down for lunch. After eating, they just hung out. Not really doing anything specific, they quickly got bored and went back to studying. Gavin was quiet the whole time, but his presence was plenty to keep her calm. 

~~~

The days flew by, and suddenly it was time for Seth to go back home. Kendra’s mood soured at the thought of her parents, and she felt relatively gloomy for the last week leading up to Seth’s departure.

Gavin tried to cheer her up, but it only worked a little bit. Everyone else seemed to have picked up on her mood and tended to let Gavin handle her. Seth wasn’t immune to the atmosphere either, and he was getting crabby and irritated as well.

She avoided everyone as much as she could, spending her time in her knapsack and sulking. Gavin often spent his time in there with her, simply being there. Kendra felt grateful to Gavin for putting up with her gloomy behavior.

The day Seth would be going back home, Kendra was sitting in a corner of the bedroom in her knapsack, sulking. After Thronis had gifted her a list of spells to enchant the bag to her liking, she had added several different rooms all with different functions and sizes. 

She heard Gavin walk into the room and sighed, looking up to meet his gaze with her own. Gavin smiled sadly and picked her up, sitting down on the bed with her on his lap. She curled up against his chest, relishing in the warmth he emitted. 

“Gavin…” He shushed her gently, rocking her on his lap. “I know, Kendra.” She sniffled, fighting back tears. She missed her parents and missed her home too. She was angry that she could not go home, but she at least understood why. 

Seth understood how she felt. He had thought that Kendra had committed suicide after she was kidnapped by the Sphynx and replaced with a stingbulb, who used her memories to try and send vital information to their enemies. Seth now had to go home and pretend that his sister was still dead, even with their parents.

She sighed and hugged Gavin, pulling him close as she tried to distract herself from her depressing thoughts and feelings. He chuckled at her actions, making her blush a deep red as he wrapped his arms securely around her.

“Come on, Kendra. You should say goodbye to your brother before he has to leave.” Kendra pouted and shook her head, childishly refusing. She always hated saying goodbye.

Gavin laughed at her again and pulled her even tighter against him. “Okay, okay.” She pulled back just enough to look at him, making eye contact. She was overflowing with emotions and felt like she was being spun around too quickly to see anything properly. 

Gavin gazed back at her, his eyes full of love and understanding as he smiled sadly. Kendra felt frozen, unable to look away. She leaned forward, unaware of her own actions. After what seemed like an eternity, but was probably only a few seconds, their lips connected. 

All rational thought ceased the moment their lips met, and Kendra found herself closing her eyes, her lips moving slowly against Gavins. The kiss was short and sweet, but so full of love and care that it made her heart ache.

She pulled away, meeting his awestruck gaze with her own. Gavin grinned his endearing, crooked smile at her and she felt her heart pound against her ribcage. Gavin leaned forward, pulling her into a second, more heated kiss.

This time when she pulled away, it was because she had to breathe. Gavin held her closely as they both caught their breath, panting from the kiss. Finally, she peeked up at him shyly. “Does this mean… are we dating now?” 

Gavin thought for a moment before responding. “Is that what you want?” Kendra nodded, ducking her head to avoid meeting his gaze. Gavin chuckled and lifted her chin, making her look up and into his eyes. “Yes, we are dating now, if you’ll have me.” 

Kendra nodded, smiling up at him. Gavin kissed her forehead, grinning, as he leaned back. Kendra had to admit, she couldn’t feel depressed about Seth at all for a while after that.

~~~

A few hours later, she and Gavin made their way to the kitchen, only to pause in confusion at the sight that greeted them. Seth, Warren, Dale, Mara, Grandma, and Grandpa were all waiting anxiously, Seth’s luggage still sitting untouched in the hallway. Kendra walked up to her brother and pulled him into a hug, frowning.

“What’s going on? I thought Seth had already left.” Warren clenched his jaw, visibly struggling to keep his anger under control as he paced the length of the living room. Trask, Dougan, and Vanessa all walked inside, faces graves as they entered the house.

“They’re gone. The Society must have taken them before they could leave the house. There are signs of a struggle, but minor ones. It appears they were kidnapped.” Kendra went pale. Who were they talking about? Who was kidnapped? Kendra already knew the answer, but she refused to believe it.

“Who was kidnapped?” Vanessa frowned at her, clearly upset. “Scott and Marla.” Vanessa took a deep breath. “The Society of the Evening Star has taken your parents, Kendra.” She froze at her words. Gone?

