The Old Haven condos feel warm and safe as I settle into the fluffy couch, sighing in pleasure as I cradle a warm cup of hot chocolate that Cole made as soon as we walked in the door.

“Thank you guys,” I tell them, still trying to get over how fierce my guardians looked when they pulled me out of that van. I didn’t get much of a look of how it went down, but I saw the aftermath.

It’s breathtaking to witness and consider. In folklore and legend, I always thought faeries would be waif-like weaklings, unable to hurt a fly. They float around on their wings, sometimes being pranksters, but nowhere near badass. Not these guys.

“Thank us for what?” Noah says, washing his hands.

“For showing up at the right time. You saved me. I thought I was about to become a science experiment.”

If only I hadn’t been so stubborn to begin with and listened, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. Maybe Reigns would still be alive.

But had you not heard inside Cody’s mind, you also wouldn’t have found out that the vampires are planning some sort of attack either, my mind argues. So, there is something to be gained from all of this.

“A lot better than your head becoming succotash,” Jacob remarks, ironically munching on a can of just that. “You know—”

“Jacob,” Cole says evenly. “Enough.”

“What?” Jacob asks, munching. “At least I didn’t tell her I told you so.”

Cole turns toward Jacob, staring daggers.

“Let him be,” I say with a dismissive wave. Cole stops, looking at me with surprise. “He’s right. I admit, I’m stubborn. And what you guys were telling me was so unbelievable, I wasn’t buying it. I just wish I knew how to control it . . . whatever this is.”

“I respect you for recognizing this fact,” Cole says, his voice dropping even as he looks at me with a lot more than respect in his eyes. Something tells me he knows how much it took for me to eat humble pie, but at the same time, that magnetic pull between me and these four seems to be on the verge of breaking out again. I have to believe it’s because of the Fae connection we have. I’d normally not be too keen on letting four guys have their way with me, but whenever I’m around them, it’s always in the back of my mind. Maybe there’s something about them that is just inherently magical . . . and their magic is aimed right at my hormones. “But you will know soon enough. We’ll let you get your rest, then we’ll begin our journey to the Fae realm.”

I finger my hot chocolate cup, stirring a little bit that’s caught on the rim around and around. “That’s the thing. I’m not ready to go.”

Jacob sighs, tapping his can on the countertop. With almost unconscious grace, he tosses the empty container over his shoulder, where it neatly lands in a trashcan that’s on the other side of the room. “Sorry to be the bearer of shocking news, doll face, but you’re practically an outlaw here and have already killed someone. How much more havoc do you want to cause?”

“I resent that,” I say coldly. “I never intended to hurt anyone. It was just like he was screaming in my head and I wanted it to stop.”

Jacob shrugs. “You didn’t intend to, but you still did. You don’t want that to happen to someone innocent, Eve.”

I sigh. He’s got a point. “Okay, you’re right. But now that I have you guys to keep me in check, you can make sure I don’t do anything stupid, right? Just long enough to ensure that Alyssa is safe and to stop the attack the vampires are planning.”

“It’s not that simple,” Noah says quietly. “Your powers are a more pressing issue than a couple of vampires. You could cause a lot more damage than they could.”

“It’s not a couple of vampires we’re talking about here. It’s the entire city of New Haven that’s at risk!”

“And?”

“And didn’t you guys say chaos in the human world effects the Fae realm?” I ask, looking back and forth. Grudging understanding of my point dawns on their faces, and I nod. “Exactly. Just help me out here, let me get something set up for my sister, and I’ll go with you.”

“You have a point,” Cole concedes. “What do you propose? We can’t take on every vampire in the city.”

“You four took down two armored vehicles and ten guards that are trained against Paras!” I protest. “We can stop Marcus. We can prevent whatever is coming. If he succeeds, it’ll be a bloodbath!”

Jacob sighs. “You can’t save everyone, Eve. Five hundred years of experience talking here.”

Before I can protest, Tyler speaks up. “Our main concern is you. You’ve been through a lot. Get some rest, we’ll see to your sister, and we’ll leave in a few hours.”

