“Fucking faeries,” I say, shaking my head as Cole locks the door to the big condo. We’re in Old Haven, on the outskirts in one of the apartment buildings that were more or less abandoned during the war. It’s not quite squatting to live here, since nobody is complaining, but you’re pretty much responsible for your own repairs, and utilities are spotty at best.

I’m still rattled by all of this, so I sit down on a couch as Noah sets a hot steaming tea on the coffee table in front of me and I try to absorb all the information. The ride down from the Broadmoor place felt like a total mind overload, even though Cole said little, trying to let me focus on driving.

Still, I’ve got enough running around in my head that I barely remember the drive. I sip the tea, not sure where Noah got it from. Probably safer not to ask, but it does taste safe, at least, and feels good going down my throat.

“Damn, sweet tits,” Jacob complains, unstrapping his knives and setting them on the table. The apartment’s still furnished, although it does make mine look luxurious, except for the square footage. Apparently, faeries like their space. “Relax. You’re too tense. Cole just told you we exist, not that it was the end of the world. Here, let me help.”

Jacob comes behind me, and before I know what he’s doing, he starts to rub my shoulders, his fingers—I hate to use the word—magical. I want to shrug him off. I still don’t even really know these guys, but it feels so good. I can’t help but let out a moan and a soft chuckle as he works on the little knots, easing them away. His hands feel so good, I can’t help but think it might have something to do with his being a faerie.

“Still, it’s hard to absorb all the info I just got. I swear Cole just dumped me to a living stupor.”

“Imagine what it was like for me the first time I saw a human city,” Jacob chides. “What did he tell you?”

“Well, for one . . . you’re all a few hundred years old,” I reply, shaking my head. “You all look about thirty.”

“Yeah, well, that’s a product of Fae genetics,” Jacob says, his voice low. “We men live about nine hundred human years, on average. And I’ll be happy to tell you that I’m only five hundred and twelve, thank you very much. Cole’s the oldest, and Tyler’s the youngest.”

I chuckle, sighing as Jacob works away more of my tension. “So, you don’t think it’s weird that I’m about . . . shit, around a twentieth of your age? Never was good at math.”

“Tell me more,” Jacob says. “Just close your eyes and relax a bit. I’ll take care of you.”

It feels like such a good idea, but I fight to keep them open. “This is just a lot to take in. I thought I knew everything about Paranormals. So . . . you’re human?”

“Not quite,” Jacob corrects me. “Maybe thousands of years ago, long before written history, but we’ve evolved along parallel paths.”

I nod, understanding as his fingers work down over my shoulders, sending relaxation and warm, sensual, sexual tingles down my arms and across to my nipples. “So, faeries were humans who were naturally connected with nature and had the gift of magic at their command. Why’d we separate?” I ask. “Cole was a little hazy on that.”

“Because of what we value,” Jacob says, his fingers stroking up and down my arms. I shouldn’t be turned on. I barely know him, but something has my hormones raging out of control. He pauses, coming around, and I open my eyes to see him kneeling in front of me, undoing my boot. “My ancestors loved light and laughter. Humans were fascinated with war.”

I want to protest, but thinking about the violence I see every day, I can’t argue. “What happened?”

“As our magic grew and our disagreements continued, those who could pulled back more and more, retreating to a place we could live peacefully. Those left behind—”

“Became the shifters,” I reply, moaning as Jacob works up my calf. “So why give a shit about us?”

“Because the . . . barrier between realms is porous,” Jacob admits. “Violence in the human world directly affects the realm of the Fae . . . if it’s bad enough. It’s why my friends and I exist, to deal with the intrusions from the evil that seep in.”

I nod, and my knees part on their own as Jacob moves higher up my leg, and I can almost imagine him sliding a hand up higher . . . if I weren’t wearing jeans.

“I just can’t believe it. Why? Humans don’t want violence.”

“Well, believe it, beautiful,” Noah says, setting down a duster and staring critically at the furniture.

The faeries have done a decent job of cleaning up the former penthouse, with some help, I suspect, from their innate faerie magic which seems to rearrange and clean things when they pass. The place almost looks like it’s slowly being restored to like new. “Don’t want to do too much. You’ll have curious neighbors.”

Noah chuckles and sits down. “Faeries are just one of the many Paranormals humans don’t know about. There are many more.”

Jacob gets in a real good knot in my right calf and I nearly groan out loud. I look down at him and start to wonder if his tongue is as good as his thumbs.

What the fuck is wrong with me? Did I really just think that?

Jacob stops as Tyler clears his throat, and I blush. Can you guys hear me?

After a moment of their staring blankly at me, I sigh in relief. “Well, that’s a relief.”

“What?”

I shake my head with a chuckle. “Go on, Noah. I feel like we’re scattershotting this, but just let me ramble. I’ve always thought this way. Other Paras?”

“Demons. Like the one who fled the house,” Noah says. “Nephilim, shadow wights, witches, sorcerers . . . shall I go on?”

I shiver and reach over for my cup of tea. “I used to think there were more Paras out there. But at a point, I thought maybe there weren’t. If there were, we’d have found out. And you guys are saying that my power, this gift I have, is causing havoc in the faerie realm?”

It’s still something I can’t get used to. How do I have powers? I get out of bed and put my left foot in my right shoe some days. The idea that I could unintentionally be causing a problem that crosses dimensions, or realms, or whatever they want to call it, is terrifying.

Noah shakes his head. “Not exactly . . . not yet. But it could eventually. What happens in this realm can affect the others, and sometimes vice versa. But . . .”