Her fear was quickly replaced with rage, hot and searing. She walked up to Vanessa and grabbed her arm in a punishing grip, ignoring her wince. “Where are they?” Vanessa sighed, reluctant. “We believe the Sphynx has them prisoner at the fifth secret preserve, a place called Living Mirage.”

Kendra marched upstairs, quickly changing into her traveling clothes. She grabbed her things and put them in her knapsack, then marched back down the stairs. She met Gavin, who had also changed his clothes and retrieved his things. 

They marched up to Vanessa and looked her dead in the eye. “Where is the preserve?” Vanessa reluctantly told them, not wanting to piss them off even more. Kendra grabbed the car keys and an emergency credit card from the emergency items stashed by the front door.

“Where are you going?” She turned back to look at her grandparents, who stood by the front door, as she reached the SUV. She hopped into the car while Gavin sat in shotgun, and pulled out her cell phone. She looked back up, meeting her brothers’ gaze.

“I’m going to go kill the son of a bitch who thought he could touch my parents. Are you coming or not?” Seth cheered and shoved all his things into his knapsack, swiping another credit card and jumping into the backseat.

Kendra got in and started the car, before pausing. She opened the window and called for Mendigo, who came sprinting and climbed into the backseat with Seth. She shut the window again and drove off down the driveway.

She was going to get her parents back, and she was going to kill the Sphynx for daring to take them in the first place. As she drove to the airport, her thoughts swirled in her mind, a hurricane of emotions. The Sphynx had better start praying to whatever god he believed in for mercy because she wasn’t going to give him any.

Chapter Text

“Seth, would you quit kicking my seat? I’m trying to focus on the road.” Kendra huffed in irritation, but finally relaxed when Seth went still. Gavin placed a comforting hand on her knee as she pulled up to a parking spot.

“Seth, get out. Put Mendigo in your bag while me and Gavin get plane tickets.” Seth obeyed as the other two went inside the airport. Around 15 minutes later, they returned to find Seth sitting on a bench while playing a dumb game on his phone.

“Let’s go, our plane takes off in an hour.” Seth hopped up and followed them inside, where they sat down at a booth and got some food. Seth ate like a starving man while Gavin ate at his normal pace. Kendra picked at her food, but forced herself to eat it all anyway.

They got on their plane, sitting in coach. Kendra knew the credit card she used didn’t have a limit, but she didn't see the point in splurging on expensive seats. The plane ride was a long one, over 12 hours. Seth somehow slept the entire time, snoring loudly from his seat near the back of the plane.

Eventually, they arrived at the international airport in Greece, where they got on a connecting flight to eastern Turkey. When Seth heard where they were going, he frowned at her in confusion. “Isn’t turkey a bird?”

After that, they got on the plane and sat through the 6-hour flight to Turkey. Seth again slept the whole time while Kendra and Gavin did some reading on the geography of the land. Kendra figured out pretty quickly where the preserve would be, so she knuckled down and started planning. 

“Kendra, you need to relax. You won’t be able to help anyone if you don’t get any sleep.” Gavin rubbed her back soothingly, whispering in her ear. “I’ll sleep when we land.” Gavin frowned, but didn’t argue with her.

When they landed it was around 9:00 pm. They woke up Seth and grabbed a taxi, Gavin translating for them as they made their way to a nearby hotel for the night. “I didn’t know you were multilingual.” Gavin blushed, avoiding her gaze as he spoke. “I learned many languages back when I was Navarog. I enjoyed speaking with Dragon tamers, but only a few spoke English.”

Kendra hummed, thinking about it. It made sense in a way, that he would learn many languages. She wondered what other languages he knew. When they arrived, Gavin paid the driver while Kendra woke Seth, who had fallen asleep again.

Gavin led the way into the hotel lobby, Kendra towing a sleepy Seth behind her as she followed. Gavin spoke with the lady at the main desk for a while, before turning to Kendra with a worried frown.

“What’s wrong?” Gavin sighed and said something to the lady, who accepted his credit card and swiped it before handing it back to him with two keys on little souvenir keychains. “They only have two rooms left, both with only a single bed.”

Kendra nodded, instantly understanding. “We’ll share one room then, and Seth will have the other.” Gavin blushed and nodded, leading the trio to the elevator. Once they had hauled Seth into his room, still half-asleep, they made their way to the room they would share across the hall.

