She takes me up to her room, leaving Kylan outside the door.

Everything about the area matches her style from the purple walls, black hardwood floors, and an ebony bed, to the lacey black drapes and dimly lit chandeliers.

“First, we need to pick out something for you to wear.” She leaves me standing in the middle of her room as she wanders into her closet.

“Where exactly are we going?” I roam around, wondering what sort of memories this place holds for her.

Jules said this house was their safe place growing up. Does that mean she had fun here when she got to escape her father? Was she happy? Is she happy? Does happiness exist? If someone had asked me a couple of months ago, I would have said yes, but with skepticism. Now I know it does. Even in the darkness of this realm, I’ve tasted happiness, sometimes in the present and sometimes when memories twirl across my mind.

“It’s a surprise.” She emerges from the closet with a floor-length dress.

“Some place fancy, I’m assuming.” I eyeball the dress. “You know I’m going to have to wear a glamour when I go out.”

“I know, but that doesn’t matter. You’re just dressing up for Jules. No one else.”

“But Jules never said he was coming with us.”

Rolling her eyes, she hands me the dress. “Oh, he’s coming. There’s no way he’s going to miss out on this once I tell him where I’m taking you.”

I smooth my fingers along the leather bandeau top, and then the chain that connects the top to the waistline. “So, he gets to know where we’re going and I don’t.” I pout, though I’m not that upset. I do feel guilty, though, for wanting to have fun when Legend could be anywhere at the moment, maybe even hurt.

“Don’t pout about it,” she jokes, tugging an elastic from her hair. “I have to tell him because he has to be the one to take you there. I want it to be a surprise for you because surprises are fun. I will give you a hint, though. While this is going to be fun, it’s also going to be part of your training.”

That alleviates my guiltiness a little.

I fiddle with the chain on the dress. “And what’re you going to do for fun while I train?”

She shrugs. “Play with Kylan.”

I’m not sure what she means by play, but I know better than to ask. With Liberty, sometimes being confused is for the better. Still, I have to wonder …

“Have you and Kylan ever …?” I throw the half question out there, hoping she’ll throw me a bone and answer without teasing me.

“Have we ever what?” The impish glint in her eyes makes me shake my head.

“Nothing. Never mind.” I remove the dress from the hanger.

“Man, you and Jules were really meant for each other—you’re both so shy.” She smiles widely as I narrow my eyes at her. “But, because I’m so awesome, I’ll answer you, though you didn’t actually ask.” She pulls open a dresser drawer and rummages through her clothes. “No, Kylan and I have never hooked up. We haven’t even kissed. But I used to think about it sometimes.”

“Not anymore?” I wonder as I set the hanger on her bed.

She shakes her head, her glossy eyes hued with sadness as she glances at me. “While I once wished Kylan could be the wolf for me, I quickly learned he didn’t see me like that.”

“Are you sure?” Because sometimes I catch him staring at her in a way that can only be described as longing.

“Trust me; I’m sure. Kylan sees me as just a friend. Not even that. Just the werewolf he’s supposed to guard.” She glides the drawer shut. “Go take a shower, my smelly friend. Then put on that dress, do your hair, and meet me in the foyer.” She escapes into the closet so swiftly I wonder what she’s trying to hide from.

* * *

After I shower, I put on the dress. Or, the pieces of fabric, anyway. While the dress is floor-length, the split up the front goes all the way up, leaving very little to the imagination. Add that with the open sides, the strip of leather as a top, and I’m revealing more skin than I ever have. If Jules hadn’t already faded my scars, they would’ve been on full display.

As I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I wonder how in the realms I’m supposed to do any sort of training in this gown. Maybe Liberty was lying about the training. I hope not, or else I’m going to feel awful all night for simply having fun when so much doom looms over us.

To feel more comfortable, I splash a little of my own personality into the outfit, adding a metallic cuff choker, thigh-high lace-up boots, and a few leather bracelets. I opt to leave my hair down, frame my eyes with kohl eyeliner, and set out for the foyer.

