After the devastating announcement, I waited for the dun-dun-duuuun music or a thunderclap to declare impending doom, but nothing happened. God, that’s horrible! “And that’s why the angel came and made a ton of babies.”

“Why he made you.”

My chuckle sounded forced, even to my ears.

The chief leaned forward, fixing me with a look that was as open and honest as I’d ever seen it. And I’d had a lot of people lie, or try to lie, to me in my life. “You’re a one true mate, Blue.”

“How can you be so sure? I’m not a warrior.”

“I’m sure you are in spirit.”

“I trip over my own feet.”

“You’re twenty-five.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Darn driver’s license.

“You’re an orphan.”

I wrinkled my nose. Darn background check.

“With names like flora,” he quoted, leaning back and nodding. “Your full name is Bluebell Smith.”

“Bluebell.” Nial spoke for the first time, his voice warm and appreciative. “Even more beautiful.” I checked to see if he was kidding—I’d always hated my full name—but from the look on his face, he most definitely wasn’t. He looked torn, a harshness dragging his handsome features down and darkening his face. He looked like a man teetering on the edge, desperately hoping for someone to throw him a lifeline.

“If I’m one of these half angel women—,” I held up a finger, before either man could interrupt, “—that’s a big if, by the way, but if I am, then I have a mate?” Despite myself, my eyes slid to Nial and stuck.

He pushed away from the wall, his broad shoulders rippling and straining with tension. “You can choose a mate.”

I held his gaze, arching an eyebrow at his lack of jumping up and down with joy. You’d think he’d be a little happier about the whole situation. “Any mate?”

His reply was forced out through gritted teeth, gravelly and low, “Yes, any male can be your mate.”

The chief broke into our little tete-a-tete. “Nial, I know what you’re thinking, but fate has a funny way of changing things up. There’s got to be a reason you found Blue.”

Nial pulled a face like he’d swallowed a bug, which just pissed me off. This dream was starting to suck.

“Maybe it explains why you’re soooo attracted to me,” I added, narrowing my eyes and daring him to deny it.

If I’d thought the chief was laughing earlier, then I’d been wrong. This time his chuckles were loud enough to have someone opening the door and checking in on us. “She’s a warrior, that’s for sure,” he said, eyes going to the door.

I mentally licked my finger and wrote on my scoreboard. 1-0 to me.

“Everything okay in here?” The man who’d opened the door had a bemused smirk on his face. He was tall, probably even bigger than Nial, with light sandy hair and a cleft chin I immediately wanted to poke. Blue eyes danced with amusement as he took in the scene. A woman’s voice sounded behind him and he moved out of the way, revealing a woman with a sweet smile and long dark hair. She had my kind of build, too, which meant not supermodel thin. Which automatically made me want to like her.

The chief managed to find his off button and waved them in. “Blue, I’d like you to meet Trevor and Ella.”

Making her way over, Ella took the seat next to me and flashed me a friendly smile. “Blue, right?” She lowered her voice to a confidential whisper, “I bet you think this is all a little crazy right now.”

For some reason, I immediately warmed to the woman, meeting her observation with a roll of my eyes. “I’m dreaming and I’ll wake up any time now.”

Surprise flashed across her face and she didn’t laugh, instead pursing her lips and shaking her head. People seemed to be doing that a lot around me lately. “I’m sorry, but you’re not dreaming. Trevor over there is a wolven and he’s my mate.” Her tone was proud and loving, her eyes softening as she stared over at the men crowding the other end of the room. They’d immediately fallen into a huddle, discussing whatever the hell it was they were discussing in low whispers and frantic hand movements.

“Does that mean you’re a half-angel?”

“And you are too.” She placed her hand on mine and squeezed. “We’re half-sisters.”

Huh. Once the shock had worn off, I kind of liked the idea. I didn’t hate it, anyway. I’d been alone all my life, ever since my mom had dropped me off at the shopping mall on her way to Vegas at the grand old age of three, with nothing but a tiny suitcase and a warning to never trust a man. Mother of the year, she certainly wasn’t. My memories of her were faded, but the smell of whiskey usually brought them rushing back. The police had known my name from the note inside my suitcase, scrawled on the back of a flier. Name: Bluebell. Age: three years old. Return to sender: No. Okay, I’d added that last bit. I had no idea what the rest had said, I’d been three.

Dragging my thoughts from the past, I made an effort, ignoring the need to march over to the guys and demand to know what was going on. This was my dream and obviously I had a surprise up my sleeve. Better to wait it out. And chatting to Ella was easy. We talked about Serenity for a bit and compared notes on our favorite haunts. Turns out I had other half-sisters, too, which was a pleasant, and nerve-wracking surprise. She told me not to worry, they’d love me too. At her lighthearted words, my chest tightened, squeezing the long-forgotten scars of my past until they burned and I forgot none of this was real.

“Are you okay?” She peered at me with concern, and I blinked furiously, clearing the blur of tears. Crying and glasses didn’t mix.

“I’m better than okay.” My voice was a small whisper. I wanted this to be real so bad, it hurt.

She didn’t press me, but squeezed my hand again. “How long have you known Nial?”

“Nial?” Her question threw me for a moment, seeming to come out of the blue.

“Yeah, the dark, brooding one over in the corner who looks like he’s having a mini breakdown.”

Following her gaze, we observed the men for a moment, then both burst out laughing. “I never had him down as the brooding type,” I admitted. “I thought there was something there between us, but tonight all he’s been giving me is mixed messages.”

“Do you feel drawn to him?” She shifted in her chair, her hands smoothing down her jeans. “Like he’s your favorite ice-cream and you crave a taste? Or your favorite pajamas? Or maybe your favorite—”

I held up a hand, begging her to stop. “Okay, yes, enough! I’m drawn to him.” No way was I admitting to craving, not when he couldn’t seem to make up his mind about me.

Ella nodded, as if that completely made sense. “Has he mentioned how amazing you smell?”

“Is that a wolf thing?”

She blushed, avoiding my eyes and looking pretty darn pleased with herself. “It’s a mate thing.”

“Apples,” I blurted out. “He said I smell like apples.” And looked like he wanted to eat me, I added silently.

“It’s the prophecy, damn it! I can’t!” Nial’s roar had everyone falling silent.

Clearing my throat, I stood up. “And what prophecy would that be, then?”

Not even turning around to look at me, Nial stared at the wall and recited the words in a monotone, his expression stoic,

“When two worlds collide once again he will roam.

Pulled by the weight of his destiny

He will bear the mark of two orbs aligned.

Once united and whole

If he yields to her

The weight will lift.

His world will fall.”

Then he turned and walked out of the room, the door slamming shut behind him.

Trevor rubbed a hand over his hair, shooting the chief a concerned look. “I’ll go after him.”

Good. Because I sure as hell didn’t know what to say to him after that!