“Come on, let’s get some sleep.” They quickly changed into their pajamas, or a t-shirt and shorts, and climbed into the bed. They quickly succumbed to sleep, no dreams plaguing them as they rested peacefully.

~~~

The next morning, they woke up to Seth knocking on their door. Gavin got up to answer it, having taken off his shirt at some point during the warm night. Seth quirked an eyebrow at him, making him blush.

Seth brushed past him into the room, jumping onto the bed and startling his sister. Once Gavin broke up their fight, they all got ready, taking turns showering and getting dressed. Once they were all ready for the day, Kendra led the way out of the hotel, bags in hand as they walked into a small market.

“Grab a few things to eat, but not a lot. We’ll grab something to eat again at lunchtime.” The boys nodded and split up, returning a few minutes later. They paid for the food and left, walking up to the hotel. Gavin asked for a map of the area in English, which they studied while they ate.

“Kendra, do you have some harnesses?” Kendra looked up at him and nodded. “Yes, I still have all of the climbing gear from Wyrmroost. Do you think the distractor spell will be that potent?” Gavin nodded in response.

“Without a doubt. The Sphinx would cut no corners in security when it comes to his secret preserve. We’ll probably try using the harnesses, but if all else fails we’ll have to get in our bags and have you carry us past the gate. In fact, it would probably be best to do that anyway.”

Kendra frowned, thinking for a moment. “You think if it’s only one of us out there, we’ll be less likely to be caught?” Gavin grinned at her, nodding again. “That makes sense. We could also have Mendigo take us, as distractor spells don’t affect him either, and he’s a lot stronger and faster than me as well.”

Seth pouted, unhappy with his lack of attention. “I could hire some shadow charmer help.” Kendra wanted to protest, but Gavin thought for a moment in consideration. “Maybe you could try if we get separated, or if we’re caught.” Seth nodded, preferring it to not helping at all.

Their morning passed by quickly, and they returned to the market for lunch. Once they had finished eating, Gavin rented a car so they could drive closer to the preserve and get some information. 

The distractor spell was indeed quite potent, and Seth and Gavin were forced to wait in Kendra’s bag. Kendra got up to the fence, where she found some fairies fluttering around. 

“Hello? I need some information, can any of you help?” Most of the fairies flew off when she spoke, but two of them stayed, flying up to her and hovering on the other side of the fence. Both of the fairies were different from others Kendra had seen. They were both dressed in animal skins, made into tunics and pants. They were muscular, almost beefy, in stature. The smaller one spoke first.

“You speak wonderful Silvian, Kendra. How may we be of assistance?” Kendra ignored the spike of panic when she spoke her name, instead focusing on the task at hand. “Do either of you know about any new prisoners?” 

The taller one nodded gravely. “They were taken to the higher levels of the dungeon, so they are fine, if a bit hot.” Kendra sighed in relief. “Do you know of any ways to enter the preserve without being detected?” They exchanged a look, before turning back to her and nodding.

“Your powers are sufficient enough to allow you to enter undetected as long as you simply climb the fence. That will apply to your friends in that bag of yours as well. We can guide you to the prisoners if you return after dark. There will be very few people around, and most creatures here leave beings of light alone.”

Kendra nearly laughed with joy. “I will return after dark. Thank you very much for your help and kindness. Where should I meet you?” The fairies twittered in laughter. “Simply come to the fence. You shine brightly, we will come to you when you arrive, and assist you however we can.”

Kendra thanked the fairies again before hiking back to the rental car. She called down to Gavin and Seth, who climbed out quickly to hear what she had learned. Kendra relayed everything to them, pausing to answer their questions. After a half-hour drive back to the hotel, they had a solid plan in place and were ready to move.

They returned to the market, grabbing much more food this time, as well as blankets and first-aid supplies. They prepped the main room in Kendra’s bag for their parents, and whoever else they might end up rescuing. They ate a quick dinner and sat in their hotel rooms, waiting for the sun to set.

About an hour before sunset, they heard a knock on their door. Gavin answered the door, only to find Warren, Tanu, Vanessa, Mara, Trask, and Dougan waiting on the other side. Gavin let them in and grabbed Seth, herding everyone into the cramped bedroom. Kendra whirled on the adults as they waited for her to speak.

“We have a plan, we’re rescuing them tonight. Some fairies will serve as guides and we’ll climb over the fence. I’ll climb while you all wait in my bag, as my powers will let me bring us past the distractor spell and onto the preserve undetected. The prisoners will be put in my bag, where we have stored supplies for them. Any questions?”

Tanu raised a hand, and she nodded for him to speak. “Would you prefer for me to stay in your bag and treat any wounds or ailments when the prisoners are freed?” Kendra nodded, grateful that Tanu was here.

“We’ll try to get some artifacts back only if we have a chance to retrieve them. Take no unneeded risks, we want this to be a stealth operation. In and out.” The others nodded in agreement. “When do we leave?”

Kendra turned to Vanessa, who gazed at her calmly. “We leave at sundown, so in about an hour. If you need to change or gear up, do so now.” The others nodded and dispersed, ducking into their magic bags to get ready. Gavin sidled up to her, wrapping an arm around her waist.

“We’re going to need a bigger rental car. Should we go and trade for one while the others get ready?” Kendra nodded and turned to Trask. “You’re in charge. Seth does not leave your sight, we’re going to get a bigger car. We’ll be back soon.”

Kendra and Gavin left, ignoring Seth’s protests at being babysat. When they returned, they were driving a large van, big enough to seat 15. Kendra called Seth and told them to get to the parking lot so that they could leave.

