“Nazari.” Ganymede caught up with him before he left the room. The general scowled at him. Guess he was ticked because Ganymede had omitted his title. Or maybe that was just his default expression. “You have two hours to get everyone concealed and ready for battle.”

“Right. And for my next miracle, I’ll make it rain what-the-fucks. You’re expecting the impossible.”

Ganymede wanted to get in his face and shout, “You don’t want to see me pissed off, so cut the attitude.” Instead, he took a deep calming breath. Time for some diplomacy, not that Ganymede had much practice at it. “Hey, you didn’t get to Brigadier General without some serious military talent. We’re all counting on you.”

Nazari’s scowl turned into a look of resignation. He nodded then left without another word. He slammed the door behind him. Ganymede took that as a, “Yes, it will be done as you command, O Supreme Leader.”

Ganymede turned back to the others still in the room. “Let’s go down and get our captive settled into her shiny new cage.” He didn’t meet Mistral’s gaze. The urge to punch the shapeshifter was tough to resist, but giving into temptation might mean Mistral would walk away. As much as he hated to admit it, the Castle needed the butthead.

Ganymede trailed the others down the winding stairs, mentally swatting at the worries buzzing around him. How powerful was Zendig? What form had he taken? Who and what accompanied him? And how would they attack? Pouncing on the castle from above made the most sense for a surprise assault. Ganymede cursed the fact he knew zero about the bastard and his host of flying monkey crap. A thought: If they were airborne, Zendig would have a tough time avoiding detection by either radar or humans just staring at the sky. So, not by air.

He tried to ignore the questions as he followed everyone to the center of the great hall. Someone bumped into him on their way out to the courtyard where Ganymede could hear the general shouting. He decided to be nicer to Nazari. That would be him out there yelling if the general hadn’t shown up. Sparkle’s voice brought him back on task.

“Holgarth, get everyone out of here so we can have some quiet.”

The wizard hovered on the edge of their small group. “Of course. I’ll clap my hands and make it happen.” He clapped his hands. The crowds still hurried to and fro, ignoring him. “I’m shocked. Shocked. There are still people here.”

Holgarth’s expression of fake surprise was the tipping point for Ganymede’s temper. He wasn’t in the mood for the wizard’s snark. He gathered his power and wished everyone except for the four of them elsewhere, and they were…elsewhere. He smiled. The mental picture of Holgarth standing in his shower with cold water dripping off his pointy beard raised his spirits. Ganymede had treated the rest of the mob more gently. They’d reappeared in the hotel lobby. Ganymede hoped they’d take the hint and stay away from the great hall for a while. He turned to find Mistral’s gaze on him.

The shapeshifter shook his head. “I’m always amazed by how many powers you have.” He shrugged. “I guess you were Zendig’s first. He must’ve given you more of his own power than he gave the rest of us. Add that to what you’ve gained since arriving and you have…you.” He didn’t make the “you” sound like a compliment.

Sparkle made an impatient sound. “Let’s get this done. We don’t have much time. I still have to gear up for the battle.”

Ganymede knew from past experience that she took “gearing up” to a whole new level. “Sure.” He looked at Mistral and Amaya. “Ready?”

Amaya started to nod but then stopped. “Wait. I have to visit the lady’s room. I might be in that cage for a while.” She ran toward the nearest sign.

Everyone sighed. Mistral took the moment to speak to Sparkle. “You know, I really didn’t hear or see anything once I came through that portal. No memories, no thoughts. Just the instinct to escape. And I honestly didn’t recognize you in that alley. Anyway…” He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for being a bastard. Yeah, it’s always been about me, but that’s how I roll. I honestly do believe you’re my sister, though.” He shrugged. “No scientific proof, just a gut feeling. Maybe helping to defeat Zendig will start to make up for things.”

Ganymede knew he should give them some privacy, but the hell with that. He did his best looming-with-murderous-intent impression.

Sparkle didn’t say anything for a few moments. Then she nodded. “Maybe. A little. It’ll take time, though, and a lot of ‘making up’ by you.” She studied her nails, refusing to meet Mistral’s gaze. “Knowing we all might be dead by tomorrow makes my grudge not so important in the grand scheme of things.”

