Ares’ hands groped at my breasts, his every touch stoking lustful fire higher and higher in me. Until I couldn’t bear it.

My mound grew slicker with burning need. I was going to explode if he didn’t get his cock inside me within the next second. But there was no chance of that happening for the next hour. This kind of torment was unlike any other.

A majestic castle loomed beneath.

An assembly of armed warriors gathered in the courtyard, looking up at us on alert. Ares unwillingly abandoned his exploration of my body. I didn’t protest, though my body wasn’t thrilled—despite the crowd below, its carnal need remained urgent.

“Who are they?” I asked, failing to expel the heat from my voice.

“They’re Lucas’ people,” Ares said, endeavoring to gather himself together.

“Are they all shifters?”

“Most of them are,” Ares said. “A few of them are hybrids like me. They’re my allies. The biggest, scary-looking warrior among them is Ulmar, the pack Alpha.”

“Ventus looks scarier than him,” I said.

“Thank you for calling me a nightmare,” Ventus snapped.

“I’m the girl riding the nightmare. I’m in league with you,” I said, twisting my torso to see where Lucas was just as Ignis dove toward the ground.

Lucas would want to talk to his people first.

The Alpha waved at the air. That was his permission for us to land inside the castle.

Ares leapt off the guardian’s back and landed gracefully before Ventus touched down.

Don’t you want to show off in front of the new people as well, Freyja? Ventus asked.

Nay. I said. I like people underestimating me.

So you can trick them and strike them harder?

Not harder, but fatally, I said.

Lucas was talking to his Alpha intensely, and the other warriors surrounded them.

Ares strode toward them in his confident, powerful gaits. Einarr and the other three Dragonians flanked him, and no one laid their hands on their weapons.

I was left behind. I slowly climbed off Ventus and groomed the beast while watching the shifters from the corner of my eyes.

The shifter stopped asking Lucas questions and turned to Ares. A few of them glanced in my direction, found nothing too impressive, and no longer paid us any mind. They must have seen the flying alligators before, so they didn’t look alarmed.

As for me, I had my cloak covering half my face. I was shorter and more slender than any of the warriors and seemingly posed no threat to them. The only odd thing about me was I wore gloves, but the shifters didn’t know why, so they didn’t care much.

Ulmer and Ares crossed their forearms in greeting.

“I have terrible news from Atlantis, Prince Darken,” Ulmer said.

I pricked my ears to listen.

Ares remained cool. “What is it, Alpha Ulmer? I left home for four months.” 

After being ambushed by the mercenary army hired by his half-brother, the prince and his men had discarded their communication devices, thanks to my brilliant, free counsel.

“My informants reported back two days ago that Commander North Darken is on his death bed,” Ulmer said. “A power bid has started in Atlantis. The word on the street is that your pure-breed brothers are taking control of the capital. Your generals have sent words to every post across the continents to ask you to return to Atlantis at once.”

I turned toward them.

Ares looked across the space and met my gaze, his face sullen, his eyes dark. He would need to return to Atlantis, so here was where we would say goodbye. My heart clenched at this turn of events. I hadn’t expected to part with him so soon. I might never see him again.

“Let’s go to my quarters, Prince,” said Ulmer. “We need to talk alone.”

Ares tore his gaze from me. The alpha and the prince treaded toward the main stone stairs that led up to the Alpha’s quarters in the castle.

A few shifters came around to arrange accommodation for the guardians and us.

Lucas headed straight toward me. “Come with me, Freyja.” 

“Where to?” I asked.

“Don’t you trust me?” he asked with a smile.

Why did everyone want me to trust them? I never asked them to trust me.

I looked at Ares’ retreating figure. He didn’t even bother to glance back.

“Fine,” I told Lucas. “Lead the way.”

I kept my hood over my face and my gloves on my hands, and I kept a safe distance between us as he walked me toward the gate.

“You don’t need to be so careful with me, Freyja,” Lucas said.

“Don’t you know better?” I said. “You know my curse.”

“That’s why I’m taking you to see the healer,” he said. “She lives in the woods outside the castle.”

“No healer can help me except the Fey Empress,” I said.