The others piled in, cramped in the backseats with their gear and weapons. The drive went by quickly, and soon they arrived about a mile hike away from the fence. They all climbed out and ducked into Kendra’s bag, leaving her standing in the darkness all alone.

She hiked up her bag and began at a trot, making good time toward the fence. After 15 minutes, she came to a halt as she reached the fence. She spotted the fairies she met earlier just up ahead, waiting for her patiently. 

Under the fairies guidance, she carefully climbed over the fence and made her way back to the ground. When she landed, she followed the fairies for several miles to the heart of the preserve. Finally, they made it to a tunnel leading underground and made it past an unseen guardian. 

She was led through a series of cramped passageways and tunnels. She was nearing the stairs to get to a higher level of the dungeon when she bumped into someone. A young man, maybe a little older than her with chin-length blonde-white hair.

The man froze, holding a hand up to shield his eyes as if he were looking up into the sky on a sunny day. Kendra frowned, confused. The fairies stared at the young man with reverence, easing her nerves a little.

“Hello?” The man blinked, then dropped his hand, his eyes meeting hers. “Who might you be, mysterious stranger?” Kendra tilted her head, confused momentarily before responding. 

“My name is Kendra. I’m here to rescue my parents. Who are you?” The man seemed stunned for a moment, before responding, a hint of disbelief in his voice. “I’m Bracken, one of the more adventurous prisoners here. Want some help?”

Kendra nodded, relieved. “Yes, that would be nice. Do you know my parents?” The man grinned hesitantly. “Probably not, but I am the eyes and ears of this place. I know the names of all prisoners here.”

Kendra thought for a moment. “Who all is here?” Bracken straightened, tapping his chin thoughtfully. “Well, there’s Hank Larsen, Maddox Fisk, me of course, Scott and Marla Sorenson…”

Kendra held up a hand to stop him. “I know them all. Take me to them please.” Braken hesitated. “How do you know them?” Kendra thought for a moment before responding. 

“My grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven, one of the five secret preserves, which is located in Connecticut. I am a Knight of the Dawn, and Fairykind. Do you need more details?”

The man shook his head. “That was plenty. Follow me please, I’ll take you to Hank first, as he is closest.” Kendra followed him dutifully, and after a few minutes they arrived at a blank wall. Bracken pressed a stone and the wall folded out of the way to reveal a dim cell. A man, her dead grandfather, sat up from a small cot as they entered.

“Hey Hank, found a friend of yours. She’s here to bust some people out.” Bracken whispered quietly as Grandpa Larsen stared at her. Before he could say anything, Kendra shushed him.

“We’ll discuss this later. For now, get in the bag. Seth and some friends are in there, they will help you get settled.” Her grandfather nodded and climbed into the bag without another word. Gavin climbed out quickly after Grandpa went in.

“Hey love. Who was that?” She smiled at him. “My supposedly dead grandfather. Let’s go. Oh, this is Bracken, he’s leading us to everyone.” Gavin looked up in surprise to see Bracken glaring at him furiously.

“Navarog. Can’t say I expected to see you here.” Kendra frowned at Bracken’s words. “He’s not Navarog anymore, he’s Gavin Rose. He’s on our side, as he is also a Knight of the Dawn.” Bracken stared at her incredulously, then turned around. “Follow me, I’ll take you to Maddox next.”

They followed, and soon arrived at another smooth stone wall. Bracken knocked on the wall in a certain rhythm, and after a moment the wall slid open. Kendra quickly repeated her instructions to Maddox, who climbed in her bag with Tanu and Dougan helping him. 

“Now, I assume you want to get to Scott and Marla?” Kendra nodded at Bracken. “They’re my parents. Do you know the way?” Bracken nodded. “Yes, but we’ll need to sneak past a guard. Follow me and stay quiet.”

Again, they followed him for a while, this time not stopping for closer to 30 minutes. Finally, Bracken motioned for them to stay hidden. They snuck through a small passageway, sneaking past a pair of guards stationed nearby.

After another 30 minutes or so, Bracken motioned for them to stop as he pressed a series of stones. The wall slid away, revealing her parents in a dimly lit cell that was much nicer than the other cells she saw.

“Kendra!” She shushed her mother frantically, motioning for her to stay quiet. “No time, get in the bag. We’re getting you out of here.” They exchanged hurried hugs and climbed into the bag. Once they were inside, Kendra lifted the bag once more.

Gavin turned to Bracken. “Do you know where the Sphynx keeps his most valuable items?” Bracken nodded once more, looking reluctant. “In his office. He’s away at the moment, so it should be empty. I can take you there.”

They nodded and  followed him once more as he led the way. They snuck around the dungeons and into the main building, but it took a few hours this time. Finally, they arrived at a modest office with beaded curtains and plush bean bag chairs.

The oculus was resting on the desk, and Kendra spotted the Sands of Sanctity sitting on display in an alcove. Kendra retrieved both items, cautious to not touch the crystal with her bare hands, and handed them to Gavin, who deposited them in her bag. 

She looked around, thinking. There must be a third artifact here somewhere, but she didn’t see anything that might be it. She turned to Bracken, who looked a little pale. “Do you know where the third artifact is hidden?” He flinched and looked at her, eyes wide as he nodded and pointed at a painting on the wall.

“I can sense it. My… my horn is in a safe behind the painting.” Kendra stared at him in shock for a moment, but quickly shook it off and took down the painting. She frowned at the safe, unsure what to do next. “Let me, I can open it.”

She stepped aside and Bracken walked up to the safe. After a minute or two, she heard a soft click!, and the door to the safe swung open. Kendra gasped as Bracken lifted a long, pearly white unicorn horn from the safe and handed it to her.

She passed the horn to Gavin, who was waiting for it in her bag, and helped Bracken close the safe and put the painting back on the wall. She turned to him. “Can you take me back to where the fairies and I first bumped into you?” Bracken nodded and left, with Kendra close behind him.

