This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Khalid couldn’t hear a damn thing except for the ringing in his ears. The explosion had left his senses a mess, and the snow raining down on them sure the hell didn’t help his vision. Glancing around them, he first spotted Abaxley and Alyx, the faeblin lying on top of her. He caught the man’s eyes and nodded. “Get her to the portal, now. Scur and I are right behind you.” Now where the fuck was Scur?

Looking around again, he finally spotted the berserker lifting himself off the ground and shaking the snow off. With all the white around them, it was easy to see the trail of blood running down Scur’s face. On unsteady feet he came closer.

“Yeah. You all right?” Scur looked at him like he had two heads. “You’re bleeding.”

Scur shrugged. “Blood happens. Let’s get the fuck out of here ‘cause an explosion that loud is going to cause an avalanche.”

“Good point.” The two of them started to run toward the vanishing figures of Alyx and Abaxley. It felt like he was running through wet cement, each step a challenge. But they finally saw the portal, the wavering doorway that would take them the hell out of what could be them buried alive. Scur jumped through first and just as Khalid was about to follow, something streaked past him and through the opening. Fucking coyote.

He leapt as the portal closed, barely making it through, and stumbled to a stop. His instincts immediately assessed his surroundings before his attention turned to Alyx. “You all right?”

“Hobs!” she said and frowned. “Fuck, I hope the nomarts are okay. Assholes are using explosives...right? Or was that magic?”

“I think it was an incendiary,” Abaxley said and then looked down to the coyote. “This guy...”

“Saved me. He jumped one of those assholes and ripped his throat out,” Alyx said and looked at both Khalid and Scur. “You see action, or what?”

Scur wiped at his forehead. “If action consists of something fucking hard and sharp falling on my head, then yeah, I saw action.”

“After the explosion, I don’t think any of us were on our feet.” Khalid looked over at the coyote, who was steadily pacing, but not seeming to pay much attention to the rest of them. “I don’t know how many hobs there actually were, other than the two Fido took out.”

“At least three or it was someone with them. Someone set it off. I saw a shadow in the coming storm,” Bax said and looked at him. “I don’t think it was completely natural.”

Alyx went to her knees and smiled at the coyote. “Thank you. I don’t know what you were doing out there, alone, but...you are my hero.”

“Careful, Alyx, he probably has rabies,” Scur said, voicing exactly what Khalid was thinking. The coyote didn’t snarl at the insult, giving Khalid another reason to know he wasn’t a shifter. No shifter would put up with being degraded.

“He does have a point,” he told her. “We don’t know if he’s feral or not, and his snout is covered in blood.”

“Yeah, I’m standing here actually bleeding and she doesn’t even offer me her shirt to stop the flow. I’m hurt, minx.” Scur sniffed.

“Why would I do that, Mr. Adrenaline?” she said offhandedly. “He’s not feral,” she said decidedly. “And he’s got blood on his snout because he fucked shit up to save me.” She got off her knees. “As far as I’m concerned, he can stay as long as he likes. He’s earned at least a decent meal.” Brushing her hands off, she looked to Abaxley. “Contact Hendrix, tell him what happened, see if he can see what’s going on.”

“Of course, I’ll have Faust go.” He smiled. “We should get back to the stronghold so we can tell everyone, and you can look at the knot growing on Scur’s head.”

She grinned at her berserker. “Don’t worry, I’ll kiss it and make it better.”

“Just hope he doesn’t have brain swelling,” Khalid said. “He can’t afford to lose any brain cells.”

“Fuck you very much,” Scur said, sidling up next to Alyx and taking her arm. They started toward the stronghold and Khalid pulled the sat phone out of Alyx’s pocket, thankful it hadn’t shattered, and hung back as the other walked a head of him, the damn coyote deciding to trail along next to him. He dialed up Jed and waited for the other man to answer.

“I got a call from Mak about fifteen minutes ago,” Jed said of his brother. “He’s up keeping an eye on things with Incanta, said about twenty minutes ago someone ran into the keep and there were a lot of raised voices and movement. Not long after a half a dozen hobs headed out into the woods and disappeared through a portal. They didn’t have anyone close enough to follow.”

“Tell him to stay near that portal. At most, four of them will be returning soon. See if he can’t grab one.”

“Oh, he’ll enjoy that. If we snag one, I’ll call you. Let you have some fun with the interrogation. But if Alyx does it, I wanna watch,” Jed said with a laugh.

“You and me both, brother.” Khalid hung up and jogged to catch up just as they entered the stronghold. “Six hobs portaled out not too long before the explosions went off.”

“Go, tend to Scur,” Bax said. “Use my suite. I’ll handle my people and meet you there.”

“Oh, in that case, I’d bet the house on getting one of them,” Scur said. “That fucker is crazy, but he’s got a brain like Jed, which is a scary combination.”

“Yeah, Mak will nab at least one. Jed said he wants to watch you interrogate,” Khalid said with a grin as they headed toward Abaxley’s suite.

She laughed. “While he’s a bad ass, he doesn’t have the constitution for that. Let’s get this handled and back to the Sithen. We have a lot to plan for, and royals we need to get brought up to speed.”

Once inside the suite, she looked at Scur. “Jacket off and meet me in the bathroom. I’m doing a full assessment.” She slipped out of her own coat and stripped out of each layer ‘til she was standing in underwear, her tank, and a bra. “You, too, Khalid. Full assessment.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said as he removed each layer, half of which seemed to be frozen to his body. Scur managed to strip down first, which didn’t surprise him since the man was known for quickly removing clothing, though it usually wasn’t his.

Following him into the bathroom, he leaned against the doorframe and grinned at his princess. “So, are you telling me the commander of the Hunt, a group of the most badass mother fuckers on any realm, would get squeamish watching you interrogate?”

She nodded. “At the very least, uncomfortable with it.” She looked to him. “I do not deny he is a badass, but...” She grinned. “Me ending up covered in blood is the sweet end of it. They beg me for death in the end, Khalid, what’s left of them do anyway.” She walked over to Scur and started circling him. “A few contusions, no broken ribs. Though...” She pushed on his shoulder for him to sit. “That is going to need stitches.”

“You have met Calcus, right?” he said with a laugh. “We all grew up watching him interrogate, and while I’m sure you’re creative, and it would be a beautiful thing to witness, I’m pretty positive we all saw worse when we were seven. Hell, Calcus used to make Riven and me tag in when he got tired. Trust me, love, Jed could handle it and if he couldn’t, Gobeth has a problem on her hands.”

“Ah,” Scur said, “I used to love heading to the Hunt to watch Calcus do his thing. Only time it sucked was when he had a date with the wifey. Then they’d either die quick or be left floundering around.” He looked at Alyx as he sat. “I don’t do stitches.”

“Then you are going to be left with a gash in your head,” she said and motioned to Khalid. “Let me look at you.” She walked around him. “A few bruises but...” She placed a hand on his ass. “Fine as ever.”

“I try,” he said with a laugh. He grabbed hold of her hips then slowly turned her in a circle as his hands traveled over her skin. “Looks like you’ll live as well. I’m just glad the ringing in my ears stopped.”

“It will close up,” Scur said, getting up to dig through the drawers until he found a hand towel then proceeded to wash his face. “You need to call Queen Verity. She should be informed of what we found and who came for a visit as we were leaving.”

“On my list,” she said as she slipped her underwear off, and then pulled the tank top over her head and unhooked her bra. Even in hurried motions, Khalid couldn’t stop watching her as she stripped. “I’m getting this chill outta my system first,” she said as she walked to the shower stall and turned it on. The spray came out heavy as she ducked under it.

“Speaking of lists,” Khalid started to say when there was a knock on the bathroom door. He walked over, opening it a crack, knowing it wouldn’t be Bax since it was his room.

“Sorry to disturb you, but Prince Abaxley asked that I bring up some clothing for you.” An older woman lifted up a pile of clothes.

“Oh, thank you.” He opened the door a little wider and took the pile from her. “Much appreciated.”

Khalid nodded his head before closing the door and laying the clothes on the counter.

“I think I know exactly what she was hopping you’d be needing,” Scur said while bobbing his brows.

“Maybe we should have Alyx stitch your mouth. Now, as I was saying, lists. After you talk to Queen Verity, we should call Dank and see if Gobeth and Nihar are there and not at the temple. I’d like for him to take a look at the information we were given.”

“Sound,” Alyx said as she washed her hair. “Also, we need to get the Sithen ready for our new members.”

“Already on that.” He grabbed the pants from the top of the pile and held them up before tossing them to Scur. “I talked to Pris last night while you were bonding with the prince...”

“Agreed, but back to what I was saying.” He found the other pair of pants and pulled them on. “Pris is going to work with Octavia and make sure the village is ready for the faeblins and anyone else who wants to live and work there.”

A visibly soapy Alyx leaned out of the shower stall. “Good. Now what are we talking about concerning my faeblin?”

“All I know is when I got back last night you were both passed out naked on the bed,” Scur said, walking over to her and laying a kiss on her. “We want to know how you finally landed that ass.”

“I’m assuming the man actually talked to her,” he said. “I know the concept is hard for you, since you went the entirely opposite way, but I’m betting the two of them actually had a conversation.”

“Technically Scur did talk to me, after he caught me,” she said as she rinsed off. “But yes, it’s all good. As for the blow by beautiful blow... You wanna know the dirty details and the things he can do neither of you can?” She smirked and took the towel Scur offered her.

Scur looked over at him, brow raised. “And here I thought princesses tried not to have favorites. I’m hurt,” he said with a pout.

“I was more wondering what you spoke about,” Khalid said, not taking the bait. He’d lived with huntsmen for too long to get pulled into that rabbit hole.

“A lot of shit, us, princesshood, the faeblins, them being accepted... We worked things out, I think. Right now, all that matters is that he’s mine now, and I feel closer to whole.” She looked to Scur. “And I don’t know who told you princesses don’t have favorites. You have met Nymea, right?” she winked.

“You’ve met the rest of her guard, right?” Scur said. “If I were her, I would have picked a favorite, too. But don’t worry, I’ll remember this next time you want something from me.” He snagged her towel from her and swatted her ass with it.

“Clothes for you on the counter. You do know you opened up all kinds of shit for Scur to do to you now, right?” he said with a laugh. “Back to the discussion, though, how are you feeling about taking on the faeblins? When I mentioned it to Bax, I wasn’t sure if he took me seriously.”

“I think it makes sense. I mean it helps to legitimize them, and gives them a kingdom to call home, protection, and they don’t have to live out here. We are all new to this, you know? I think giving them a stable place, somewhere they can thrive, is good.

“But more than that I have been thinking about what the nomarts said, about Faerie being open and free. I think it’s not a bad thing they are their own people. Hell, they are their own corner of Faerie, with their own powers, and ability. I think Faerie wanted that all along, you know? I am happy to call them part of our Court, and more so, I’m honored to have Bax in my guard, as a part of me.”

She walked over to the clothing and pulled on a pair of pants, and then a t-shirt, no under things. “And as to Scur doing things to me...that’s the best part of it.”

“Oh, you ain’t going to be getting any of those parts, Miss Has A Favorite,” Scur said with a smirk and sat down on the edge of the tub. “We’ll see how long you can hold out.”

“Scur, I wouldn’t place that bet with her. You’ll end up with worse blue balls than Riven had.” He grabbed hold of Alyx’s hand and pulled her to stand between his legs, back against his chest. “I fully agree with you. It was the exact same thought I had. I think the freedom being under your Court, with a place they can make their own, is important. They’ve been under the thumb of a dictator for so long, it’s time they got to live their own lives.”

She nodded. “Exactly. Opportunity.” She leaned her head back. “And I don’t think we should be looking at the goblin blood as a handicap. Cetus, I know he’s against the goblins as they were, but...”

“Cetus is against the goblins who tried to hurt his queen,” he told her, kissing the top of her head. “I don’t think he cares much about what happens to the faeblin, or any of the other goblins, now that Huron is dead. Man has a one-track mind nowadays.”

She nodded. “I think having the faeblins integrate into society without having to declare their own kingdom...” She left her statement open.

“Is the right move for right now,” Khalid finished for her. “I think we should hunt down your newest guard.”

“And see if that damn coyote is still around. I haven’t heard any screaming, so he probably took off,” Scur said. “We’re close enough to the Front that he’ll find a pack to fall in with. I’m sure he’ll be just fine. Better there than in the damn arctic.”

“You don’t need to come find me,” Abaxley said as he walked in. “I just finished talking with Laslo and Vesta. They agree moving is a good idea and have already started the prep for that. I think I should hang out, help with that, but...” He went to her and kissed Alyx square on the mouth. “I’ll be there tonight, yeah?”

“Normally I would say yes but you have shit you need to do, including talking to the queens.”

“I’ll stay and help out,” Scur said as he stood. “Khalid is more diplomatic and if I head over to Sleeping Court, Nassar and I will probably get in trouble for one thing or another,” he added with a grin.

“Or my brother and you will get into a boxing match,” she said and smirked. “Which just ends badly for both of you.”

“We have yet to box,” Scur said. “Though now that I think about it, that would be fun. He could use a couple good shots.”

“And on that note,” Khalid said, pushing away from the counter, and forcing Alyx to move a couple steps. “Did you want to call Verity before we headed over?”

Alyx shook her head. “Let’s just pop over. If she’s indisposed, we can talk to Carrigan.” She kissed Scur on the cheek. “Be good.”

“Me?” Scur said, pulling Alyx to him. “Never.” He dipped her and kissed her, for so long Khalid looked down at his watch to time it. He cleared his throat.

Scur finally let Alyx up for air. “She could be indisposed with both of them.”

“Either way,” she said and rolled her fingertip across Scur’s bottom lip. “And if you think you are going to withhold from me after a kiss like that...” She grinned.

“Princess,” Khalid said, holding out his hand to her. “Ready when you are.”

“Oh, please, I’m getting that dick as soon as you get back.” She scoffed and then winked at Abaxley. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

“I’ve got a hundred dollars that says he won’t last through you taking off your shoes when we get back,” he said. “And I plan on collecting from him.”

Slumberland was bathed in midmorning sunlight as they emerged from the portal in the side yard. Becoming High Court had changed the estate some, as now the portal was in a courtyard surrounded by hedges, with the portals to all the rest of the Sithens around it. It would make getting back to theirs easy and quick.

They walked through the yard, Alyx noticing all the new flora and nodded to the daytime wisps that were bobbing along in the light breeze. It was calm and relaxed, something she knew High Court hadn’t been in a long time.

She grabbed Khalid’s hand as they entered the house through the open French doors on the patio.

“Princess Alyx,” Grodin said as they walked in. “It is good to see you.”

So they were going to see the Basilisk queen as well. “Thank you. And my brother?”

“I’m guessing not five feet away from the Queen Basilisk,” Khalid said and Grodin nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. “I think he’s still using you and your guard as an excuse to get as much time with Queen Verity as possible. Your brother is a smart man.”

“My brother is an idiot,” she said as Grodin motioned toward the doors out to the pool.

“Thank you, Grodin.” She grabbed Khalid’s hand and walked out to the pool deck to see the Queen Basilisk slithering into the water, Verity on a large round float lying on her stomach, and Quinn in the water, guiding the platform float she was on, while talking to her. Alyx grinned. “Well isn’t this...surreal.”

“It was until you showed up and ruined the moment,” Quinn said, looking over at her with a grin on his face. “What do we owe the pleasure, pipsqueak?”

“Hush!” Verity said to her brother and slipped off the float and into the water, making her way out of the pool. She grabbed a towel, wrapped it around herself and then went to Alyx, hugging her. “Ooh, you look... What have you been up to?”

“Being with Alyx is always an adventure,” Khalid said, bowing his head. “Queen Verity, I hope everything has been well for you.”

Quinn pushed himself out of the pool, heading toward her. When he reached her, he pulled her into a bear hug, before wrapping his arm around her head and giving her a noogie, not caring he was getting her completely soaked. “I’m just glad she’s still in one piece after her adventuring. And possibly hoping Scur isn’t since he isn’t here.”

“Scur is with Abaxley at the stronghold. He didn’t want to see your ugly mug,” she said. “Now let go of me or I’m going to stab you in the thigh.”

“And I won’t stop her. You deserve it. Getting her wet. Let’s let Alyx dry off,” Verity said and motioned for them to sit. “So, Captain, what exactly happened on your travels?”

“Hey, you got her wet first,” Quinn said to Verity with a grin as he let her go. “Just following my queen’s lead. Arien told me I needed to behave more.”

Khalid snorted. “Yeah, ‘cause I’m sure pissing off your sister was exactly what she meant.”

“Honestly, she scares me enough that you better not tell her about this.” Quinn grabbed a towel off one of the lounge chairs and tossed it to Alyx then scooped Verity up before she could sit and settled her on his lap.

“As far as our travels,” Khalid said to Verity, “a lot happened. As Alyx already alluded to, she has three guards now.”

Alyx nodded. “Solid bond, he’s lovely.” She smiled. “And we, after talking,” she looked to her captain, “will be bringing the faeblins to my Sithen. A fresh start. Though...” She continued to look at Khalid. “We have some news from the great white north.”

“Solid idea,” Quinn said. “It will be good for them. I know getting a fresh start and a new home helped me out a lot. If you need any help...”

“I’ll let you know,” her captain said. “Guess we should talk about the nomarts.”

“The no...whats?” Quinn asked and looked down at Verity. “Sounds like something out of a Seuss book.”

“They aren’t Sneetches.” Alyx grinned. “Nomarts are an offshoot of goblins, ones that weren’t assholes,” she said. “They are, well, peaceful, and happy in their skin.” She smiled. “Beautiful metallics, like that bronzed skin humans go for.”

Alyx nodded. “After we went on our most recent heist...” She glanced at Khalid before turning her attention to Verity again. Without having to say anything, her captain took up the story.

“Cetus and Nihar sent us to Cambodia for the next stop in looking for the horde,” Khalid said and pulled her down next to him when she dried off as much as she could. “We didn’t find one of the missing hordes, but we did find a room full of scrolls. One of which had the coordinates to the nomarts. I don’t recommend taking the scenic route if you ever visit there. Cold enough to freeze your balls off.”

“Pass,” Verity said, “and I don’t even have balls. Did you tell Nihar? Is he having a raging brainer over it?”

“Clearly,” Alyx said. “Well, the scroll led us to the nomarts as Khalid said and when we got there...well, they told us something very cool. Faerie is in a time of transition, and we are getting the opportunity to go home to our ancestral lands, Hybrasil and Dewan.”

Quinn’s brows drew together and it looked like her brother’s head might explode from thinking too hard. “I know I was out of it for most of my life, but I don’t remember ever hearing either of those names.”

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing you would have heard of,” Khalid assured him. “I never heard of them either until we found the scrolls and then spoke with the nomarts. But if what they say is true, we’ve been tasked to find them. Alyx said they’re like some lost colony that the humans say exist.”

Verity nodded. “Thank the History Channel. Ancient Aliens talked about Hybrasil, something about being tied to Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and it’s been on a few human maps, too. Though Dewan...I haven’t heard of it.”

Alyx nodded. “Humans are good for something. I mean their straight up need to understand the mysteries of the world makes some old information new again. So, the nomarts said we need to gather three stones, over three tasks, and then we will get the way to Hybrasil. And V...it’s...” She smiled. “Apparently, it’s where we came from, our kingdom started there. An island hidden. Hendrix is of course helping, and Nihar, well, he was lying on a chair with his dick out after we found the scroll.”

“I plan on speaking with Cetus about it as well. If that is where we started, he had to have been there. I mean, he was around when Faerie started,” Khalid said.

“Yeah, but the old fuck probably doesn’t remember little things like names of places,” Quinn added. “I mean, wasn’t he at war with two different factions at the time?”

“True. Nihar might have some of the information stored.” Khalid stretched his arm behind her and pulled her closer. “Though with him still missing half of fae history, I’m not sure if he can piece the puzzle together. Hopefully when we find Hybrasil it will finally allow us to understand what happened to cause so much discourse. I just can’t believe Poseidon was able to plant a seed that expanded for millennium. He might be a god, but he was only one man.”

“The rot was there before, self-interest ruined things and it’s hinted that both sides of the coin started there so if we find it, maybe we get more answers.” Alyx leaned into Khalid. She loved that her captain was smart, sexy, and had the correct calculating mind. Being with him was a totally different feel than being with Scur. With her berserker, she felt like Micky and Mallory Knox without the murder, everything burned bright, hot, and dangerous. He was the devil on her shoulder. Khalid? He was her sexy, dirty angel.

“Okay, so this quest... It’s a quest, right?” Khalid nodded at Verity. “Okay, so this quest, when does it start?”

“Well, I want to get the faeblins handled and settled. Make them feel welcome.”

“That’s about all we can do,” her captain said. “Since we don’t know where we’ll be going, there isn’t much we can do to plan. Other than talking to Gobeth and her men.”

“I think a little downtime before all hell breaks loose is probably a good thing,” her brother said, looking at her. “I mean you really haven’t stopped since you started searching for the hordes. Nine days will give you time to recoup. I say take advantage of it.”

“Oh yes, a party. That would be lovely. We can welcome them properly, and any reason to get dressed up.” She looked down at Quinn. “Your brother in a suit is life changing.”

“She ain’t lying, though. I do look damn good in a suit.” Quinn tipped Verity’s head closer to him and kissed her. “She likes what I do with my tie after the party best, though. Isn’t that right, V?”

Alyx shuddered. “Oh, we are talking about sex games now? Should I mention that Abaxley does this crazy thing with sex where the orgasm doubles over?” She cocked her head.

“Well, the prick did hold out for long enough,” Quinn said, not taking the bait.

“I figure a prince is almost good enough for her. Scur, though...Scur I still plan on killing.”

Verity giggled and shook her head. “You kill her guard and I will let her maim you, my love,” she teased. “So, a party. When?”

“A few days, I suppose. I mean we need to get everything together, right? And let the houses know.”

“Well yes, but it’s not like back in the day, none of that formal bullshit, invitations and crap. Hell, send out an Evite and it will be good enough,” Verity said.

“No way in all of the hells would you let anyone maim me. You like me too much,” Quinn said and started to tickle her sides. “And even you have to admit, Scur is less housebroken than Nassar.”

Khalid sucked in a breath through his teeth and looked at her. “Hate to say it, but he has a point there. I mean, I’ll maim him if he kills Scur, but pretty sure the coyote that followed us home is more housebroken than him.”

“I didn’t say he was housebroken,” Alyx said. “But he’s mine, and he’s lovely in bed. The things he can do with his tongue...”

“Coyote?” Verity said as Quinn stopped tickling her, attempting to change the subject.

“Oh yeah, apparently he was up north, near the portal. Ripped the throat outta a hob that was about to threaten me.”

“Oh yeah. Hobs set up explosions. Scur got beaned in the brainpan, won’t let me give him stitches,” Alyx said and grinned. “What, you thought this was going to be easy?”

Alyx shrugged. “Some I imagine, I mean they have to know enough to find the portal, but past that I don’t know.” She looked to Khalid. “What are the odds they got in to the nomarts?”

“Just like my sister to leave out the two best parts, hobs and Scur getting clobbered.” Quinn tsked her and shook his head. “Anyone keeping an eye out on the hob territory?”

“Hunt is taking care of it. Mak and some other men are up there. In fact,” Khalid said with a grin, “probably be a hob that needs some talking to by the time we get back.”

Alyx nodded. “In so much that they want to heal Faerie. They think much like you, and all of us really. That Faerie should be left to thrive its own way, not stifled. I think once this all plays out, we will have to have a meeting with them. They don’t have royalty, they have a chancellor and a high priestess.”

“I didn’t get any vibes off them that would cause me concern. Neither did Bax. I believe we will have an ally with them,” Khalid said.

“We can use all the allies we can get,” her brother agreed. “I’m interested to see where this hunt of yours takes you, as far as what you’ll find at the end of it. I expect postcards at the very least. Or if Verity can bear to live without me for a few days, I wouldn’t mind tagging along. I mean, power boosts never hurt anyone.”

“That’s it!” Khalid said, his sudden excitement making her jump. “That’s why you don’t like Scur. It has nothing to do with him being with your sister. You just don’t like that you can’t fuck with his powers.”

Quinn’s face became blank of any emotion. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Alyx grinned. Ooh, Khalid was getting something special for this one. Seeing Quinn pale out even further than usual was worth her getting on her knees and a shot in the mouth. “Ooh, well then...” She ran her hand up his thigh.

Verity chuckled behind her hand. “The only way you are going to go play is if you behave, or Alyx will stab you.”

“You don’t like it when I behave, V. Don’t you be acting all queenlike since we have company.” He nipped the side of her throat. “I remember the days when my sister didn’t want me to die and was so happy to see me. Ah, memories.”

“I’m always happy to see you, Quinn, and I don’t want you to die, but not playing nice with my guard will get a fork stuck in your thigh,” she said and smiled sweetly.

“Oh, I love when you misbehave,” Verity said, “but I mean if you are honored with going out on this quest with them.” She licked the tip of his nose.