“Galena is a gifted one,” Lucas said. “If she can help you, you don’t need to go to the Twilight Realm. You can live among us. And your wolves will be welcome here.”

This was a large shifter community. They’d welcome my pack. But I wouldn’t choose to live here, no matter how friendly Lucas was. I didn’t want to be bound by their rules.

My wolves and I were wild and free.

“Galena can’t touch me either,” I said.

“She’ll have a way,” Lucas said. “Don’t worry, Freyja. Give her a chance.”

If she knew I was the curse of the Earth, she’d worry, but I didn’t want to discourage Lucas.

We left the castle behind us. It didn’t take me long to spy the woods of marigold and lime ahead, which made me miss my forest and my pack achingly. Our home looked like waves of tea rose from afar in the golden sunlight. At night, the wind was wicked fun.

If Galena could heal me, then anyone could touch me. Ares wouldn’t have exclusive rights over my body. Lucas could touch me then. He had even invited me to live here.

“Lucas,” I said, “you know Ares and I—”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “It’s circumstantial. When he isn’t the only one who can touch you, you’ll have more choices. You can live the life you want. I want you to have that chance. And,” he paused, “the prince will eventually pick the—”

“—First Witch,” I finished it for him. “I don’t give a fuck.”

I could almost hear the tear of my heart, even though I’d known that Ares would always choose the witch over me. Our mating hadn’t changed a thing in that regard.

I stared at the ground, fighting back tears. After Ares had walked away with the shifter Alpha without sparing me a glance, I already felt like I was being dumped. I didn’t believe I had fallen for him, but I wasn’t an unfeeling being either.

“No one touched me for nearly twenty-two years,” I said. “Whoever I touched ended up dead.”

“You don’t need to explain,” Lucas said, holding my gloved hands.

“Lucas,” I called in alarm.

He grinned. “This won’t kill me.”

I didn’t toss his hand away. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but eventually, I would hurt him. I already felt sorrow at that.

“Even if Galena can’t heal you, Freyja, I’ll go with you to the end of the Earth for the cure.”

I smiled at him. “I hope we don’t need to go to the end of the Earth.”

He squeezed my gloved hand gently.

With Lucas, everything was easy. There wasn’t this stomach-turning thrill ride or gut-wrenching upset, but peace and warmth for a change. In the end, wasn’t that all we looked for?

Passion would fade, but loyalty and friendship stayed.

We held hands and crossed an old bridge over a silvery stream. Ahead was a wooden cabin built inside a vast tree. That had to be where the healer abided.

A blur charged from the side, and I tensed. The Angel instinct in me immediately sensed a threat. I yanked my hand out of Lucas, stepped away from him, and pulled off my gloves.

“It’s fine, Freyja,” Lucas said, glancing at my bare hands then at a brown bear that came into view. “No one will harm you while I’m here.” He stepped between me and the shifter in a bear form.

The bear growled. From her attitude, I believed she considered Lucas hers.

I moved and stood beside Lucas. I needed no one to shield me. And I was no one’s shadow. 

The animal bared her fangs, glaring at me with her dark brown eyes.

“I’ve seen much bigger fangs,” I told her.

It snarled, wanting very much to pin me down and maul me. As if I would let that happen!

Come near me, teddy bear, and see how you like playing with me.

My hands were ready. The First Witch never backed off from a fight. Well, I did run when the fight involved Angels.

The shifter didn’t register my threat. I realized I could push into an animal’s mind, but not a shifter’s. They had a natural mental block, and I wasn’t as trained as Merlin.

“Amber, stop it!” Lucas said. “You won’t treat my friend that way.”

The bear blocked the other end of the bridge. She wouldn’t allow me to pass.

But I never, ever, asked for permission to cross a bridge.

“Get out of my way,” Lucas commanded, his muscles bulged, ready to shift and fight her. “I’m taking Freyja to see Galena.”

A blink, and in the next instant, a brown-haired, naked woman stood in the bear’s place. She looked a couple of years younger than me. She was pretty and had a nice body, but Lucas didn’t seem to be affected. I figured shifters saw naked bodies all the time, however, I recalled the heat in Lucas’ eyes when he’d first seen me nude at the lake.