~~~

Kendra paused when she heard a low growl behind her. She had been led back out of the dungeon and into the wild areas of the preserve again. Once she found the fairies, she had Bracken join the others in her bag and followed her faithful winged guides back to the fence.

Now here, she was just about to start climbing when she heard the growl. She glanced behind her and spotted what looked like a regular wolf. The only thing was, it was the size of a bear.

She cussed and jumped onto the fence, scrambling up as quickly as she could. The massive wolf pounced, just barely missing her as she hauled herself to the top. She jumped back to the ground, now on the other side of the fence. 

Kendra thanked her fairy guides quickly and sprinted away, running to the van at full speed as the sky began to grow orange in the pre-dawn glow. She made excellent time, and was back at the waiting van in seven minutes. She hopped in and drove off, not bothering to buckle her seatbelt.

She opened her bag and said it was safe to come out, that they were back on the road. Seth, Gavin, Warren, Mara, Trask, and Bracken all piled out of the bag and sat down before they said anything.

Once everyone had their seatbelts on (Kendra included), questions began to pour out, a cacophony of noise. “Quiet! Wait until we get out of here before asking questions! Let me focus on driving.” 

They all fell silent, Gavin once again placing a reassuring hand on her knee, which Bracken eyed from his seat behind them. Kendra relaxed, and soon they were back at the hotel. She told everyone to stay put, and climbed out. She returned the room keys to the lady at the desk and paid for their stay.

Kendra came back and drove to the car dealership, where she returned the rental. No one said a word, feeling uneasy at the expression on her face. She had everyone but Gavin and Seth go back in the bag, then summoned a taxi.