“Yeah yeah yeah,” he said and rolled his eyes at her. “You keep threatening me with violence, but I don’t see you actually doing it. And you,” he looked at Verity and started tickling her again. “When it comes down to it, you’ll be by my side at the end of it all, not my sister’s. I’ll get you for this later.”

Khalid cleared his throat to cover a laugh. “So, this party? Exactly where are we having it? I’m sure Octavia and Pris will be more than happy to help plan it. Not that you actually need a lot of help considering you do it for a living when you’re not tomb raiding.”

“I think at home. It will be nice to have something lighthearted and fun, love and good feelings in the old homestead.”

“Have you decided on a name for the Sithen yet?” Verity asked as she nuzzled Quinn.

“It will come. So, party...a few days, yeah?” Verity ran her hand around Quinn’s side and Alyx looked to Khalid.

“Yeah. Okay, so we are going to go. Seeing you get all down and dirty with my brother is my version of hell so...” She stood. “We are outie. V, see you in a few days. Quinn, just for that comment I’m going to stab you and you won’t know it’s coming.” She smiled. “Love you.”

“I’ll still love you even when you stab me,” Quinn said with a grin. “Khalid, I’d say take care of my sister, but with her talent with cutlery, I figure she can take care of herself.”

“That she can,” her captain agreed. “Queen Verity, always a pleasure. Guess we’ll be seeing you in a few days.”

Verity nodded. “Tell Abaxley and Scur we said hi,” she said and turned her head to whisper to Quinn.

Alyx gripped Khalid’s hand as they walked back through the house. “Baby, you get serious points for figuring out Quinn’s issue with Scur. Serious on my knees just for you points,” she whispered as they made it through to the doors toward the portals.

“As long as I’m behind you while you’re on your knees, I’ll be collecting sooner rather than later,” he told her, looking down at her with a heated look. “Might need to have a captain/princess only meeting very soon.”

“Oh, I agree.” She licked her lips. “Let’s make this trip to Gogo quick then, unless we can just make it a phone call.” She turned as they walked and palmed him.

“Sometimes a phone call is safer than being around Nihar,” he said, his voice serious. But his eyes, he couldn’t hide what he was thinking. Without warning, he scooped her up and carried her through the portal.

The Sithen was alive with commotion as they walked through the portal. Puziel, Pristina, Azrael, and Octavia were helping direct people to and fro, ensuring there weren’t snarls as their new house members walked in.

She spied Abaxley and Scur off to the side and walked up, Khalid right with her, his arm around her waist as they moved.

Alyx nodded and leaned in, kissing him softly. “Yes. We have much to do, and a party to plan.” She looked to Scur. “And Khalid figured something awesome out, too.”

Unlike when he usually saw her when he’d pull her into his arms, Scur crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a questioning look. “Did he finally figure out where the pointy end goes? And what’s this about a party? Who’s having a party?”

“We are,” she said, amusement in her eyes. Apparently, he was going to hold to his pout. “In a few days to welcome to faeblins. As to Khalid, he figured out why my brother dislikes you.”

“I always figured it was either because he could never best me in a fight or I’m just plain prettier than him,” Scur said with a grin.

“Well, the first one has something to do with it,” Khalid agreed. “Bet if you think about it for a minute, you’ll figure it out.”

Scur stared at Khalid, and Alyx could practically see the wheels in his head turning. Then he started laughing, bent over at the waist, uncontrollable laughter.

“Alyx’s brother, Quinn, his Hand of Power is the ability to borrow or siphon other beings’ powers, or to enhance other’s powers. Well, Scur’s powers are different since he doesn’t technically have any. His are hereditary. Quinn can’t touch them,” Khalid told him.

Abaxley arched a brow. “The Hand of Taking? Rare hand. Alyx, what’s yours?”

“It’s pretty common in the Mayhem line for the females not to have a hand,” Scur said as he finally regained his composure. “They don’t need them since they are way more badass than the males in their family.”

“Born into, yes. My mother, by all accounts, was a joy and not a badass,” she said. “But this asshole is right. While Quinn has a rare hand in a family that has specific power sets, it’s even rarer for a female to have one.”

She shrugged. “I’m sure the kids will have them, but I don’t think I will.”

Khalid squeezed the hand he was still holding. “If you don’t, then it won’t be a detriment. If you do, then it’s just an extra boost to an already powerful woman.”

Alyx smiled. “Find him a bedroom on the second floor. That’s where all my guard have theirs.”

“Just Alyx. Only ones that get to call me princess are houses, queens, and my guard. And you fall into none of those categories.”

Laughing, Faust nodded. “Of course, Alyx. Prince, I have a few things that need your attention as well.”

“We do have a meeting scheduled,” Khalid said, his expression giving nothing away.

“Well that sounds boring,” Scur said. “I’m going to head over to the village, make sure those that decided to stay are finding their way.”

“Decided to?” She looked to him and then Abaxley. “Did we not get everyone?”

“Some decided they prefer to stay at the Sithen,” Scur explained. “They would like to become a part of the household staff.” He looked at Abaxley. “We figured you wouldn’t mind.”

Scur inclined his head to her, but winked as he walked backwards a few steps before turning around and disappearing around the corner.

“You ready for our meeting, Princess? I’m thinking a soak would be a good way to start it out,” Khalid said, already leading her toward the back of the Sithen.

They headed outside and his steps picked up, almost having them both running toward the tree line. “If they see us, they’ll know we’re up to something,” he told her with a smile. It didn’t take long for the tall, circular stone structure to come into view, and not much longer after that Khalid was opening the door and ushering her inside, before locking it tight. The steam was rising off the water of the hot spring, and the enclosure itself was hot and welcoming.

“We should have headed straight here after being in the arctic,” he said, pulling her against him and kissing her. “How about you strip down and get in.”

“Don’t gotta tell me twice,” she said, literally pulling her clothes off as she shucked her shoes and socks. She was naked in moments and stretching with a sigh. “Oh, the air in here is so lush.”

Khalid leaned back against the wall, his eyes slowly taking her in. “Not the only thing in here that’s lush. If I’m honest, sometimes I still can’t believe I’m here, with you. But moments like this, when I get to look at you, and I know you’re enjoying my eyes on you...” His smile was slow. “Makes every damn minute of my life worth it.”

She sauntered to him, her hip sway exaggerated, and shook out her hair. “I like that you like to watch me. I like that you think I’m beautiful, Khalid.” She ran her hand down his arm.

“Any being with a pulse who doesn’t look at you and know you’re beautiful is either blind or an idiot.” One hand moved behind her, fingers trailing down her spine, the other fisted her hair, rolling the long strands around his hand. He gave a tug until her head tipped back. “You make me feel like a very possessive man, Alyx. As in I want to possess you.”

“I would never stop you. I’m yours just like you are mine, and I need the attention.” She gasped and closed her eyes, letting a breath out of her mouth when he tugged a little harder. Gods, the man was so fucking perfectly dominant when he wanted to be.

She felt his teeth along her bottom lip and the hand on her back slid down until he was squeezing her ass. “Get in the water, Alyx,” he growled and released her hair.

“Yes, sir,” she said in a whisper and spun out of his grasp, and then stepped down into the perfect water. “Are you going to join me, Cappy?”

He started to undress, kicking his shoes off before pulling his shirt over his head. Walking closer in only his jeans, the heat rising from the water already caused a fine sheen of sweat over his chest. Hands going to the buttons of his pants, he stared at her and shook his head. “Not yet. First, I want to know how badly you want me in there naked with you. But don’t tell me. Show me.”

Oh, how badly? She gifted him a small smirk, and then went under, coming up she smoothed her hair back and then moved to the small slate seat that was just under the water to her right. She hopped up, leaning back on the smooth rock there and lifted her right leg, placing her foot on the seat and slowly opening her legs.

One hand touching her throat and upper chest, the other’s fingertips dancing across her taught belly, circling her belly button, and then lower, stroking the top of her thigh, and then lower still, ghosting between her folds.

She closed her eyes, licking her lips as she pet herself, the hand on her chest stroking small trails across the upper mound of her breast, as she lost herself to the sensation. The water was just over the rocky seat and as it bubbled it caused the surface to caress her, lap at her as she worked her fingers around her clit and then lower to slide inside herself.

“Khalid...” she moaned and then gasped as she circled and pinched her clit, her upper hand tugging on the ring of her left breast. “I need...”

She never heard him finish undressing, but he was there what felt like a second later. Hovering over her, his mouth found hers, and he kissed her. A kiss that was both punishing and tender. His hand covered her own, but instead of pushing it aside, he guided her fingers faster around her clit. “I could watch you pleasure yourself for hours, Alyx,” he growled against her lips.

“You make me want to...” She moaned and licked his tongue with her own. “You make me bold...because I know you like it.” Gods, she was already so close, and she felt magic spark inside her, as if it was there, shorting out just this side of becoming.

He nipped her lips before pushing away from her, but instead of leaving her there to finish on her own, he lifted her up, sitting down in the place she’d vacated and pulling her down to straddle his lap. “You have no idea just how much I like it.” Sliding his hands up her sides, then down her arms, he wrapped his fingers around her wrists then raised her hands to her breasts. “I want you to continue to touch yourself as you ride me.”

“Like that’s a hardship.” Both hands cupped her breasts and feathered her fingertips across the underside, the action sending little shocks through her skin. She felt him beneath her, hard, pulsing, and rolled her hips, hungry for the perfect fullness that overtook her when he entered her. The man was like a key to her lock.

Hands moving back to her hips, he lifted her, shifting underneath her until she felt him pressing against her entrance. Then slowly, oh so slowly, he moved her down over him. His lips parted and he let out a slow breath.

“At your leisure, Princess,” he said with a curve of his lips. His eyes drifted down to her breasts, where she continued to touch herself, and his nostrils flared.

There were few things she liked to do more than ride her captain. The way he curved, ever so slightly, he always hit the G-spot on the downstroke. Khalid could send her to the stratosphere in moments, and if she had the reins, was allowed to set the pace? Rolling her hips, she rose slightly, settling on the downstroke, keeping the penetration shallow for the feeling to build. As it was, he almost knocked her cervix, and when he did, the pain was between that bliss and the lip-biting gasp that always made her go further into need.

Magic curled around them from the inside and she felt small tingles between them, like tiny pulses. Gods, the man was magic, carnal and elemental. She was lucky to have him as her captain, and beyond blessed to have him in her bed.

Tugging on the rings in her nipples, she felt the orgasm build between them, and sobbed, picking up her pace.

“Gods, you’re exquisite,” he breathed, flicking his gaze up to meet hers. “So fucking perfect it’s almost unreal.” His hands squeezed her hips, but he didn’t move her faster. She knew how much he liked for her to find her own pleasure with his body. If she wanted a lover who would take all the control from her, she had Scur, but with Khalid, he wanted her to use him, however and wherever she wanted. Though her captain could only give up so much control. One of his hands left her hip, and once again, he wrapped her hair around his fist and pulled her to him. “So...fucking...perfect,” he growled before taking her mouth in a deep, seductive, head spinning kiss.

She shattered, his actions taking her over the edge, tumbling them both. Her body bloomed, ran with tingles and rolled with pleasure right behind it. She clutched him to her as she sped up, chasing the next orgasm, the one that was in the pipe, ready to devastate her.

“Hurry... So close...” And she knew he would follow her this time because it was going to have a stranglehold on them both.

“Now, Alyx,” he said and this time his hand didn’t just squeeze, but rocked her faster against him as he grinded himself up. “Fuck!” he yelled, the sound echoing off the walls as she felt his entire body go rigid under her.

Magic crept into the spaces between the orgasm and her soul, and she wasn’t sure if it was his bonding them together harder, or if it was something more, but she closed her eyes to the feel of the orgasm, of the magic rooting, of his seed searing her. Gods. Epic. So fucking epic.

She gasped and panted, kissing his shoulder as she felt her hips slow of their own accord, the skin between her thighs sensitive, thrumming with her release, and his. “Fuck... Fuck, I love you...”

“Never will grow tired of hearing you say that.” His arms went around her, cradling her to his chest. “I love you, too. So you’re aware, you’re not moving for a good long while. I like you right where you are.”

“Get us further in the water,” she said on a giggle. “My very favorite place to be is in your arms, Khalid. I know I’m safe, and I can let myself be safe with you.” She kissed his shoulder.

She didn’t need to see his face to know he was smiling, she could feel it. He stood, moving his hands to her legs to wrap them around him, then waded into the center of the spring. “You’ll always be safe with me.”

They were quiet for moments, letting the water lull them, Alyx still felt the after effects of the magic that curled inside her. She ran her fingertips across his upper arm as she swallowed, and focused on the power there.

“Did you feel the magic? It’s there...but...I don’t know if it’s the bond, or...” She swallowed again. “It feels like it’s shorting out when I try to focus on it.”

“Maybe you should try not focusing on it.” He tipped his head back to look at her. “And Alyx, I always feel magic when we’re together, and I’m not saying that as a cheesy pickup line. There is something there, something that is more, if that makes any sense.”

She nodded. “We complement each other, on a cellular level.” And they did. It went way past being her captain. If the world was different, this man could have been hers and she his alone and it would have been perfect. She wasn’t sure she believed in soul mates but...

“Exactly. But as far as you feeling like the magic is shorting out. Love,” he said, brushing her hair back, “you’re not complete yet. With Bax joining you, a part of you grew strong, closer to whole, but not completely whole. I think you need your full guard to really feel it. I can’t say with all of us you’ll receive a power, but you’ll have something better than even that.”

“You’ll have us,” he said with his own smile. “A guard to make sure you are happy, loved, and have a life full of adventure for the rest of your life.”

“Doesn’t sound too bad at all,” she said and kissed him sweetly. “Think we can lengthen this meeting just a tiny bit longer? Because you are so perfectly comfy right now.”

“As long as you like. Door’s locked and the only two with a key are already right here.” He kissed her again and sank deeper into the water. “I think everyone can handle themselves for a couple hours...”

Octavia looked up from her tablet. “Everything is good to go. Caterer is set, full three-course dinner for two hundred, desserts are set, including that lovely Earl Grey cheesecake from Renny’s, Ryker already called and said all the booze will be here before three on the day of, and Azrael is handling the space and decor. We got this, Al, it’s going to be amazing, and a wonderful way to welcome the faeblins to the Court.”

Pristina nodded. “And Amalda will be here presently for your fitting for the dress. I still don’t know why you decided on formal.”

Alyx grinned. “Because it’s total lady porn. Seeing the guys dressed in suits...dear god.”

“Let’s just hope Scur doesn’t rip the arms off the jackets, and makes sure to keep his fly zippered,” Octavia said.

“So, how did that work out? You leave with two guards, come home with three, and over a hundred faeblins?” Pristina asked.

Alyx shook her head. Had Pristina been called to her, she would be in her guard now. They liked each other, hell, they were lovers on and off for a while, and since becoming princess the other woman had spent a decent amount of nights in Alyx’s bed because they had a connection, but ultimately, that connection wasn’t to be guard to her princess. When she had asked Pris to join her ladies, the huntswoman accepted, if for no other reason than to stay close to her. Though they had stopped the screwing, Alyx was not one to ever claim that would keep.

Seeing sex differently than the others, she felt more like the wild, free spirit of the royalty. She was uninhibited, and she knew it came from the fact that royalty was new to her, and pleasure...well, pleasure wasn’t something one limited for oneself.

“Honestly? I think Bax just came to his senses. I mean this entire thing...I need him. I need all my guard, but it’s been months. I know most princesses aren’t as lucky as V to having them know, and it’s trial and error, but...” She sighed. “Having the three of them, it’s making it easier.”

“The ache. It’s easing that bone-deep ache that’s been in my body since Verity named me princess. Like literally the second I accepted, something inside me clicked and a deep thrumming started in my bones. And it has nothing to do with sex. I think it has to do with connection in a different way.”

“Still nothing, but I felt something different with Abaxley, and yesterday with Khalid...something rippled in me.”

“I just bet.” Octavia handed her the tablet. “Colors, right? I know it’s teal but this is your house, we need to make sure it’s the right teal.”

Alyx looked down to the screen and nodded. “Perfect. You were always better with color than me.”

Octavia nodded. “You have a head for design, I have the head for the details. It’s why we do so well as a team.” She grinned. “Oh, the moth room is finished, Azrael told me a little while ago. It’s...well, it’s a world unto itself.”

At the mention of her moths, she felt Willy stir on her collarbone, and then felt the weird sensation of him becoming real. He crawled out from her shirt and she looked down to him. “Hello, sweetness. Did you hear that?” Willy moved his wings softly, his large oil-slick compound eyes staring at her, his furry black legs walking to the ball of her shoulder, the feeling light as snow on skin.

Where Verity and Nymea were so in tune with their sigils, she still had a long journey with hers to get to that point. Willy, though, he was young, she could feel it, and he was learning, too. But the queen moth, she connected with Alyx quickly, and the intrusion in her mind was powerful, and gave her one hell of a headache. Argie had told her it was the sigil trying to bond, but she felt like it was possible she wasn’t meant to bond with the queen, that Willy was all there was in that regard for her.

“You going to check it out?” Pristina asked. “Scur was grumbling about how it was giving him the goddamn heebie jeebies. Which of course made Puziel laugh his ass off.”

“Soon,” she said to her lady. “Seeing the queen is a bit daunting. She wants to talk but it just gives me a major headache.”

“Maybe that will change when you get your full guard?” Octavia said. “Oh, and Puziel said that he packed that weird telescope/spyglass you got in Cambodia. It’s safe and ready for transport when you need it.”

“You think it has anything to do with this insane fucking quest?” Pristina asked.

“It has to, in some way or another,” she said to Pristina. She had all but forgotten about the spyglass, but then again, she’d been inundated with more things than she normally took on. “So, everyone’s coming, right? All the houses?”

Octavia nodded. “Everyone. All guards, princesses, kings, and fools.” She grinned. “As to the faeblins, some have chosen not to come, which is cool.”

Alyx nodded. “I don’t want anyone to feel like they have to participate in this house.”

Gods, she hoped so. She wanted to make her parents proud, wanted to usher in a new house that was not stifled by convention. Her house would be love incarnate, and she would defend that with everything she had.

He nodded. “Ladies, I wondered if I could borrow our lovely princess for a moment.”

“Take her for as long as you want,” Pris said. “We are just finishing up party shit and then I have a wax I have to get to.”

Abaxley frowned. “Graphic, and more than I ever wanted to know about you, Pristina.”

“Tough.” Pristina leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “It’s going to be awesome, so calm down, go ride this stud ‘til you pass out.”

Laughing, Alyx shook her head and took the hand that Abaxley offered her, allowing herself to be led from the room.

“That’s nothing,” she said. “I don’t believe in sugar-coating anything either.”

“Well yeah, I mean I kinda love that about you. You never hid your attraction to me, never once played coy. It’s refreshing. I just... Pris...”

He grinned. “Well I was hoping to snag you for a small bite of lunch, maybe some relaxing well away from everyone else so we could connect some more.”

She grinned. Her prince was too fucking cute, and too fucking proper to say what he meant. She figured she would do it for him. “You wanna eat, and then fuck ‘til we pass out.”

“You cool with going from having a stronghold you could call your own to a bedroom?”

He laughed. “That place was never mine, and only held memories and pain. Here? I like that I’m this close to you, though I don’t plan on sleeping there much.”

They entered his room and looked around the space. Done in navy, silver, and maroon, the decor was modern, but also with a cozy feel to it. His bed was swathed in blue cotton sheets and piled with pillows. Grinning, she turned to him and reached down, pulling her shirt over her head, then wiggled out of her jeans to stand in front of him in her black lace bra and thong that left nothing to the imagination.

“He’s not here right now...” She reached up and unzipped his slacks. “But I am about to give you one hell of a religious experience.”

Alyx fluffed her breasts in the ball gown she had been zipped into and then moved the folds of the skirt, attempting to right the heavy satin and organza pleats. Lord, the slit went almost to the waist, and Scur had said, upon seeing the dress in the bag, she wasn’t wearing underwear, and curiously moments later all her underwear had gone missing. The top of the shimmery teal dress was strapless, with a beautiful fold of material over the bust, gathered to the top of her left breast, the material shot through with an orchid that showed off as she hit the light. It was minimal and understated, and screamed princess of the Arcane Court, which was its intent.

She flexed her foot in the four-inch glittery heels she wore, thanking the gods that she could walk in them for hours at a time or she would be hurting. Looking over to the coyote that was lying on the chaise at the foot of her bed, she grinned. “And you, darling, no biting people or sniffing crotches, okay? If Scur can’t, neither can you.”

“Princess,” Azrael said as he walked in with smile. “The party is underway. Everyone has arrived.” He looked her over. “You look beautiful.”

The manifestation of her Sithen was tall, blue-black shaggy hair cut in a choppy style, dressed as a butler, with pale skin, perfectly coifed eyebrows, and sinful lips. Most of the Sithen visuals worked with their courts, Grodin being an older gentleman, Thanatos a non-descript entity, Alabaster a smoking hot chick that didn’t wear shirts or bras. Azrael looked too much like a certain demon butler from an anime she commented on once. Not that she minded. Certain demon butler was yum, and seeing him in the flesh in her house? Well that was just ducky. “Thank you, Az. Where are my men?”

“Waiting on you to come out and show them what you look like. Lord Nordscov is almost vibrating where he’s standing,” he said, his voice cultured, smooth, with a hint of sexy to it.

“Sure he doesn’t have something vibrating in his ass?” She wouldn’t put it past him.

Azrael gave her a sardonic smile. “Lord Nordscov and I don’t have that kinda relationship, thank the dark gods.”

“Please don’t. Ever. There are things in this world that should forever remain a mystery.”

“You don’t think they should?” he countered. “Now, here...” he said and a box appeared in his hand. “You need to wear this.”

The box opened and she saw a small black tiara, with little chips of milky blue stones, and a cerulean blue larger stone in the center. “It’s beautiful,” she said as he approached her with it.

“I hope you don’t mind I took the liberty of creating a crown for you, seeing as the Court is so new. Well, it’s more a tiara. We will need some Faerie silver for a true crown.”

He shook his head. “No, that honor should belong to your captain, or your prince, or the lunatic vibrating out there.”

“At once,” he said and turned, waving his hand as the doors to her room opened, and the guys filed in.

They stopped just inside the doorway, Khalid standing in the middle. His eyes roamed over her before landing on her face, a smile curving at his lips. “You look absolutely stunning, Princess,” he said with a slight bow. “Way too good to be on the arm of any of us.”

“Truth,” Scur said, but his eyes hadn’t made it to her face yet. His head was cocked to the side, gaze on the slit in her skirt. His smile wasn’t one of warmth, but pure animal lust. When he finally looked up, his smile grew. “Hope you didn’t have any issues getting dressed, minx.”

“I had nothing to do with that,” Abaxley said. “But you are stunning, Alyx.” He grinned from the left of Khalid.

“Lords, someone needs to place the crown on the princess’s head,” Azrael said. “Who is it going to be?”

Scur looked around Khalid to Abaxley. “Ninety-nine percent of the time she’s talking about me when she says asshole.”

“He ain’t lying,” Khalid said. “And Alyx, I believe the choice in that is yours. Any of us would be honored to do it.”

“You should let your new pet do it,” Scur said, looking at the coyote as he hopped down from his perch. “Surprised you didn’t put a tie on the scoundrel.”

“You plan on keeping him as a pet, don’t you?” Khalid said with a laugh. “You should at least give it a name.”

“Of course, I’m talking about you, asshole,” she said to Scur. “You tell me I can’t wear underwear and then they go missing.”

“I had nothing to do with it,” Azrael said, repeating Abaxley’s earlier words.

“Exactly. It must have been you.” She walked toward them, the dress swaying as she did, cool air hitting her heated skin just peaking when she walked.

“As to our friend here...I’m not going to do him the indignity of calling him a pet. He seems to like it here so I’m going to let him be.”

The coyote stepped up next to her, looked up, and then continued to walk out the door.

“Totally a pet,” Scur said, smile still in place. “And you’re damn right I took them. I’m not trying to hide it. Though I do plan on making sure you aren’t wearing them when you least expect it.”

“Princess,” Khalid said and cleared his throat, obviously trying to hide his laugh. “We should get going, but you need to be wearing your crown.”

Scur shook his head. “While that’s normally how we decide things, this honor should fall on the captain.”

“It would be my pleasure,” Khalid said, taking the crown. He stepped up to her, lifting the crown to place it on her head. Just as he’d settled it over her hair, he leaned in. “No more saying you are anything other than Alyx Mayhem, Princess of the Arcane Court. Because you are truly a princess.” He kissed her and stepped back, offering her his arm. “If you’re ready.”

She took a deep breath and took his arm. “I’m ready. And Scur...” she turned to look at him. “I want my underwear back.”

“Tell you what,” her berserker said, “I’ll let you have them back if you can find them.”

Rolling her eyes, she looked to Azrael. “Please have some new underwear delivered for me.”

Eliora stepped into the large ballroom of the Arcane Sithen and felt like she might have underdressed for the occasion. The room was full of beings dressed to the nines in tuxedos and formal gowns, though she didn’t particularly care if she wasn’t following the dress code. Instead of a long flowing dress, she’d chosen a form-fitting red one that stopped mid-thigh and dipped down to the curve of her ass in the back. It had long sleeves and completely covered her front, so she figured it was as appropriate as she was going to get for the occasion. Hell, Nymea’s dress was tighter than hers, but the statuesque princess could wear a burlap sack and still look like sex on a stick.