Ganymede snorted. He would’ve gone to his grave hating Mistral. But that’s the way he rolled. He turned in time to see Amaya hurrying back. “We need to get moving. We’ve wasted enough time on chit chat and potty breaks.”

No one argued. Amaya pulled over a chair from the banquet table because, “I may as well be comfortable while I’m doing this huge favor for Mistral’s undeserving sister.” She sat. And then she became Bourne.

Sparkle chose to ignore the dig. “Amazing. Every detail is perfect right down to those ugly, cheap-ass shoes he loves so much.” She blew a kiss to Amaya.

“Of course I’m perfect. I’m a kitsune. Oh, and before Mistral and I came here I contacted some of my friends. They’ll be here soon. Kitsunes love to mess with people.” She smiled. “And as long as they concentrate on the enemy, it’s all good.”

Ganymede couldn’t get over how weird it was to hear those words in Bourne’s voice.

Mistral smiled at Amaya. Then…he wasn’t there, and Amaya sat inside something that looked like a huge, golden birdcage. Ganymede had to hand it to the guy. He was the best at what he did. No shifter he’d ever known could change himself into an inanimate object. The cage had no door. Good. They didn’t want to make it easy for Zendig to get at Amaya.

“I’m going upstairs to get ready.” Sparkle slid her fingers over his arm.

As he watched her walk away, Ganymede pondered the truth that even in the midst of an apocalypse her touch could stir him to thoughts of a thousand nights of future loving. Ganymede just had to make sure it happened. That meant keeping her safe without her realizing he was doing it because, well, she had a thing about him being an overprotective jerk.

Forcing his thoughts away from Sparkle, he went in search of Conall. He found the immortal warrior out in the courtyard listening as the general told each troublemaker where to hide. Ganymede beckoned to Conall, earning himself a glare from Nazari. He ignored the general as he drew Conall into the great hall.

“Wow. How’d you do that?” Conall was staring at the cage with Bourne inside it.

“Amaya is Bourne and Mistral is the cage. Now pay attention.” He waited impatiently until Conall focused on him. “Get Holgarth and Zane to ward the cage against anyone trying to mess with it. Then I want you and your team stationed around it. When Zendig shows up, send Edge out to explain how you captured Bourne and killed everyone loyal to him. Tell him the cage is spelled so Bourne can’t escape. Invite him in to see for himself. Once he’s inside, make sure he doesn’t try to kill Amaya before we attack him.”

“Done. He won’t get past us.” Then Conall walked over to inspect the cage. He glanced back at Ganymede. “Mistral’s brilliant.”

“Right. Brilliant.” Ganymede almost expected the cage to swell and shatter from the shifter’s glut of pride. He left Conall admiring Mistral and went out to speak to Nazari. The troublemakers and assorted other nonhumans were scattering as they headed for their assigned places of concealment. The general didn’t look glad to see him. Too bad. “What about lookouts?”

“I have people watching wherever Zendig is likely to enter Galveston. But we’re only guessing since we know almost nothing about him and his army.” His expression said that was all on Ganymede’s head. “The fog-maker and the woman who’ll take care of muting the sounds of battle are already on the wall-walk.” He nodded to where Zane stood in front of the gargoyles that flanked the great hall doors. “The sorcerer is waking your park’s protectors. Not sure they can do much against Zendig’s power, but they can’t hurt.”

“My father is trying to get info to us, but he has to be careful.” Ganymede didn’t want to lose his dad so soon after finding him.

Nazari nodded. “Let’s hope we have a few minutes’ warning. We’re not prepared. How did this happen?”

Ganymede didn’t want to go over the whole thing about Bourne flinging himself through the portal and what came after. What was done was done. “Bad timing. In the end, though, it’s all about power. His against ours. We’ll just have to be better.” Time for complete honesty. “I’m a loner. Never had to pull this kind of thing together. I trust that you can, General.” He only hoped his trust wouldn’t prove to be misplaced.