Amber put her hands on her broad hips. “Galena won’t see the cursed,” she said with a vengeful grin. “You should know what you associate with, Lucas.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. How could a shifter healer know? What did she know? Should I return at night to shut her up for good?

“Don’t you ever badmouth my friend,” Lucas snarled. “I want to hear the words from Galena herself.”

Amber raised her chin to study me, the hostility in her eyes growing stronger. Shifters didn’t like other species anyway. “Galena might not know what exactly this one is, but she had a dream last night warning her of this redhead. Your friend is the black death. She drains life force from all living things. She’ll destroy the old Earth that we inhabit.”

A dream, a warning, and a prophecy. Could it get worse?

Who sent the lousy dream to a shifter healer? Could it be the Oracle messing with me again? She didn’t want me healed. She didn’t want me to stay here.

Lucas retorted in anger, “And now you’re the healer’s mouthpiece?”

“I became her apprentice after you left me,” said Amber.

So they had a history.

“I want to hear what Galena has to say in person,” Lucas said. “She’d better not to make an enemy of me.”

“She’s like a mother to you, Lucas,” Amber said. “You would go against her for a stranger? How long have you known this redhead who hides her face?”

“Move!” Lucas bared his teeth. “I won’t warn you again.”

The muscles enlarged on his shoulders. He was starting to shift.

“Lucas,” I said, “I don’t want to meet the healer anymore.”

“But Freyja!” he said.

“She can do nothing for me,” I said. “Let’s get out of here. Please.”

I turned and headed back to the other end of the bridge. I didn’t see Amber carrying a weapon, but I stayed alert.

The stream rushed beneath my feet.

Lucas caught up with me in two long strides. I was certain he’d had a glaring match with his old girlfriend.

“I’m sorry, Freyja,” he said.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” I said. “You’ve been kind to me from the beginning.”

“Do you want to go back to the castle right away?” he asked. “If not, I want to show you my haunt as a boy.”

“Then it must be a naughty place,” I said.

Lucas laughed. “Come and see.”

I pulled on my gloves and followed him.

Near the end of the woods, Lucas grabbed my gloved hand and made me sprint with him.

“When I say jump, you have to jump,” he said.

“I’m not going to jump just because you say so,” I said.

“Either way, you’ll jump forward or down,” he said.

Down didn’t seem like a good option.

I saw a vast rift looming toward us at our speed. Instinctively, I leapt over it with Lucas. “What the hell is that?” I laughed when I landed a few feet from the rift.

Lucas grinned. “I haven’t met a girl who can run so fast and jump so far. Not even our shifters.”

If he knew I was half Angel, he wouldn’t smirk then.

I treaded back to see the rift.

Over twenty feet below was the bluest, clearest water I’d ever seen. Cave rocks gathered the natural pool in its embrace and purple plants grew along the rocky walls.

“I know you love to bathe,” Lucas said.

“But not today,” I said.

If I wasn’t in such a frustrating mood, I’d dive in.

Lately, ever since I’d gone on this unfortunate journey with Ares, I’d been either extremely high or low, as if all of a sudden I’d developed a personality disorder. I also noticed now that I was so used to be around Ares, my energy level dropped a great deal with his absence.

Lucas looked disappointed. He’d put in an effort to make me feel better and I wasn’t enjoying it.

“It’s so beautiful and peaceful here,” I said. “Can we sit down and just watch the shining water?” I didn’t want to think of Ares, and I wanted to get away from the world outside, even for a few minutes.

“Of course we can,” said Lucas, cheerful now.

We settled down on a rock at the edge of the hollow, our feet dangling down, Lucas’ hand on my shoulder. It was a light caress, unlike Ares’, whose touch could bruise me.

I stared down at the water that seemed to freeze in time, yet my mind kept returning to Ares.

I shouldn’t have slept with him. The mating bond had enslaved me. No matter where I went, there was no escape from the thoughts, the scent, and the scorching touch of him.

Sound of flapping wings approached, and a shadow fell over my face.