When I arrive, the wide area is crammed with Jules’ guards, along with Liberty, Shade, Rune, and Kylan. And just like Liberty said, Jules is there, waiting for me.

All my focus centers on him, the rest of the werewolves nothing more than creatures filling up the space.

He always is gorgeous, but tonight, he looks absolutely and flawlessly beautiful; all dark, studded clothes; a leather jacket; and glinting metal piercings, strands of hair hanging in his violet eyes. Violet eyes that are currently gobbling me up from my head to my toes.

“You look”—he wets his lips nervously—“more beautiful than the night sky.”

Shade snorts a laugh then whacks Jules in the back of the head. “Quit feeding your princess cheesy lines.”

Jules smacks him back then, shaking his head, offers me his hand. I easily take it, lacing my fingers through his. Then Jules sets off the glamour device and we all head out the door with guards forming a wall around us.

As we roam farther up the street, I whisper in Jules’ ear, “Don’t listen to Shade. I’m starting to really like your cheesy lines.”

His lips quirk. “Oh yeah?

“Yeah.”

“Well, then how about this?” His lips kiss my ear as he whispers, “You look more than beautiful tonight, Lake. There isn’t even a word to describe how amazing you look. You’ve struck the words right out of me.”

I smile to myself, despite the silliness. “So do you.”

He sucks on my earlobe, eliciting a purr from me. Then he takes a soft nip at my skin before pulling back and focusing on the road ahead, seeming on edge.

“So, where are we going?” I ask, holding my dress up so it doesn’t trail across the ground.

Jules’ eyes twinkle violet, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks. “It’s a surprise.”

I smile in confusion. “Why are you blushing?”

His blush intensifies, and I hear Shade snicker from behind us.

No one makes any effort to explain to me why Jules is acting shy, but it doesn’t matter. Only moments later, we reach our destination—a field tucked away behind Jules and Liberty’s house.

“Elation Field,” I read the words spun in glitter above the dome entrance before me. “That sounds … interesting.” But not at all like training.

“Jules and Lake should go first,” Liberty declares, leaning nonchalantly against the gate.

No one puts up a fuss, but the guards move away from us.

I glance at Rune, who’s watching the road behind us, his posture uncomfortably stiff. Then I look at Shade, who winks at me. When my gaze lands on Kylan, I do a double-take.

His eyes are violet. Shimmering violet. And he’s staring at Liberty.

The glow only materializes for an instant, a whisper of starlight, but it’s enough to have me gawking at him. When Kylan becomes aware of my stare, his eyes widen.

“Please don’t tell her,” he mouths. “Please, Lake, please.”

His desperation causes me to nod, but I feel guilty about making a promise that requires me to keep yet another secret from Liberty.

I look away, confused why he doesn’t want Liberty to know she’s his alterum dimidium animae. Even when I discovered I was Jules, I didn’t freak out too terribly. And Liberty said she once had feelings for Kylan, at least enough to want to kiss him.

“Ready?” Jules asks, distracting me from thoughts of Kylan and Liberty.

I nod, despite my nervousness about what is going to happen on the other side of the fence. But I trust Jules, so I’m not too worried, even if he is bouncing with anxiousness.

He apprehensively leads me through the gate and into the darkness of the field. We walk for a short distance until we reach several rows of trees, the pale purple blossoms on the branches illuminating.

“Pretty,” I murmur as petals wilt from the trees and float in my direction, kissing my skin with warm glitter.

“Yeah, it is.” Jules isn’t looking at the trees.

With a hint of a smile, he walks forward, pulling me with him as he maneuvers down a path that zigzags between two rows of trees. We walk silently for a bit as the tree blossoms pour glitter around us. The silence is comfortable. Everything about this place is comfortable.

“Why do they call this place Elation Field?” I ask, plucking a blossom from a branch. The petals gleam twice as vibrantly in the palm of my hand.

“Because the trees have elated magic in them,” he explains, slowing to a stop.

“Is that why I feel so happy?” I ask. “I thought maybe it was my gift.” Or you.

With his gaze trained on me, he collects the blossom from my hand. “These petals carry poison, but a good kind of poison that, when used properly, can make you feel absolutely amazing.”

