Sunset lingered above the ancient forest that shielded the Fey’s ivory city.

Silver blossoms and red leaves floated in the wind and dropped like a dream.

The rich, fickle texture of the time flowed differently in this realm than in other places on Earth. With the potent magic in me, I could sense the pulse of Earth magic—alive, fresh, and scented like the finest wine.

Wind passed by, calling me. I shivered, and Ares thought I was cold and wrapped a protective arm around me.

My wolves howled with delight, leading us toward the Empress’ royal garden. Einarr, Lucas, Caen, Boomer, and Tyrone had all joined us. The guardians flew in the wicked wind above the magical forest with the dragon.

Just as I wondered where Merlin was, we reached the Fey’s exquisite garden.

The druid was conversing with a girl wearing a crown of blue diamonds. She looked about nineteen and would forever look that way.

The Empress of Mysth turned to me, her eyes the color of moonlight streaming in a glass of whiskey that held fire of passion.

Goddess Rhea’s favorite immortal daughter.

Two powerful Angel brothers had started the civil war over her. I stole a glance at Ares, but he didn’t seem to be that impressed. Pride rose in me—he was utterly, completely mine.

His men, however, weren’t immune to Earth’s beauty. They stared at her, dumbstruck, until a growl rose somewhere.

The Emperor.

He was perfection. His eyes were a piercing ice grey. His glorious, golden wings arched behind him and radiated in the dusk.

My father had torn out the wings of the High Prince, but the Fey Empress had healed her mate with her great Earth magic. It was once tragic but now poetic that he had lost his wings for her and she had given them back to him.

Ares checked on me to see if I was touched by the High Prince’s glacial, lethal beauty.

I sent him a lopsided grin. I also was utterly his. 

Empress Rose sent her husband a mildly chiding look and Ares turned to give his men a sharp glare, and all of them opted to stare ahead at nothing. Chastening achieved.

“Prince Darken, we meet again,” the Fey Empress said with a smile, then turned to me. “Freyja, welcome—”

Two Angel toddlers shot straight toward me like arrows.

Ares moved to step in front of me, ready to meet their impact, but I pressed a hand on his arm to stop him. I’d recognized them as the Emperor and Empress’ twins.

The little Angels flew around Ares and me in speedy circles, their miniature wings beating rapidly in the air.

I opened my mouth to warn them, but Empress Rose said, “Your magic won’t harm them.” Then she called out, “Elijah! Daniel! Stop pestering your cousin.”

Cousin? So the Fey Empress knew who I was. She wasn’t going to kill me. She was fulfilling her vow to my mother.

But her warning to her children didn’t seem to have any effect, since every time they flew to my side they would tug my hair and giggle. I guessed they were fascinated by its flaming color.

Ares clenched his fists then released them. He would fight an adult Angel at any time, but facing two naughty fat toddlers, what could you do? He was also afraid of hurting the twins and blowing my chance of getting the cure from the Empress.

The Emperor came to my aid, faster than lightning, and plucked the twins out of their high speed stream. He held each of them under one of his arms.

The little Angel kicked and screamed, tiny fists waving. The High Prince wasn’t yielding. He ordered in a stern voice, “Do you want a hard spank on your little butts? I can deliver it nicely!”

Empress Rose winced. “Seth, be careful with their wings.”

That concern immediate gave the twins an idea. They cried, urgently calling for their mother.

“Mother, Father hurt my left wing,” one of the twins called. “I’ll look like a chicken if he breaks another pretty feather.”

“My tummy hurts, Mommy!” the other twin joined. “Father must have left bruises.”

Their father grated. “You’re Angels. You don’t bruise like the mortals!”

“Consort, will you take it easy?” the Empress raised her voice.

The Emperor sighed. “We talked about parenting.”

“Parenting is about loving and caring,” the Empress said in a clipped tone. She looked like she wanted to lunge at her husband to rescue her sons.

“Eroma, we can’t keep spoiling them,” the High Prince softened his tone. “They’ll grow up into two fiends and antagonize the whole universe.” It was strange to see such a formidable Angel being so careful and gentle with his mate, but then he also called her his thorn as an endearment. “Sometimes we must discipline them for the greater good.”

“We can think about the greater good when our twins are a bit older, husband,” the Empress said. “They’ve just learned how to fly.”

“It’ll be too late then,” the Emperor sighed. “They must learn discipline at early age.”

Ares nodded in agreement and squeezed my hand meaningfully. He was still eager to have offspring with me. But wasn’t it too soon to think about parenting? I shook my head. Dragonians loved to plan things way ahead.

The twins kept whining about their other small body parts hurting.

“Heavens!” the Emperor shouted. “You’re Angels. You’re fucking stronger than steel, even though you’re a pair of insufferable toddlers. Stop manipulating your poor, softhearted mother!”

“Language, Consort,” the Empress said.

The twins only screamed louder for their poor, softhearted mother.

The Empress rose to her feet and stalked to her mate, her skirt flowing in the breeze.

Two Angel nannies appeared, and the High Prince tossed his twins—one to each nanny—and they retreated back to the palace.