My heart pounded fiercely before I realized they weren’t Angel wings, but a guardian’s.

Ares roared from Ventus’ back. “Hands off, Shifter, if you want them attached!”

How had he found us so soon? Wasn’t he in the middle of an all-important meeting?

I jumped to my feet and moved a few yards away from the rift, so I wouldn’t fall into the deep pond by mishap or Ares’ design. I put my hands on my hips in defiance and suddenly felt I was coming alive.

“What are you doing here, Ares?” I demanded, as if I owned this land.

“Trying to catch you!” he said, landing.

I narrowed my eyes. “Catch me for what? I’m not a fish.”

“It’ll be easier if you’re a dumb fish I can pack in a bottle,” he said. “I thought you went missing again.”

“You knew I went with Lucas,” I said. “Everyone saw us leaving the castle together. They had to tell you. There’s no need for you to come chase me like this.”

Ares’ darkened eyes burned with jealous rage. “So you two can fool around?”

Lucas stood beside me. “We aren’t fooling around. I wanted Freyja to see the healer for the curse.”

Ventus stood by, eyeing me disapprovingly, yet watched with a zealous interest.

“Where is this healer you spoke of? Why do I not see them?” Ares asked, his eyes still spitting fire.

“She can’t heal me, so I didn’t waste my time on her,” I said with a shrug, not wanting to explain further.

“So you came here to hold hands with the shifter?” Ares asked. “To sneak around behind my back?”

“Freyja doesn’t belong to you, Ares,” Lucas said. “You’ve chosen another woman. It’s not fair to Freyja that you’ll cast her aside when you meet your mate.”

“Is that your excuse to steal her from me?” With a roar, Ares lunged at Lucas. “No one steals her from me!”

I slid between them, and Ares halted just in time. “Move,” he shouted at me. There was no sanity or kindness in his eyes.

“Freyja, step aside,” Lucas also urged.

“Now you’re defending the shifter?” Ares asked. “Don’t you know he can’t handle you? No one else can, except for me. Don’t forget I’m the only man who can touch you.”

All the pent-up emotions in me exploded. Ares wanted to lay a claim on me, but he still wanted his witch. Just as Lucas had said, Ares would dump me at the first chance when the witch popped out.

“Fuck you, Darken. Fuck you!” I shouted.

“You did that already, multiple times!” he barked back. “And every time you couldn’t get enough of me. You were all over me. Have you already forgotten?”

“You won’t get another!” I said.

“I don’t want another.” he said. “You think I want more of you after suffering through your arrogance? No woman dares to treat me this way. No one has dared disrespect me.”

“Luckily I’m not your woman and I’ll never be one of them,” I said.

He sneered. “Where will you find another man to touch you?”

“You won’t be the only one who can touch me when I get rid of this curse,” I said. “But you’ll be the only one who will never get to touch me again.”

He roared like thunder and pulled me aside.

In a blur, Ares and Lucas charged each other, throwing punches. They fell to the ground, a tangle of limbs as they wrestled, kicked, and pounded their opponent.

“Stop!” I screamed, but they wouldn’t listen. Wouldn’t stop.

More wings flapped overhead and I looked up to see the rest of the guardians had arrived with their riders.

This was no longer a private event.

The men watched with grim expressions. No one dared to interfere when their prince was in jealous rage.

Ares would beat Lucas to death because he thought he was executing a punishment. But I knew he would regret it for the rest of his life if he killed Lucas.

Lucas was about to shift to better battle Ares, and Ares would bury a knife in his gut.

I lunged toward Ares to get him off Lucas, and he shoved me back without looking. I flew back at the force. Before I knew, I fell into the rift with a loud splash and a louder yelp.

“Freyja!” I heard both Ares and Lucas calling my name.

Ares jumped after me. With one stroke, he swam to my side and grabbed me to him. “Are you hurt, Freyja? Did I hurt you?”

I struggled to break free, but he wouldn’t let me go, showing his iron strength.

I beat his chest rapidly with my fists, and he let me vent.

And then I was sobbing, and dropping my head on his shoulder.