“I still can’t figure out why you wanted to tag along to a ball,” Bechar said from next to her.

“Because a girl likes to get dressed up and dance every once in a while,” she told her brother. “I’ve been topside for months and I’m no closer to finding a reason to stay. Thought I’d get in one more night of fun before tucking my tail between my legs and going home.”

“I always knew you had a tail,” he said with a laugh and she jabbed her arm into his stomach. His grunt made her smile.

“Do try not to injure my guard, Eli,” Nymea said as she stepped up next to them with Ryker at her side. “I happen to like this one.”

Eli happened to like him, too. Bechar was the closest thing she had to a best friend, or any friend really. When he’d left Hell to go back home, her life had gotten seriously boring. One could only torture humans for so long before they wanted more out of life. “So, tell me about this party. Or do you royals just like to throw extravagant balls for no reason?” she asked.

“Alyx wanted to throw a party to welcome the faeblins to her court,” Mea said. “I commend her for taking on an entire species.”

“It would be more of a task if she wasn’t boning their prince,” Ryker said. “That makes this a hell of a lot easier I would think.”

“You’ll like Alyx,” Bechar said. “She’s more warrior than princess.”

People were moving around them, seeming to all know each other. Eli tried to pick out any faces in the crowd she recognized, but truth was after you’d seen as many faces as she had in her life, everyone started to look the same. Except for the three who were approaching them.

Aziz, Genevieve, and Kaelyn stopped in front of them and Mea instantly wrapped the prince in a hug. “Good to see you, cousin. I hope you’re still treating your wives well. I really would hate for one of them to kill you in your sleep,” Mea said.

“Oh, I’d kill him when he was awake,” Gen said, leaning into Aziz when Mea let go.

“You brought Eli!” Kaelyn said and pulled her into a hug. “I was hoping you hadn’t left yet.”

“One final day in Faerie, then I’m heading back to a life of torture and madness,” she said with a grin, even though it was the last thing she wanted to do. Freedom had more perks than she’d ever imagined. Especially since her father had let her be. Seemed he finally decided to let her have a life, or at least the illusion of one.

“My girls get everything they want,” Aziz said and wrapped his arm around Gen. “Now the question is where is Tripp, what is he wearing, and is he going to behave tonight?”

Ryker scoffed. “He relented on the trash panda, but his cummerbund has little bunnies on it.” He shook his head. “As to behaving? We can only hope. If Scur and Quinn get into it you know who is going to throw himself in the mix just to make things worse.”

“He needs a hobby,” Aziz said. “One that doesn’t include jumping out of shadows to scare people.” He grinned at Nymea. “Sorry about the black eye by the way.”

“I told him not to try it when he dropped by but he doesn’t listen,” Ryker offered.

“And he has bruised ribs to match it now,” Riven said, coming up behind Mea to wrap his arms around her waist.

“You can see why I like visiting Blood Court,” Eli said. “Always entertaining.”

Her eyes moved around the room again when everyone stopped talking, the crowd parting to show a female and three men walk in.

“That’s Princess Alyx and her guard, Khalid, Scur, and Abaxley,” Bechar leaned in to whisper.

“Sweet baby Jesus,” Eli said, her voice just as soft. “You didn’t tell me the woman was stunning.”

Alyx shot him the finger and then leaned in to the tall man on her right and said something.

“Well I would say princesshood has settled well on those hips,” Aziz said. “Anyone see Quinn? That dress is just this side of scandalous, he might have an aneurysm.”

“Could we try not to start a fae war tonight,” Mea said. “I’m sure Alyx would prefer not to have to kill her brother tonight and get blood all over her dress.”

She said her goodbyes to the group and Bechar led her over to where Alyx and her men were talking to a very perky, pregnant woman and two other men. One who looked like he’d rather be anywhere but where he was.

“That’s Princess Candiria and her guards Barden and Niko,” Bechar whispered to her, but she barely registered what he was saying.

The closer they got to where Alyx was standing, the hotter her blood became. She could feel the temperature of her body rising, the need start pulling low in her belly and then even lower. Never in her life had she had such an immediate reaction to anyone. Never in her life had she wanted to strip anyone naked and feast until the craving subsided. For the sake of all that was unholy, she almost felt like she was losing her mind.

“Alyx,” she heard Bechar say, “I want to introduce you to my sister, Eliora. Eli, this is Princess Alyx Mayhem.”

Alyx turned with a smile. “I didn’t know you had a—” The princess’s words died as their eyes met. She watched the woman swallow, color rising in her cheeks a little. Their eyes held for long moments. She watched as they dilated, and her small tongue licked her bottom lip. “Hi, Eli,” she finally said, voice breathy.

“Had a sister?” Bechar said, oblivious to whatever the hell it was that was happening. “Not by blood, but by life.”

“It’s a pleasure,” she told the woman, releasing Bech’s hand to step closer to Alyx. It was like a damn magnet pulling her. “How is it we haven’t met before?”

“Search me, where you been hiding?” she smirked and looked Eli over. “Where you been hiding her, Bech?”

“What’s going on,” the pregnant woman said, she couldn’t remember what Bechar said her name was, “is that my captain and my baby daddy are going to take me over to the bar to get me some ginger ale ‘cause, hot damn, the energy in this room would have knocked me up if I wasn’t already.”

“I went from one hell to another,” Eli said, ignoring everyone but the vision in front of her. “Long story. Don’t much feel like talking about it right now. Think the bruisers behind you would mind if I steal you for a bit?” She needed to get Alyx somewhere other than the middle of the ballroom or she might just end up on her knees with Alyx’s dress over her head with everyone watching.

Holy shit, it was like her skin was on fire and the only thought in her head was take, take, take. Now, now, now.

“Uh, Eli?” she heard Bech say and was confused by his tone but then she realized she’d taken another step closer to Alyx, their bodies a breath away from touch. The need grew.

“They don’t get a say.” Alyx cocked her head and took Eli’s hand with a gasp, pulling her through the closest door into the dark hallway.

Quiet, illuminated by low sconces, the hallway stretched beyond them both, creating an infinite feeling and she turned to her. “So?”

“So...” Gods but Eli should be totally freaked out right now. There was no reason she could think of that her hormones and her brain were playing havoc on her. Yes, Alyx was beautiful, sexy, very bitable, but she didn’t know her. She usually at least got to know more than someone’s name and title before she wanted to fuck them into oblivion. But right then all she wanted, no needed, it was definitely a need to feel this woman’s body against her, the taste of her lips...

“So,” she repeated, crowding into Alyx’s space and walking the princess backward until her back pressed against the wall, her body pressing flush against hers. “I have an insanely powerful need to kiss you.”

Alyx grinned. “Ping,” she said and leaned in, pressing her lips to Eli, her arm wrapping around her waist.

The inferno she’d been feeling was nothing compared to what happened when their lips met. Being the daughter of Satan and growing up in Hell, Eli knew a thing or two about fire. This feeling was on an entirely different level.

Grabbing both of Alyx’s hands, she stretched her arms over their heads and against the wall, body pressing even tighter against hers, and deepened the kiss. Their tongues met in a sensual battle. While her entire essence told her to take, Eli planned on taking it in slow, seductive sips.

Alyx’s body rolled with sensation, need, and heat. Eliora was hers, she could feel it, deep inside her soul. Her core pulsed, her head swam and she needed this woman sweaty and tangled in sheets, or the very least tangled with her on a bathroom floor. It didn’t matter, so long as they connected, and soon.

The kiss was a sensual tease, the press of her body against Eli’s a sweet torture she wanted more of, sans clothes. Her nipples puckered, her clit throbbed, and she moaned into Eli’s mouth.

The woman was fucking stunning, sex and lust rolled off her in waves. Alyx wanted.

The ping of knowing thrummed inside her. She moaned again, loving the quiet restraint she was under. But fuck it needed to progress and she knew this, but couldn’t stop the roll and tug of the kiss.

“Door behind you,” she heard someone whisper and immediately recognized Scur’s voice. Eli moved instantly, releasing the hold on her hands, letting them drop, but keeping one tucked in hers. She pulled her to the door Scur was indicating and her guard grinned at her. “I’ll keep watch, you have fun,” he said, grin growing even bigger.

“Asshole,” she said as they ducked into the room. The second the door closed she pulled Eli to her again and grinned. “He’s going to go on this for days,” she murmured and nipped Eli’s lip.

“Normally I would say he could join in, but I need you all to myself.” Eli’s lips moved over her jaw then down her neck, nipping and licking. “I don’t know what this is, but I need more of it.” Eli’s hand slid down over her hip. “Did I tell you, I love this dress?” Her hand found the slit and slipped under the material. “Really love this dress.” The heat from her palm caressed her thigh.

“You and the rest of my guards,” she moaned. “Move your hand just a scant inch to the right and you will see why.”

The ping in her head was turning into a drone, an endless tone that vibrated her psyche. The woman was hers, she knew it, knew without a doubt. She didn’t have a problem with a female guard, and the idea of Scur joining them sent a funny little thrill through her. “As to what this is...it’s guardship. You answered my call. Fuck yes, I’m a lucky woman.”

“Is that what this is?” Eli said, her voice soft as her breaths came out faster and faster as her hand moved closer to discovering she wasn’t wearing anything under her dress. “Princess...” Fingers making their discovery, Eli stroked them along her pussy. “It seems you forgot something when you got dressed. And here I thought it was already my lucky night.”

“I didn’t forget anything, that asshole outside hid all my underwear.” She breathed into Eli’s mouth and kissed her. “So, what do you plan on doing about it?”

“Thank him later.” Eli kissed her softly, sliding her tongue along the seam of her lips. Pulling back, she smiled at Alyx then moved to her knees. “First I’m going to do what I’ve wanted to do since I saw you across the room.” Separating the material of her dress, Eli forced her legs wider then leaned in and flicked her tongue against her folds. She let out a moan and did it again.

“Holy shit...” She breathed as she felt something inside her slither to the forefront. “Eli... Jesus...” Closing her eyes, she focused on the woman on her knees before her, on the sparks and essence that was rolling into her aura. Something was happening, something lovely, languid, and new.

The world spun as she cried out, leaning her back against the wall. A closet. They were in a closet and Eli was on her knees in front of her making color bloom behind her eyes with a sweet swipe of her tongue.

She felt the woman’s hand sliding up her thighs until her thumbs were spreading her open for more of her mouth. Eli moaned as she sucked on her clit before sliding two fingers deep inside her.

“I...” she moaned as the orgasm twisted in her insides, as her sheath pulsed. “Eli!” she called out, the orgasm bouncing through her, turning her legs into jello. Then she felt it. Magic. Magic feathered through her body, a light caress that stuck, pulling like taffy on her aura. She cried out again, her hands going to Eli’s head, her fingers twining in the women’s honey-colored tresses. She was working magic with her mouth but more so, she was sliding inside Alyx so seamlessly. It didn’t punch in like Scur, or root like with Khalid. It was close to what she felt with Abaxley, but this was deeper, thicker, richer.

She panted as her legs threatened to give out, her body on a rollercoaster of need. They weren’t finished, not by half. She needed to be rolling and sweaty with Eli, their bodies touching.

“You taste like dark cherries,” Eli said as she gave one final lingering lick then stood. Her mouth was on hers a second later. This time it was all heat and passion. Bodies flush, tongues tangling. Eli wrapped her arms around her neck and rocked her hips. “I think they should burn your underwear so I know I can get to you at any time and do that again.”

“I just might. Holy shit...” she murmured. “But I need you naked, like now. We need to finish this.” She looked around. “And we are in a goddamn closet.”

“I think we can find a way to manage in a closet.” Eli kissed her again then stepped back, peeling out of her dress. It didn’t take long until she was standing there in nothing but a pair of red lace panties and stiletto heels. “I felt what happened when I made you come,” she said. “It felt like something cosmic connected between us. Tell me I wasn’t the only one that felt it and I’m not losing my mind in a lust-filled haze.”

Alyx grinned. She felt it. Good. “You are mine, Eli,” she said and pulled her close. “Unzip me, I can’t reach.”

Leaning in, Eliora nipped and licked at her neck and ear, her hands running down her sides. Gods, sparks followed where she touched, the magic coalescing in her fingertips. As her fingers found the edge of Eli’s underwear, she slid then under, rolling them down her hips. “Fuck, you are so beautiful...” She leaned down and felt the crown on her head tilt. She reached up, pulled it off and dropped it, her mouth going to Eli’s collarbone.

The sound of her zipper being pulled down echoed in the small room. “I’ve never belonged to anyone before,” Eli said and slid the strap on the dress down her shoulder before tugging it off. “But I’ve felt this restless need inside me for months.” Fingers trailed down her spine. “I don’t feel it anymore. I think I found what I’ve been looking for.”

“You’re mine, part of my soul, Eli, but I’m not a one-woman girl...” She grinned. “You okay with sharing?” Gods, she better be. Losing this bright spot in the darkness? No, it couldn’t happen.

“I’ve never been much of a traditionalist,” Eli said, her tongue streaking up her neck before she pulled her earlobe between her teeth. “As long as I get to have you, I really don’t care.”

She wiggled slightly and let the dress pool at her feet. “Then you need to have me, cement this so we can go and celebrate.”

Her right hand slid across Eli’s hip and then crossed to the junction of her thighs, cupping her. “I want to feel that magic click completely.” She kissed her as she slid her hand between her thighs. Heat, slick with honey and need, met her and she petted Eli, her other hand reaching up to pinch her nipple.

“I believe I just had you, Alyx.” Eli spread her legs wider. One of her hands cupped the back of Alyx’s head while her other found her breast and tugged at the piercing. “A princess all pierced. I didn’t think you could get any sexier.”

“What you did was fucking amazing but what we can do...” She grinned and then kissed, rubbing her body against her. They sank to the floor kissing, Alyx’s fingers sliding inside her, both on their knees. They settled further, kissing, their hands touching, pinching, tugging. They maneuvered ‘til they were sitting, legs entwined, her favorite position to be in with a woman. Tongues tangling, her hand between them working her new guard, the magic started to build once more.

“Come for me, baby. I want to feel you shudder for me.” Gods, she wanted hours with this woman but she also knew she would be missed, they did have a party to get to. “I want hours with you Eli, to hear you squeal my name...”

“Only if you’re squealing mine at the same time.” Eli’s head dropped back, her hips rocking, driving her finger further inside. “Gods, Alyx... I don’t remember anyone ever making me feel this good. Faster...” One of her hands found her breast and she squeezed, as if using it to hold on. Her other hand dipped between them and cupped her, the tip of her finger rubbing against Alyx’s clit.

The magic built on itself as hips rolled, fingers played fasted, deeper. She hooked her fingers, just hitting her g-spot and leaned down, pushing Eli back as she took a nipple into her mouth. She tasted like peaches and rock candy, and Alyx realized she was never going to get enough of the taste of her girlfriend. The magic tingled down her spine and she whimpered, knowing the orgasm was going to shatter them both. Sucking hard on Eli’s nipple, she bit down as the orgasm tore through her and Eli, the magic wrapping itself around them. She felt the click, felt the second heartbeat, Eli’s as it became one with hers.

“Fuck...yes...” she panted and licked and sucked at Eli anywhere she could reach. Her eyes blooming stars and petals and echoes. “Mine... My guard...my lover...mine...”

“Alyx!” Eli cried out, body shuddering. Her new guard wrapped her body around her, tugging her closer, and kissed her hard and deep. “I don’t understand exactly what’s happening and I don’t need to. I only know that I want to belong to you, with you. Fuck, Alyx, I can feel you inside me, wrapped around my heart already, and I only just met you.”

“You aren’t the only one.” She held her close and kissed her, their foreheads touching. “You are fucking divine, Eli. I literally could spend the rest of the night right here, though I think we need someplace more...comfortable to explore each other.” She grinned. “You are fucking amazing.”

There was a knock on the door before it opened and Scur poked his head in. “While I would love to let the two of you stay in here and continue to make those fabulous noises, I believe your absence is starting to be noticed.”

Eli kissed her again then untangled herself and stood, holding her hand out to pull Alyx back on her feet. Instead of starting to dress, Eli pulled her close and kissed her one more time.

“He’s in trouble for that,” she said “Come in, you asshole. Help me get zipped back into this thing.”

“From what I heard a second ago you should be thanking me,” Scur said as he helped her back in her dress, his hands caressing over her skin as he did.

“Well, I for one enjoyed getting to take advantage of his devious plan.” Eli stepped into her dress and shimmied it on, then bent back down and picked up her discarded underwear. “Tell you what, we can both go the rest of the night without any. Just know, every time I look at you, I’ll be remembering being on my knees with my head under your skirt.”

Alyx groaned. “Don’t tease, I still have yet to taste you, love,” she said and pulled Eli to her, kissing her again. All she wanted was to drown in this woman...to be with her. “And as for you...” She turned to Scur with a stern look on her face that didn’t keep long. She smiled at him. “Thank you for keeping watch. How’s it going out there?”

She heard the gong sound and blinked. “Shit. Dinner. Where is my crown? Shit...”

Scur was already on it. He walked over to the other side of the closet and snatched it up. Eli fixed her hair, before Scur set the crown back on her head. “There, perfect,” he told her and kissed her. “Now, I do believe it’s time to get you back to your guests.” He swatted her ass then went to hold the door open.

Alyx took Eli’s hand. “Eli, Scur...Scur, Eli. Let’s find Khalid and Abaxley, they should know before everyone gets an eyeful.”

Khalid looked around the ballroom, trying to see if he could spot his lavender-haired princess. It had been at least thirty minutes since she and Eliora had disappeared and he was trying hard not to think about what the two of them were doing. Although he knew exactly who the woman was to Alyx. He, himself, had felt the connection when Eli had approached them, same as he’d felt with Scur and Abaxley.

Eliora belonged to Alyx, which in turn meant she belonged to all of them as one of Alyx’s guards.

Having a female among the guards didn’t bother him, having the two of them disappear in the middle of a party the princess was throwing...well, timing wasn’t exactly perfect. Looking down at his watch, he sighed. As much as he didn’t want to have to break up their introductions, he was going to have to.

“Lost your princess already.” Khalid looked up to see Riven and Quade standing in front of him, both expressionless, but neither could hide the mirth dancing in their eyes.

“I might not know where she is, but I know what she’s doing,” he told his fellow huntsman.

“He’s in denial,” Quade said. “Alyx has run off with the daughter of Satan. I mean really, how does one compete with that?”

“Said from the guy who shares his princess with a god. A literal god,” Khalid said.

“And share I do,” the puca said with a grin. “Riven and I were just talking about your little hunt. Gobeth and Nihar filled me in. If you need anything, you’ll let us know, right?”

“Of course. If the two of you could work with Jed on turning the goblin stronghold over to the Hunt...”

Riven nodded. “Solid plan and it will be useful. My cousin said after Jedreck brought Afton into the fold, they’ve been talking about opening the Hunt to anyone who can handle the life. They’ll need the extra space.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” His eyes moved around the room again, but still no sign of Alyx, or Scur for that matter. He inwardly cursed. “I’ll call you guys later, give you more of a rundown. Right now...”

“You need to find your female,” Riven finished for him. “I’m going to go do the same thing. Might want to hurry, heard dinner was going to be served soon.”

Khalid said his goodbyes and headed toward where Abaxley was speaking to Gobeth. “Pardon me, Gobeth, but I need to borrow this one.” Gesturing over to the one of the doorways leading to the hall, he led Bax over to where no one would hear them. “You seen Alyx anywhere?”

“Not since the hot as fuck chick undressed her with her eyes and they stole out of the ballroom.” He frowned. “Where is Scur?”

Khalid raised a brow. “Do you really need to ask that question? He followed after them and I haven’t seen him since. Come on, we need to find them before dinner starts. We should check the coat closet first. This seems like a coat closet kind of situation,” he said with a laugh.

“Coat closet situation...” Abaxley shook his head. “What are we going to walk into?”

“Yeah, coat closet,” Khalid said, leading them down a darkened hall just off the ballroom. “Scur watches a lot of weird movies, but every time someone wants to get it on, they end up in a coat closet.” They barely made it a third of the way down the hall when a door opened and Scur walked out, shit-eating grin on his face.

“Your clothes aren’t wrinkled,” Khalid said with a raise of his brow and a hint of surprise in his voice.

Scur’s grin got bigger. “I was a complete gentleman. Was wondering when you two were going to search her down.”

“She’s been gone a while.” Abaxley arched a brow as Alyx walked out with Eli in tow. “Figured something was going down.”

“If you mean someone was going down,” Eli said to Bax, “then that would have been me.”

Khalid choked on his laughter. “See, Bax, coat closet.” He looked over at their newest member. “I take it Alyx and you bonded then?”

“Oh, we bonded,” Eli said. “Not really sure what that means exactly, but no way am I going to be going anywhere. I’m assuming no one has a problem with that?”

“No one better have a problem with that.” Alyx grinned at them. “Eli, Prince Abaxley of the faeblins, and my captain, Khalid.”

“Welcome to the guard, Eli,” Abaxley said with a smile as another gong sounded. “Dinner, right?”

Alyx nodded. “We need to get in there. More thorough intros will have to wait I’m afraid.”

“I already made sure there was an extra seat with us,” Khalid said and led the way to the dining area. Since there were so many fae in attendance, they had to use several rooms to hold them all. Though he suspected the faeblins appreciated having their own space, especially considering the royalty of Faerie took some getting used to.

“Observant,” Eli said. “Though I suppose that is a good quality in a captain.”

Abaxley grinned. “I hope you don’t mind, I was going to sit next to Gogo, we have a few things to discuss.”

She nodded to him. “Of course, love.” She looked to Khalid. “You’re to my right, correct?”

“Always.” He took hold of her hand as they reached the doors. “Though I’m trying to figure out who is going to give up their seat for Bax, ‘cause Cetus certainly isn’t.”

“Quade is too nice for his own good,” Scur said, “he’ll do it.” Berserker had a point.

“I sat Quade with Riven so they could talk,” Alyx said. “Scur, if you’re sitting to my left, you keep your hands to yourself.” She grinned.

“Yeah, that isn’t going to happen,” Scur said. “I decided to forgive you, so my hands are back to wandering when the urge takes them.”

“Maybe we should have Eli sit to your left.” Khalid held open the door for Alyx to walk in in front of them, the rest of the party already at their seats.

Like the ballroom, the dining area was decorated in teal and silver, the sigil of the Arcane Court prominent on the banners. Pride filled him seeing all who had shown up for his princess. But the swelling of his chest wasn’t only because of the turnout, but because the people who were seated around the room were more than just allies to his princess, but her friends and family. No one who met Alyx could walk away not being half in love with her.

He escorted her to her seat and pulled out her chair. “You might want to make a little speech,” he said against her ear before kissing her neck and stepping back.

“Right...” she said and then smiled at everyone. Verity, who was across from her, and her brother to her right, beamed at her.

“Thank you all for coming, tonight marks a beautiful occasion, the inclusion of the faeblin race to our community. Arcane welcomes our new people, and ushers in a future full of promise, prosperity and luck. We thank those that have come to celebrate this with us, and know that myself, as well as my guard, are both humbled and touched you could all be here.” She raised her glass. “Before the first course, I would like to propose a toast. To the future of Faerie, and the wonder of all it has in store for us.”

“Perfect,” Khalid whispered to her and pushed in her chair when she sat, before taking the seat to her right, Scur to her left, and Eli sitting next to him. Her newest guard looked over to where those of the Blood Court sat and stuck her tongue out at Bechar, who in return, flipped her the bird oh so subtly. Ria, who was sitting a couple seats down from Alyx, Scur and Niko, between them, leaned forward.

“It seems your house has grown by more than just the faeblins.” The princess bobbed her brows. “I take it this one didn’t try to fight it like the first three.”

Both Scur and Quinn snorted at the same time. “Hey, I did not try and fight anything,” Scur said. “So you leave me out of that one.”

“They seriously didn’t jump you from the start?” Eli asked, glancing at all three of them. “Damn. Someone hit them on the head as children?”

“I’m sure they were hit on the head constantly as children, but Scur...well, he did catch me after a month of living with me. Khalid...well, I had to corner him, and Abaxley...” She shrugged. “It’s good you know what you want and go for it.”

Gogo smiled at her from down the table. “There is nothing wrong with a princess taking what she wants.” She winked at Quade. “Sometimes it’s just what needs done.”

“So that’s where you scampered off to then, eh?” Tripp said. “Indoctrinated a new guard. Eli, sweetheart, you got gypped.” He winked at her. “That wasn’t nearly enough time.”

“Oh, Tripp, muffin,” Eli said, leaning back in her seat, “I have plenty of time to make it count. Plus, since I don’t waste time when I want something, I made sure to use every available moment.”

“You should try that some time, Tripp,” Mea said, straight-faced. “If you didn’t try to see if your capes would allow you to fly half the time, you could get me naked much quicker.”

“Where is the fun in that? Not getting you naked, love, but not seeing if I can fly?”