He left Nazari mulling that thought as he headed up to where Sparkle was getting ready. If the toughest fight of his long existence was coming, he didn’t intend to meet it on an empty stomach. Battles had never made him too nervous to eat, because he always won. This one? Maybe it had him a little edgy. But he intended to annihilate Zendig. He couldn’t lose, not with Sparkle waiting to begin their future together.

She’d left the door unlocked for him. With life and death on the line today, he entered his home with renewed appreciation for the sexy paintings, the erotic sculptures, the air lightly scented with something sensual. It was all Sparkle, it was where he belonged. He knew that now. Ganymede hoped he hadn’t learned his lesson too late.

The Cosmic Time Travel Agency? Ganymede still wanted to get back to a hands-on running of his business, but he would work from an office here in Galveston. He’d tell Sparkle as soon as he figured out the logistics of the whole thing.

“Mede?” She walked out of the bathroom trailing steam from her quick shower. Nude. The way he liked her. But she didn’t linger to play. She simply waved and went into the bedroom.

He wandered into the kitchen to root around in the freezer. Grabbing a bowl, he scooped out some Rocky Road ice cream. The flavor sort of went with today’s theme. He settled down on the couch, then turned on the TV news. Nothing. Where was the bastard? He turned it off. Damn. It would’ve been great if Dad could’ve given him a hint of what to expect.

Ganymede had just finished his ice cream and was thinking about another bowl when Sparkle emerged from the bedroom. He forgot about the ice cream.

Sparkle tried to look suitably menacing to go along with her amazing outfit. She didn’t get many chances to wear it, but it never failed to make her feel like a warrior queen—a super short, black leather skirt with metal studs, a black leather bustier laced tightly enough to push up her breasts but loose enough to show a little skin through the laces. After all, a fighting woman had to breathe deeply. And her favorite part—knee-high, leather, lace-up platform boots with metal spikes sticking out of the toes to deliver a lethal kick. She’d fluffed up her hair to give it that tousled look, the one that said she just kicked major butt.

“Wow.” Mede just stared.

“I love you when you’re speechless.” She made sure to swing her hips as she sashayed over to him. “You’ve seen this outfit before.”

He swallowed hard. “And it’s a wow every time I do.”

She sighed. Time to get serious. Sparkle sat down beside him on the couch. She leaned into him and he wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her close. “Have we thought of everything, Mede?”

“No. We didn’t have enough time.”

Sparkle could feel the deep vibration of his voice all the way through her. She wanted to curl against him and purr. “When this is over, I want us to settle down forever.” Left unsaid was, “Wherever that may be.”

His soft chuckle wrapped around her, so familiar and loved. “Cosmic troublemakers don’t settle, and forever will get stale in one place.”

“We can.” She felt militant about this. “No more wandering the earth making humans miserable. We’ll have neighbors in an ordinary neighborhood, a garden, maybe even get a dog. We might even be…kind. Maybe I’ll bake cookies.”

He looked horrified. “Please don’t.”

He was right. She was a terrible cook. She bit her lip as she thought. “I suppose the neighbors will eventually notice that we stay young and gorgeous while they shrivel and grow old. But we’ll find a way to deal with that.”

He frowned. “Sounds boring. I’d want—”

She’d have to wait to find out what he’d want because his text-alert pinged. Sparkle sat up as he took his hand from around her waist to retrieve his phone. He stared at the screen for a moment before meeting her gaze. His expression said everything. It was time. But she promised herself they’d be together on this couch on the other side of the battle. She fashioned her resolve into an unbreakable promise and stored it in the corner of her heart where all that was truly Sparkle Stardust lived.

“That was Dad. He texted one word. Causeway.”

Mede raked his fingers through all that golden hair she’d touched so many times in the past. And you’ll touch it many times in the future.

“I wish he’d try to squeeze in two or even three more words.” With a muttered curse, he called Holgarth. “I don’t give a damn if you’re still drying out. Tell me who’s watching the causeway.” He listened then made another call. “Blue, what’re you seeing right now?” Some more listening. Then an expression of shock. Finally, he called the general. “Nazari, sound the alarm. They’re fifteen minutes away.” Long pause as the general shouted questions.