The High Prince moved toward his mate, his arm wrapping around her possessively as he gave her a tender kiss, and she kissed him back.

Just like that, their domestic crisis was resolved.

One of the twins broke free from the nanny and shot toward the sky, his little wings flapping enthusiastically. “Come and get me. I dare you, big birds!”

The Angel nanny chased into the sky.

The other nanny gripped the remaining toddler tightly as the little one struggled to get free and attempted to escape.

The Emperor and Empress stared up toward the sky. The Emperor looked like he wanted to shoot up to go after his son, but when he glanced at his mate and us, he decided to stay to guard her.

“Come, Freyja,” Empress Rose, reaching for my hand.

I hesitated, but Merlin had said the Fey Empress and my uncle were also immune to my death touch because they were too powerful. The Empress gave me a knowing smile. I relaxed.

The Empress held my hand and led me to the oval table in the center of the garden, a gesture to show her acceptance. She was merciless to her enemies, but she was always good to her people. My mother had been her people.

A Fey steward led Ares’ men toward the refreshments in the courtyard.

This would be a private conversation for a small group of people.

Merlin stood and greeted Ares, “Prince Darken, your father sends his greetings.”

His father sent his greetings from the death bed?

Ares nodded. “We’ll head back to Atlantis tomorrow. Please join us, Merlin.”

Merlin inclined his head an inch.

The guardians would be thrilled to fly with the she-dragon a little longer. I believed that Ventus was smitten with the dragon.

The druid smiled back at me before he settled back in his seat. “Freyja, good to see you again.”

Empress Rose let me perch near her and Ares lounged into a seat beside me. The Emperor lingered nearby, one eye on his twins, and the other on his mate.

Ares placed his arm around me possessively. My Dragonian prince had become quite clingy.

“I heard that you got wings, Freyja,” Empress Rose said.

“Only in my battle form,” I said. “I won’t be able to conjure them otherwise.” I’d tried when the twins had tugged at my hair. I’d wanted to see how they would react when they saw the burning wings. They would probably run from me and come back later to harass me more. But facing two little naughty Angels couldn’t kick me into a red rage, so my wings wouldn’t manifest.

“Flaming wings,” Merlin said. “Never saw anything like that.”

The Emperor snapped his head toward me. “Your great-grandfather had flaming wings,” he said. “You must get them from him.”

I blinked. I had so little knowledge of my ancestry.

“Atlas assassinated him to take his power,” added the High Prince of All Angels.

“Charming family,” I said.

A faint smile tugged at the Angel Prince’s lips. And suddenly, his perfect statue-like face wasn’t icy anymore.

“It can be learned,” said the High Prince. “I’ll show you how to summon them before you leave.”

He was actually a nice guy, not like what the rumors said.

“My home is yours, Freyja,” the Empress said, “as it was once your mother’s. You’re welcome to stay here forever. No Angels can hunt you in my realm.”

“My future queen will live with me in her rightful place in Atlantis,” Ares cut in, not so subtly. Then he realized that he needed to ask me and turned to me. “Will you, Freyja?”

“Yeah, but—” I said. This was another opportunity to drive a hard bargain, but what should I bargain for?

“There’s no but on this matter,” Ares said. “We can negotiate on other things.”

Merlin looked at us with amused smile that said “Didn’t I tell you this would be interesting?”

The Empress studied us. “You can always come visit then, both of you. Daniel and Elijah would love to have a cousin to play with.”

Sure, so the twins could pull my red hair.

“Mysth’s door always opens to you,” the Empress added, sorrow filling her eyes. “I failed Tessa, as I failed many. If I’d known earlier, I’d have gone to find you and brought you both here to safety.”

Then the Emperor was at her side. “You can’t carry this grief forever, my love. People perished in the war, but those who sacrificed for a better world will be remembered. Every courtier of yours is living in your heart forever, and we have forever to remember them.” He bent and kissed the glistening tears off her cheeks.

A love like that was worth dying for.

And now Ares and I had it as well. At the thought, I laced my fingers with Ares’. He was pleased at my gesture of affection.

“If Freyja had lived inside the Twilight Realm,” a melodic voice rose from behind us, “her mate would never have found her.”

A silver-haired beauty glided toward our table and took the empty seat. Her dark skin was flawless and shining. Mystic twin-runes sprawled up her temples.

The Empress inclined her head an inch to show her respect, as did Merlin.

But the Emperor scowled.

“And the First Witch would never fulfill her destiny to lead the future Earth,” the woman said, fixing her eyes on me.

“Who are you?” I asked.

Ares shot to his feet. “Oracle! Here you are!”

“Here I am, and as you and your mate,” said the Oracle as she lifted a glass of wine on the table and drained it.

“Hello, Consort Seth, still testy?” the Oracle said, her hair now coiling like white snakes. She hadn’t forgotten that the Angel High Prince had bared his teeth at her. “I thought your beloved mate had mellowed you down after two decades on Earth.” She then shook her head. “Why is it even a surprise to me that immortals never change?”

Fire of dark amber flashed in the Empress’ eyes—a warning.