“It’s never going to change, you psycho,” Ryker said. “So, let’s talk about this quest you are going on.” He looked to Alyx. “And is there any reason for you to bring some friends along?”

Alyx laughed. “I don’t think this is an Endgame kinda thing, but we won’t know what’s going on ‘til something happens.”

“The entire area is covered in a storm, has been largely for the past five days,” Hendrix said.

“It seems it would be safer not to have any contact with them until necessary,” Khalid said, stretching his arm behind Alyx as the first course was being served. “They have kept themselves hidden for lifetimes, they know what they’re doing.”

“Okay, I know I came into this late, but what the hell is everyone talking about?” Eli asked. “Apparently my brother has been holding back the fun shit.”

“You’re the one who keeps popping in and out,” Bechar said. “Not my fault you haven’t gotten all the good gossip.”

Khalid laughed and turned to their newest addition and gave her a quick rundown on what had been happening. “So,” he said, “it seems your timing is pretty damn impeccable. We’re going to need all the help we can get. Just try not to bleed on me.”

Conversation died down as everyone started eating. Verity looked up at them as she finished her course and smiled. “The food is amazing, Alyx.”

“Cannadonia and Co. She’s our go to caterer and she was tickled when she was told she was doing a royal party.”

“She’s not bad,” Bechar said and grunted when Mea leaned behind Ryker to smack the back of the demon’s head.

“Don’t mind them, they still aren’t housebroken. Well, other than Riven and Damari. Thank the gods for those two.”

“Since when has Riven been housebroken?” Khalid asked then turned to Alyx, lowering his voice. “Next time we’re all alone, you should ask your new guard about her power.” Quinn mumbled something and Khalid looked over at the man. “What was that?”

“Oh, just thinking how your misguided insight into why I don’t like Scur no longer holds. I can’t manipulate or borrow Eliora’s powers, and I still like her.”

“Well then, what’s the reason then, dear brother?” Alyx grinned at him as the second course was placed in front of them.

“The reason I don’t like Scur?” Quinn asked, innocent expression on his face. “Why, little sister, if you like him, I like him. So, what’s the next course?”

Ria giggled. “That’s the ‘I really want to get laid tonight’ answer, Mr. Mayhem. Someone doesn’t want to end up in the dog house.”

“Back to the quest before someone gets kicked in the groin,” Khalid said and turned his attention to Verity. “We’re prepared for whatever is thrown at us. I believe Faerie picked the right princess for job.”

“I agree. We all have our strengths, but aside from Mea, I don’t think any of us could handle this kinda shit.”

Gogo nodded. “Questing for my king was one thing, tomb raiding and solving puzzles? Well, the solving puzzles is all Nihar.”

“I think it would be fun,” Ria said. “I haven’t left the Sithen in forever. I was surprised these two actually let me come here.” She pointed to both Niko and Barden. “I swear, you’d think I had the plague or something.”

“Well you do look like you’re about to pop, Ria,” Scur said, as tactful as always.

“I have a few more months, thank you very much.” Ria smiled and it lit her entire face. “I’m going to get even bigger.”

“The one thing I’m not looking forward to when pregnant you are so excited for,” Verity said.

“Well, she does get daily belly massages with coco butter lotion,” Barden said.

“Verity, trust me, getting bigger is one of the best things about it,” Ria said. “It means my little boy is almost here.” The princess looked down the table. “Gen, tell Verity how cool it is getting a big ole pregnant belly.”

Gen looked at Ria, brow raised. “Has she been spiking her drink when no one was looking? Really, Barden, you need to watch her better than that, she’s wily.”

Ria sighed and Quinn started laughing. “V, baby, you are going to be sexy as hell all pregnant. I for one am looking forward to the day.”

“Of course, you are. Sex with a pregnant woman is awesome, so I hear, they are always horny,” Alyx said.

“Notice how he didn’t deny it,” Khalid said. “Aziz, is it true? Are pregnant women always horny?”

“I can answer that,” Kaelynn said. “Yes, yes they are and it’s fan-fucking-tastic.”

Niko shook his head. “Oh, she’s always horny but...” he shook his head. “You will come to understand that snort when your female is as big as a house and wants certain things.”

Aziz shook his head. “This perfect woman is always horny when it comes to me, both of them are, so I see no difference really. But her belly is quite enticing.”

“I’m still trying to figure out a way to make that two-year agreement into a ten-year agreement,” Mea said.

Ria scoffed. “You’re all crazy. And Niko,” she said as sweet as can be, “if you call me big as a house again, you won’t have a certain appendage anymore and then you won’t have to worry about fucking me.” She kissed his cheek and went back to her salad like she’d just told him they were going to have cheesecake for dessert.

“She’s not allowed weapons in the delivery room,” Barden said. “Something tells me one of us is going to get stabbed otherwise.”

“Funny, that’s the same conversation I had with Tripp,” Ryker said. “Though Mea might just set us all on fire.”

“You won’t have to wait until I’m having your baby for me to do that, Ryker,” Mea said before taking a sip of her wine. “You keep talking to Tripp about what I can and cannot have, and I’ll do it as soon as we’re home.”

Verity looked to Ria. “Have you decided on how you are going to birth? Like a water birth?”

“Don’t you be nipping at me, mister. You and Barden are sleeping on the couch tonight. Not allowed weapons,” she murmured. “I am not Tripp, thank you very much. I might let Mea set you on fire, too.”

Khalid watched as Scur stealthily moved his chair closer to Alyx as Ria’s attention turn to Verity, a bright smile still on her face. “When Kol is ready, he’s going to come.” She shrugged. “I’m going to let my physician take care of the details. Grave has one of the best baby doctors there is. He delivered me.”

“He’s also mad as a hatter,” Barden said. “But he’s a good doctor. Argie has insisted she midwife. And you will not have weapons in the delivery, love, or anything that could possibly puncture me. Old Niko might not be there but I plan on it and I will not be injured with a particularly heavy contraction.” He smiled.

Ria turned to Barden and kissed him square on the lips. “You’re still sleeping on the couch. You never tell a pregnant woman no.”

“Humans,” Eli said, and he and Scur turned to look at her. “Humans,” she repeated. “Those fucks love their guns. You wouldn’t believe how many end up dead with some kind of gunshot hole in their bodies. It’s sad.”

The last course came and they tucked in, eating largely without comments. Alyx gripped Khalid’s leg at one point, running her fingers down the inner part of his thigh.

The woman did make it hard to concentrate on eating, not that he would ever complain about it. Deciding he only needed one hand to eat, he moved his hand under the table and rested it over hers. “Looks like everyone is enjoying themselves,” he said and turned his head to whisper to her. “You and Octavia put on one hell of a party.”

“It’s what I do.” She smirked. “She’s rather proud of herself. I think she’s quite taken with two of the faeblins herself...” She motioned down the line to see her lady between two of Abaxley’s advisers.

Khalid chuckled under his breath. “Well, I guess she won’t have a problem keeping herself busy when we’re gone.”

They looked up to see Azrael behind their chairs. “Yes, Azrael? Is there a problem?”

Abaxley was up from his chair in moments. “We have a small window, we need to see it now.”

She stood up as Azrael pulled her chair back. Khalid, Scur and Eli all followed suit and she nodded to everyone. “Please excuse us.”

“Oh, go, go,” Ria said with a squeal, bouncing in her seat. “It’s so exciting.”

“I’ll fill you in later, Princess,” Scur told her with a wink then the five of them followed Azrael out of the room. “Looks like Eli had damn good timing on getting here.”

“I’m used to being thrown in the fire, both metaphorically and literally,” she told them.

“Only Hellfire,” Eli said. “Well, at least I think so. Never tested it on any other kind.”

“Sounds like that could be a fun night,” Scur said. “We can invite Mea over and do an experiment.”

“Told you,” she said as they walked into the room they had set up as their war room to see the scroll, laid out and glowing purple. “That’s interesting.”

Abaxley was the first to get to the scroll and leaned over it. “It looks like a map and there’s words in High Sidhe.”

Khalid looked at her. “I do believe that’s your cue for translation, Alyx.”

“You know High Sidhe?” Eli asked. “Damn, sexy and smart. Daddy’s going to be so proud of me.” She winked at her before walking closer and leaning over the table to get a better look at the scroll.

Alyx followed and stepped next to Abaxley, leaning over. She looked at the glowing spot of purple, and the words, like a ghostly relief on the scroll. “Someone have a pen and paper?”

“Well that’s coordinates.” She pointed, though they could see a section of the fertile crescent lit up with the pulsing purple light. “And the words... Okay so, the garden original, in a time before time. The amethyst...I think that says amethyst...lies safe from those that would destroy us. Guarded, only one of royal birth may lay hands on our most precious prize. For within lies the secret to the beginning.”

“Yeah, according to Nihar, all these old guys really liked their randomly worded clues,” Khalid said. “But at least we get coordinates. Scur...”

“Already on it.” Scur sat down at the end of the table and opened the laptop that was sitting there. A couple keystrokes later and a screen came down from the ceiling. Hendrix had hooked them up with all the tech they needed. “Hit me with those coordinates.”

“I can go grab him,” Eli said. “From what I’ve heard about him, he’s probably already in the hallway hoping you’ll ask for him. Be back in a jiff, don’t do anything fun while I’m gone.” Eli headed out as Scur brought up the coordinates on the screen.

“I’m honestly surprised he didn’t skip down the hall with us, boner and all,” Alyx said. “Scur, baby, where are we going?”

“There is evidence of a great flood and a garden, and a few other things that humans co-opted for their religious needs.”

Scur hit a button and the large screen zoomed into a spot on the map that looked to be nothing but desert.

“Zoom out,” Khalid said as the door opened again and Eli walked in with Nihar and Gogo.

“When I was in Egypt, I tried to talk Hugo into heading there for a couple of days,” Nihar said. “I mean it’s as close as the humans have to a true heavenly oasis.”

“Well the scroll gave us coordinates for it,” Alyx said. “And this broke ass riddle.” She handed him the page Azrael wrote down. “So, it looks like we are looking for an amethyst...in about ten thousand buckets of sand, because there are no structures there.”

Nihar looked down at the paper and then handed it to Gogo. “Nope, I don’t do riddles. Not anymore. I gave them up after old squiddy was found. They almost gave me an aneurism.”

Khalid’s lips curved up in a smile. “So, are you saying you don’t want to help? Find out more about this place for us?”

“I’ll do the research, but I ain’t touching the riddle,” he said with a grin. “Gotta leave you guys some of the fun.”

“Fair enough,” Alyx said. “Okay, so we need to figure out what’s waiting for us there. Something like this isn’t going to be out in the fucking open, or humans would have found it already.”

“Who is to say they haven’t?” Abaxley said. “They have less respect for the mystical these days, grave robbing assholes.”

She nodded. “True, but let’s work off the idea that whatever we need is still there. I mean the scroll is telling us where the damn thing is. It’s fucking pulsing. So, we need to know what we are going to encounter. What are the legends around the area? What kinda baddies are we going to possibly encounter?”

Azrael looked like he was going to say something, then went rigid, eyes unfocused for a moment then recovered. “Excuse me a moment, Princess, Highness,” he said to the women and then walked out.

Moments later he came back in with an envelope. “Sir Laslo found this at the portal.”

“You guys have what amounts to the postal service through portals?” Eli asked and sat on the edge of the table. “And as far as the humans, you point me to any of them, and I can tell you their darkest secrets. If any of them have this thing we’re looking for, I’ll know.”

“You can only do that with humans, right?” Scur asked. Instead of answering, Eli just smiled at him.

Alyx grinned. “He just doesn’t want you know he’s into pegging.” She winked.

Abaxley took the envelope from Azrael and opened it, reading its contents. “Shit.”

“What? The water getting turned off at the stronghold? You being subpoenaed?” she asked.

He shook his head at her and handed her the letter. It had blocky lettering on it and a few lines.

The hobs also have a scroll. We hope you are the ones to make the connections, and save Faerie. For them to win, Faerie will be in darkness. Fair winds. Don’t trust them.

“Shit is right.” She gave the letter to Khalid. “Kennon. He didn’t elaborate, but the hobs are now in this race. Someone needs to go and see if the nomarts are okay. Something tells me the hobs didn’t follow protocol.”

“I can have some of the huntsmen go check up on them,” Khalid said, pulling out his phone. “Jed’s got some on standby just in case.”

“Hobs, like the hobgoblins?” Eli asked. “Heard about those little fucks. So, we’re in a race to the stone. Sounds like we better get our asses in gear and get there first.”

“I’ll have Hendrix on ready for you,” Gogo offered. “What’s the point of entry?”

Alyx looked at the map. “Atar, I guess. We need to get there. Is there anything else on the scroll?”

Abaxley went to it and shook his head. “Remember we have several nights from tonight, which I think we are going to need. Atar will welcome a traveling royal.”

Abaxley scoffed. “No, but with Hendrix’s computer magic you could be royalty from a smaller nation. So long as we have the money, we can call you Queen of the Moon and they wouldn’t bat an eye.”

“I kinda like Queen of the Moon,” Scur said. “Princess Alyx, Moon Goddess.” He grinned and typed on the keyboard again. Another map overlaid the map of Africa. “Hendrix downloaded this one for us. It shows where the known portals are to where we need to go.”

“Ah, so you’re who got the trial version,” Nihar said. “We’re still working on it since I’m getting new locations pop in to my head on a daily basis. Just fair warning, we don’t know if they’re all active.”

A couple seconds later and some of the dots on the map started to flash. Nihar walked closer, brows drawn together, then pointed at one of the flashing dots. “This one I still don’t know about, but the rest of the flashing ones are active.”

“And Jed is taking care of the nomarts,” Khalid said, pocketing his phone and stepping up next to her, his hand resting on her lower back. “What are you thinking, Alyx?”

“We take this one in.” She pointed to one about four miles from Terjit in the middle of the open desert. “We have Hendy airdrop dune buggies and supplies. Make our way there in the transports, that way we know we are stepping into the right area, the portal is working and we aren’t getting caught with our pants down, so speak. We don’t know what’s waiting for us there, hobs or something else. What do you think?”

“Solid,” Khalid said, “but I’m thinking airdropping in that part of the desert might be a little too suspicious.”

“I know some guys who can drive in what we need and leave it there for us,” Scur said. “If Hendrix can fly them in here...” Scur moved the map and put the pointer over a section about a hundred miles away from the portal.

“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Nihar said, looking at Gogo for confirmation and she nodded. “How long before you guys have to leave?”

“First light,” Alyx said. “If the hobs are on this, they will have to figure it out, too, and figure out how to get there. Considering none of them can pass for human...”

“Oh,” Nihar said. “Oh, okay, we need to go. I have...” He started to pace and mumble to himself. “I need to get started. I’ll call you as soon as I have more information and possible target areas. Gogo, remind me to call them.” He grabbed Gogo’s hand and pulled her out the door, practically running down the hall.

“Yes,” Khalid said. “It’s kinda a trip to watch him get lost in his own head.”

“He does get worse. When we saw him a couple days ago, he was catatonic on a wingback chair with his dick out,” Alyx said. “Shit, you think we will be able to end this party?” She looked to Khalid. “I mean I know the other royals will understand...”

“I can go handle that if you want,” he told her. “I’m good at having people fall in line and then thank me. It’s a gift,” he added with a smile.

She pulled him to her and kissed him square on the mouth. “I love you, Cappy. Thank you. Though if any of the royals want to talk...” She smiled. “We will be in here, yes?”

“Got it.” He cupped her cheek then leaned in for another kiss. “Be right back,” he whispered before leaving again.

“Since you guys have been tomb raiding lately, what’s the plan?” Eli said. “Or am I assuming too much to think you want me to come?”

Alyx smirked. “Oh, baby cakes, you are always coming with me.” She winked. “Of course, I want you there. It wouldn’t be right without you. You are here now for a reason.” She turned as the coyote walked in. “Wondered where you got off to,” she said to it and then looked to Scur. “We need to figure out what we are bringing with. Weapons, demolitions...”

“Wrong continent,” Alyx said. “Though if that interests you, let Tripp know, his parents’ kingdom is in Oz and he hinted that that’s the weekend thing to do.”

“If it involves Tripp’s family, even I’m not crazy enough to get involved in that,” Scur said.

“Why is there a coyote in the war room?” Eli asked. The animal didn’t even glance up, just circled around Alyx once before lying down next to the table.

“We picked up the stray in Canada,” Scur said with a shrug. “Personally, I think he’d make a way cooler sigil than a moth. Those fuckers are creepy.”

“Scur,” she said in a warning tone and felt Willy flutter on her collar bone. “This guy,” she pointed to the coyote, “fucked up a hob’s day for me...saved me. So, if he wants to piss on Scur’s bed...he’s allowed to.”

“Damn good animal to have around. He coming with? Humans are stupid enough to think he’s a dog,” Eli said. “Though he’s really quiet. It’s kinda eerie.”

“Yeah,” Alyx agreed. “If he wants to come, he comes,” she said and looked to Scur as Willy came off her body and flapped his wings. She giggled and looked down. “Hello, Willy. Eli, this is my sigil, Willy.”

Eli jumped down from the table and walked over to her. “Oh, he’s not creepy at all. Hello there, Willy.” She smiled up at her. “When we’re not hip deep in saving Faerie, I want to hear all about how you found your sigil.”

“Everything’s handled,” they heard Khalid say as he walked back in, Bechar with him. “The faeblins were all having a good time, but I think they were ready to head home. No harm no foul.”

“Khalid told me you guys were going to be heading out soon, so I wanted to make sure I said bye to my sis before she disappeared again,” Bechar said.

“Think you got that backwards, you’re the one who disappeared for centuries. I’ll be back way sooner than that.” Eli walked up to him and hugged him tight before looking over her shoulder at Alyx. “And it looks like we’ll get to see a lot more of each other since I won’t be going anywhere Alyx isn’t.”

“Amen to that. Once this shit is handled, let’s do a BBQ at Blood,” Alyx said. “We can watch Tripp run from the dragons.”

“That’s a guarantee.” Bechar gave Eli another hug before pulling Alyx into one, too. “Be good to my girl, Princess. She’s a special one. Just no going dental on her,” he added with a laugh. “Give us a call if you need anything. Norbert wouldn’t mind spreading his wings and taking out some hobs.”

“So, desert,” Khalid said, looking at the map that was still on the screen. “We’re going to need to go through our gear. There isn’t enough time to raid Anders’ cabin, but we should have everything we’re going to need. As always, we need to pack as light as we can.”

“Don’t forget a tent and some blankets. Sleeping on sand isn’t as comfortable as you might think,” Scur said.

“Sand gets everywhere, so that means no nookie in the desert. I’m not abrading tender places...” Alyx said to him.

“That means no nookie at all for Alyx, so don’t just be looking at me,” Scur said with a smirk.

“We do need a tent,” Khalid said. “That won’t weigh us down, so we should be good there. Eli, you have specific weapons you need?”

“I’ll swing by Blood and pick them up before we go,” she said. “They’re easy to travel with.”

“Well then...” Alyx stretched and giggled again as Willy fluttered on her and then took flight. “I need to get out of this dress and take this crown off,” she said, realizing she was still wearing it. “And these goddamn shoes, too.”

“It will only take me a few minutes to get what I need from Blood,” Eli said, tilting her head, a smile on her lips. “I got you out of that dress and crown once tonight, I’d be happy to do it again.”

“Willy? Come on, love,” she said to her moth who fluttered back to her and melted into her skin. She gave herself a shake and then looked to Eli offering her hand. “Eli and I are going to shower.”

Abaxley grinned. “Enjoy, ladies. I’m going to check in with Las and Faust. I’ll see you later.” He kissed Alyx on the lips. “Don’t hurt her.”

Laughing, she slapped his ass. “I’ll try not to. And if I didn’t tell you, you all looked edible in your formal wear tonight. We will have to do this again when I can express my appreciation properly.”

“Oh, don’t listen to him, I have no issue with you hurting me,” Eli said with a grin.

Scur laughed as he stood and shut down the computer. “If you need any help with that shower, you know how to find me,” he said as he came up to her and nuzzled her neck before giving it a little nip.

She shivered and palmed him. “Love you. You know I don’t throw you outta bed for eating crackers.”

“Vixen, you wouldn’t throw me out of bed period.” He patted her ass and bit down on her lower lip. “I’ll hopefully be seeing you later.”

Khalid chuckled as Scur walked out of the room. “I’m going to get everything ready for tomorrow. Make sure we have a game plan.” He took hold of her free hand. “Make sure you get some rest tonight.” He looked over at Eli. “Don’t keep her up too late.”

“Love you,” Khalid said before kissing her. “And did I mention how incredibly sexy you look in this dress?”

“Your gaping mouth when you walked into my room earlier said as much but thank you, my love. I’ll see you later?”

“Always. And I’ll have to start watching my gaping.” He grinned at her. Dropping his hand, he walked backward a couple steps before heading out, leaving Eli and her alone.

“Come on...” She grinned and pulled her from the room, intent on showing her newest guard a good time.

Alyx kept hearing the words in her head, like the whisper on the other end of the phone from that horrible movie about the girl in the well. It didn’t help that Scur had taken to saying it to her as they were getting ready to leave.

After waking up nestled between Eli and Scur, she had found her captain, and they had talked. They needed more intel, and spent the morning gathering it, thanks to Hendrix and his eyes around the world. With the hobs on the scent now, it was only a matter of time ‘til it became an altercation, and they wanted to be ready.

Anders had shown up in the middle of breakfast with a fuck ton of tech, and a goddamn camel. If they weren’t ready for every eventuality, well then, they deserved to get ambushed. She still wasn’t sure about the camel, though.

“Desert survival kits. Water, snacks, jerky, petroleum jelly,” she arched a brow, “tinder, stick matches, flares, electrolyte pouches, chocolate, bedroll, cooling rag, and each of you will have a set of sunglasses that are visually fed to Hendrix, so nothing gets missed.”

She grinned. “Not too shabby.” She looked over the gear he had brought them, too. Boots, heavy fatigues, cooling jackets... “Though with the plan we won’t need this. It’s only four miles to the oasis from the portal.”

“Princess, I have learned one thing in this world remains constant. Things rarely go as planned. Better to be prepared.”

“I agree with Anders,” Khalid said, flipping through a notebook he’d taken to carrying where he kept all his notes on the current missions. Of course, it was all in shorthand and her captain was the only one who could decipher the chicken scratch. “Plus, with Faerie still in flux, you never know when a portal might decide to spit us out in a totally different destination.

“As long as it doesn’t spit us out in the middle of the ocean, because we do not have room for just in case scuba gear,” Scur said.

“Well, let’s cross our fingers, yeah?” Abaxley said as he walked in. “Octavia and Puziel are both working with Faust and Laslo so we are handled here.” He kissed her on the cheek.” So, we are good to go.”

Alyx nodded. “One hour. With the time difference we are going to be showing up in the middle of the night.” She looked to Khalid. “And the camel?”

“Terjit is five hours ahead of us. So not too drastic,” her captain said. “We leave soon and we’ll get there early afternoon.” He looked over at Anders. “I’m trying to figure out the camel thing. Mostly, how the hell did you just happen to have one on hand?”

“Wait, you mean there isn’t some kinky thing going on between camels and huntsmen?” Eli asked, face serious. “Huh, must be a human thing then.”

“Camels are a need in the goddamn desert,” Anders said, “and they can sniff out water.”

“You do realize there are springs where we’re going,” Scur said with a laugh.

“Still doesn’t explain where the hell you got a camel,” Khalid said, standing up and sliding the notebook in his back pocket. “But I’m not sure I even want to know.”

“I know people,” Anders said, and packed up his trunk. “I’ll let you guys get to it. Have fun, don’t take no shit.” He gave Khalid a pound. “Kick some hob ass.”

“Will do, brother. I’ll call you when I get back. I want to hear how everything is going.” Khalid didn’t elaborate but by the look Anders gave him, the current huntsman knew what her captain was talking about.

“I’m going to want to get a look at this magical cabin you have when we get back,” Eli said.

“Looks like we got everything we need,” Khalid said. “And I guess if it doesn’t fit in our packs, we have the camel carry it for us.” He shook his head. “Fucking camel.”

“I want to know which one of you guys is going to be in charge of it,” Eli said.

Alyx shrugged. “I got it,” she said and grinned. “’Cause I’m going to ride it.”

“You might regret that after about ten minutes,” Scur said. “Trust me. I’ve ridden one of those suckers before. Not a fun time.”

Alyx smirked. “I’m going to get dressed.” She grabbed her gear and walked out of the study, into her bedroom. Slipping into her bathroom, she grabbed her needed essentials: toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, and lip balm.

“Any tidbits you want to share with your newest guard before we go?” she heard Eli say before she caught the other woman’s reflection in the mirror. “It’s been a while since I’ve fought with a team. Want to make sure I’m not a hindrance.”

She shook her head. “Usually a melee ends up with everyone dead, and Scur and Khalid ripping my clothes off and fucking me within an inch of my life. This will be Bax’s first real op with us, too. So, this whole team dynamic is going to be a little different.”

“Death and sex...” A slow, seductive grin curved her lips. “Those happen to be two of my favorite things. I know the boys have no issue with me helping them kill, makes me wonder about the other.”

