At the break of dawn, Jules wakes me up to pack my stuff and get ready to head to the city. He leaves Legend, Rune, and me at his house while he sets out to update Liberty on our plans and to see if she’s on board with accompanying us to the city.

“I’m glad we’re going into the city.” Legend lounges on the bed, flipping through the book we stole from Ava. “It’s closer to my lair. Plus, no offense, but I’d really like to spend more time in my own territory.”

“I’m sorry you’ve been stuck here with me.” I stuff some clothes into my backpack. “And after you just got back from the Common Realm. I shouldn’t have asked you to stay with me.”

“I stay here because I want to, not because I feel like I have to.” He turns a page then slants his head to the side, his blond hair sweeping his crinkled forehead. “Besides, what kind of a friend would I be if I just dropped you off here after dropping the news on you that you were a werewolf?”

“A pretty shitty one,” I joke, zipping up my bag.

“Indeed.” He trades a lighthearted smile with me then tosses the book onto the nightstand before elegantly rising to his feet. “Is there any particular reason why Jules has a witch’s book about plants? Because witches are awfully finicky when it comes to sharing their belongings with other paranormals.”

My lips long to tell him about my gift, my best friend in all the realms, my trustworthy best friend. “I’ll tell you, but only if you can keep it a secret.”

“You know I will if you ask me to.”

“Consider this me asking you, then.”

He drags his fingers across his lips. “Consider your secret locked in here.”

“I discovered a couple of days ago that I have a connection with plants,” I start. “Flowers and leaves are, like, drawn to me. Jules didn’t know why, so he stole that book from Ava to see if we could find out any information.”

“And, did you?”

“There was a page that Jules burned that mentioned a nature energy wolf …” I trail off as he curses. “Have you heard of them before?”

He rakes his blond hair out of his face as he confirms with a nod. “And if you are one, you should never mention it again.”

“I wasn’t planning to. Why do you seem so worried?”

His jaw muscles pulsate. “Because nature energy creatures could be the cure to the vines that pollute this land and the outskirts of the city, and any creature who has been poisoned by the vines and is still alive. But only by sacrificing their own life. And since the creatures are a rarity—I’ve never met one before, and I’ve been around for a long damn time—if the wrong creature found out about you …”

“They’d sacrifice me,” I finish. “That’s what Jules and I already sort of guessed, too.” Except the part about how the sacrifice could save the creatures poisoned by the vines. What would Jules do if he knew that? That I could possibly save his mom?

He marginally unstiffens. “Good. I’m glad he’s on top of things.”

“Hey, so am I. I even helped get the book.”

“I know you are. And I’m not surprised.”

“That I’m helpful?”

“That, and you’re settling into this life so swiftly.” Space diminishes between us as he drapes an arm around my shoulders. “Isn’t it amazing how, after a decade in the Common Realm, you felt so out of place? Yet, a handful of days here, and you’re already running around with your long-lost love, stealing books from bound witches?”

“It is strange how easily I fit in.” I rest my cheek against his shoulder. “I’m still nervous about a lot of things to come. Like, remembering everything about my past. And I can’t even get my head wrapped around this whole princess thing and the concept that I could become queen one day.”

“Give it some time. I’m sure you’ll get there.”

“I’m sure I will, too.” But I can’t help thinking about the faceless cubs in that moment. And Jules’ mom. And how I may possess the power to save other creatures from the same demise.