Chapter One

Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the fae-est of them all?

A pair of startling turquoise eyes stared back at me, eyes that should have been familiar considering I had been seeing them in my reflection for twenty years. Except they weren’t. They had changed.

I had changed.

“You look even more beautiful, Ari. Don’t let this throw you.” Violet sat cross-legged on my right, Blaine on my left, the three of our knees touching, just like when we were kids, as we all stared into the huge and ornate mirror hanging in the foyer of Kade’s mansion.

The fae side of me unlocked when I was in the Otherworld. I had known that I was affected by this — senses much sharper, powers increased — but I hadn’t really had the time to focus on the physical change, to truly see myself as I was now.

“I just … I don’t look like me,” I finally murmured, leaning forward, observing the way my eyes were now shot through with gilded sparks. Around my iris was a thin circle of gold, and the green almost looked shimmery, if that was possible. The shape was also a little different, larger and more catlike.

On top of the altered eyes, there were my new fae ears, slightly pointed at the tip — not as much as a full highborn fae, but enough that if you were looking closely you would notice. My hair was still white-blond and long, waves giving it a slightly unruly look when it was let loose, but just like my eyes, it seemed more shimmery now. Same with my skin — still a golden color, but that gold was brighter. Shiny.

I’d thought my darker coloring, including eyebrows and lashes, was courtesy of my Polynesian father’s ancestry. But that father was completely made up, a lie. My true biological father was the evil fae prince of the Winter Court, a man whom had unfortunately passed on quite a few physical traits. And hopefully, no psychological ones.

Blaine stood, reached down and pulled me up and away from the mirror. Blaine and Violet had remained behind with me on Staten Island, on queen protection duty. Not that I really needed them anymore. I was powerful now. Extremely powerful. But it was a relief to have my two childhood best friends with me today. They had been with me through most of my big changes in life. So this felt right.

“Getting closer to the mirror won’t change your new look, Princess,” Blaine said.

I had to swallow hard as I tilted my head back to see his face. His eyes were generally a light green, darkening when he was angry. Thankfully, they were their normal calm color, which actually helped me push down some of my panic. “And Violet is right, you’re even more beautiful. Plus, as a double bonus, you now have the sort of power the rest of us could only dream of. You’re going to be the one to bring us together. To save us from the dark fae.”

No pressure there. The tightness in my chest increased to the point I could barely breathe, but a few calming meditative thoughts and I managed to relax myself again.

It had been two weeks since Dalia fell through the portal on the Island and died in my arms. Two weeks since she had declared that the Winter Court was coming for us all. At first, there had been a huge sense of urgency. Bear and wolf shifters from all around the East Coast had converged on the five boroughs, no one allowed to leave until the threat came to pass, or we were all safe. The weaker members, children, pregnant shifters, and elderly were being hidden away in the human world, in California, far from the mecca and boroughs. It had been a very hard decision for us to make, but we knew the fae wanted our mecca, so we hoped they would focus their attack on the boroughs and leave the outer world alone. Kade and I were staking a lot of lives on that, so I was praying we were right. The second wave of people, the young queen heirs, nonessential staff, and not-combat-ready shifters, were leaving for California tomorrow.

Speaking of children. “Excuse me, Your Highness…” The soft voice interrupted my heavy thoughts, and I turned to find Jane, one of the bear shifters who helped keep an eye on Winnie. I gave her a smile. Jane ran a nervous hand through her long strands of honey-brown hair. No matter how much time she spent in my presence, she remained nervous. But I liked her, for the soft way she spoke to the children, the caring little hugs she gave them when they were hurt. She was one of my sister’s favorite companions. Winnie seemed to love bears much more than wolves; she had really found her place here in Kade’s home.

Violet and Blaine moved on either side of me as the three of us stepped forward. The young bear shifter continued in a rush: “Your cub is demanding to speak with you. She’s refusing to leave.”

Winnie, my baby sister, or truthfully more like my daughter, was supposed to be leaving now in the last of the first wave, heading to stay in the home of a Californian alpha wolf that I trusted.