“Meaning,” Eli said and walked further into the room, “say we kill everyone and Scur and Khalid start ripping off your clothes, are they going to have an issue with me being in the middle of that as well? I know there is only one other female guard, the queen’s captain, I’ve heard how things work with them, so I want to know how it’s going to work with us. Lay it all out so there are no surprises later.”

She blinked. “Oh. Well...” she turned and leaned against the countertop. “That’s a very specific situation. I mean, Arien is a lesbian, she’s very against anyone but another woman touching her.”

“That’s what Bechar told me, although I hear threesomes without any wandering hands is a thing with them. My question is, how will this work for us? You’re the only opinion that matters, Alyx. I might still be getting to know you, but this connection we have? Well, my head is still spinning from it.” She laughed.

She cocked her head. “And if I were to tell you I don’t care? I mean I don’t believe in limiting pleasure where it lives, or where it comes from. Consent is a huge thing for me, but I’m not a jealous woman...not really. You want one of them inside you? I’m okay with that, provided it’s when I’m involved.” She smiled. “I’m not running a poly household, but if we are all in the throws and shit happens, I personally don’t care. But if it’s not something you want, if you just want me, and only me, I’m okay with that, too.”

“I want what you want.” Eli stepped closer until she was standing directly in front of her, hands moving to her hips. “So, if we’re in the throws and you want to watch one of them touch me, if it’s something that would turn you on, well, let’s just say, I would do anything to have those sexy full lips of yours part and your eyes go all glassy. While I’m not technically a demon, I’m as close to being one as I can be. And, well, we don’t think in the terms of jealousy and sexual orientation. We are who we are and pleasure is never wrong.”

She nodded. “Neither of us were raised to be this. I wasn’t raised to be a princess, and you weren’t raised to be a guard. Things here are going to be different because of it. My men...none of them were raised to be guards and don’t believe in limiting the pleasure of those I love. So, how’s this...” She pulled Eli close by her hips. “There’s things that are just mine. These lips...” She kissed Eli. “These, at least orally...” She ghosted her fingers over her pussy. “These things are saved for me, I don’t ever think I need to worry about them taking you when I’m not there because they are mine and you are mine.” She kissed the princess of Hell again. “Anything else, within reason? I’m game if you are.”

“I can’t argue with any of that,” Eli said and nipped her lower lip. “But you’re wrong about something. I might not have been raised to be a guard, but I was definitely born to be yours. Now, what do you say we go kick some hob ass?”

Alyx laughed. The conversation with her girlfriend was interesting. She knew Eli was bi, or tri, as in try anything, so knowing that she wasn’t going to be hindered in her passion was a wonderful thing. The idea of being with all of them together to a degree interested her to no end. And it would happen. Sooner rather than later if she had any say in it...and she did. She was the only one that had a say.

The coyote stepped into the doorway of the bathroom and surveyed them and then turned, walking out. She kissed Eli once more. “Let’s get dressed for the desert.

Abaxley brushed sand off his knee and looked up into the mildly bright sky. Something felt off. He turned to see Alyx come through the shimmering portal between the two large stones, on camelback, and then watched as the portal shorted out.

“Something is wrong,” he said and pulled out his GPS. Shit. Something was very wrong.

“I see desert and the sun in the right place,” Scur said and looked around. “Then again, deserts tend to all look the same to me. We could be in the Mojave Desert and I wouldn’t know the difference.”

“We missed the mark.” He looked to Khalid and tossed him the GPS. “Almost fifty miles from where we need to be.”

“Told you Faerie was finicky,” Khalid said. “We have two options. One, we can try to re-portal closer, or two, we can start walking.”

“If all the stories I’ve heard about Faerie playing for the home team is true,” Eli said, “then maybe we were put here for a reason.”

“Hold, please.” Abaxley heard Hendrix typing. “Okay, so you are fifty miles off the mark.”

“Well, all the portals in the area are offline. Like flat out offline. And there was a heat flare a second ago, to your west. And...okay...”

“Yeah, we can all hear you, Hendrix,” Khalid finally said. “Sounds to me like as soon as we stepped through the portal it was game on.”

“Of course, it was game on.” Nihar’s voice filled the coms. “You have no idea just how game on it is, too. Fucking fascinating. I’ve been up since we left the party last night. It feels good to actually get to research with actual books again. Nothing quite like the smell of a book.”

“Uh,” Eli said as she looked around at them. “Is it just me, or does he sound like he’s been doing more than just reading those books?”

“This is why we don’t borrow books from Outura Ken, and why he needs an escort to go to the royal library. You never know what’s on the pages,” Alyx offered. “What is going on, you book perv?”

“That right there is the definition of TMI,” Eli said and made a face. “Pretty sure we have a few guests in Hell that are there for those very reasons.”

“You might want to be really nice to me right now because I have some news for you,” Nihar said.

“Spill it, druid,” Scur said. “You know you’re dying to tell us what’s going on.”

“True. Well, you were placed fifty miles outside of your destination because part of your journey is getting there. Terjit is more than just a desert oasis, it’s rooted deep in history of its religious ceremonies and royal coronations. It’s not a place you can just walk in and start digging around for a stone. You must earn your invitation.”

“Great,” Abaxley said. “So, we have to set a fucking pilgrimage to it? And let me guess, the journey will be fraught with peril, right? What is it, quicksand? Evil genies? Camel shit?”

“If you have to deal with camel shit, that’s Anders’ fault,” Nihar said. “I heard about him giving you a camel. Now as far as a fucking pilgrimage...dude, it’s a fucking pilgrimage. How can you not be excited about this? Ugh.”

“Hendrix,” Khalid said, “I have a visual of Nihar pacing around and pulling at his hair. Tell me, am I close?”

“On point, and his dick isn’t hanging out either,” Hendrix said. “Keep doing that and you’re going to lose what hair you have left.”

“Okay, so a pilgrimage. What’s the parameters?” Alyx asked. “I mean I’m sure there are rules. And be snappy, it might be early evening but the sun is already giving me swamp ass.”

“That could be the camel,” Abaxley said to her and he grinned when she shot him the finger.

“You guys really think it’s hot out right now, don’t you?” Eli said with a laugh. “Adorable.”

“Says the girl raised in fire and brimstone,” Khalid said. “And fuck yeah, it’s hot. Though I prefer this over freezing my balls off.”

“As I was saying,” Nihar said. “You know how the nomarts told you that you had seven days to complete your task? Well, that doesn’t mean you can use any of those three days to do it. At least on this leg. Three of those seven days need to be spent traveling to Terjit and according to what I found, Princess Alyx is the one who must lead you.”

“This isn’t some weird following a star to a manger kinda shit, is it? ‘Cause that’s been done to death and I don’t think Anders kitted them out with Frankincense and Myrrh,” Hendrix said. “Honestly, where the fuck would you find that shit in the desert?”

“He has a point,” Alyx said. “So, I’m supposed to lead them...like with what? Period cramps? Rolling a twenty-sided die? Which tit itches more?”

“The tit thing could work,” Nihar said. “I mean, nipples are an amazing thing and I personally think they have magical powers. But I can’t tell you how to do that. It’s up to you. It would kinda defeat the purpose if someone told you what to do.”

“Of course.” Alyx sighed. “So, we have to use three days to get there and I have to lead us. Any other restrictions?”

“Only that you must lead, everything else is up to you and your guard. From what I’ve read, what happens over the next three days is up to you.”

“Three days and fifty miles,” Scur said. “That’s doable. If we walk three miles an hour, it will take about seventeen hours to walk that far. Split that into a seventy-two-hour time span, and almost six hours a day.” He nodded. “Even with sleep and possible fight time, we should be able to make it.”

“That’s just three days to quest, then we have four more?” Alyx shook her head. “Okay, let’s do this.”

She smirked. “They are silent but...” He watched her close her eyes and take a deep breath. “Hendrix, you said that caves appeared to the west?”

“And Alyx,” Nihar said, “it’s true you have three days to quest, but remember, you only have three days. After those seventy-two hours are up, so is your chance at finding the stone.”

“Understood. Thanks, Nihar. Now go back to abusing yourself with parchment.” She smirked. “We go toward the caves. The idea of a canyon isn’t any better but...” She shook her head. “Cave.”

Alyx looked far ahead and leaned down to the camel. “Come on, sweetheart,” she said and the animal started walking forward. It was then they noticed the coyote bringing up the rear. Abaxley arched a brow. He didn’t recall him getting through the portal but there he was, padding along behind the camel.

“Where the fuck did he come from?” Scur said, scratching the back of his head.

“Don’t know, but let’s hope he likes scorpions,” Khalid said, walking on the front right of Alyx, Eli behind him.

“Still say a coyote is a strange pet.” Eli glanced behind her. “But he could definitely come in handy.”

“He’s not a pet. He’s a member of the team. How fucking often does an animal that’s clearly not domesticated save a person? Seriously, he made a conscious decision to save me, and for that, he’s cool with me.”

“Think you should give him a name,” Eli suggested. “Unless Coyote is his name.”

“That’s his decision,” Alyx said. “Would you like a name?” she asked the animal from her perch on the camel.

“Alyx, it’s an animal,” Khalid said, “pretty positive he has no idea what you’re saying.” The coyote just continued to walk a short distance behind the camel, ignoring them all.

“I’ll think on it. Normally naming an animal gives it a preconceived personality, and I don’t wanna do that to him. So, we will see by the end of the op.”

They walked a while, Scur making comments about sand and camel spiders, and Abaxley hoped to the fates they didn’t encounter one of those fuckers. Twice they stopped, and Alyx changed their direction, and the sun started to sink to the horizon. Just as twilight turned to night, they hit the caves, a dark opening in the still luminous sand. He blinked.

“Um...is it me or is the sand sort of glowing?” He leaned down, picking up a handful. It wasn’t strong, but the tan of the sand was still visible as the world was blanketed in darkness. The crystalline splendor of it stretched to the cave mouth. He looked to Alyx. “Well?”

“We go in and set up camp for the night. We can make up hours tomorrow I think.”

“It’s not the only thing glowing,” Eli whispered. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” They followed to where she was staring and not too far from where they stood, glowing insects flew through the night sky. “Wisps?” Scur asked.

“I don’t think so,” Khalid said. “They look like something else entirely.”

The coyote let out a low, rumbling growl before turning and heading into the cave. “Looks like he’s going to check everything out for you, Alyx,” Khalid said with a smile. “He does come in handy.”

“’Cause he’s awesome,” she said as Scur reached up and helped her down from the camel. She wiped her hands on her pants and then kissed him, and wrinkled her nose. “Sand in your beard,” she said and fluffed it, letting the grains fall.

“Trust me, I know,” he said with a groan. “Itches like a son of a bitch. I was tempted to shave the thing off before we left.”

“Don’t you dare think that! No one has seen your chin in years.” She winked. “Is it even there, or are you like Chuck Norris and it’s just another fist?”

“Most of the time I’m not sure if you’re complimenting me or insulting me,” he said and smacked her on her ass before he started to take the supplies off the camel.

“I believe the coast is clear,” Eli said and pointed to the coyote who was stalking out of the cave, looking no worse for the wear.

“Complimenting, totally.” She winked and looked up into the sky, the glowing bugs hovering, as if lighting the way. She looked to Khalid. “Do you think they are moths?” At the word she felt Willy struggle on her shoulder and unwound her net scarf, leaving her neck free. She opened her shirt, allowing for him to climb out.

“Could be some mixed in,” he said, his arm moving to slip around her waist. “Seems like there are all different kinds. Although, I think it’s the moths that are brave enough to come close. The others seem to be doing their own thing.”

She looked to Willy as he emerged. “Curious, little love?” she asked as she put her finger to him and he climbed onto it. She raised the little bug to the sky so he could see better. He flexed his wings, and little sections of them glowed softly as they moved. It wasn’t bright, like the others, but it was there, faint.

“You two coming?” Scur asked from the mouth of the cave, several bags over his shoulders.

“Come on, Princess, I know how much you like bunking down in caves for the night,” Khalid said with a curve to his lips. “We can figure out a game plan for the morning and get some rest. I’m sure Willy will be fine hanging out here for a bit.”

She looked up again to the moth. “Come find me when you need to rest, little love,” she said and took Khalid’s hand as they walked into the cave.

Abaxley pointed down into it. “Good choice. Hear that? It sounds like water.”

She cocked her head and listened, finally hearing the light sloshing of water hitting rock. “Let’s hope it’s water. With our luck it will be liquid mercury or acid.”

“I thought Scur was the glass half empty one,” Abaxley said. “What does your gut say?”

“Anyone have the sat pic Hendrix sent? How many chambers are in this cave and should we be worried about anything living here?”

“I would think not,” Abaxley said. “Damn thing sprung up when we got here.”

“Not sure if any of the satellite photos will tell you what you’re looking for this time around,” Khalid said as they all headed toward the sound of water. “Everything you need to know is already inside you, as cheesy as that sounds. You’re on a mission of instinct.”

“If it is, we got your back, minx,” Scur said and started to pull off his shirt, even before they found where the water was coming from.

Alyx looked to the coyote who was at the shores sniffing. The beach was sandy, obviously, but the color of the sand was more pink than tan. There seemed to be light coming from above them and she looked up, the light actually glow worms in the rock above the water. Millions of them glowing a pale yellow. “Wow...this is...wow.”

“What the fuck is up with all the glowing shit?” Scur said and kicked off his shoes before pulling down his pants. “I’m starting to wonder if we should be worrying about radiation poisoning.”

“I hear that your dick will shrivel up if you do get poisoned,” Eli said, straight-faced. “So, I guess jump in the water and see if the rest of us need to worry.”

“Faerie provides,” Abaxley said. “This space would be useless without light, we would be stumbling around in the dark, and I don’t think Faerie wants that,” he said as he started to take his clothes off. “Glow worms make sense in a setting like this. Wisps would perish out here, they need Faerie contact.”

Alyx grinned as Scur slipped his underwear down. Gods, the man had a fabulous ass. “Don’t listen to Eli, love. It’s safe. It smells safe.” And it felt safe, too. Not salt water, but the mineral scent was strong, a filter of sorts.

“Radiation or not, I was getting in anyway,” Scur said and stepped into the water. He waded out to the middle before sinking under. Khalid wasn’t too far behind. Somehow she missed his undress, but his naked ass was walking past her and into the water. “You gonna join us, Alyx?”

“Clearly,” she said as she watched Scur surface. Making quick work of her boots, she was able to wrestle herself out of her clothes, and placed them on a high rock and then shook her hair out, feeling the little grains of sand hit her skin. She needed a rinse.

Abaxley was just waist high, smiling at her. “Water’s warm, feels clean, too.”

She nodded, and as she stepped into the water, the worms above glowed brighter, just a moment, then pulsed. She looked up and smiled. The water felt wonderful on her skin, tingly where she felt sore. She stepped closer to her guard, noticing Eli not following her in. “You okay?”

“Yeah, about that,” Eli said, standing naked just on the shore. “Exactly how deep does that water go?”

Scur’s brows drew together before he started laughing. “Can’t swim, huh? Guess that makes sense, not a lot of pools in hell.”

“Not a lot of water, period. Wouldn’t want some human getting a hold of it and trying to douse the fires,” she said with a shrug, but Alyx could see the wariness on her face. “Looks like you discovered my Achilles’ heel.”

Alyx shrugged. “We all have something.” She turned and offered her hand. “Come on. I won’t let you go too far. And the water feels so good.”

“I have a feeling I’m never going to live this one down,” Eli said, taking Alyx’s hand and letting her lead her into the water. “If something goes wrong, I expect you to give me mouth to mouth.”

“Not a hardship,” she said and pulled her to her, kissing her sweetly. They walked a little farther in and Alyx went to her knees, her shoulders and head above the water. “See? And the sand under us is soft, so this is lovely.” She looked to Khalid and Scur. “Am I right in assuming this doesn’t get too much deeper?”

“Didn’t look like it when I was under,” Scur said. “Did a lap to make sure there wasn’t anything living down there, seems we’re safe on both accounts.”

“Plus, we have the coyote keeping guard. Damn thing is watching the water like something’s going to come swimming through and try to eat us at any time,” Khalid said, stepping up behind her, his hand moving to her shoulders. He started to move his fingers in a slow, but deep massage.

“Since I’m not a toddler, I’m going to assume I won’t be drowning.” Eli moved to her knees in front of her and tipped her head back, soaking her hair. “Got to admit, it does feel damn good in here.”

“A small paradise,” Alyx said absently and leaned back into Khalid, closing her eyes. “Oh, that’s heavenly.”

Abaxley swam out to where Scur was and went under, and then came back up, smiling. “Berserker is right. Not too deep. I mean we can’t reach the bottom standing, but it’s more than likely only about ten feet deep. There is a channel that is feeding water to this grotto, though, you can feel the flow if you go deep enough.”

“Think I’ll leave anything more than three feet deep to the rest of you,” Eli said.

“I bet Alyx will teach you how to swim when we get home,” Khalid said, his fingers kneading a little deeper. “Might come in handy on some of the other tasks.”

“First we got to get through this one.” Scur waded back to where the three of them were kneeling in the water and floated on his back. “You have any idea where you want to head tomorrow?” he asked her.

She turned to answer him, an idea forming in her mind, when she saw him and laughed, “Goddamn it, put that thing away unless you plan on using it, Scur!” She shook her head. “Who can think with that goddamn periscope up and about?”

Abaxley shook his head and swam back, settling a few feet from Eli, leaning against the rocks.

“Don’t blame him, it’s not his fault he’s always ready to go when you’re around,” Scur said but sank back into the water. “I’m also always planning on using it. Now tell me what you’re thinking, then I’ll put him to work.”

Leaning back into Khalid, she closed her eyes again. “We need to go south. I know that, and we have to leave before sun up. I keep feeling that there’s an urgency to be away from this place, before the sun touches it. Does that make sense?”

“Doesn’t need to,” Khalid said, kissing her shoulder. “It needs to make sense to you. If you think we need to be gone before the sun is up, then that’s what we’re going to do. But to tell the truth, it does make sense. Like every option we’re given only has a time limit. Wonder if that works for both the good and the bad.”

“It’s fascinating,” Eli said. “I haven’t spent a lot of time on Faerie. When I used to sneak out I’d always go to the human realm, but never really paid attention to where I was, only the people. Now, getting to see the magic of what Faerie can do?” She laughed. “Well, this is going to be one interesting adventure.”

“Let’s hope so.” She sighed and smiled as she felt Khalid’s hands slide down her shoulders to cup her breasts. This little reprieve felt like a peace offering from Faerie, a place where she could connect with her guard, where a bond would form, stronger. There was a small niggle in her mind, far back, but telling her that peace like this would be stretched few and far between from then on, once they left this gift of a place.

And Khalid was right. It felt like a time limit, like the reprieve was only as long as it could be, before things started to go wrong. Faerie wanted her happy, wanted her grounded.

“You know what I’ve discovered about you, Alyx?” Khalid’s palms brushed against her nipples and his lips pressed right behind her ear as he spoke. “When your mind is calm, you come up with amazing ideas. I think you need to relax and just let this happen. Let what is racing around in your brain have the time to form.”

“Khalid has a point,” Eli said and she moved closer so their bodies were almost pressing together. “We have a long road ahead of us. A lot of unknowns to face. A good night’s rest and a little enjoyment beforehand could be just what you need.”

“What we all need,” Alyx agreed. “That’s if you are all willing.” She wrapped her arms around Eli and pulled her closer.

“What Bax said.” Scur moved to her left side, lips moving to her neck, where he kissed and nipped at her. His hand moved to her ass and squeezed. Eli kissed her, her hands moving to her waist. Tongue seeking entrance, Alyx parted her lips and the kiss grew hotter, more intense.

“That’s it, Alyx,” Khalid whispered and pinched her nipples. “No more thinking tonight. Just feel.”

Abaxley’s hand was on her stomach then, between her and Eli, fingers splayed, thumb just between her breasts, pinky resting on her lower abdomen as he leaned in and nipped her jawline. Her guard cradled her, surrounded her, their hands pinching and stroking as Eli’s mouth plundered her own. The feelings built, closer to complete but still hollow. She knew then she was missing one of them, one guard, and the idea rose in her mind. But what she had was enough for now, was more than she thought she would ever have in a relationship.

She ran a hand over Eli’s thigh, gripped Scur with her other hand and squeezed him. She arched under the knowing hands of her captain, felt the tug on the rings in her nipples, just this side of painful, and it caused her core to clench. Need rolled through her and she moaned into Eli’s mouth.

A finger slipped inside her, and then another, and she knew they were Scur’s. His hips pumped in time with his fingers moving in and out of her heat. Khalid rocked against her, too, the thick hardness of his cock pressing against her back. Steam seemed to rise from the water and the sounds of pleasure, the moans and gasps, echoed through the cavern.

“We can do better,” Eli whispered. It was then the hand on her right breast squeezed and Eli leaned back to look down and grinned. Her right hand was covering Khalid’s left, adding pressure to his touch.

Looking down to see where her left hand had gone, Alyx found it circling Abaxley’s wrist, moving his hand down until his finger brushed against her clit. Then the other woman’s mouth was on hers again.

“For the first time in my life, I am glad to be near two controlling women,” Scur growled out, the pumping of his finger growing faster.

“Asshole,” Alyx murmured then closed her eyes in bliss. Wrapped in her lovers, she surrendered to the need, the growing feeling of contentment they were bringing her to. Hands on her body, multiple, touching, squeezing, pinching, stroking, the sensation was heady, and consuming. She could feel her body tighten, bundle and coil, and pulse in time with their ministrations. Whimpering, she surrendered to the pleasure further, goosebumps breaking out on her skin, her nipples pearling.

“In all the hells,” she heard Eli say, “I’ve never seen anything as erotic and sensual as Alyx coming.”

“Have to agree with you there.” Khalid’s voice, then his lips brushing against her shoulder.

Scur’s fingers stopped moving, but stayed pressed deep inside her. “Feels as amazing. But fuck, is it just me or can you feel something pulsing from her?”

“Magic,” Abaxley said in a slight whisper. “Faint, but getting stronger.”

She didn’t have one clue what they were talking about. She literally was twitching through the lovely aftershocks of the lazy orgasm they had given her. It was powerful, deep, but not violent, not vicious but no less toe-curling than any other she had had. And having them touch her, having them move over her, work her over together, as if in concert.

Sliding his fingers out of her, Scur placed his hand on her wrist and jarred her grip loose from him. “As much as I love when you get all possessive and handsy with him, this one isn’t about me.” His lips brushed along her jaw. “How’s our princess feeling?”

“Like the center of a very focused world,” she said and sighed. She had wanted her guard, wanted to feel the connection, but they had other ideas, and as lovely as she felt she wanted everyone satisfied. She was going to have to make it up to them.

“Good reason for that,” Khalid said, sweeping her up into his arms. “I think it’s time to put your very sated body to sleep.”

“I’ll help.” Eli leaned up to kiss her sweetly before grabbing her clothes and heading after Scur.

She shook her head. “Earlier I could. But all I felt were all of you,” she said softly and snuggled into him. “Not that it was a bad thing. It was like we were just outside of a heart sync, at least it felt like that. I don’t know.” She looked up to his face. “I’m still missing someone.”

“They’ll be coming. You ended up with us four pretty quickly, if you consider how long it took all the other princesses to get their guards, Verity not included,” he added with a laugh and carried her out of the water before setting her on her feet. “If they feel they’re yours, it won’t take them long to find you. None of us could deny you for very long.” He looked over at Bax when he said the last part.

“You only say that because she didn’t make you wait even five minutes.” Khalid laughed and grabbed her underwear for her, holding it out to her with the tip of his finger. “Not sure why you need this. We all know you sleep naked.” His grin grew.

“At home I do. In the wilderness where any manner of creepy crawly can crawl up my ass, or worse,” she made a face. “No, thank you. And that includes anyone jumping up my ass. I have seen that horror movie. I know how it ends, thank you very much.”

“I heard that,” they heard Scur call out. “Alyx likes my creepy crawlies.”

Khalid snorted a laugh. “Point taken. I have a feeling your guard dog won’t let even an ant near you.” The coyote stretched and padded over, coming to stand right next to her.

Absently she ran her fingers through the fur on his head and smiled. “No, I don’t suppose he would but still, camel spiders are the least of our worries. At least with them we can see them coming. Those desert centipedes? No way.” She smiled. “So, sleep for a few hours, yes? We need to be gone before sun up and breakfast in us.”

“We are all sleeping,” she said, brokering no argument. “We need to keep frosty.”

“Well, we’re ready for you guys,” Eli said, coming back. “Nice little sleeping area all set up.” She was dressed again, a pair of yoga pants and a light long-sleeve shirt. “I’m with you on the random creepy crawlies. Never been a fan of waking up with something crawling on me, and let me tell you, it happened more times than not.”

“You have bugs in Hell?” Khalid asked as they walked to the other side of the cave.

“Oh, you better believe we do. And they aren’t for the faint of heart. I used to use them for torture. They do come in handy. Might have to collect some if I stumble upon them.”