Sparkle could hear them clearly. She figured everyone on their floor could hear them.

“Tour buses. That’s all I know.” He cut the general off in mid-yell and shoved the phone back into his pocket. Then he shook his head and laughed.

“Tour buses? You’re kidding.” Sparkle stood. Laughter was the last thing she expected in this situation.

“Blue said there’s a line of about twenty of them crossing the causeway right now.” His laughter faded to a chuckle.

“So? Tour buses are always coming here.”

“Do they all have Bourne Express as their destination sign?”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. All this time I had these pictures in my mind of how he’d get here. Dropping out of the sky leading an army of flying ghouls. Rumbling across the country camouflaged as a killer storm that would flatten cities. Marching behind hundreds of giant worms that were tunneling under Texas to reach us. Riding the crest of an enormous tsunami that would swallow the whole Gulf Coast. Now, here he comes…riding in a tour bus.” Mede shook his head. “Zendig hasn’t learned a major lesson of war. Presentation is everything. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s lost the first round.” He headed for the door. “Let’s go.”

Sparkle stopped long enough to fish her gun from the side-table drawer. It was for when natural talent might not be enough. She was a realist. Mede could blow holes in the universe. Her? Not so much. Sometimes you just needed an edge. Reluctantly, she put on her gun belt. The black leather matched her outfit, but it ruined the smooth line of skirt and bustier. It would be worth it, though, if she got the chance to blow a hole in Zendig. Then she ran to catch up with Mede. When she joined him in the great hall, he was speaking with the general.

“Everything set?” Mede scanned the great hall. “Those buses will be here soon.”

Sparkle waited for the laughter, but Kadar didn’t seem to think it was funny. “He could have those buses packed with explosives ready to ram the Castle.” He had to speak loudly because the wail of the fire alarm he’d pressed into service as an attack warning was drowning him out.

Mede made a derisive sound. “Humans think like that, not people from Effix. We depend on our own power in a battle. Besides, I think Dad would’ve squeezed any bomb-filled buses into his text.”

Thankfully, the fire alarm cut off, leaving her ears still ringing.

She thought about the gun at her hip. Humans got it right once in a while. “You did a great job, Kadar. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the place was deserted except for Amaya in her cage and Conall’s team.” Speaking of whom… She waved at the droopy-looking kitsune. “How’s it going?”

Amaya scowled. “I’m hungry. What’re the chances of you getting a burger to the lady in the cage?”

Sparkle made a moue of regret. “Sorry. Zendig will be here in a few minutes. But afterwards I’ll make a burger-and-fries run for you.” She hesitated. “And for the cage.” Then she switched her attention back to what Mede was saying.

“Sparkle’s right. I have to hand it to you, Navari. I’d never guess there were a hundred people hidden away here. I can’t figure out how you found enough hidey-holes for them.” Mede looked around. “You probably have a few stowed inside the fireplace. It’s certainly big enough.”

For the first time, Kadar smiled. “You’d be surprised.” He shouted at the semi-empty great hall, “Show yourselves.”

At least twenty troublemakers popped into plain view around the room.

“How?” Sparkle hadn’t sensed them. Amazing.

The general looked smug. “Sam Jones, the troublemaker over there in the khaki shorts and Hawaiian shirt, can hide himself and a few others for an unlimited amount of time. He’s made quite a living hiring out his services.”

“I bet he has.” Sparkle wondered how many unsolved burglaries good old Sam had under his belt.

“Sam Jones? Never heard of him.” Mede glanced at the others who had appeared. “Don’t know any of them.”

Kadar looked offended. “A good leader is organized, knows his men and their talents so he can call on them in an emergency.” His expression said he would make that good leader. “You’ve been too self-involved, Ganymede. You should reach out to your fellow troublemakers, get to know them.”

“Thanks for the advice, General. Now maybe Sam should hide himself and his friends again.”