“Shush,” he said, an arm sliding around me while he padded in the water to keep us afloat. “You’re fine now. I’m here, and I’m sorry.”

Was it the first time he’d ever apologized?

“I don’t want this,” I said.

“What do you want, Freyja?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. “Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you.”

“I don’t know what I want.” 

“I panicked when I got out of the meeting and didn’t see you.” He started to kiss the tears off on my face. Agony and longing and desire in his eyes only reflected mine. “I didn’t know what came over me. I’d never lost control like this. You constantly drive me mad.”

I parted my lips and stared at him.

The mating frenzy was doing this to us both with punishing force. My advantage was that I had the knowledge but he didn’t. He was all wrapped up in the Oracle’s prophecy. But I wasn’t going to share the truth, despite his pain and devastation. Even with knowing, I wasn’t in any better shape than he was.

Our bond demanded us to mate at every chance we got, so we could reproduce. As we rebelled and shoved it aside, not ready to commit to each other even after we’d mated, it pushed right back at us with bruising blows.

It inflicted us with crazed rage when we weren’t together.

I clasped my hands behind his neck. Now with our skin pressed together, the rage receded, but the need to mate started pounding in my blood stream. Lust was bright and dark in Ares’ eyes as well.

“I need to keep you safe, Freyja,” he said. “You can’t just wander off like that. What did I say about being my shadow? Did you even pay attention to anything I said?”

“You said it for your own convenience. When you went to the meeting with the shifter Alpha, you didn’t even spare me a glance.”

He paused for a second. “Is that why it irked you? Then you should just tell me straight instead of leaving the castle. What if something had happened to you? What if the Angels had snatched you while I wasn’t around? You need to learn discipline instead of constantly striking out ruthlessly. We’re not in Atlantis, surrounded by my great army. I don’t even have enough guards to protect you here.”

The light from above shone on his face. My breath caught in my throat. The Dragonian prince was indeed magnificent, and it wasn’t just my lust talking.

Though he could take my breath away every time I set my eyes upon him, I wasn’t thrilled at his lecture. And I suddenly remembered the terrible news the Alpha had delivered.

“Why do I need your guards to protect me?” I said. “I did well all by myself before you came along. The Angels wouldn’t have found me if you hadn’t exposed me.”

Guilt dampened his eyes, and I thought of exploiting it.

“I also saved you,” he argued. This one wouldn’t stay down for long. “I’m the best man to protect you. When we get to Atlantis—”

“There’s no Atlantis for me,” I said. “You’ll go with your men. I’m heading to Mysth alone.” I needed to get to Mysth before my grandfather’s goons came to Earth and before my cursed fire and ice struck again. “You can kill me if you want,” I continued, “but I’m not going to your city or finding your witch before I get my cure. I’m living on a borrowed time. Death at your hands would be mercy.”

I was actually thankful he had to return to Atlantis. I didn’t want him to have any conflict with the Fey and get himself killed by my uncle. I had safe passage to the Fey realm, but he and his men didn’t.

“I won’t kill you,” he said. “But you’ll go wherever I go.”

I unclasped my hands behind his neck to shove him away from me, but his grip on me only tightened. “Some women might let you treat them as your plaything,” I spat. “But you’ll regret it deeply if you think you can treat me the same.”

“When did I ever treat you as a plaything?” he said. “You’re the one who considers me your boy toy. You think you can use me like that and then dump me without any consequence? I won’t allow such treatment! From day one, you’ve been trying to leave me. Is this your new scheme to discard me? You won’t succeed, Freyja.”

The Dragonian heir was born with the skill to twist words.

His large hand rest on my nape and pulled me a little further so he could stare into my eyes with a determined, furious look.

“Let me go,” I said, “and you’ll have your witch in the end.”

“But I don’t have her, thanks to you pointing the opposite direction.”

It was still about his witch. He would only leave me alone once he had her. He wanted to make sure he would be the one to throw me away instead of allowing me to walk away in dignity.

“If you drag me to Atlantis,” I said, “I won’t be useful to you. The curse of fire and ice can hit me at anytime. I might not survive it next time. You can’t be so heartless—”

“That’s why I’m taking you to Mysth first,” he said.