“Dad said they come along on the dead human and morph into something otherworldly when they get to Hell.” She shrugged. “Like the spiders we have don’t have eight legs, but twelve and are hairy as fuck. I always thought it was normal until I came to the human realm the first time.”

“You might need to head back and grab some of those suckers to use against the hobs,” Scur said when he came into view. “They would probably scream like little bitches.”

“I would scream like a little bitch,” Bax said and offered Alyx a water. “I’m not proud. I’ll admit it.” He shuddered.

“I’ve seen some strange things at the Front, but not a twelve-legged spider,” Khalid said. “But I wouldn’t mind hearing the hobs screaming.” He sat down on the blankets, stretching out his legs and holding his hand out to her. “Come on, Alyx, time for some sleep.”

“Yeah,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t need a lot of sleep. I guess I’m kind of another. Not fae, not human, not a demon.” She shrugged. “My sleep habits are different. I can go make sure nothing gets in while you guys sleep.”

“As often as possible,” Eli said and kissed her before heading out, the coyote following after her. “Looks like your guard dog is going to be a watch dog tonight.” Khalid lay back and pulled her against his side.

Cuddling in, she sighed. “He’s a protector, not a guard dog.” And she felt that with all that she was. “I’m glad he’s with us. He will come in handy.” She yawned, sleep making her eyes grow heavy. “Thank you, all of you, for being here,” she said softly as sleep claimed her.

Opening her eyes, she saw her faeblin smiling at her, felt the warmth of heat and the crackle of fire, and smelled the heaven that was coffee. “Ooh, what time is it?”

“Four. Sun’s up at six. Gives us time to eat, and pack up. Someone had said they wanted everyone to have breakfast before we rolled out.”

She sat up, realizing she was in the little nest of blankets alone. “Everything okay?”

She smiled at her berserker. “Famished. What’s on the menu?” She stood, realizing she was wearing just underwear and a tank top, and took the pants Abaxley gave her. “Where is Willy?” she said, not feeling the familiar feeling of him greeting her upon waking with a small travel across her clavicle.

Abaxley grinned. “When I woke up, the coyote was sitting by a little garden of flowers, with all the glowing moths and cicadas hunkering down. There was a little pool of water. I tasted it.”

“So, sugar water?” she asked as she slipped her long-sleeve wicking shirt over her tank top and slid her socks on.

Sliding her feet into her boots, she clomped over to Scur and kissed him on the lips. “Morning, love.”

“Morning, my sexy little vixen,” he said, pulling her flush against him to kiss her properly. “Did you know that making coffee with sugar water makes it taste like heaven?” He gave her a crooked smile. “To answer your earlier question, for breakfast we have jerky, hash browns, and don’t ask me how he did it, but Khalid made some kind of French toast. Which is mind blowing since it isn’t like we have eggs.”

“That’s what we get with a man who’s spent his life in the woods. Resourceful mother fucker.” She winked and took a sip of Scur’s coffee. “Oh, that is fucking good.”

Squired between two of her guards, she made it to the fire where Eli was sipping coffee and watching Willy and another bug jump and dart at each other, as if they were playing. Her coyote friend was sitting to the other side of them, watching as well.

“Good morning, baby,” she said to Eli. “And good morning to you, love,” she said to Khalid. “So, Scur says you’re goddamn magic? And what’s this?” She pointed to the moth and what looked like a cicada.

“You already knew I’m goddamn magic,” Khalid said to her with a grin and brought her a plate filled with food. “I’m glad you decided we needed to leave before the sun came up, because this place is seriously beautiful. I’ve never seen so many things glowing. Not to this extent.”

“Gogo told me that a lot of Faerie, wild Faerie is bioluminescent. She said when she went to Gorrag-li the mushrooms there were glowing like the ones in the moth grove. This place is...magic,” she agreed with her captain.

“Gorrag- li is airborne,” Abaxley said. “It was on the news before we left.”

“Ruined city in the sky over Japan? It crossed into Faerie. The humans saw it.”

“Well hell.” She sat next to Eli and smiled. “Willy seems to be having a good time,” she offered a piece of jerky to the coyote. “Thank you for helping keep watch over the night.” She took a bite of the French toast. “Oh my god. Khalid, how did you do this?”

“Sorry, sugar,” her captain said with a cocky little smirk, “can’t be giving out my secret. I’ve gotta make sure you keep deciding you need me. My camping cooking skills are my secret weapon.”

Eli laughed and scooted closer to her until their hips were touching. Her plate was almost polished off. “I don’t mind keeping watch. Plus, the coyote is actually pretty good company. It was peaceful. I’ve never been somewhere so peaceful before.”

“It is a wonder,” she agreed. She lifted her hand and Willy came to her, resting on her finger. “Hello, my little love. Did you have a good evening? I see you have a friend. The cicada came to her as well, sitting, though a bit heavier, on her wrist. “Hello,” she said softly. It crawled along her hand and then she lowered her hand, and set them both on her knee. They danced around each other some more and she laughed. The utter joy she felt radiating from her little familiar was infectious.

“You’re becoming the insect whisperer,” Scur said. “Not sure how I feel about that.”

“I heard you were freaked out by moths,” Eli said with a smile. “Who would have thought the big bad berserker would be scared of little flying insects.”

“I’m not scared of them, I just don’t like them,” Scur said. “Those little flies are the worst, though, buzzing in your ear.”

The coyote stretched his front paws and glanced at all of them before coming over to lay in front of her. Khalid grabbed a couple pieces of jerky and put them on a plate before setting it in front of him.

“I don’t like spiders, Scur doesn’t like moths...” Abaxley said. “What don’t you like, Khalid?”

She polished off her hearty breakfast quickly, slugging her coffee back, the caffeine and sugar high making her head buzz. “Yes, Cappy, what don’t you like?”

“Oh yeah?” he said, a smile spreading across his face. “What is it you don’t like, Eliora?”

She pursed her lips and Alyx could tell she had to think on the question. “I’m not sure, really. Hummingbirds and those chirpy little ones kinda creep me out.”

“Now that we’ve figured that out...” Khalid looked at her as he started to clean up from his cooking. “You know what way we’re heading this morning?”

Twenty minutes later they were packed up, and the camel, who had been dozing by the front of the cave, loaded up with their supplies, was both fed and watered. She went to her knees where Willy and the cicada were now lying together, and put out her hand. “Willy, little love, it’s time to go.”

The small moth crawled up her finger, then stopped and she watched as the cicada followed suit. Once again, he crawled to her wrist. “Thank you for playing with my little sweetie. I wish you and your community long, lovely lives. And thank you for welcoming us to your oasis, and for allowing us to be here with you for such a short time.”

Several of the bugs that were resting among the flowers took flight and pulsed color. She smiled. “Thank you. So much,” she said, feeling as if they were conveying good luck. “And thank you for allowing Willy to be one of you for the night.”

Willy went airborne, flittered around several of the larger bugs and then went to her, settling on her shoulder. She looked down at the cicada and gasped as the small body melted into the skin of her forearm, becoming a small jeweled, milky blue tattoo, though she could feel him nestled just under her skin.

“Okay, that’s just fucking creepy,” Scur said. “You know I love you, Alyx, but if you start playing host to a shit ton of insects...” He shuddered. “That’s like a bad horror flick in the making.”

She looked up at the flying community, their lights starting to make sense in her mind. “I... Thank you.”

“I’m getting weird images. But I think they are sending this one to our Sithen, to seed a colony. He...sorry, she, is a young queen.” She swallowed as the images came easier. “They have been here a long time, waiting to return to the world.”

She watched as more images hit her. “They say to be wary of the shifting sand. And keep the moon to our left.” The images stopped and she felt a pop in her mind as the colony fluttered back to the small garden. She blinked and felt Willy melt into her shoulder once more. “Holy shit.”

“I for one am glad you make friends with mystical insects. We just got two good warnings,” Khalid said as they started forward.

She nodded. “I got the impression they have been waiting there since Faerie put the spring there,” she said as they started north. They were about ten minutes from the cave when she felt a bubble burst in her mind and then Hendrix was over the coms.

“Hold, please,” Scur said, apparently deciding he was going to throw that in every chance he got. “Yup, we’re all here.”

“What are you doing up at the butt crack of dawn?” Khalid asked. “Guess the nice part about this is you’re actually in the same time zone for once.”

“Because it’s gone,” he said. “Literally a blip and it’s like it was never there. No sat photos, no nothing.”

“Alyx said we needed to leave before the sun came up,” Eli said. “Looks like her instincts are spot on.”

“Let’s hope so,” Scur said. “I have a feeling this isn’t going to be just a normal hike through the desert, which means we don’t need any human witnesses to what’s going to happen. More so, last thing we need is the humans around when the hobs show up.”

Eli rubbed her hands together. “Ooh, old stone dwelling. Those are always fun. I can’t tell you how many humans I met when they thought it would be a good idea to mess with one of them. Religious?” she asked Hendrix.

Alyx nodded though Hendrix couldn’t see her. “The churches carved from the rock, from the top town in Ethiopia. Hendy, we aren’t near there, there’s just sand here.”

“Someone want to fill in the guy who never left the Front for his entire life?” Khalid said, looking over at her. “Is there something significant about this church other than it was carved out of rock?”

“How it’s carved. From the top down, like literally hewn into the rock, and the length of time it took to do it. There are some like the Kailasa Temple at the Ellora Caves in India that are intricate as fuck, humans can’t figure out how it’s been done, or how it was supposedly done in just twenty years with no trace of the rock they extracted. Same with Lalibela. But there are none in the vicinity because there’s no rock here.”

Scur looked over at Khalid. “You sure you didn’t go sleep walking one night and do any of that?”

Her captain snorted. “First, I have a feeling those places are way older than me. Second, I’m not very artistic with my power. More like move ‘em, but don’t decorate. Hendrix, is this something we need to be concerned about or is it just an anomaly?”

“I’m working on it,” they heard Nihar say in the background. “It’s kinda hard to know exactly what we’re dealing with when I can’t find anything saying it’s been there before. But have no fear, I’ll have something before you get there.”

“You’re a peach, Nihar. Hendrix, does he at least have his dick in his pants?”

“If the man can get us the info we need,” Scur said, “I say let him go balls out.”

“Literally,” Eli added. “You said we are about a couple hours before we hit it? Anything popping up that we need to worry about before then? We already have moving sand and the moon on the left side on the list.”

“Um...the colony of insects that lived in the cave,” she said and winced, knowing it sounded insane.

“We got ourselves a full-fledged insect whisperer here, Hendrix,” Scur said.

“Keep it up, Scur,” she said and sighed. “I have a cicada that’s hitching a ride to my Sithen.”

“Makes sense. Each of the Houses is a haven for a specific subset of animals. Sleeping for the darker dream animals like wisps and the basilisks, and most of the shifters. Blood for the dragons, Dank has so many animals coming back to its forest, and the Sluagh calls those from the depths among other things. It makes sense Alyx would take the insects. She is the Arcane house and a lot of arcane magic has to deal with insects,” Hendrix offered. “The fact that she’s not afraid of them or freaked out by them is a boon.”

“Not everyone in my house is as...tolerant.” She looked at Scur. “Thanks, Hendrix. We will be in touch.”

Alone, but for each other, traversing the sands north, the pull in her gut gave a tug. Abaxley took the reins of the camel from her.

She looked over to Eli and quickened her pace so she was beside the other woman. “Hey.”

"Hey yourself," Eli said, shooting her a grin. "This has got to be old hat for you now. The adventures and travels and the unknown of what you'll discover."

“Nah, I mean don’t get me wrong, it’s something to do, and it makes our Court important, I mean who the fuck else has the out and out balls to do this? Okay, Mea and those psychos she lives with but...” She shrugged. “I’m good at it.”

"I knew that about you the moment I met you. You’re different, Alyx Mayhem, and I happen to like different." They walked in silence for a moment before Eli spoke again. "You know I left Hell to find me a princess. I didn’t think I actually would, just had this undeniable need to try. After being in Faerie and the human realm for months I was about to give up and go back home but Bechar said one more party." She smiled. "Gonna have to send my brother a fruit basket."

“We find any seeds or edible plants on this trip, bring him some of that,” she said. “I’m glad you came, And I’m glad you are my fourth guard. So, time in the human realm...what did you like most?”

"Oh..." Eli pursued her lips in thought. "Might sound lame, but I liked seeing humans who weren't all evil. I mean I've been around the bad ones my entire life, but to see the good they do and their humanity? Gave me hope."

“Humanity is largely flawed,” she agreed. “But there are just absolute gems out there that are what should define the species as a whole. You know, aside from Verity, I’m the only princess that’s lived my life largely in the human realm. I have seen the good, and the bad, and the horrible. I’m glad what you have seen has given you hope.” She took her hand.

"I will admit, there were some complete evil assholes in Hell that I did like. But when you're a kid and don’t have anyone else to talk to, you make do," Eli said with a laugh and squeezed her hand. "When this adventure is over, probably gonna need to let my dad know I'm not coming home."

“Probably, yeah. Well, that you’re not going back to Hell anyway because you’re home now.” She looked sidelong at Eli and grinned. “Because you’re with me. So, what do you like to do? Movies? Music? Hobbies outside of torture?”

"Oh, gonna throw the hard ones at me." She laughed. "Music would be rock...hard, but not screaming. Movies...well, don’t laugh, but I like romantic comedies. I might be the daughter of Satan, but I'm still a girly girl at heart. And while torture is my favorite pastime, I also like to dance. It’s freeing, if that makes sense. What about you?"

“Music? I like anything I can fight or fuck to. Heavy, driving, but also melodic. But I also like to go dancing to old darkwave. Octavia and I used to go every week. Movies? Horror, and Sci-Fi. Both pull me out of real life, but I could do with a romantic comedy or two.” She giggled. “As to hobbies? Technically this has been a hobby for a long time. Before this, I liked to make Zen gardens. Back at my old place we had this amazing courtyard we turned into a stunning Zen garden. I kinda miss the peacefulness of it.”

"Seriously? That sounds amazing. It's weird, even though I'm old as dirt, I still feel like there is so much I haven't seen or done. Getting to do this?" Eli looked around them. "It’s something I always wanted to do. Explore and learn new things. Getting to do them with someone I can already feel in my soul and with men who already feel like family? Dad might gag if he heard me say this, but I feel blessed."

“Blessings can be dark,” she said softly. “You are my dark blessing.” She leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and then pulled out her canteen, opening it to take a swig, then handed it to Eli. “This entire thing, this quest, or race...or whatever...” She took the canteen back. “Finding the origins of Faerie, our homeland? What will happen with finding it, you know?”

Eli took a swig herself before handing it back. "I can’t imagine not knowing your origins. I mean it's just Dad and me, you know, and I know all my history and his. Hearing about Bechar going through not knowing where he came from was tough, but an entire species? That's crazy. We're going to find out, though. You strike me as a woman who won't rest until she gets what she wants. I happen to like that in my women."

“No mom.” Her mouth pursed again and Alyx was learning her newest guard did that whenever she thought about something. “I’m not entirely sure how that works, to tell you the truth. My dad never mentioned her. I don’t even know if I had a mom or if I hatched or some shit. Never thought to ask.”

Alyx laughed. “The idea of you hatching outta a giant spotted egg...” She laughed harder. “Oh, wow.”

“Guess one of these days I’ll have to ask,” Eli said, laughing with her. “Although I doubt my dad even remembers. I mean, he’s older than both Canibores and Cetus. Though he didn’t fall from Heaven. That’s another thing I enjoy about being on the human realm, human’s idea of the devil. I mean they have Hell pretty spot on, but Lucifer?” She snorted. “Not even close. Although the show that came out a few years ago based on the comic, that was as close to accurate as they came.”

“Your dad hot like that?” she teased. “’Cause...oof. Speaking of coming from an egg, If I never met Lady Candessa, Scur’s mother, I would have thought he came from an egg.” She winked.

“Dad is totally a good looking guy, but it’s his sock collection that really gets the women in Hell all a flutter.” Eli laughed again then looked over her shoulder at where the guys were walking behind them, with enough room to let them have a conversation without overhearing. “Speaking of Scur and the rest of them, you got dirt on them? Being the only female in a guard full of guys, a girl needs to have some ammunition.”

Dirt? Alyx laughed. “What do you wanna know? I’m sure I have crazy shit on them. But if you’re asking if any of them like to dress up in my lingerie and wear my heels, I don’t think so.”

“Good, ‘cause I don’t want the competition in that area.” Eli winked at her. “Let say I want to play a good practical joke on them, which happens to be my third favorite hobby behind torture and dancing. Can you think of anything that will get them to scream like a twelve-year-old girl at a boy band concert?”

“Have Tripp come over in his spider costume, jump out of the shadows. Can’t promise him he won’t leave without a severe limp but it would be hilarious. Especially Abaxley. He hates spiders.” She thought about it. “Speaking of my faeblin, he gets manicures.” She grinned. “Which is appreciated, no jagged dirty nails sliding inside me, you know? Not sure that’s dirty or just good grooming.”

“I can work with the spiders.” Eli’s grin grew and looked a tad bit evil. “I’m very familiar with Tripp and that damn spider costume. He tried to get me once, but turned in a room before I reached him and Riven was behind me. Let’s just say he did more than just limp after that. Living with those guys was seriously entertaining.”

“They are all seriously insane. I don’t know how Mea does it. Living with Scur when it was just me and him, Bonnie and Clyde kinda shit. Thank god Khalid finally pinged. Because I was close to a Born Bad montage and a prison sentence.” She grinned. “Now, Khalid, he’s got a thing for skincare. Seriously, you wouldn’t think the Commander of the Hunt liked face masks and cleansers but that facial hair he has? So fucking soft...” She shivered remembering the last time he was between her thighs. “So, he can keep his routine.”

“Big bad commander all about the pampering? Interesting.” Those full lips pursed again. “I think I have an idea for him. Gonna have to make a call first.” She looked over her shoulder again. “Now, from what I’ve heard over the last two days, Scur doesn’t like moths, or any flying insect. There is so much I can do with that, it’s not even funny.” Eli walked a little closer until their arms brushed and she lowered her voice. “So, gotta ask since you brought up Khalid’s beard...Scur’s give you a rash or does he actually take care of it?”

“A little of both?” She grinned. “It’s super soft anyway, but I think Khalid has instituted all facial hair will be conditioned and oiled so I’m more comfortable.” She winked. “And since I’m keeping it Brazilian...well...” She laughed. “So, they won’t ever know if the carpet matches the drapes.”

Eli laughed. “A girl needs to have her secrets. I also remember very fondly exactly what you’re like down there and plan on taking a return visit as soon as possible.”

She blushed. This with Eli was uncomplicated, and she liked that. She liked that the woman was fun, and she liked that the woman liked her. Yes, she’d had female lovers often, but they weren’t people she could be friends with. Even Pristina, long-term, would never be the kinda close she and Eli already were. “Feeling is mutual. You are just yum.” She winked.

“True.” Eli laughed. Before Alyx could say anything, she found herself being picked up off her feet and then the only view she had was the sand-covered ground and the back of Scur’s legs.

“We all decided the two of you whispering and laughing is dangerous for all of us,” her berserker said.

“Goddamn right,” she said. “Put me down or I’ll take a chunk outta your ass.” She wiggled.

“And that look is downright sexy,” Scur said, tapping her ass before setting her down on her feet. “I love when kitten shows her claws. I love it even more when she scratches with them.”

“Don’t know how to live any other way.” He wrapped his arm around Alyx’s shoulder.

They climbed the next dune, getting a lay of the land, and Abaxley came up close behind her. “Still north, right?”

“Yep.” She felt the tug again, at her navel. “To that carved anomaly.” She looked to her captain. “If it’s safe, we can rest for a bit, yeah?”

“I’ve been keeping an eye on what’s around us as we’ve been walking,” Khalid said as they came to a stop. “I didn’t pick up on anything we need to worry about. No moving sand, no giant worms coming out of it either.”

“I’m not calling him Mau’dib,” Bax said, pointing at Scur. “But if we do encounter sandworms, be they black and white or giant spice-loving freaks, someone better know how to ride it.”

“You wanna stop here, Alyx?” Khalid said, shielding his eyes as he looked up at the sun. “We’re probably about a half hour away from the stones Hendrix mentioned. Since we don’t know what we’ll find there, thinking your idea to stop for a bit before is a good one.”

She nodded. “Might as well. Fifteen minutes,” she said, the tug in the center of her insistent, but not overly so. They could stop and rest.

“I don’t think anyone is.” She cocked her head and saw glinting to the right of them, small, like a diamond. She walked over and noticed there were pieces of what looked like glass, no larger than small rock. “Desert glass?”

Abaxley came up next to her. “Looks like it. It would be cool to find some fulgurite.”

“You found something shiny in the middle of the desert, didn’t you?” Scur said with a laugh and shake of his head. “Only you.”

She bent and picked up a few pieces that were decently sized. “I’ll have Caspera make me something cool.” She shot Scur the finger.

He snapped his teeth at her as he laid down a blanket and sat down. “I thought Cas worked with metals.”

“Cas can make anything out of anything,” Khalid said of his fellow huntsman. “Seriously, it’s amazing to watch. He can enchant metals, though.”

“I’m going to need to start a notebook on who everyone is. Who’s Caspera?” Eli asked, taking a seat next to Scur.

“Caspera is first and foremost Senara’s captain. But before that he was the main smithy at the Front for a long time. He is also Yuri’s older brother,” Alyx said and plopped down with Scur.

“Ah,” Eli said. “I haven’t met Senara yet, or Candiria. Well, no more than when I saw them at your party. First time I’d seen Queen Verity, too. I’ve only hung out with Nymea and Prince Aziz. Kaelyn took a couple pints of blood from me. Damn woman talked me into it somehow. Still not sure how she managed it.”

“You probably gave in so she’d stop talking,” Khalid said. “Never knew a female who could talk so much.”

“Ria is a joy,” Alyx said and swatted Scur’s leg. “An absolute joy. Eli, we will spend some time after we do this at High Court, considering my brother is one of the queen’s guard and well...don’t tell him but I like seeing him. Even if he hates Scur. Or maybe it’s because of it.”

“Hey,” Scur said, pinching her side, “I never said she wasn’t a joy, I said she talked a lot. You cannot tell me I’m wrong. She’s a nutball, but a nutball I happen to love. She’s family.”

Eli laughed and looked around Scur at her. “He was the one next to Verity at dinner, right? You two have the same eyes. I’d like to get to know him and I really want to know why he hates Scur.”

“’Cause brothers don’t tend to like men like him with their sisters,” Khalid said.

“He likes me, he just doesn’t want to admit it. He needs to keep the overprotective big brother front.”

“Yet he’s fine with Khalid, Bax, and now Eli with me, knowing full well they are diddling his sister.” She leaned in and kissed him. “He just knows you’re the guy mothers warn their daughters about and you got me first.”

“Damn straight I did.” Scur flashed her a grin and scooped her up and onto his lap. “But he’s right about me being the guy mothers warn their daughters about. Every girl who wasn’t you definitely got their heart broken. You’re the only one I ever wanted to keep.”

“He has every right to be,” she said and kissed him, rubbing her nose on his. “He’s an asshole, but he’s my asshole.”

“All right, boys and girls, couple more minutes than we start up again,” Khalid said, his eyes still surveying their surroundings. “All this quiet is making me itchy.”

She took a sip, the cool water a balm on her tongue. She swallowed and then handed the canteen back to Bax. “Thank you, love.”

“I don’t have sand in my pants,” Khalid said with a droll look. “I’ve been in one battle after another since I could walk, quiet is unsettling.”

“I get that,” Eli said. “When I first left Hell it was weird not hearing a constant background of screaming.”

Alyx chuckled. “So weird to hear that.” She stood and smiled at her girlfriend. “Let’s get walking, yeah? I’m getting that urgency again.”

“I definitely had the strangest upbringing of the lot,” Eli said and got up. “And from what I’ve heard about this lot, that’s saying something.”

Scur folded the blanket back up and stuck it in his pack. “Pretty sure mine was the most normal. That should scare all of you. All right, minx, I’m all about following your lead ‘cause those pants are doing great things for your ass.”

“Sweet talker,” she said and grinned. “Considering my history, my upbringing was pretty normal with the Altemis.”

They started walking again, Alyx and Khalid in the front this time, with the coyote on her left for a spell, before he would scout ahead, and them come back. She felt the tug harder. “We need to pick up the pace.” She placed her hand on her stomach. “The pull is strong.”

Khalid nodded. “I don’t know if this makes any sense, but I can almost feel your anxiousness, kinda like how I know when you’re looking for me.”

“Ain’t no one here want to be running in sand until it’s a no other choice kinda thing,” Eli piped in.

Abaxley, with reins on the camel, kept up with the four, the coyote already a quarter mile ahead of them, stopped at another dune top. They met him not long after, and then followed him to another, the pulse getting stronger in her stomach. “We need to get there...” She looked up. “Something is coming. Can you feel it?”

Winds started to blow, not hard but enough to make an impression. She watched the sky darken. Something was indeed coming. And the urgency to get to the dwelling was literally causing her teeth to chatter. “I don’t know what we are going to walk into,” she said, her words almost lost on a gust of wind.”