“Thank you, I’ll go find her now,” I said, striding past Jane and toward the back door of Kade’s house. Even though I was queen again, the ceremony having taken place last week, I had refused to return permanently to live in the Manhattan royal estate. Too many bad memories there. Too much history. I remained with Kade, my bonded mate, on Staten Island. Once this war was over, we would figure out a compromise with ruling together.

Stepping through the back door, I crossed the porch and went down the stairs. My sister would be in the garden. She basically lived out there. A love of nature was something she shared with Kade. I had spent many hours in the last two weeks watching those two play, and garden, and bond. It was pretty much the most perfect thing I had ever seen, and I would not let the Tuatha take it away from me. Now that I had a taste, I was hooked.

“How many shifters did you send to protect the children?” Blaine asked me as we started to cross through Kade’s stunning landscaped yard. “Are you sure they will be safe?”

We were all extra-protective of Winnie — all the children really. It was so hard letting them go, not being there in person to ensure they were safe.

“I sent a dozen of my best fighters. Kade also sent a dozen of his. On top of that, there are a few hundred elders and pregnant women. I’m also sending Seamus and Jesabele, since we have Nikoli and Violet. The children will be well cared for, but nothing is definite.”

It was a hard decision to send away two of our magic born. There weren’t many in the pack, and I would no doubt need all the firepower I could get. But if we perished in this war, I needed to know someone with magic remained behind to protect the rest of our people. I would not let shifters fall to extinction.

“I wish there was another option, but there are no neutral or safe places for them here. The winter fae will come to the mecca, we know that. They will try and destroy us all.”

Not to mention they would no doubt try to use the children to take me down, like the winter queen had in the Otherworld.

Violet’s voice was hard: “Why do you think they haven’t attacked yet? I mean, it’s been almost two weeks. What the hell is that Winter bitch up to?”

She had been tortured and almost killed in the Otherworld, and it had changed her. Unlike my changes, hers were all internal. She was harder now, more ruthless. And with a bloodthirsty need to cut the fae down. She wanted the Winter Court annihilated and Queen Isalinda’s head on a stick. Considering I was part winter fae, I didn’t know how I felt about that, but I did know that I would not hesitate to stop any and all fae who tried to attack my people. The winter queen’s head on a stick … completely acceptable … but the people … I would not take out an entire court just because they were ruled by evil.

“I have no idea, but whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not good,” I replied.

“Maybe it’s the timing,” Blaine interrupted. “We know time moves different between Earth and the Otherworld. So possibly, they are still on their way, it’s just going to take longer for them to send the army across.”

This was all true, but something in my gut told me there was more to it. I was worried. “I wish there was a way to speak with Prince Caspien. Violet, are you still working with the flowers?” I asked, veering off the garden path to follow a child’s shriek. Winnie was in the “pirate’s grove.” I should have known.

Violet nodded. “Yes, but I’m not receiving a reply. I’ve started working on that water spell. I think I’ve nearly got it perfected.”

I nodded, pushing my impatience down. After Dalia fell through the portal, I had tried to contact the fae, to no avail. I wanted to offer my condolences for the loss of Dalia, and also get specifics on this war. We had to assume they were either busy fighting themselves or had lost the flower we’d given them so long ago. Violet thought she could make some type of water two-way mirror, but it was a complicated spell, so I was trying not to push her.

“Have you had any more trouble with the council?” Violet asked, changing the subject, her voice flat. She had hated the wolf council as much as I did. I don’t think any of us were sad to see them go.

“Nope, they have all up and disappeared.” I had no time to bother with tracking them down. Nor did I want to. Traitors had better stay away unless they wanted to lose their lives. “At least it looks like they didn’t get back to the royal estate before fleeing. All of the spell books and Red Queen’s possessions are intact and well guarded.”

I would have to search through the Red Queen’s things again when I got a chance. For more clues. “I’m heading over there this afternoon,” Violet added, doing that thing where she seemed to read my thoughts. “You should join me.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Our conversation came to a halt when a tiny firecracker of a shifter burst out of bushes to my left, ambushing us, holding a long, thick piece of wood in her hands.

“Stop or ye shall walk the plank,” she growled, letting the wolf spirit inside of her free. “This be my treasure trove!”

The three of us immediately surrendered, arms up in the air, faces screwed up in exaggerated fear. Winnie’s red fox familiar, Rhett, was circling us slowly, trying to keep his bushy tail from wagging.