My mouth opened, yet no words flowed out.

“But—” I finally managed to find my voice. Had I heard it wrong? He wouldn’t put me first. 

“Tell me that’s not your plan, Your Highness!” Caen called from above.

I looked up—every man and beast was watching us from around the ring of the rift. I hadn’t noticed that we had an audience all this time. I’d been completed absorbed in Ares. Despite my rage and hurt, it had felt so good to be in his arms.

My face flamed in embarrassment.

“We’ll escort Freyja to the Fey territory,” Ares said clearly.

“But your father is on his death bed, Prince!” Caen said.

“I’ve served the Commander well and long. My father has other sons. They’ll fulfill their duties to him. He’ll have to do without me this time. I grieve for that, but Freyja can’t wait.”

“You’d choose a girl you’ve known for a couple of weeks over your own father?” Caen said incredulously.

“The cursed fire may come back anytime and hurt her,” Ares said. “The Angels are still hunting her. She needs me more than anyone.”

“We can split into two teams,” said Caen. “I’ll return with you to Atlantis, and the rest of the crew can escort her to the Fey realm.”

“No,” Ares said, “I won’t let her out of my sight for a second.”

“What?” I said, not liking this turn. “I’m not your property, Prince Darken. It’ll work best for everyone if we just split from here. I know how to get to Mysth by myself, and I don’t want you to lose a crown, your father, or anything, for my sake.”

He ignored me, as if I hadn’t spoken, and focused on his cousin.

“Do you hear what you’re saying, Prince?” Caen shouted. “What’s gotten into you? It’s not like you’ve never had a woman before. In fact, you’ve had more women than any Dragonian has ever had, but you never lost your mind over any of them. You’ve never allowed any woman to decide your course except your future mate, to whom you should be heading to, after attend to your father. Ares, you need to wake up from this madness!”

“I’m more awake than ever,” Ares said. “I’ve never been so sure in my life as in this moment what really matters to me. You’ll return to Atlantis to take care of things on my behalf. Ignis will fly you back.”

Ignis grunted. He didn’t want to go back to Atlantis alone. But an order was an order. A ring of fire puffed out of his mouth and hit the water a few feet from us.

“Ignis, careful!” Ares called. “Freyja’s here!”

“What about your fated mate—the First Witch?” Caen asked bitterly. “Do you have a new plan for her as well?”

“To hell with the witch,” Ares said.

Everyone was shocked into silence, as was I.

He couldn’t really mean it. A Dragonian never strayed from a decided path.

“Please, Your Highness,” Caen begged as he realized his prince was going to be a lost cause. “Don’t throw away your soon-to-be inherited kingdom for a night of passion. This isn’t you. When you find your destined mate, you’ll know this girl is nothing compared to the powerful First Witch. We’ve come so far for your future queen. A future queen who will bring you the greatest kingdom on Earth.” 

“Say no more, Caen,” Ares snapped. “My decision is final, and you’ll leave at first light tomorrow.”

“Ares—” I said, but he slanted his mouth on mine and shut me up. 

“I feel like crying,” Ventus called from above. “Someone give me a handkerchief.”

Crocodile tears? 

Some small rocks and chunks of dirt flew down at the guardian’s emotional push as he kept staring down at us with his large, blue eyes.

“Ventus,” I broke the kiss and called, “I don’t want my hair to get dirty.”

The guardian shook his huge head. “Can’t believe a wolf girl can be so spoiled.” He was citing Ares’ words. “But never mind me. Are you two going to stay in the water forever? Your skin will get all wrinkled and you’ll look like an old woman.”

“We probably should get out,” Ares said, his lips grazing over the shell of my ear, “unless you want me to help you with your bath. In that case, I’m more than happy—”

“I don’t want your help,” I said. “I’m tired.”

“Ventus!” Ares called.

The guardian wheeled his rear toward us. As I wondered if he meant to insult us, he swept his tail down the cave.

Ares lifted me up effortlessly and put me on Ventus’ tail before he grabbed its end. With a thunderous chuckle, Ventus sailed into the air with us dangled on its mighty scales.