“Think it’s about time for that run!” Alyx screamed into the growing storm.

Scur tried not to think about the last time he needed to run through a growing sand storm. That day hadn’t ended up well for a lot of the soldiers he fought next to, but he wasn’t too worried about that outcome happening again, not with those who were running beside him. If he had the choice to pick any group to fight beside, his answer would always be Alyx and his fellow guards, even Eli. He might not know the chick well yet, but from the moment Alyx accepted her, they’d all felt the connection.

“The stone structure isn’t too much farther,” Khalid called out, having taken the lead. They all picked up their pace, which wasn’t easy. Running in sand was worse than running in snow. The winds were also picking up, making seeing anything that much harder. Plus, who the hell wanted sand in their eyes?

“Might want to stop talking then,” he said and grunted when she smacked his arm. Yeah, he deserved it, but he’d deserved every smack, punch, and slap women have given him over the years. Alyx had been his end game since the first time he’d seen her when they were just teens, every woman he’d met between then and now were nothing more than a warm body, and he wouldn’t apologize for it.

Finally, they reached the structure and were able to suck in a much needed breath without the Sahara Desert getting lodged in their throats. “We all here and accounted for?” he asked.

“That felt wrong,” Bax said and looked them over. “Where is the coyote?”

“Here,” Alyx said, turning to show the animal sitting at her feet. “Urgency has died down.” She looked to Khalid.

“Yeah, but that was damn weird. Can’t say I’ve ever felt anything like it and pretty sure I was only feeling an echo of what you were.”

Damn good question. Scur couldn’t remember any captain being that synced to their princess. Possibly Nymea and Ryker, but they shared a blood bond. A ‘til death do they both part blood bond. “Not that I know of,” he said. “Nihar would probably know.”

“Khalid in sync with my emotions is the least of our problems right now,” Alyx said and walked to the wall. She ran her hand along the rock face. “Insane. It’s smooth, like a fucking laser cut it.”

“Not here but...” She turned. “Someone needs to get pictures of that.” She pointed to a large mural, tall, lithe figures standing in a stone circle, a small circle in the middle of them. There was a sun and what looked like the moon. And a doorway.

Pulling out his sat phone, thanking the gods he had the damn thing zipped in one of his side pockets, he snapped a few pics. “Send it over to Hendrix and hope Nihar isn’t in a research coma?”

“Do it,” Khalid said, stepping up to Alyx’s other side, studying the pictures. Scur sent the pictures and started counting in his head to see how long it would take the scourge to call back.

“Fuck if I know,” Scur said. “Since the little shit isn’t picking up, I’m thinking not.”

“Do you think those pictures are significant to what we’re doing now?” Eli asked. “I mean we’re pretty much stuck here and whatever it is that’s happening with that sand storm, it seems it wanted us to end up right here.”

“And for what reason?” Alyx agreed. “We should probably see what else is here, eh?”

He looked around the space, assessing. They had run through a small crack in rock, though how they had made it through was anyone’s guess, considering looking back toward it he could barely see the entrance. The crack had opened to a large milled space, smooth floors and walls, with sections still there, all created at sharp, perfect ninety-degree angles. All the center rock was set in stark relief, the carvings from floor to ceiling. Beyond where they stood the space was larger, with two other large rocks flanking and the space going further past.

“This is interesting...” Alyx said. “Check this one out, Scur.” She pointed to the mural she was standing in front of. “Does that look like angels? Giants?”

“Giant angels?” Scur said, moving over to where she pointed. Okay, yeah, he could see where she was going with that, they did look like both, something Scur didn’t know was even possible. “I’m going to assume some type of giant ‘cause I’ve never seen an angel and don’t believe in that shit. Although, could be a scourge.”

“Scourge wings are like bats. These clearly have feathers.” She turned. “Those are scourge.” She pointed to another figure. “That’s an angel.”

“And the giants are real,” Bax said as he came up behind her. “What are we looking at?”

“I don’t know.” She walked around to the next side and they followed, treated to another carving of what looked like cernunnos and gryphons. “Okay, gryphons are part of the Light Court,” she said. “Cernunnos are still part of the Hunt.”

“And I never said giants weren’t real,” Scur said with a roll of his eyes. It was something he was used to. Most of his life he was looked at as a dumb guy who liked to fight. He wouldn’t argue the fight part, but there was more in his head than rocks. “Angels, I’m not sold on them. Never seen one, don’t know anyone who has.” He turned to look at Eli and she held up her hands.

“Don’t look at me. No matter what anyone thinks, my dad is not a fallen angel. Although we do get a kick out of that one.” She cocked her head and looked at the last pictures. “I thought the Light and Nightmare Courts didn’t play well together. Those don’t look like war depictions. Think they could be done before the wars?”

“Before the Rift,” Alyx said. “Document all of this. If it’s like the other stop, it won’t be here after and we don’t wanna miss anything.” She turned the corner and stood still. “This one...” she said as they walked over. People stood together, the day and night one piece in front of them. “It seems like it was before anything.”

“I’m documenting,” Bax said. He snapped several more pictures when they heard clicking from behind them.

“Khalid...” Scur said, the hairs on the back of his neck rising. He knew that feeling, knew it as well as he knew the silken skin on Alyx’s inner thighs. But with Alyx, he enjoyed it; whatever that clicking sound was, it was like nails on a chalkboard.

The coyote growled low in its throat and moved past Khalid. Ears back, he positioned himself as if he was ready to lunge at any moment. At least Scur assumed it was a he, not like he ever bothered to look.

“What the hell makes that noise?” Eli asked and when he turned to look at her, she had two short-handled scythes in her hands. He couldn’t stop his snort of laughter. “What?” she said to him with a knowing grin.

Alyx pulled out her short knives. “Get ready.” She looked to Scur. “Ready to play, baby?”

“Ah, sugar, I’m always ready to play. Which means you guys better be ready to fuel me up,” he said and cracked his neck. The clicking got louder and he started to hear something that sounded like scraping against the ground. Before he could let his imagination go wild on what could be making that noise, it came into view.

“Fucking hell,” Khalid breathed out. “You definitely don’t want that crawling on you while you’re sleeping, Alyx.”

Wasn’t that the damn truth. They’d been worried about scorpions, but not one that was as big as a double-decker bus.

“I’ve seen this movie,” Eli said. “Pretty sure they went for its legs.”

“Well, we got to watch the kraken die,” Scur said, flexing his fingers. “As long as Medusa doesn’t show up, I can deal with the scorpion.”

Scruffy, ‘cause if Alyx wouldn’t give the coyote a name, he was going to call it Scruffy, growled again and took off like a shot, right at the scorpion. “That fucking dog is crazy!”

“You’re just jealous he is getting first blood!” Bax called from his right. “Make sure there’s not a dude that looks like he’s made of wood riding it...”

“Take out the stinger!” she called as she launched herself at the body, bouncing when her blade struck hard. The coyote was under it biting at it, or attempting to, as Alyx side jumped a massive claw.

“So much damn stone around, but can’t fucking use it,” Khalid said with a sigh. “Plenty of sand, though...”

Particles of sand started to blow through, presumably being pulled through the crack in the opening they previously came through. As Scur charged into the melee, he watched Khalid manipulate the sand into a ball and toss it straight at the scorpion’s eyes. If it was like the smaller version of itself, it couldn’t see well to begin with, but that should blind it from their movement for a while.

The scorpion let out a high-pitched cry and Scur made a running leap onto its leg and climbed up. If his princess wanted the stinger taken care of, he would tear the fucking thing off for her. First, he needed to get up there.

“Hold onto something, Scur,” he heard Eli call out right before the scorpion shifted to its side and let out another scream. “One leg down.” His vision sharpened and he could feel his muscles start to swell. Whatever they were doing down there was feeding his beast, a beast that wanted to come out to play. “More. Hurt this fucker more.”

Abaxley slid under the thing, dagger up as he dragged it across the plates of armor there.

It was too damn close for Scur’s comfort. He leapt up and wrapped himself around the scorpion’s tail and reared back. “Khalid,” he called down. “Looks like he’s got a friend coming for a play date.”

“Fuck! I’m heading that way,” the captain said, not sounding all too happy about it. Scur didn’t know what his problem was, he was having the time of his life. “Alyx, my little vixen, wanna get that sexy ass up here and help me cut this fucker’s stinger off?”

She was on the meaty trunk of the arachnid in moments, eyes wild, color high in her cheeks. She grinned and took a stance. “Bring it to mama...”

“You two have fun,” Eli said. “Heading over to help Khalid, but first you might want to hold on again.”

Leaning down, he grabbed hold of Alyx’s hand, jerking back on the scorpion’s tail just as its entire body shook, Eli taking out another leg before sprinting across, catching up to Khalid. He let go, wrapping himself around the tail again and he felt another surge of strength. If they spilled a little more blood, removed a couple more legs, he would be close to full on beast and would be able to rip the damn stinger off with his bare hands if he wanted, but what was the fun in that? Watching Alyx do it was way more satisfying.

Knowing his eyes were already glowing blue, he looked down at her. He didn’t need to voice what he was thinking, he knew she would know exactly what to do. Spinning his body around until he was hanging on upside down, he used all his body weight to jerk the tail down before it swung him off and into a stone.

Alyx scissored her small knives as the stinger came perilously close to her face, she screamed as she sliced through, and then slid, avoiding whatever it was that the thing called blood. Abaxley was there then, a grin on his face.

“She’s fucking magnificent,” he said to Scur as they watched her set up an aerial, coming down to her feet and crouching as the large bug flailed on less legs than it needed. She attacked again, catching a leg on the joint and pried it free. “Holy shit.”

Scur didn’t land so gracefully. As soon as Alyx had removed its stinger, the scorpion’s tail went wild, probably from the surprise and pain, and sent him on a ride he never wanted to be on again. If it wasn’t for the extra boost, he wouldn’t have been able to hold on. When it finally fell, he released his hold and rolled off its side, slamming onto the ground. “I really hope Scruffy wasn’t under there.”

Bax pointed to the coyote who was literally chewing off a claw on the other scorpion while riding it. Alyx ginned. “He totally belongs with us.”

“Bloodthirsty little fuck,” Scur said. “Definitely belongs.” He pushed himself up and cracked his back. Much better. “Think we should go help them?”

“Teamwork makes the dream work,” she said and blew him a kiss, slapped Abaxley on the ass with one of her knives and raced into the fray, going for the thing’s eyes.

He looked over at Bax and shrugged. “I think it’s time I got to have some fun.” He grinned and knew it wasn’t the kind he usually had. There was nothing playful about it, the beast was riding him hard, it wanted blood, it wanted death, and he wanted it to be by his hands.

Feeling his body swell even more, the scene around him glowed along the edges. His eyes were now full glowing blue. On a low growl, he took off in a dead run, charging straight for the other scorpion. When he was only a few feet away, its tail swung over its head, stinger heading straight for him. Swerving to the right, he dove under it and punched up, going straight through its body. He grabbed onto whatever he could and started to pull it out.

“Dude...” Eli said. “Seriously wish I could do that. Would have made fun time with humans that much more fun.”

“If one of you fucks decide to kill this thing before I do, warn me so I can move,” he said. Though by the way he was tearing this thing about, he had a feeling he was going to get to the finish line first.

“I really hope we find a spring when we’re finished,” he heard Khalid say, “because Scur is going to stink to high heaven.”

“This is all you, with consolation prize going to the coyote, since he got a claw there,” Bax said. “Finish him!”

The next few minutes were a blur, which was something he was used to. When he turned full berserker, or as close to it as he could without multiple deaths surrounding him, he turned himself completely over to it. All that penetrated were the sounds of skin tearing. When he finally came to, the haze rolling back, he was hunched over next to the dead body of the scorpion, breathing hard, and covered in things he didn’t want to look too closely at.

“It seriously sucks that I can’t strip you naked and fuck you right now,” he said, pulling off his shirt to wipe the gore off his face.

“Watching you kill that thing was almost as good as sex,” Eli said. “I mean shit, that was insane. If you ever have a family reunion on the battlefield, I want to go watch with popcorn and beer.”

“He’s the best of the Nordscov clan.” Alyx grinned at him and then licked her bottom lip. “Feeling is mutual, baby.”

“Well before this turns into some kinda fetish porno, what were they guarding?” Abaxley said.

“Damn good question,” Khalid said and tossed him a towel he must have had in his pack. “Whatever it is, it better be good enough to sic those two creatures on us.”

Alyx walked over to the far wall, training her light on it. “More pictograms. Bax?”

“You see anything?” she said to Khalid. “’Cause I see another crack like the one we came through...”

Scur stopped a couple feet behind them, his body doing what he liked to call it’s deflating ritual. His bones were cracking and while it didn’t hurt, it was uncomfortable as fuck. Better to watch from a distance while he went back to what his mother referred to as his wee little size. But he guessed compared to his brothers, he was a runt. “You were first through the other crack,” Khalid told her, placing his hand on the small of her back. “I think it will open for you. They seem to like royalty.”

“Seems everyone here seems to like royalty.” She grinned. “I think there’s another room.” She walked to her right and disappeared behind stone. “Yes. Ooh...”

“Damn woman is walking off,” Scur said with a laugh. “Damn fearless woman.”

“Better believe it.” Scur followed the rest, interested in seeing what she found.

“I think Nihar is going to combust,” she said as they rounded the corner. “We have treasure...”

“Okay,” he said, pulling at his beard, “last thing I expected to find in the middle of nowhere were more scrolls.”

“Makes sense,” Bax said as he, Eli, and the camel came around the corner. “Why else would those fucking monsters be here?”

“Floor’s not lighting up this time,” Khalid said. “Think it’s safe to touch them?”

“Me neither,” Scur said and watched as Scruffy headed straight toward where the scrolls were laying in stone cubbies. He sniffed around and Scur thought he might pee on them, but instead he turned in a circle then laid down. “Scruffy doesn’t think so either.”

“Well then, let’s see what’s what?” She walked over and bent, scratching the coyote behind the ear. “Thank you for checking,” she said to him and then stood to her full height and ran her hand across where the scrolls were. “Odd.”

“You want to elaborate on that?” he said. Finally feeling back to normal, he went to stand next to her. “Are they stuck or something?”

“No, they’re blank, all but...” She ran her hand across them. “This one. It’s got a pulse.”

“Are they really blank, though?” Eli asked, coming up to her other side. “Or is whatever is on there magically protected? Is that something Nihar would know?” She looked around at everyone.

Oh, Scur could not wait until Eli got the full frontal of what it was like to be around Nihar when he was on a quest for answers.

“If he doesn’t, he’ll figure it out,” Khalid told her. “Wonder if the storm has died down enough to get a call out.”

“They feel blank,” Alyx said. “This one, though...” She opened the scroll in her hand and smiled. “A map? Bax, baby, you get through to Hendy yet?”

He shook his head. “Maybe we pop out?” he said and pointed to where a slight breeze was coming through the rocks.

“As good an idea as any. Grab the scrolls,” she said as she went forward to where Bax pointed.

He started to grab the scrolls, along with Khalid and Eli, putting them in one of the empty bags Khalid had tucked in his pack. Damn man always had thought twelve steps ahead. As each scroll was pulled out, he couldn’t help but hope they didn’t set off a trap. As much as he loved death and mayhem, he’d just gutted a giant fucking scorpion and needed a few minutes to decompress. “You guys find something else?” Eli asked.

“An exit.” They heard Alyx’s word. “The camel is already through...and it’s night.”

“Shit. How the hell long have we been in here?” Khalid asked. “Whatever we do, just watch where the damn moon is.”

They walked out following Abaxley and Alyx, noticing it was indeed night. As Eli, the last through with the coyote, passed the threshold, their phone started blaring.

“Oh, did you want me to answer that?” he said with a smirk, letting the phone continue to ring.

“Scur...” Khalid gave him a look, a look that had many huntsmen following his commands.

He sighed and pulled the phone out, answering it. “Alyx’s House of Mayhem. We’ll slay it, maim it, and lay it. How can I help you?”

“I was going to say you’re clean but hey, you do you,” Bax said as Hendrix had a tantrum on the other line.

“Where they fuck have you been? It’s been fifteen hours! Holy shit, how the fuck are you only seven miles from the Oasis?! Seriously, what the fuck?”

Ignoring Hendrix, he looked down at himself then back up at Bax. “Well shit kittens, I am. I didn’t even notice.”

“Spent most of your life covered in scorpion guts, have you?” Eli said with a raised brow and a smile. “Guts, yes, though this was the first giant scorpion.” His attention turned back to the phone. “Sorry, Hendrix, did you just say fifteen hours?”

“I can assure you, we have not been fucking for the last fifteen hours. Although, that would have been preferable.”

“I was not having a meltdown.” Nihar’s voice could be heard in the distance. “Stop placing your feelings on me. You were the one freaking the fuck out.”

“Well then, guess we won’t share with old friar tuck what we found,” Abaxley sniped.

Alyx sighed. “Remember that weird version of Lalibela? Well, a sandstorm kicked up, we raced into there, and then we found some shit and fought two massive Clash of the Titans style scorpions.”

“She means we fought and killed two massive Clash of the Titans scorpions,” Scur said, shooting her a grin. Damn if he didn’t want to find a couple more to fight with her. There was nothing sexier than Alyx in full on murder mode.

“Scorpions,” they heard Nihar mumble. “Yeah, that makes sense. We were trying to reach you when the weather went crazy. I wanted to tell you I found some obscure text about this particular stone structure. It dates back to well before Faerie became its own realm.”

“’Cause I have Cetus’s history literally flowing through my veins,” Nihar said. “In fact, I’m currently glowing. But that isn’t what I wanted to tell you about. The place you’re at is called the Stones of Evanesce.”

“Not that Evanescence,” Nihar said with a groan. “Quade did the same damn thing.”

“Okay, you tell us what you found, and we’ll tell you what we found. Aside from scorpions,” Alyx quipped.

“You have heard the man talk before, right?” Nihar said. “He makes Gogo all giggly just when he asks her to pass the butter. He sounds like Marvin fucking Gaye when he sings. It seriously isn’t fair. But I digress. The Stones of Evanescence, like the name implies, make what they don’t want just anyone to find disappear. Back in the day, fae used to bring items they wanted to keep hidden and if the stones felt what was being offered was justified in being hidden, they would be.”

“Falls in line with the relief carvings we found. Bax is uploading now,” Alyx said.

“Middle stone in the impression,” she said. “There are a few others. Anyway, after we looked at all four sides, two scorpions attacked up. Scur got his death on, and then we found a room of scrolls. One with a map.”

“You got your death on, too, minx. Watching you kill that first scorpion...” He grinned at her, wiggling his brows.

Khalid cleared his throat. “Does that map look like anything you recognize?”

“Hendrix, scroll back. Yeah, stop there,” Nihar said then was quiet for several seconds. “I’m going to have to do some research on this. But the scrolls, did you take them?”

“As I expected,” Nihar said. “There’s a way to figure out what’s on them. Some of them will require blood, some water from certain sources. When it comes to magic, it really could be anything.”

“Great. We’ll have to make a Walmart run after this,” Alyx said dryly. “Now what’s this about being only seven miles from Terjit?”

“Faerie magic,” Abaxley said. “And we are literally in open desert. What time is it?

“So, fifteen hours missing, spit out seven miles from the oasis. What’s close for shelter?” Bax asked.

He was going to punch Hendrix next time he saw him. Fucking always with the hold, please.

“Alyx, pretty sure Walmart isn’t going to have water from an enchanted spring in the middle of the Rata Forest,” Nihar said. “These items were hidden for a reason and whoever put them there doesn’t want them easily read. Of course, we could end up getting one of them to show up and it will be a manifesto of how Boris Langford wanted to save the rain forest.”

“One mile, southwest. There’s an outcropping, small rocky terrain that largely runs next to the Oasis. Though, you need to go through another canyon about a click right from where you are headed, Hendrix came back saying, clicking on his keyboard.

“If you’re at the site I’m sending coordinates to, the south, behind you. And I know that doesn’t make sense but...”

“As long as it‘s on the left, I don’t care.” Khalid looked at Alyx. “What do you think?”

“Okay, boys and girls, let’s get somewhere relatively safe before another sand storm decides to breeze back through,” Scur said and they started heading for their next rest stop on the road to the unknown.

Alyx smiled as they approached the coordinates that Hendrix had given them. For what it was, it was perfect. Not a cave, but there was an outcropping and it was easily defendable, if need be, and with a little rigging they could have a closed shelter for all of them to bed down if another sandstorm kicked up.

Smaller rocks created a perimeter of sorts, and it seemed the sand was largely packed, which meant that there was water close by, probably running underneath them.

Once on site, her companions went to work. She watched as Khalid started with creating a fire pit, Abaxley tending to the camel and the coyote, setting out water for them both. Scur pinched her ass, and they walked past her with the tent and bedrolls.

She looked to Eli. “Let’s get some food, yeah?” All she wanted was to have something to eat, something to drink, and be with her lovers. She didn’t know what was coming next, but she felt the need to rest and recharge with them.

“Damn, I was hoping we could talk Khalid into cooking again,” Eli said with a grin.

“I only do breakfast,” he said. “Plus, shouldn’t you know how to cook, considering your brother is a bloody chef?”

“He must have gotten that talent from his biological family, because Dad and I burn toast.” Eli turned her attention back to Alyx. “We stow away anything good?”

She grinned and crooked her finger. Rounding the camel, she pulled a box off the side of the saddle. “Venison, apricots, a crusty bread, and hard cheese. I had Azrael pack it special. And this.” She pulled a bottle of red wine out of the pouch. “Best I can do. Enough for all of us.”

“And somehow it managed to stay sand free,” Eli said with a grin, taking the wine to look at the label. “Impressive. So, who here knows how to cook venison over an open flame?”

“I would think you would be able to cook meat on a fire,” Scur said, plucking the venison out of the box. “I mean, isn’t that part of your underworldly torture? I’ve got the cooking tonight, minx.” He kissed her cheek and gave her a lopsided grin before walking over toward the now blazing fire pit.

“Yeah,” Eli said, “but I cook to char. Probably wouldn’t taste all that good.”

“Good venison is rare.” She winked and they walked over to the fire where Abaxley was sitting, the coyote stalking around the camp. She leaned into Khalid and kissed him, then sat with Abaxley, his arm around her as she opened the wine.

Looking up to the stars, she smiled. Even with the ambient light of the fire, the Milky Way was alive with pinpricks of light, so many more than she had ever seen. “This is...magical.”

Scur barked out a laugh. “Considering what we saw today, yeah, I would definitely call this place magical.”

Eli, who was standing next to the berserker, snorted. “A real romantic I see.”

Scur looked down at her, brow raised. “I was raised alongside five older brothers and spent most of my life on a battlefield. Romance to me is buying my female a sharp blade and then stripping her naked.”

Abaxley chuckled. “Don’t listen to the asshole, Princess. This is magical. Seeing the world the way few humans get to. Knowing what lurks just past what the eye can see, I agree.”

“Only one around here that is allowed to call me asshole is Alyx,” Scur said to Bax. “Plus, I wasn’t wrong.”

“Children,” Khalid said and started to laugh, then he looked around the camp. “Where did the coyote go?”

“Maybe he needed to piss?” Alyx offered. She wasn’t worried. Animal could handle himself. “Or he might have skipped off to find dinner?”

“Maybe he found himself a new home in the desert,” Scur said, pulling the meat off the fire and putting it on a plate. “All right, everyone get a plate, let’s eat. Gods know I’m starving after beasting out.”

“If it’s not fucking, it’s food,” Alyx said. “Aren’t you glad I had Azrael squirrel this away?” She took a swig from the wine and then ripped a piece of the bread off, sending it down as Khalid gave her a small plate with smoking venison on it. She took a bite and closed her eyes. “Mmm... Scur, you’re dinner cook from now on.”

He sat down on her other side with his own plate. “Darling, if you promise you’re going to be dessert, I’ll cook anytime you want.” He looked at her, a lazy seductive look in his eyes. “But fucking and food aren’t the only things. You forget another F...fighting.” He grinned before taking a bite of his venison.

“Oh, I didn’t forget. You fought, now you need one or the other, or rather both, but since you can’t have both...” She leaned her head on his shoulder. Gods, she loved the lunatic.

“Don’t think I’m giving up on getting both,” he told her and kissed the top of her head.

“Any theories on what’s on those scrolls?” Khalid asked. “I don’t think they’re just anything since we were led to them. Well, Alyx was led to them,” he added with a smile. “I can’t help but wonder if they don’t have to do with the missing cities.”

“Think it could be information on the nomarts?” Eli asked. “I mean, from what you’ve told me, they trust you and if they have secrets out there, then I can see Faerie wanting you to protect them.”

“Possible,” Bax said. “But they are on the journey to find the first stone, right? So, odds are they have to do with Hybrasil and Dewan. Hell, it could be shit we can only read when we are there.”

“And you think we will make it?” Alyx asked as Khalid gave her the booze again.

Bax nodded. “I do. If anyone can do it, you can, Princess. With our help of course.”

“You’re the only one who could,” Khalid said. “Each princess has their strengths, but I don’t see any of them being able, or wanting to be on this kind of adventure.”