“You wanted to see me, Pirate Winnie?” I said, trying not to grin.

She growled again. “That be Captain Pirate Winnie to you barnacles.”

I couldn’t stop the smile then, or the laughter that burst out of me. “I think you’ve been spending too much time with Chase, Captain Pirate Winnie.”

Kade thought of Chase like a nephew, he was the son of his cousin and he’d known him since birth. Chase was a little older than Winnie, and very smart. He was teaching my sister a world of new words.

She dropped her weapon then, her tiny face crumbling. “I miss Chase,” she wailed. “Why did he have to go?”

I took two steps to her side, dropping to my knees and wrapping my arms tightly around her. “Winnie, sweetheart … I know a lot of stuff is happening that you don’t understand. And I’m sorry that everything is a mess again. We’re being attacked by some very bad people, so the children have to go away. To be safe. If you miss Chase so much, how come you don’t want to go be with him?”

She burrowed closer to me, tucking her little head into my neck as Rhett lay his face on her lap. “I would miss you more, so I had to make a hard decision.”

My heart hurt then, like someone had just wrapped their hand around it and squeezed tightly.

“I don’t want you to go either,” I murmured close to her, a few tears trailing down my cheeks. Queens weren’t supposed to cry, to show weakness, but I had decided to do things differently in my reign. I would not hide my emotions, I would not keep myself from my people. The rules were changing, and I was glad. “But I also can’t stand the thought of you being hurt. I need to know you’re safe, because if anything happened to you, Win. If you got hurt…” My voice broke. “I can’t let anything happen to you.”

I pulled back to see her face, and so she could see mine. “Do you understand? I don’t want you to go. I would do anything to make sure we never have to be apart again, but these bad people … they hurt kids. They would hurt you. So will you please reconsider staying with Chase, just for a few weeks?”

I was trying to make it seem like a question, but I would force her if I had to. I was praying it would all be over within the month, but without knowing the time of the fae attack, I was just guessing. She was quiet, staring at me, watery eyes locked on my face. Finally, she leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “I trust you to keep me safe. I will do as you ask and go to California.”

The tears in her eyes spilled over, which prompted fresh rivulets to track down my own cheeks. I wanted to sob, but I knew that would upset her more, so I just hugged her as tightly as I could.

I felt his presence moments before strong arms wrapped around both Winnie and I. Kade’s warmth encased us. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, and I felt him do the same to Winnie.

“It will be okay.” His low growly voice was the most comforting thing in the world to me now. “The fae picked the wrong packs to mess with. We’ll take them down and then all go on a vacation.”

His declaration had Winnie’s little head poking up. She struggled back from our hug to see the bear king better. “Hawaii?” she practically shrieked, her tears drying up.

Kade laughed, the rich sound echoing across the garden. Ever since Winnie saw a brochure for Hawaii with pineapples, hula dancing, and the whole relaxed beachy vibe, she’d been begging to go. As he pulled back and I could see clearer, I noticed that Violet and Blaine were no longer close by. They had moved about fifty yards away and were talking to Gerald and Bianca, the Boston alpha. All four of them were part of the new combined bear-wolf council.

“Hawaii is a definite.” Kade brought my attention back to him and Winnie. “Wherever my girls want to go, then we will go.”

His girls. Two very simple words, but they meant so much. Not just to me, but Winnie also. Neither of us had parents anymore, all we had were each other. We were a family now. A true family like so many others I used to watch with envy.

“Yay! You’re the best, K. I love you,” Winnie was still shrieking as she turned to me. “I’m ready to go now.”

The heavy pressure in my chest increased then, and I found myself locking eyes with Kade.

I don’t want her to go, I sobbed through our bond, keeping the grief internal. What if we never see her again?

Her safety has to come first, Ari. I don’t want to send her away either. I want our family together in the same den. But until we deal with the fae…

He was right. We both knew it. But that didn’t make the decision any easier. It didn’t help the ache in my heart, which seemed to be increasing dramatically.

All I knew was that the fae had messed with our lives for too long. I was done. If they didn’t come to Earth soon, I was going to take my army to the Otherworld and take them out first.

That was a promise.