“But what?”

“The veil between our realms is weakening.”

“From everything you’ve told me, you make it sound like a terrible thing. With everything going on in this world, we could use some light and laughter. And some good massages.”

For once, Jacob doesn’t smile. “But it’s not just our realm where the veil is growing fainter. It’s the demon realm as well. Your power has the potential to dump all three realms in a blender and hit puree. And demons . . . they want both realms for themselves, and they thrive on chaos.”

A cold chill runs down my spine. “Demons in your realm?”

Noah nods. “Yes. For some reason, your power is weakening the veil between all three realms.”

“I don’t believe it. How can I be causing it?”

Jacob sighs, sounding a little sad. “It’s true. The four of us wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”

“Show me, then,” I challenge them. “I’m a peace officer, but I need to know. Give me proof.”

The four Fae look at each other for a moment, then Cole nods, speaking again for the first time in a while. “Come with us. Nature helps.”

We go up to the roof, where the wind ripples at my hair and a light rain’s starting to fall. This rain feels different, though, as the four Fae surround me, linking arms before Cole rests his hands on my shoulders. “This isn’t perfect. I wish we were in the woods. But focus on the air, on the natural beauty of the night. Feel the life in the rain, how it’ll nourish the Earth and make it fruitful. When you can do that, close your eyes and clear your mind . . . then look.”

I close my eyes and try what Cole says. I can feel something growing around me, and with each passing second, I feel the connection Cole is talking about. The rain isn’t just cold. It’s beautiful life. The wind carries with it freshness even in the city, and I can almost feel the afternoon sunlight as individual beams on my skin. I clear my mind, open my eyes . . . and my breath is taken away. “It’s so beautiful!”

I’ve never seen such an idyllic sight. In the distance, I can see a shining, bright city, but closer, I can see fields with grass so green it makes my nose tingle, and a sky a dark blue-black that glitters with diamonds of stars even though the field is lit by light. It seems to come from the very air itself, and as I look out, I yearn deep in my heart to leave behind this mess in Old and New Haven and to step into that grass, to let it wedge between my toes. I want to smell the clean air, to sip at the water that promises to be sweeter than wine, and to hear the wind that holds the melody of a Mozart concerto.

It beckons to my spirit, calling out in a siren song that sounds familiar, feels like . . . home. But the weight of responsibility holds me in check. I think of Alyssa, the people of New Haven, even Joe. And as much as I would like to play and frolic in the grass, my duty is to them.

“Look,” Cole whispers, and the scene shifts. The sky’s the same, but the ground looks . . . ill. The air shimmers, and I can see what looks like a bruise in existence, trying to break through. The rift isn’t open yet . . . but it’s only a matter of time, and coming from it is wave after wave of pure darkness. Of evil.

“The demons have always tried to influence both realms,” Cole says, taking his hands off my shoulders and making the image disappear, “so your power has not caused all of this. But something in your power is causing the problem to get worse, for demons to form. I can only call it cracks between our realms. For the past twenty-seven years, the frequency has been increasing, and since your powers have started to awaken . . .”

I nod in understanding. “And you . . . want me to come back with you?”

Tyler nods. “It would be in your best interest. In everyone’s best interest. A faerie sorceress can help you learn how to use your powers. Then, maybe we can see about healing the rifts.”

“You would love it,” says Jacob before I can reply, his eyes gleaming. The way he looks at me heats my core. The way they all look at me tells me that if I went, I would not be sleeping alone for long. I should be running for the hills if four men I just met are looking at me the way they are, but I’m drawn to them.

I shove the desire away, in danger of being consumed by it. Fantasies and lust aside, I have duties. But I think the more time I spend with them, the more likely I’m going to turn into a crazed nymph who wants all the faerie cock she can handle.

“I–I can’t. I have a job. I took an oath. And I have a little sister here. She needs me. The people of New Haven need me. There’s a vampire menace going on right now, and the town is likely to go up in flames if it isn’t stopped.”

The four look at each other, then Cole nods. “Vampires are to demons what shifters are to us. So, we shall help you resolve the issue. Our mission is to help and protect you, and then you will come with us. Agreed?”

I shake my head. "Yeah, that's not how this works. I can't just bring you into the office. My captain would freak. But I can use you as informants, just between us." They don't agree, but it's all I've got to bargain with. They can take it or leave it because I've got a job to do.

As if to remind me of the shitty job I’m currently doing, my phone rings. “Joe?”

“You found anything?” he asks. “I figured you’d have hit the taco stand long ago, but you never called back in.”

Shit. Joe’s right. It’s nearly sundown. “Just a possessed house.”

“Huh?” Joe asks. “Listen, if you’re not too busy, maybe you can get your ass up to New Haven, by Patriot’s Square? I’ve got a suspect, but I might need backup.”

“Be there in fifteen,” I reply. I hang up and look at the four. “Look. Give me time to sort this and figure it out, and in the meantime, you boys stay here and out of trouble. If the population realizes a new type of Para is around, things really might break out into chaos. Besides, I don’t want to have to lock you up.”

Jacob grins. “I don’t mind handcuffs . . . in the right situation.”

I roll my eyes while Cole looks at me seriously. “Where are you going?”

“My partner has a new lead on the vamp murders. Please don’t follow me. It’ll be easier and give me a chance to think. I can take care of myself.”

I head for the doorway, half surprised they let me go. Running down the stairs, I jump in my car, silently sure that regardless of what I asked them, they have no intention of listening to a word I said.