The plane ride home felt much faster, and soon they were on the road again in the SUV, about 30 miles from Fablehaven.  Because the car only had enough seats for 8 people, Kendra, Gavin, Seth, Warren, Bracken, Trask, Dougan, and Maddox sat in the car while everybody else waited in her knapsack.

Kendra drove quietly, thinking hard about the events of the past few days as she stared at the road ahead of her. She now had her parents, and her Grandma Larsen had arrived at Fablehaven six hours ago. Her family was safe again, but she felt a sick sense of dread in the pit of her stomach.

She flashed a grateful smile to Gavin, who had given her hand a reassuring squeeze. She turned her attention back to the road as they drew closer, finally driving up to the gate. Dale got up from his waiting spot and opened the gate for them, shutting it behind them as Kendra parked in front of the large house.

Everyone piled out of the car, and as the others were leaving the knapsack Kendra pulled Gavin into a tight embrace. She heard a throat clear behind them and turned around to find her Grandpa Sorenson standing behind her.

She hugged him as well, finally relaxing in the safety of her second home. Several greetings and stories were exchanged as they made their way inside. Dale sent Mendigo to help Hugo with his chores as they all crowded into the living room.

Kendra cleared her throat to grab everyone’s attention. “I’m sure you are all curious about our mystery friend, so I’ll take this time to address the unicorn in the room.” 

Bracken stared at her in shock, dumbfounded. The others all stared at Bracken except for Gavin, who gave Kendra a soft smile. She cleared her throat again before speaking. “Bracken, is there anything you would like to say, or any questions you may have?”

He shrugged, unsure. “Is there a shrine to the fairy queen here?” Kendra sighed, unhappy about the reminder. “There was one, but when a plague of darkness swept through the preserve, the queen destroyed it in order to make a powerful talisman we could use in order to stop the plague.”

Bracken stared at her in mild wonder for a moment before responding. “I see. It seems there is much more to you than your appearance might suggest.” Kendra flushed at his words, and Gavin frowned.

Bracken cleared his throat and spoke again. “I suppose introductions are in order. I am Bracken, unicorn, son of the Fairy Queen.” Gasps of shock rang throughout the room, as everybody but Gavin stared at him in amazement.

Kendra sat down hard, dropping next to Gavin as her head spun with questions. She could hardly believe it, but he was sitting right in front of her. Soon, everyone split off into their own little groups, sharing stories and backgrounds to those they had not met, or catching up with those they hadn’t seen in some time.

Gavin led Kendra to the porch swing as the others talked. They sat and rocked on the swing quietly, simply enjoying the peace and each other’s company. They sat for a long time, just relishing in the feeling of safety that emanated from the house.

Eventually, darkness began to fall and they went back inside. They discovered that there weren't enough beds for everybody, and Kendra quickly came up with a solution. Soon, everyone had new room assignments, with her Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson the only ones staying in their own bedroom.

Seth whined, but eventually let it go when he was told to share the attic bedroom with Tanu. Warren and Dale left for Warren’s cottage, and everyone else were put in guest rooms in the main house.

Kendra and Gavin would be sharing the bed in her knapsack. When she told Gavin, he flushed a bright red and Mara winked at them, Dougan giving them a sly smirk behind her.