I stood and wiped my eyes, giving Winnie one last hug before she ran off to play pirates. “Can you watch her for me for a minute?” I asked Kade. “I’ll be right back.”

He brushed a hand across my cheek, before pressing his lips to my forehead. I closed my eyes briefly at the pure perfection of him, opening them again as he pulled back.

“We’ll be right here waiting for you,” he said, and he took off after a screaming Winnie.

Traipsing through the backyard to the mansion, I stepped inside to find my soon-to-be mother-in-law Annette in the living room, sitting in a chair at the window, holding her tea and looking out into the garden at Kade and Winnie.

She turned to me. “Hello, daughter.” She’d already accepted me as family and it was one more thing to bring tears to my eyes.

“I need a favor,” I told her. I knew she was more than capable of staying behind and fighting this war with us, but I had heaviness in my heart for the future of my kind and she could ease my burden if she agreed.

“Anything,” she replied, straightening and setting her tea down.

I smiled weakly. She was too good to me. What did I do to deserve such love?

“I’m sending the queen heirs off to California to remain safe and continue their studies. I know we haven’t decided how the future monarchs will be chosen…”

There was a world of possibilities now. Would it still be a male bear who accepted the crown from Kade, and a female wolf heir who fought her way through the Summit? Or maybe a vote from the people?

“And I know we have decades to decide, but I want to protect the heirs and teach them the ways of the bear so that in the future it will always be us working together.”

I finished my speech in a ramble and Annette nodded. “You want me to go with them to California and teach your heirs how we do things? To protect them and help in the event that…” She left it open but we both knew what words would come next.

I nodded. “Yes, in the event I die, I want the next queen heir to be a friend of the bears.” I knew it was impossible to not fall in love with Annette, and that my fellow heirs would respect and bond with her, allowing for any future ruler to be as closely aligned with my way of ruling as possible. “Will you?”

She grinned. “Of course. I’d be honored.”

She stood and wrapped me up in one of her trademark bear hugs. As we embraced, a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. If this war came to pass — and I suspected there was no way now to avoid it — and I didn’t make it out, then Winnie would be okay, my people would be okay, and the new wolf leader would have a soft spot in her heart for the bears.

 

That afternoon, after Winnie and Annette were safely on their way to California, Violet found me in the kitchen of our Staten Island home. I was just about to leave to take a vortex to Manhattan.

“I did it!” she shrieked, coming in from the garden.

“Did what?” I asked as Violet tugged at my arm, dragging me out to the back yard before I could say anything more.

I saw Blaine and Monica standing at the water’s edge. They were on guard duty today while Kade and Victor were preparing our land in Upstate New York for the final run with all the shifters today. I wanted one last run as a wolf with my people before I had to fight like hell to keep our home safe.

Jen had gone to transport Winnie, making sure she made it safely, and then would return to me. That left my inner circle of dominants — that was once six — down to two. At least for today.

I was truly mystified as to what Violet was talking about until we got closer to the water’s edge. Then it dawned on me why they would all be crowding around here.

“The summer fae?” I asked her, peeking over into the water, and sure enough, in the reflection I saw a wooden grove and those bright bursts of flowers that were distinctly Summer Court. It was as if she had opened a mini portal to the Otherworld.

“I’ve connected with one of the water fountains in the summer castle’s courtyard,” Violet told me. “It took a while to get anyone’s attention, but finally a guard came over. He’s run to get the prince.”

I sat up straighter and smoothed my hair. I’d been waiting for this moment since Dalia fell into my lap two weeks ago. Movement in the back of the fountain caught my eye, and I recognized the stunning fae jogging toward us.

Violet leaned into me. “I’m not sure how long the magic will last, and you might have to scream to be heard over the bubbling water fountain on their side.”

I nodded as Prince Caspien stepped fully into view. He was breathing faster than normal but hardly winded. “Queen Arianna, I’ve been meaning to make contact but we’ve had our hands full and there was no chance for me to leave our lands. I’m so glad Violet found a way.”

I nodded. “We don’t have much time, but I wanted to offer my deepest condolences for the loss of Dalia. She was a treasure, and I will never forget her help in getting Violet back.”