Sparkle held her breath. She hoped Kadar didn’t sense Mede’s teeth grinding. She knew how Mede reacted to people telling him what to do. She spoke up to give him time to settle his temper. “Sam Jones? Oh, no. The poor man. No troublemaker should be a Sam Jones.” She looked over to where the Sam Jones in question was an interested observer. She threw him a kiss. “You come visit me when this is all over, and I’ll make sure you leave with a name you can wear with pride.” She offered Sam her most sensual smile.

Sam looked a little dazed as Kadar ordered them all back to invisibility. She couldn’t help feeling a teeny shiver of triumph. The general might glare and yell, but she could get the same response with a twitch of sexiness and a smile.

“The fog is rolling over the island, and the sound around the castle has been dampened. Now if you folks will hide yourselves, we’ll be as ready as we’re going to be”—he speared Mede with a hard stare—“given how little time I had to prepare the troops.”

Sparkle didn’t allow Mede time to respond. She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the stairs. “Let’s go up to the wall-walk so we can see when they arrive.”

By the time they emerged onto the walk, they were both out of breath. The fog was so thick they didn’t even see the two other troublemakers who were up there with them. They crept to a spot where they could crouch behind the battlement to view the parking lot. Too bad the damn fog made it invisible.

Mede pressed close to her, his warmth welcome on what had been a warm Texas afternoon. The drifting fog cocooned them, making it almost possible for her to believe they were the only ones on Earth.

“No matter what the bastard throws at us, we’ll be stronger, more powerful, because we’re together. It’s always been that way.”

She nodded, wanting it to be true. But this time… Until this moment, she’d managed to hold the terror at bay. Cosmic troublemakers didn’t do panic. The possibility that she might die in the next few hours didn’t shorten her breath or make her heart hammer. Her true horror was the thought of surviving this only to find Mede gone forever. It could happen, because for the first time in her long existence they were facing the power that had created all of them. What if their combined strength wasn’t enough?

Mede reached over to grip her hand in his. She closed her eyes, trying to absorb his conviction, his belief that they would see tomorrow. And when she opened her eyes, he was close enough for her to see the glow in his amber eyes, close enough to see her reflection there.

“But he’s our maker, Mede.” Tell me how we can defeat him.

Suddenly, he was fierce, his sensual mouth drawn into a thin line of denial. “No, he’s not our maker. We had our own lives before he dragged us away from them, before he took everything from us and forced us into what he wanted us to be. Today is payback, Queen Doria. Believe it.”

Sparkle couldn’t help it, she smiled. He remembered. Millennia ago she had been—for a short human lifespan—the queen of a long-forgotten civilization. She had been fierce, feared by her country’s enemies and loved by her people. For those few years, Sparkle had forgotten she was a troublemaker and had merely been a queen. She straightened and lifted her chin. She could be that queen again, for him.

Mede leaned in to cover her mouth with his. His lips moved against hers softly, demanding nothing, promising her everything he was, everything he’d ever be. “It’s time for me to take my cat form again so I can do some sneaking and spying. Have to ID their weaknesses.

Sparkle nodded and looked away. Even after all these years, Mede still didn’t want witnesses to his change. It was slow and painful, so she understood. Quiet settled around her with its false sense of peace.

The feeling didn’t last. The growl of buses pulling into the parking lot shattered the moment. She couldn’t see them, but she heard when the drivers shut off their engines, when the people, or whatever they were, started unloading, and when they started toward the Castle with sounds of slithering and dragging that made her shiver. She wondered why Kadar hadn’t put more defenders outside the Castle. But he was the general, so maybe she should allow him to do his thing.

Then Mede was staring up at her. “Gray is the perfect color for a cat spy in a fog. I’ll mental-message you and Nazari what I find.”

What was left to say other than, “Stay safe.”

“Hey, I’m good at this, babe.” Then he padded to the stairs leading down to the great hall and was gone.

“So am I, babe,” she whispered. Then Sparkle straightened, lifted her chin, fluffed her hair again and put her patented sexy-walk in motion. She was a dangerous woman, and Zendig was about to see her in action.