After dinner, everyone split off to their own rooms, Kendra placing her bag on the floor in the living room before she and Gavin climbed in, ignoring the teasing looks from Mara and Dougan. 

~~~

The next month passed by in relative peace. Tanu, Trask, Dougan, Mara, Grandma and Grandpa Larsen, Dale, and Maddox all moved into the now usable manor that was once haunted by Patton’s aunt.

Warren stayed in his cottage as usual, and everyone else lived in the main house. Kendra now shared a nice, quiet bedroom with Gavin on the second floor. Bracken now stayed in the attic with Seth, having become close friends rather quickly.

Kendra flopped onto the king-size bed she shared with Gavin, exhausted after another long day. Mara and Douggan had told the adults about what happened at Wyrmroost, and now she and Gavin suffered from endless teasing from everybody who knew, including her parents and grandparents.

She sighed and rolled over onto her stomach, thinking. After many calls and several dozen dispatched knights, they had captured the Sphynx and put him in the Quiet Box. The artifacts were all recovered and scattered all over the world once more. The fight to keep the demon prison locked was over, and everybody was safe again.

After a few days, Bracken had managed to fix the shrine at Fablehaven, and was promptly buried in his mother’s embrace. The Fairy Queen was beautiful, her ageless beauty absolutely breathtaking.

Kendra was removed from her thoughts when she heard a soft knock on the door. She opened it to find Gavin, her wonderful boyfriend on the other side. She cocked an eyebrow at him, automatically suspicious of the wicked grin on his face.

“Close your eyes Kendra. There’s a surprise for you downstairs.” She gave him a flat look, but took his hands as she closed her eyes, letting Gavin lead her down the stairs and into the living room.

“Open your eyes, love.” She obeyed, only to gasp in shock at the scene before her. “SURPRISE!” She laughed when everyone shouted, wiping tears from her eyes. The entire room was drowning in birthday decorations, balloons and confetti and streamers everywhere as they all surrounded a massive cake with 18 candles on it. 

She had completely forgotten about her eighteenth birthday in all of the chaos happening in the past month. She laughed and kissed Gavin before whirling on all of her friends and family, scolding them playfully. Seth nearly leaped onto the cake in his haste to yank Kendra into a hug, the cake being saved by Warren as he caught Seth and set him down.

Everyone laughed as Warren scolded Seth, who sat on the floor making an exaggerated puppy-eyes expression. Everyone laughed and sang and ate way too much cake and ice cream to be healthy.

Finally, it was time for presents. Kendra was seated on the loveseat next to Gavin as everyone gathered around her to watch her open their gifts. After several inside jokes and way too many dresses and shoes to be a coincidence, Kendra had only two presents left.

She grabbed the small box labeled with her parent’s names on it and tore open the wrapping paper. Opening the sleek black box, she found the key fob to a car nestled inside, snugly wrapped in a velvety cushion.

She gaped at it for a moment before pulling it out, looking up at her parents in shock. They smiled at her, beaming with joy. “Vanessa helped us get a good deal with that friend of hers. Happy birthday Kendra.”

She shrieked with joy and leaped at her parents, crushing them in a massive hug. Eventually, she sat back down and looked up at her parents once more. “I thought you guys said I’d have to do something crazy like steal a car before you would get me anything this nice?” 

Everyone laughed as her parents grinned wickedly. “Did you forget? You stole your grandmother’s SUV last month.” Kendra’s eyes widened as everyone laughed again. She thanked them a few more times before grabbing the last gift.

Also a small box, she tore the wrapping paper and opened it, only to gasp in shock and accidentally drop the box. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up, meeting Gavin’s gaze with her own.

Gavin picked up the box and knelt on one knee, holding the box up to her to reveal the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. Gavin locked his gaze with hers, his eyes practically smoldering as he gazed up at her, his expression overflowing with love and affection.

“Kendra Marie Sorenson, would you give me the most incredible honor, and take me as your husband?” Everyone was silent. Kendra felt dizzy from the rush of emotion that swept through her, flinging her off of her feet.

She blinked and moved, taking Gavin’s hands with her own. She smiled down at him, her eyes brimming with tears. “Yes.” She choked on a sob as Gavin gently slid the ring on her finger, kissing her hand gently.

Gavin looked up at everybody else, a stunned smile on his face. “She said yes.” He whispered the words reverently, as if afraid to break the silence and wake up, afraid that this was only a dream.

Everyone suddenly burst into cheering as they flocked around them, shouting happily as they celebrated. Kendra and Gavin were quickly lost in the swarm of people that rushed forward, and it took some time to get everyone to calm down.

“Enough! Geez, that was- ow! Seth, be careful! Calm down, you’re going to drown us in people if you don’t back up- Warren, I saw that, nice try.” Gavin spoke quickly, panting and out of breath as he herded everyone back into a somewhat manageable crowd. 

Seth jumped around the room, nearly bowling over Mara before being caught by Tanu, who held him up in the air as a ‘Time out’. Warren howled with laughter at Seth, which devolved into another scuffle before Tanu fixed his grip on Seth.

Kendra ignored her brother as he pouted from his spot in the Samoan’s arms and kept her focus on Gavin. She watched as he smiled and laughed at Seth and his antics with the others, only breaking out of her thoughts when he turned to face her, his sly, crooked grin in place.

She felt her heart pound as she smiled up at him, awestruck. Gavin smiled softly and leaned down, pulling her into a sweet, simple kiss as he rested an arm on her hip. They pulled apart as Seth and Warren made gagging noises and returned their attention to the party.