The prince bowed his head solemnly. “Thank you. We have had no time to grieve, but she was an honored warrior and will be deeply missed.” He shook off his sadness and then got to business. “The winter fae attacked us in the night, sent assassins to try to take out our highest commanders. We killed all but one. That one we questioned thoroughly. He admitted under magical duress that the Winter Court wants to eliminate the Summer Court completely from this land, and they also want to commandeer the Earth-side mecca.” His eloquent manner of speaking was a little more rushed than usual.

My gut churned with anxiety. “We’ve had nothing happen here for weeks. What’s the wait? When should we expect this attack?” The image wavered then, almost disappearing, but Violet thrust her hands forward and it held.

The prince’s drawn features came into clear focus again. “We’re holding them at the edge of the winter woods, but if they really wanted to, they could overthrow us. We think they’re waiting as a part of their strategy. Aligning wi—” The image flickered again, before blanking out. This time Violet couldn’t hold it.

My eyes bugged out, mouth open. “Violet!”

She looked pained, throwing spells and powders at the image as the water swirled in a funnel. Finally, she sat back. “It’s gone.”

“Can you make another one?” I urged. I needed to know what he was going to say. Aligning with whom? Fall Court? Or something more sinister. The Dark Fae Lord?

Violet stared at the water, resigned. “Ari, that was fae magic. It took me weeks to teach myself and I had to try to match up time, which is different in our two worlds.” I knew she was internally punishing herself. She wasn’t used to failing at magic.

I sighed and straightened. “It’s okay.” I patted her shoulder, careful to touch only the cloth and not her skin. “I got enough. We have time before they attack. Now let’s get to Manhattan and learn everything we can about the fae.” Those recently unsealed fae books were waiting for us, information that had been hidden away by the former council. There had to be something within those pages which could help us.

Blaine and Monica fell into step with me; they would be on guard duty for the rest of the day. There was a convoy of SUVs at my disposal here, just as there had been in Manhattan. A bear drove us to the Staten Island vortex disc and waited for us to enter past the guards in that secure building.

As I had the last few times, I waited for some sign of the Red Queen — her voice in the mecca energy, a vision of her, anything to let me know she was still there, still trapped in the swirling purple world. Since I had learned she was my birth mother, I found myself thinking of her more often.

So far there had been nothing.

And even though she had not been much of a mother … who was I kidding? She had been no mother at all, but she had protected me against the Winter Court. Against my father. It was worth something.

“Your Majesty…”

The mecca guards dropped to their knees as I appeared on the disc in Manhattan. There were three wolves and three bears. We were forcing all of them to work together. It was the only way to push aside previous prejudices and accept the new alliance. In truth, it had gone much smoother than I ever would have expected. It seemed the shifters had wanted change long before I was crowned. It’s just that no one had listened. It certainly helped that Kade and I were bonded mates and engaged. I was now queen of the bears as well as the wolves.

There were still a few resisters, which was to be expected. But they were slowly getting weeded out — many leaving on their own. The greatest resistance had been from some of my oldest wolves. And honoring my promise to be a fair and just queen, I allowed them to live in segregation in the Bronx borough. They still recognized me as their ruler and would ultimately follow my command, but had asked to not be forced to mingle in their daily lives with the bears.

I could respect their choice and so I granted it. Bronx was the only borough without much of a bear presence, so it was the logical choice. As long as they did as I asked, I would not fault them for being resistant to change. I also expected that eventually they would come around. They just needed some time.

Kade’s people seemed much more open; only a few had fled from our rule. There had even been a dozen or so bear-wolf bonded pairings to emerge after we started to mingle the two worlds together. Shifters could no longer deny the proof that bear and wolf belonged together.

Violet, Blaine, and Monica followed me out of the vortex building and onto the sidewalk.

“I’ll meet you all at the mansion,” Violet said. “I want to get a head start.”

I just nodded, and she popped out of existence, her favorite way to travel. I enjoyed the short walk to the royal estate, having missed my borough. It did feel like home being here, but also like things had changed. I wasn’t really sure where I fit anymore.

Guards bowed as I walked into the royal grounds; doors were held open for me, shifters lowering themselves as I passed. I hadn’t ever really enjoyed the subservient nature our rulers demanded from their people, but I could only try to change one thing at a time.