I scrunch my nose. “Kind of sounds like some of the drugs back in the Common Realm.”

“It’s not a drug. It’s magic.” He spins the blossom in his hand, causing glitter to spray across his fingers. He shudders, his eyes momentarily glazing over. “Sometimes members of my pack that I’m close to come out here on dates and use the blossoms to …” He scratches his brow, leaving a fingerprint of glitter between his eyes.

“To what?” I wipe away the glitter with my fingertip, and a gush of raw happiness rushes through my veins. I bite back a moan, but my eyes roll back.

“To have fun. To be happy. To mess around …” He gulps audibly, his gaze descending to the blossom in his hand. “Most of my friends have been here at least once or twice. Liberty and Shade have, too, and they assure me that you’ll have fun doing this … with me. That we should at least experience it once. And that it’ll help relax you before we move to phase two of the night—the training part of it.”

So, we are training. That’s a relief.

I eye the blossom, letting myself relax. “What exactly are we supposed to do with it?”

“I’ll show you.” He steps closer, wetting his pierced lips with his tongue. “If you start to get freaked out at any time, let me know, okay? I’ll stop immediately.”

I nod, my heart a stampede inside my chest.

Keeping his violet eyes locked on me, he backs me up against a tree. Then he cups the blossom in his palms and raises his hand to his lips. As he inhales, glitter-laced smoke funnels into his parted lips. When he lowers his hands, he drops the blossom, then slants his body toward mine. His palms find the bark at the sides of me, trapping me between his arms as he leans closer. I stand motionless, holding my breath, waiting, waiting, waiting until his lips reach my mouth and he kisses me.

No, not kisses me. He breathes into my mouth, swirls of warmth and wonderfulness pouring from his lips into mine.

As the magic spills down my throat, my head bobs back against the tree. I moan, not even bothering to hide the noise.

“That … feels … wonderful,” I murmur, stretching my hand out to pluck a blossom from a branch above my head.

“Good.” Jules kisses my jawline, nipping at the skin. “I want you to feel good tonight.”

“I want you to feel good, too.” Copying what he did, I cup the blossom between my palms, lift my hands to my mouth, and suck the magic from the petals. Then I grab the front of his shirt, pull him to me, and breathe into his mouth. He groans as the smoke slithers between us. Then he slams his mouth against mine, kissing me so intensely his lip rings cut into my lips.

We kiss, a heat of passionate tongues and roaming hands, until he yanks himself back.

Gasping for air, he tears a blossom from the tree and breathes in the magic again. But instead of blowing smoke into my mouth this time, he exhales across my neck, my shoulders, painting my pale skin with splashes of glitter. Then he lowers his head, moving downward and dousing my chest, my stomach, my hips. By the time he reaches my legs, I’m a fit of needy and ravenous breaths.

“Jules,” I whisper, clawing at his hair as he gets down on his knees in front of me.

He kisses my inner thigh, and then the other, before peering up at me. “Do you want me to stop?”

I shake my head. Magic glitter or not, I want this. Want him.

Water fills my eyes and my vision blurs, just like it did that day I was reading through the books.

Pressing his nose against my thigh, he inhales my scent then licks a path up the apex of my thighs. Up and down, he moves, being slow and torturous, yet amazingly wonderful at the same time.

The feel of his tongue combined with the magic has me gasping for air as he continues to search my skin with his tongue, coating my skin with magic and driving my body to the brink of wild insanity. My eyes water, not from shedding tears, but something else.

Something is changing inside me.

I try to clutch on to the sensation, but Jules licking and the elated magic pushes me to the very edge. I lose grasp of everything, other than the feel of him, the scent of him. Him. Just him.

I never want this to end.

I don’t know how much time passes before I return to reality, panting for air, my legs wobbly, yet I feel so content.

Jules rises to his feet, a drop of tentativeness residing in his eyes.

“My legs feel shaky,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss him.

“Just wait until we shift,” he whispers against my lips, then grabs my hand and pulls me farther into the trees, giving me no time to process or freak out about what he said.