“I know, I know,” the Oracle sighed. “You two are now a united front.”

The Oracle turned to me as if wanting to defuse the tension. “My name is Nyx, which means one and many.”

“I don’t care if you’re one or many,” Ares grated. “You lied to me. You sent me on a fool’s errand to amuse yourself.”

“I never lie. I only skip a truth here and there,” Nyx said. “Is finding and gaining your mate a fool’s errand, Prince Darken?”

Ares sent me a glance and looked less pissed now. 

“It all turned out perfectly, didn’t it?” said the Oracle. “I didn’t lead you on a wild goose chase. Your mate did, after I led you to her.”

“If you just told me Freyja was the First Witch in the first place, I wouldn’t have—”

“What fun can we have then?” Nyx said. “A little trial is healthy to a strong relationship.”

“A little trial?” Ares asked. “I almost lost her.”

Nyx gave a shrug. “But you didn’t. Look how you hold her in your big, muscled arms. So possessive.” Then she gave my uncle a knowing smirk. “Goddess Rhea also helped you attain her favorite daughter and never asked anything in return.”

“She has my Forbidden Glory now,” the Emperor grunted. He was only gentle with his mate. With others, he was still his old self—impatient and frightening.

Empress Rose gave them a wary look. “A little trial of fire can work wonder,” she said in an offer of peace. “My beloved husband crossed the light years to find me after having suffered two thousand years of celibacy.”

The Emperor gazed at his young wife, his eyes a bright silver.

Nyx looked at me with warmth, no longer carrying an air of irony.

The Oracle wanted me to live. If she hadn’t sent Ares and he hadn’t come, I would have let the curse of fire and ice decide my fate.

She’d given both Ares and me a choice by not revealing that I was the First Witch. 

“Thank you,” I told Nyx. I forever owed her a debt.

Ares sighed in resignation. “I should also thank you for leading me to my mate.”

“What truly brought you here this time, Nyx?” the Emperor rose to his full and demanded, his wings tugging in tight. “It isn’t only about my niece, is it?”

“I bear the final tide,” Nyx scanned us all. “Soon, in less than a thousand years, magic will fade from the Twilight Realm.”

The Empress’ face paled. “Am I out of the favor with Earth Mother?”

“No,” Nyx said. “But the time of change has come. Earth won’t be like today. Magic will spread to the mortal lands, and technology will rise to full. Ares and Freyja’s offspring will lead the future Earth, which will be plagued by wars, pollution, overpopulation, diseases, and dissension in everything and everywhere.”

“That sounds really cheery,” I said.

The Oracle ignored my sarcasm. Her sad eyes turned glassy white. She wasn’t seeing. “Goddess Rhea’s power will stretch thin. She’ll also become the thing of the past, like the Fey. We’ll no longer have an imprint on this planet when humankind completely dominates it.”

“So we’ll just fade off as the mortals’ powers grow?” Empress Rose asked as tears sparkled in her eyes.

“No, my love,” her consort pulled her into his arms, his wings wrapping around her to comfort her, and she leaned against him for strength. “We’ll go to a new home. We—all Fey and my Fallen Angels—will migrate to my planet Valhalla at the edge of the far galaxy. It isn’t magical like the Twilight Realm, but it has violet seas, silver forests, and the most stunning night sky. We’ll build a new future there. We’ll adapt together.”

He bent to give her a scorching kiss full of immeasurable love and passion.

The Oracle turned to me, and I wanted to shrink back. Ares supported me in his solid arms.

“Thank you, Nyx,” I said. “But I don’t want to know my future.”

“The Fey will become myth in the mortal world,” Nyx said, “as will you, the First Witch, and you, a Dragonian shifter, her consort, though your offspring will lead the nations and fight one another. Freyja, as an immortal, you’ll be heartbroken and eventually fade when your mate is gone.”

“Thank you very much for telling her that,” Ares grated. “Will you just stop?”

I turned to Ares. “At least we have now and each other.” He gave me a kiss that was no less scorching than the kiss the Angel Emperor had bestowed upon his Empress.

“What about my curse?” I asked Nyx.

“What curse?” Nyx asked.

“Fire in my blood and ice in my veins,” I said. “I thought you knew it all. Can Empress Rose heal me?”

“Your mate has healed you,” Nyx said, “after he bit you.”

My face flamed, and Ares grinned, happy to take the credit, and kissed his mark on my neck.

“And when you embraced your heritage,” the Oracle added, “you reconciled the light and darkness in you.”

“What about my death touch then?” I asked.

“Do you want it to remain lethal?” Nyx asked.

I pondered.

“I’m fine with the fact that you can touch only me, darling,” Ares said. “There’s no need for you to touch anyone else.”

The Empress arched an eyebrow. 

“The trait can pass onto our children,” I said. “Do you want them to inherit it? You’re immune to me, but might not to them. They can be more lethal than I, and you won’t have a chance to hold them in your arms.”

Ares sighed. “Fine, let’s get rid of it.” 

“You can now choose who gets to live or die with your touch, Freyja.” The Oracle winked. “You’re the First Witch.”