Monica and Blaine stayed right behind me, one of either side, and I saw the way their keen eyes took in the room. It gave me comfort to have them at my side.

The moment I stepped into the room filled with magic books, Violet jumped on me. “I think I found something.”

I chuckled. “Well, that was fast. You’ve only been here for like ten minutes.”

She didn’t smile or join me in laughter, she just gave me that serious look she wore most of the time now. Those hard eyes. “I had an idea of where to start looking, and luckily it provided some important information.”

Crossing the room, I peered over Violet’s shoulder, looking down at the book she held.

“You can read this now, right?” she asked.

I nodded, leaning even closer. “Yep, this is the language of my people. Apparently.”

Blaine gave a snort from behind us. Yeah, it was another one of my changes — I could now read the fae language.

Scanning the page, my stomach dropped. I read aloud: “Forged in revenge, of evil and bone, the Dark Fae Lord rose to be one of the first fae demons.” Great. As if I didn’t have enough to worry about with the winter queen, aka evil-grandmother, who was hell-bent on ruling the Earth-side mecca, now I had to worry about an honest-to-God demon. The summer king had mentioned him of course, but information was limited.

“Okay…” I started pacing. “I want to know everything about this fae demon. Where does he live? What does he eat? How the hell do I kill him?”

Kade was going to flip when he heard about this.

“That’s not all,” Violet piped in. “I did a little scrying spell to see if this Dark Fae Lord was even alive.”

I swung around to face her, my eyes wide as I opened and closed my mouth. Finally I said, “Can you please try and be a little less reckless? I need you alive and safe after the Otherworld experience. At least let me know when you’re playing with magic and demons.” I’d known for years that Violet was probably going to be the death of me one day. There was no other person I worried about as much as her. Even more so now, after she’d been taken.

“So what did you see?” I didn’t really want to know. No way was it good.

Her lips creased into a tight line. “I saw a dark shrouded figure, which I assume was the Dark Fae Lord. It was impossible to make out any defining features, but he was speaking with someone who was very clear. And familiar.”

My stomach dropped. “The winter queen.”

Violet nodded.

“Shit!” I bit out, frustration in my voice.

Blaine and Monica, who were taking point on either side of the main door, keeping guard, both spun around, weapons in their hands. Yeah, I might have overreacted a little, but the last thing I needed to hear was that Samson, the summer king, was right, and those two psycho evil fae had teamed up.

“Could that be the delay?” Blaine said, dropping his sword back into its sheath. “She’s cementing this alliance with the demons, and then both of their armies will come at us full force.”

I’d had that thought already, and it looked like we had to accept that inevitability. No one spoke; there really wasn’t anything that could be said. In that moment, we were all caught in a tangled web of fear.

Finn’s energy entered the room a moment before he did. I reached along the bond I had with my familiar, allowing his vast strength to brush against me. Finn and Nix had been out patrolling Central Park and the waterways, as the pair did every day.

Finn stepped to my side and brushed his soft white fur against my leg. Demons or not, we can win this. We just need more knowledge.

I nodded, letting my body relax. Finn was right. Knowledge was power, and I intended to find out all that I could about this Dark Fae Lord.

“Violet, Blaine, Monica, Finn,” I called out, “we’re having a sleepover. We’re not leaving this room until I have identified and read every book that pertains to the demon fae.” I paused. “Well, except for the run we have tomorrow morning. But other than that, we are on study duty. You’re going to cram like you’ve never crammed before.”

Blaine’s random crooked grin washed away some of my stress. It reminded me of when he was a little boy, always up to some mischief.

“What are you smiling about?” I fake huffed, acting affronted. Truthfully, it brought me true joy to see him looking like his old self. Things had been strained between us since Kade — since Blaine told me he’d expected that one day we would be together romantically. I never wanted to lose him, I needed him in my life, but Kade was like part of my soul. A part I could not and would not live without.

I thanked the gods that Blaine and I had found a way to be just friends again. Even better, it was finally starting to feel like he had accepted that there would be nothing romantic between us.

His grin turned into a full smile. “Remember when we all had a sleepover for Monica’s thirteenth birthday?”

