“Are you sure I look okay?” I fiddle with the hem of my short, black skirt as we make our way through the security line at the Midnight Realm portal.

My outfit is topped off with an off-the-shoulder, black velvet top; a choker; knee-high socks; and clunky heels. I also framed my teal eyes with kohl eyeliner and pinned one side of my hair back in braids and added hair rings. The look is a little over the top for me, unless I’m going out to a club, but Legend insisted I’d blend right in with everyone in the Midnight Realm. I doubted him at first, but now that we’re standing in line with a bunch of other moonlight creatures, I realize he was right.

Almost everyone is dressed in black, studded clothing, and most have inked skin or piercings, except for a few. I’m guessing those might be other travelers.

“Will you chill? You look lovely.” He tugs me with him as the line moves forward.

I continue to fidget all the way until we arrive at the glass window at the front of the line. Perched behind the glass is a giant of a man with startling blue hair and a jagged scar carves down his cheek. At first, I wonder if he’s an ogre, but then he plasters a fangy grin across his face.

“Legend, long time, no see, man.” He glides open the window and sticks out his hand for a fist bump.

“Yes, it has been a long fucking time.” Legend taps his knuckles against the big guy’s. “Too long.”

“I see you survived your sentence,” big guy jokes, pushing a few buttons on a massive translucent screen.

“Barely,” Legend quips, handing him his identification card. “Almost lost my sanity a few times.”

Big guy laughs as he scans the card through a metallic square box. “Yeah, I heard living in the Common Realm can do that to you.” He punches a few buttons on the screen. “I can’t wait until I get stationed at a different realm.”

Legend rests an arm on the countertop. “How long have you been here?”

“A few months,” the big guy replies, giving Legend back his card. “Usually, they stick most of the newbies at this portal entrance, but I was asked if I could come down for a few months because a few paranormals snuck in and they needed to up security. I don’t know why anything would sneak in. Most paranormals hate the Common Realm. There’s a reason we use it as a prison.”

Legend nods, his face set in concern. “Do you know what kind of paranormals they were?”

“I think it was werewolves,” big guy replies, adjusting his ID tag fastened to his shirt pocket.

A lump wedges in my throat. Werewolves snuck into the Common Realm?

No, there’s no way that has anything to do with me. Well, unless the werewolves hunting me were sent away from the Common Realm and needed to sneak back in to attack me.

Legend’s brows dip, but then his expression turns neutral as he stuffs his card into his pocket. “Is my entrance cleared?” he asks the big guy. “I’m more than ready to get the hell out of here.”

Big guy nods, pointing to our right at an object that reminds me of a full body scanner at the airport. The only difference is the inside of this scanner is glowing with a shimmering iridescent light that matches the traveling pass in my hand.

“Step through whenever you’re ready,” big guy instructs, pushing a large button on the scanner.

Adrenaline pours through my veins. Never once did I consider that I’d actually have to go through a portal.

Do I have to go by myself? I don’t even know what to do.

“Actually, I was wondering if I could get access for a double pass,” Legend says, lacing his fingers through mine and pulling me to his side.

Big guy’s eyes skate to me, and his brows bunch together. “You’re taking a human back with you?”

Legend plucks the traveling pass from my hand. “She’s just going for the night. Thought I’d give her the tour of where I live.”

Big guy eyes me over then crooks a brow at Legend. “The humans wore on you, huh?”

“This one did. But she’s the only one.” He releases my hand to place his palm on my back, urging me closer to the glass window. “Lake, this is Giant. Giant, this is Lake.”

Giant sticks out his hand. “Giant is only a nickname truly evil creatures call me.” He shoots Legend a teasing, dirty look. “My real name’s Greg.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Greg,” I say, though Giant seems more fitting.

I politely shake his hand, noting that, like Legend, his skin is a lot colder than mine.

“It’s nice to meet you, too.” He studies me for an unnerving amount of time. “You’re very pretty for a human.”

Is that a compliment?

“Um, thanks.”

He smiles, pulling his hand away. “You’re welcome.” He scans my traveler’s pass, and the screen illuminates with my information. “Is this your first time portal traveling?” he asks, and I nod. He leans forward to read my background history, and I can already see his wheels turning. “It doesn’t have a place of birth listed.”

I bottle down the painful reminder. “I know. It should list why, though.”

He reads further then nods, pity filling his eyes. I know what he’s thinking. The poor girl who was found on the side of the road with no memory. The girl who doesn’t know where she’s from. The girl who doesn’t have a family. The girl who doesn’t have a real last name. The girl who has no one.

With an artificial smile, he returns my traveler’s pass. “You’re going to love the Midnight Realm, Lake. I’m sure of it. Just make sure to come back before your pass expires.” He winks at me. “No trying to stay longer, okay?”

His wink throws me off, but I manage a smile as I tuck the pass into a pocket on my studded leather backpack.

Does he know that Legend may be planning to keep me there? How would he know?

“I permitted a double pass so you two can go through the portal together,” Giant tells Legend. “You’ll need to hold her hand and guide her through.”

Legend holds my hand. “Thanks, man. And make sure to look me up when you get back in the realm. We’ll go out for a blood dine or something.”

“Sounds good.” Giant nods, stealing another glance in my direction.

I start to squirm under his stare, but then Legend hauls me toward the scanner.

As we near the light flowing inside it, my pulse skyrockets. But before I can fall too far into a panic attack, Legend leads me into the scanner and into the light.

A rainbow of warmth and bright colors instantly smothers me, and I start to relax. Then darkness drags me under.