I sit back, fuming in silence and trying to think until Jacob comes over and starts massaging my shoulders again. It’s something in his touch. It’s both reassuring and arousing at the same time. “That’s what I thought, doll. You’re wound up like a spring. I can understand. You’ve had a day for the record books.”

“What are you doing?” I ask, biting my lip. Jeez he’s good, and whether it’s magic or not, I like it. “Guys, you don’t seem to understand . . . my sister, this city, all I want to do is keep them safe. Even if she’s fine now, something is going down. You don’t know what could happen.”

“I get that. You’ve made that clear,” Jacob says, his hands continuing. “But take a moment to relax. That’s all I’m doing.”

“Easier said than done,” I murmur as Tyler comes over and gets down on his knees. Slipping my boots off, he starts massaging my feet, his touch just as good as Jacob’s. Noah smiles and sits down next to me, taking my hand and sending tingles down my spine. “Though this . . . this feels good.”

“Relax, Eve,” Tyler says, his voice trembling with desire and warmth. He’s so . . . youthful, eager, and intense. Wait, did I just think of a man over four hundred years old as youthful? Either way, his thumbs are magic. “Let us take care of you.”

I moan at their touch, my body immediately responding. God, their hands feel so good. My sore body unknots, my blood seemingly filled with relaxing particles as Jacob moves up my neck to my temples and scalp, even massaging my earlobes. “Oh,” I moan, my pussy starting to dampen and my stomach fluttering. “That feels wonderful.”

My eyes start to close and I start to feel drowsy. It would just be so nice to just lie back, relax, and . . .

“Wait!” I say, fighting off their spell and jumping to my feet, nearly kicking Tyler in the face. He rolls backward quickly, though, his face clouded.

“Sorry,” I apologize quickly. “All three of you . . . that felt wonderful, and thank you. But while I appreciate everything you guys have done for me, I have something I have to do.”

“Eve, half the city’s ready to string you up, and based on your past, the other half probably wouldn’t help you either,” Jacob points out.

“Be that as it may, I’m not leaving until the vampire threat is neutralized. I’d never forgive myself if I left Alyssa, knowing vampires could be taking over the city.”

Before the others can say anything, Cole steps forward. “Your love for her is admirable, and your sense of duty is commendable. But you’re coming with us and that’s final. We checked Alyssa. She’s not Fae blood. She’ll be fine.”

“No!” I growl, planting my fists on my hips and staring back at Cole. “You don’t have any idea what you’re talking about! She’s not blood, but she’s family!”

Emotions start to boil over inside me and I feel like I’m losing control. I stare at the four of them, my body coursing with an overload of everything’s that’s happened. Jacob looks at me with that deep burning gaze of his, his muscular chest heaving. “Eve, you—”

“None of you understand what it’s like to one day wake up and not know what’s going on with yourself! And then to blow someone’s head up and be crucified for it, and then you expect me to go off to some strange land instead of doing what I swore to do, protect this city and protect my sister? I failed her once. I won’t fail her again!”

I look at each of them, pleading with them. “Do you know how it feels, in one second to have everyone think you’re a murderer and now one of the bad guys? Everything in your life that you worked so hard for,” I continue, snapping my fingers in front of Cole’s eyes, “gone! Just like that!”

“I know something of it,” Cole says. He’s quiet, his intensity and honesty not helping me. “But we have duties to perform too.”

As I glare into his golden eyes, I can feel the room start to shake. The whole building feels like it’s swaying, and the sofa starts to jitter as it moves across the floor. In the kitchen, glasses and cups fall from the racks, scaring me. I’m so angry, so terrified . . . “Oh, God, no. How . . . how do I stop this?”

In the blink of an eye, Cole grabs me, taking me down to the floor in some kind of maneuver. They all surround me, burning looks in their eyes. I think they’ve had enough and realize that the world, and their realm, would be safer if I was just dead.

It’s crushing, and I close my eyes, tears forming. “I understand.”