Now it was Monica’s turn to bust up laughing, but I didn’t find it so funny. I remembered that sleepover very clearly.

“Yes, Blaine, I definitely remember. You fell asleep with your stupid mouth open and your gum got in my hair. I looked like a jacked-up Barbie doll for months after we cut it out.”

I’d had heir duties and photos that month too. Suffice to say, the Red Queen had had more than a few nasty comments to make about my new hairstyle.

It was pretty funny looking back though.

Blaine and Monica were shaking with barely contained laughter, until finally the sides of my mouth quirked.

“I nearly killed you,” I told him.

He nodded. “That you did, Princess. And I gave up chewing gum on that day.”

I chuckled. “Well, for old time’s sake, one final sleepover?”

Violet nodded; she had even been smiling, which I loved to see. “It’s a deal. I’ll invite Nikoli. He can help with the magical end of things.” I wondered if she knew how her voice softened — her face too — when she spoke about the bear magic born.

“Really, tell me more about Nikoli?” Blaine teased. Clearly he had picked up on it too.

Violet gave a devilish grin. “Well, he’s a pretty good kisser.”

Whoa! Kisses … she wouldn’t, right? I mean, not without telling me — I was her best friend. Blaine seemed shocked too, his eyes widening as he blinked in her direction. Monica leaned in a little closer. She might have been a serious sort of warrior chick, but she loved gossip. Jen and her always had the juiciest information about the other shifters.

Violet gave a shrug. “It just happened. At first I was looking for a distraction, and Nikoli is a very nice distraction. But then it felt like something more. Plus, the guy went all the way across the Otherworld to rescue me. He deserved a little something.”

“Do you have problems kissing another magic born?” I asked. “Do your powers collide or something?” I’d always been curious about that.

She’d always said touching me was harder than most people; I had so much mecca in my energy. Even before I became queen it was like that. Probably my undiscovered fae side causing problems. Still, I expected another magic born would be even worse.

She shook her head, arms crossing over her body as the grin disappeared. “Actually, it was perfect. Our energies meshed, which is a rare occurrence between magic born. It was definitely … unexpected.”

My mind was racing. My best friend rarely got into relationships. No one understood what it was like to be a magic born, to not be able to touch without getting overwhelmed. So this was huge. Violet dropping her guard to kiss Nikoli … triple extra huge.

Blaine leaned in close to her. “Hey, baby, I traveled across the Otherworld to rescue you as well.” He puckered his lips.

Violet snorted, some of her old humor returning. “You wish. Besides, you already have a girlfriend.” The second the words left her mouth she seemed uncomfortable. “Or … I mean you will.”

Blaine dropped his sleazy act and went very still. “Explain. Now.”

Yeah, what did she mean?

Violet chewed at her bottom lip. “It’s just one of my future-sight things, that’s all. I saw something, but I’m not supposed to tell you about it. It can mess up the timeline — I shouldn’t have mentioned it at all.”

She spun around and began rifling through a box of books; Blaine was staring wide-eyed at her back. The moment he recovered from her shocking statement, he strode closer.

“You have to tell me who it is.” His voice was low, controlled, but I could hear the wolf in there threatening to break free.

Violet looked over her shoulder, giving him an “Oh, do I?” look, before turning back around.

“Violet…” I prodded. I needed to know too, mostly to make sure she was good enough for my best friend.

She turned to face us both. “Look, the future is an ever-changing thing. If I tell Blaine who it is, it might mess up the timeline. Like, what if he goes after her now, before he’s meant to, and it doesn’t work because of that? Or if I say who it is and he always wonders if his feelings are real, or if I influenced them? It needs to happen naturally in order to last. Just trust me.”

I dropped my hand on his forearm, giving it a squeeze. “Sorry, buddy. That actually makes a lot of sense.”

Blaine opened his mouth, no doubt to argue the point, so I laughed and pushed him back toward his books. “Let’s get to work. It’s going to be a long night. I’ll have Calista order in pizza.”

My advisor and her chosen mate Baladar had been house-sitting the Manhattan royal estate while I was living on Staten Island. I was so grateful to have someone I trusted here.

I always had a lot to be grateful for.

Here’s hoping the fae didn’t steal it all away before any of us had a chance to truly live our new lives.