Scur started laughing. “The idea of Ria doing anything like this... The girl would probably forget what her mission was and go sightseeing.”

Khalid nodded his head. “It was made for you, Alyx. And I think I speak for all of us here when I say we’d walk off a damn cliff if you told us it would lead to where you needed to go.”

“Well, I don’t want you to do that.” She laughed and finished her plate. Full belly, she sighed. “As much fun as this is, I kinda wish it was a Netflix and chill night.”

“Let’s clean up and lie down. We all need to get some rest,” Khalid said and pulled her to her feet. “Who knows what we’ll be facing next.”

The coyote chose that moment to stroll back into camp, straight to her. He bumped his nose against her leg and let out a low snarl.

“What’s wrong?” she said and went to her knees. His behavior was completely out of character.

“That’s new,” Bax said and stood up and raised his head. “Smell that?”

The coyote ignored them all, except Alyx. He clamped his teeth on the material of her pants and pulled, taking a few steps backwards.

“If coyotes are anything like hellhounds, I think he wants you to go with him,” Eli said.

Nodding, she looked to them. “Okay. Quiet. We follow.” She looked down to him. “Lead the way.”

He released his hold and turned around, leading them out of their camp. They only walked about a hundred yards when the light from another fire could be seen. Khalid held up his hand, stopping them, the coyote stopping as well, before veering off to the right.

Khalid nodded and they followed again, the path taking them to a cropping of rocks that would keep them hidden from those who were sitting around a fire. “Hobs,” Khalid mouthed.

“Lost Winsy, lost Friz, lost Harda. Tell me again why we are fucking doing this?” a brawny hob said as he tossed branches into the fire.

“Then she should be here. Why are we risking our lives? First the wendigo in the canyon. Then the literal quicksand that gobbled up Friz, and then the fucking room of ice. We are fucking hobs; we shouldn’t die by having our blood freeze while we live.”

“She said the race would claim blood, claim lives. And still you came,” the second said.

“That’s because that bitch keeps promising glory and power,” the third one said. “It’s worth a couple dying if we finally get what we deserve. Now that Poseidon is gone, we could have it all. Control both sides.”

“Not if her best keep dying for side quests,” the first said. “Why aren’t we just attacking them head on? Bitches are playing the ‘peace on Faerie’ bullshit. Their main warriors all focused on baby making.”

“We need to get to the prize before the Mayhem bitch and her lackeys,” the third said. “If we get it first, they’ve lost. We’ll be on to the next while they’re licking their wounds. Plus, we don’t even know where the hell they are.”

“They can’t be far,” the second said. “They got the same information we did.”

“So sure of that?” the first said. “Harda wasn’t the best diplomat with getting the info...or the scroll.”

She looked to Khalid. Shit. The nomarts. They needed to make sure they were okay.

Her captain reached out and grazed his knuckles against her cheek. “They’re fine,” he mouthed.

“Then I say if we find them, we attack, no questions asked,” the third one said. “But let’s not go looking for trouble. We’ve got enough as it is. We’re close to the stone. Let’s get there before they do.”

The first leaned back. “Figured Winsy had to fucking get eaten by the wendigo. I could use some attention about now.”

“She wasn’t here to be your fucking play thing. She was here to match with the Mayhem bitch.”

“And look how well that worked. Woman was only good for getting bent over. That’s why she’s dead,” the first offered.

“And that attitude is why you haven’t been laid in a decade,” the third said. “Come on, let’s sleep, we’re the only ones left which means we need to double-time it in the morning.”

Khalid started to back away, not making a sound. He gestured with his head and they all followed suit, except for the coyote. It seemed he decided he was going to stay and watch. When they moved far enough away so they were all sure the hobs couldn’t hear them, Khalid spoke, voice barely above a whisper.

“They’ve lost three. We have the element of surprise. We can take them out now, or...”

Alyx considered. “And possibly lose one of us?” she shook her head. “We aren’t at one hundred percent, and I’m not saying we can’t take those chuckleheads, I’m saying we don’t know what’s waiting for us at Terjit...what we have to face. That dinner was the last of our rations, I mean aside from some jerky and water. We run a big risk.”

“We have an advantage now,” Scur said. “We know where they are, who they lost, who’s left, and we know they have been taking a different path than us. I saw we let them continue to get in their own way.”

Bax nodded. “Though I’m a bit concerned how they got a scroll...and how they got it work.”

“Incanta,” Alyx said. “She is an abomination, but she is royalty. While Faerie is helping us thrive, I don’t think it cares that she and her people are the product of something more horrible than the faeblins,” she looked to Abaxley, “and that they have embraced it.”

“It’s also possible and highly likely that she has goblins in her court,” Khalid said. “Come on, let’s go back to the camp before we’re spotted.”

They walked back to their camp, Alyx’s brain going a mile a minute. “We need to tell the queen. Once we get out of this insanity, we need to handle some shit.”

Scur pulled her down to sit between his legs and started to rub her shoulders. “There is always shit to handle. Right now, we can’t worry about anything but getting that stone. We always knew the possibility was great that we wouldn’t be the only one looking for it.”

Eli sat down across from them. “So, this Incanta chick, is she actually a part of either side or just ride the line?”

“Hobgoblins are...” She looked to Khalid, and then to Abaxley. “Abominations. Back when there was the war with the femorians, they took prisoners, fae prisoners. So far as we are aware, and what Nihar has found out, we assumed they weren’t taken prisoner, they were killed. They weren’t. The fae they had ensured horrible things at the claws of those fucking bastards. The hobgoblins were born from the rapes, and the apparently they were twisted, and they came to embrace their heritage. We didn’t even know they were still around ‘til Poppy, the old queen, took the throne. We thought they were myth. Thought they were a byproduct of a war. And they were, but...” She shook her head. “Incanta Roue wants the Faerie throne. She wants to be part of the Nightmare Courts but she sided with old pee pants before Cetus trounced his ass with the hydra.”

“Damn, I seriously should have visited Faerie more growing up. Humans are boring compared to you guys,” Eli said. “So basically, this Incanta chick probably thinks she’s owed ‘cause her great-great grandmother was the product of sick and twisted individuals. Can’t say I don’t understand the concept, but she’s going about it the wrong way.”

“The hobs had the choice of two paths,” Khalid said, leaning back against one of the stones, arms crossed. “They could have been a real part of Faerie. The Nightmare Courts would have accepted them at one point, but they chose to be alone, to be their own entity. They’re too late and too much has happened for the offer to ever be presented again. They need to be eliminated. All of them.”

“They should have been when we found out they had been living at Icere Nor, and breeding.” Alyx shuddered. “Incanta is proud of her heritage, she’s more femorian than fae, her heart black, bent on ruling everything, like those fuckers.”

“The Hunt was ready to take them all out. We always have been,” Khalid said. “But since the order was never given, all we could do was keep watch as much as we could.”

“And now the chickens have come home to roost. This shouldn’t be a fucking competition. This is a chance for Faerie to come back to itself. And while our sexy princess is right, Faerie might not know this contender is more of the same, we do, and we need to decide ultimately what’s going to happen.”

She looked at Abaxley, considering him. “You’re right, of course. But right now Khalid is right. We need to focus on the task. We deal with the extermination of an entire race later.” She looked to her captain. “I think we should get moving at first light, what do you think?”

“It’s not our decision to make, Bax,” Khalid told him. “That’s up to the queen. Luckily for all of us, Queen Verity will take Alyx’s views into consideration.” He looked at her and nodded. “Feels right. As soon as we’re all up and moving, we get going.”

Chuckling softly, she nodded. “Then let’s have a sleep, love. It’s not everything we both want but...”

“I’ll take what I can get and keep tabs on what you owe me.” He nuzzled her neck. “Everyone sleep. I’ll take first watch. Well, I’ll watch from right here, but I’ll keep my ears open.”

“You know I’m always happy to pay, baby,” she said softly and then yawned. “And I think our four-legged protector is probably keeping watch, too.”

Bax bedded down near the camel, sitting up. “Sleep, Scur. You’re needed if shit goes south and need the rest. I got watch...”

“I ain’t gonna argue. Wake me when you need me to take over.” Scur lay back and turned her over until she was spread out on top of him, his hand on her ass. “You, lucky female, get to be my blanket tonight.”

She leaned her head up and kissed his chin, or what could have been his chin considering his beard was in the way, and closed her eyes, letting sleep claim her before her brain could start whirling with worry.

Abaxley smiled at his princess as she stretched. Gods, the woman could make anything look sexy. She was sleep mussed but not in the normal way. Her face had sleep lines from lying on the berserker, her lavender hair had sand in it, but she looked no less perfect.

She had slept hard. He was happy this was almost over. Once it was, he was going to talk to Khalid about giving her a few days of just rest and relaxation. Maybe on the boat that the queen and Quinn had given her. Some time in the sunshine off the coast of an island with turquoise water sounded like the best fucking possible vacation ever, especially her dewy with sweat and in need of a thorough fucking.

Jesus, he needed to stop this or he wasn’t going to be able to walk, and who knew what they would be stumbling into. Fighting with a hard-on was not optimal.

“You ready, buddy?” he said as the camel groaned and came to his full height. Damn thing was steadfast. Lord knew what the hell they would do with it when this was over. He didn’t think giving it back to Anders was even possible. Damn thing had seen action in ways no animal should.

He nodded to the coyote as it trotted over and sat next to Alyx. He was pretty sure the thing was just a coyote but sometimes... Sometimes it looked at all of them with such clarity in its eyes. It did give him pause.

The sun was about twenty minutes from rising, and they were just about packed up. He had slept a little, trading off with Eli when the need became too great. He was tired, but alert, and would be able to handle whatever came at them in this next, and what he hoped was final leg of this journey.

“Good morning,” he said and pulled her close for another kiss. “You slept well.”

She gave a small smile. “Scur is a good pillow. Though some parts of him aren’t pillowy enough so...” She pointed to the sleep marks on her face.

The berserker came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Minx, there is nothing pillowy about me. You like that I’m all hard and unyielding.”

“I like parts of you hard and unyielding,” she said and leaned back, nuzzling his throat.

“Don’t you two start or we’ll never get out of here,” Khalid said as he and Eli walked over. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “Time to head out. We’re all packed up and ready to go. I popped by the hob camp about twenty minutes ago and they’re all still sleeping. We go now, we’ll keep our lead.”

“Then let’s be off,” she said and nipped his lip and then went to Eli and grabbed her hand, pulling her into a kiss as well.

Bax grinned. She was equal opportunity with all of them, even the goddamn coyote got a scratch behind the ear as they started out. They were quiet, walking single file through the hard-packed sands, quiet, as not to draw any attention to themselves. It was about ten minutes after leaving the camp that they all got a call on their headsets. Alyx answered.

“Hey. So, going to the oasis, I figured out something that might help,” Hendrix said. “Called ahead. Had the oasis closed for a royal visit. Alyx, you are Princess Alyxandra Worthmere from Andorra, seventh in line for the throne. You, your female lover, and your security detail have paid for six uninterrupted hours at the oasis.”

“Yes, but it got the job done. Well, that and a generous donation to the Mauritanian government for their world heritage sites.” They heard typing. “They are expecting you a little after sunrise.”

“Royalty or not, if you didn’t give them that generous donation we probably would have been stoned,” Eli said. “I’m very familiar with humans and their strange religious beliefs.”

“Good thing you two have security then,” Scur said with a grin. “I’m taking this as my chance to act out the royal falling for her bodyguard and getting it on behind some bushes, or a bunch of rocks.”

“You’re twelve, you know that?” Khalid said and Scur’s grin just got bigger.

“Good luck, I mean that,” Hendrix said. “And try not to kill anyone who isn’t a hob, yeah?”

“We’ll try,” Khalid said as Hendrix disconnected. “We’re not too far out. I say we get there, regroup, and decide what to do next.” He looked back at Alyx. “We go with your gut, so just tell us what you feel we should do.”

“Let’s play the part, the more we do that the more they will give us privacy, right? That will allow us to just figure it out.”

Abaxley had to agree. She hadn’t steered them wrong yet. Being guard, lover, whatever he was in truth to this strong, amazing woman was a wonder to him. She didn’t need them, not like all the other princesses needed their guard. Alyx had spent her formative years alone, cutting a bloody swath through the world and she was better for it. She didn’t need saving, the woman saved herself. And he was damn lucky that he could call her his.

Twenty minutes later they found themselves on the road into Terjit, signs posted leading the way in. They were stopped another ten minutes later by a guard gate.

“The oasis is closed for a private party,” the man said in heavily accented English.

Khalid stepped forward. “This is Princess Alyxandra Worthmere, seventh in line for the throne of Andorra. I believe you’ve been expecting us, and I am also assuming you have cleared the area from any potential danger against my princess,” he added, looking between Alyx and Eliora, then giving the guard a pointed look.

The look Khalid gave the man was enough to have him taking a step back. “We decided to take a morning stroll.”

“Of course. I meant there are marauders in the wastes,” the man said. “Your transport, it is fine, yes?”

“Has the area been cleared? I believe our princess is ready to enjoy the beauty of your land.”

Scur cleared his throat and tilted his head to look around Khalid. “Yeah, I’m not a big fan of standing around and making small talk, so...”

“Really, Alyxandra,” Eli said with the fakest British accent he’d ever heard, “you should think about muzzling that one.”

“Indeed...” Alyx said and leaned in, cuddling with Eli, which clearly made the guard uncomfortable.

He looked over them all once more, eyes on Abaxley finally, and then nodded. Thankfully he had remembered to pull the dust guard over his face. One look at his actual skin, and the guard would grow suspicious, considering the color.

“Once you hit the tree line, the oasis is yours for the next six hours,” the guard said, stepping aside.

They walked past, camel in tow with their supplies. The guard yelped as the coyote walked past, then trotted along next to Alyx. The completely insane picture they all cut would have been comical if the ruse wasn’t as close to the truth as possible.

Making the tree line, they walked in, the air getting cooler under the fronds of the palm trees, the shade growing as they made it deeper into the trees. He watched as Alyx stopped several times and changed direction, walking them through the dense foliage, to a small pool of water, and a sandy beach, with a rock outcropping about face height. The water looked to be about waist high, possibly slightly deeper. Alyx stopped.

“I say we take advantage of the relaxation while we can get it,” Scur said, dropping his pack on the ground and rolling his shoulders.

“Agreed,” Khalid said. “There is no way the hobs will be heading in this way. Most likely they’ll be taking a longer route, and one that will probably slow them down. Call it a gut feeling. Might as well enjoy this while we can.”

“I don’t know about you guys but I need a dip,” Alyx said and walked over to a downed palm tree to sit and started taking off her boots.

“We talking skinny dipping?” Scur asked, damn grin on his face. “’Cause I’m not gonna stop you.”

“No. Well, you can. Eli, baby, I bought two suits with me. What do you think? Super sexy, stringy, and barely covers anything on me, so on you...” She grinned.

Eli laughed. “I probably might as well go naked, but since you have it...” She walked over to Alyx and sat down next to her. “Might try and get some sun while we’re here. That’s what I should have told you when you asked me what I liked about the human realm. The sun. I’d worship the damn thing if I could.”

Abaxley’s thoughts went immediately to her on the deck of the boat, covered in sweat wearing basically nothing, and had to adjust himself. Shit.

Alyx went to him and palmed him. “Love, we are safe. And if you’re worried about your skin...”

“Fuck them. They don’t know us and if anyone says anything, I’ll kill them.” She smiled and then gave him a meaningful Look. “Strip down. I want us all in the water.”

Ten minutes later she was stepping into the water in an extremely barely there bikini in the house colors, Eli in the same, though she was clearly busting out of the thing. Alyx didn’t seem to mind at all, though, on either account. Khalid and Scur were already in, enjoying the water, and Bax, after making sure the camel was content to doze in the shade, ambled in as well.

“Someone is going to have to find out how deep this thing goes,” Eli said, staying mostly toward the shore. “’Cause waist deep is pushing it.”

“We need to teach you to swim,” Khalid said. “Especially considering that Alyx got a boat for Christmas.”

Scur disappeared under the water and resurfaced almost a minute later. “Don’t go past where Alyx is. A couple feet past her there’s a deep dip.”

“A boat we need to utilize once this is over,” Abaxley said and went to her, wrapping himself around her.

“Ooh, I like how you think, Prince,” she said and smiled. “But that feels lovely. Too much sand, I miss the feel of skin on skin.”

He walked around her and then lifted her up, kissing her softly. She purred into his mouth. “Mmm. This is what I need...”

He kissed her again and then looked over and smiled. “Our friend wants to make sure you are okay.” He turned her to see the coyote standing on the rock side watching them. He let go of her and she waded over to the rock.

“Apparently Scruffy doesn’t swim either,” Scur said right before he moved his hand along the top of the water, sending a wave heading straight toward Eli, drenching her.

“Oh, you little shit. I will get you back. You won’t know where, you won’t know when, but it will happen.”

Khalid moved up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and pulled her back to the middle of the pool. “I think the animal has taken up enough of your attention. I believe it’s our turn.”

“Oh, definitely,” Khalid said and leaned down to kiss the side of her neck. “I mean we have you back in the water and you know how much I love it when you’re in water. Always brings back my favorite memory.”

“The day Alyx tracked me down and wouldn’t let me leave until I admitted I wanted her.”

She grinned. “He was all sexy and naked in the spring at the Front. If you were going to find your captain, that was the way of it,” she said and ran her hand down his side, and then under the water. “Then I jumped him.”

“Damn straight you did.” Khalid turned her around and then claimed her lips.

Watching her with any of them, seeing her in her passion, always got him going. She was so responsive, sexy, needful. Alyx Mayhem’s desire was a living, breathing thing to him.

He watched as she wiggled in the captain’s grasp, no doubt rolling her hips into his hard-on. Woman loved to tease.

He’d expected Scur to jump in, the guy never giving up the opportunity to touch Alyx, not that he blamed him in the least. From everything he’d heard, the berserker had a lot of time to make up for. This time Scur stood back and watched. Eli, however, didn’t. She moved up behind Alyx, brushing her hair to the side and moved her lips along her neck. Hands moved around her, in between her and Khalid until he lost sight of where Eli’s hands stopped.

Alyx broke the kiss with a gasp and then a soft moan, and Abaxley shook his head. His princess was evenly matched in the lust department with her female guard, and it was a revelation to see her respond so perfectly to the other woman.

“I really like this suit, Alyx,” Eli said, her lips now moving along Alyx’s shoulder. “Makes it so much easier to get where I want to be.” As the words left her mouth, Eli’s hands slipped under the small piece of fabric covering her breasts.

“I know this makes me sound as bad as Scur,” Khalid said, his eyes fixed on Alyx’s breasts, “but fuck, there is something incredibly hot about the two of you together.” He groaned. “I’m turning into that guy.”

Closing her eyes, Alyx bit her bottom lip as her hand slid behind her and wrapped around Eli, sliding the palm under the other woman’s bottoms, gripping her ass. “It’s so perfect. Your soft, sweet fingers on me, and the guys, with their callused hands and fingers...” She shivered between them.

“I think that’s Alyx’s way of saying she wants more hands on her,” Khalid said.

“Not so fast.” Scur finally moved from where he was standing and Khalid actually stepped aside for him. “I still haven’t gotten a kiss from you yet, minx, and since you do owe me, I think I’ll take part of my payment now.” He cupped her face and kissed her. But unlike him or Khalid, Scur was not gentle or sweet. The man practically devoured her.

He felt her groan in the core of his being, like a dirty caress that pinged all good things to wake up and take notice. He was pretty sure the others did, too, because they all got the same look on their faces. Need.

Alyx lifted her leg, like she needed to climb the berserker, and he obliged, lifting her up just far enough so his cock was snuggled against her core, which was what she intended. She rolled her hips, and it was clear that she was wanting, and wanting bad. Would they all ultimately take her there, in this paradise? He didn’t know all he knew was he was hard, his cock pulsing, begging for her. But not yet. No, he would wait.

Scur was ramping her up on purpose. She was all but vibrating for contact, her body caught tight between need and satisfaction. It was a beautiful place to be, a space all its own where she never knew where the sensation would come from. And Scur... Fuck, Scur was so good at getting her there. She rolled her hips once more, feeling that steel rod that was his cock jumping at the contact.

“My little vixen is needy,” Scur said, biting down on her lower lip. “Eli, what do you think? Give her what she wants or...”

“Oh, I think she’s getting what she wants,” Eli said from behind her. Her hands moved down her back, then gripped her hips to help her move against Scur.

“Yeah, Alyx, just tell me to do it.” Scur kissed her again, all passion and seduction. “It would be so easy to just slip theses bottoms aside, slide into you...”

Eli’s hand slipped between her and Scur. Her berserker must have known she was going to do it because he moved his hips back, giving her room. Eli’s hand cupped her right before Scur pressed against her again, trapping Eli’s hand between them, the tips of her girlfriend’s fingers drumming against her pussy.

A whimper escaped her and she moaned. “Teasing is bad...so bad.” Gods, she needed contact. She needed hours with her guard, sweaty and indulging.

“Yeah, but our girl likes bad,” she heard Khalid say, his breath against her ear. When had he gotten so close? “If you want them to stop, you know they will.”

“That’s the problem, I don’t want them to stop. I want you all,” she moaned. “Naked and sweaty... Hours of it,” she said and closed her eyes again.

“When this is all over, that’s what you can have,” Abaxley said in her other ear. She felt his fingers run along the swell of her breast. “But you need to come, don’t you? Needy Princess.”

She nodded. Coming would be swell, but it would only knock the top off the need.

“I think leaving her just on the edge of need would make her that much more ferocious in a fight,” Eli said as her hand moved up, her fingers pressing against her clit, but giving her no more.

Scur let out a groan and moved her against him. “If that’s the case, I’m going to be able to tear a man apart without having to beast out,” he said between clenched teeth.

Abaxley tugged on the ring in her nipple and she cried out. She was so close. She rolled her hips again. She could feel something...something different just on the periphery of her need. Something smoky and distant, but getting closer.

“Just wait until we have you home and naked. You’ll really be hating all of us,” Khalid said, his hand moving to her other breast. “You’ll need at least a week to recover.”

“Oh, the captain can be arrogant,” Eli said, and Alyx could hear the laughter in the other woman’s voice. “Good to know.”

They all touched her, all of them holding her, amping her up. And then she felt it.

She wasn’t expecting that. She was expecting Scur to give in and slide inside her, giving them both what they wanted, but no. A tug at her navel...deep. They needed to be somewhere. Soon.

Pulling back from rubbing against Scur’s throat with a nip to the skin, she stopped moving between them. “We need to get dressed,” she said, hating it. “And we have to hurry.”

“You felt something,” Khalid said, the first one to step back from her, though it didn’t look like he wanted to. Scur cursed under his breath but set her down on her feet. “We will finish this later.”

Eli, showing she was definitely the daughter of the devil, slid her fingers under the edge of her bottoms, and stroked her before removing her hand and stepping back as well. “Let’s get dressed, boys, our princess knows something.”

Shaking, and unsure if it was need or the feeling, she let Abaxley carry her back to the shore. He set her down on the downed tree, and handed her a small towel so she could dry off. She was quick, though they were quicker, getting dressed again, and standing.

The tug happened again, this one like a wave rolling to her. she turned as she was finishing tying her boot. “There...” she said and hopped the trunk. “Bring the camel, too.”

They walked deeper into the foliage, walking toward the cliff face, but further into a denser area. “It feels...” she said to herself and turned around a corner to see two large pieces of granite and felt the pulse there. “It’s a portal. We need to go through.”

“Not first, you don’t,” Khalid said. He knew Alyx could handle herself, and if she wasn’t the Princess of the Arcane Court, he’d let her waltz her way in first, but she was and they still needed to protect her. “Eliora, you stay next to Alyx. Abaxley, once Alyx gets us through the portal...” He knew they wouldn’t get through it without her going in first. He wasn’t sure if he knew that instinctively or if it was something coming from Alyx that wound its way through his thoughts. “You and me in front.”

“You ready?” he asked her. “Once we’re through, you need to let us go ahead of you. Cool?”

She nodded. “We need to hurry.” She grabbed his hand and stepped through with him.

The second they were on the other side, he pulled her behind him and as much as he didn’t want to, let go of her hand. Abaxley moved in beside him and they looked at each other. Khalid could tell by the look on Bax’s face they were thinking the same thing.

Alyx looked around and then up, pointing. “Faerie. That’s the Great Mother constellation.” The world around them swayed with warm air, fragrant with hibiscus and something richer, darker. “We need to go this way,” she said and pointed.

Khalid nodded. Not once had he ever thought to question her and it wasn’t his faith in her, which he had in abundance, it was more than that. There was a connection growing between them that he never thought possible. It started with just knowing when she needed him but now it went deeper. He could feel what she felt, the echoes of the pull, and every instinct inside him told him to follow her lead. They started moving again and his eyes moved back to the sky. “We need to keep watch. Look where the moon is.”

“Oh, well this just got interesting,” Scur said. “Which might be good, ‘cause I have a shit ton of sexual frustration bottled up that a good fight and some blood might take the edge off of.”

“Well lookie what we have here...” they heard from the left-hand side just to the right of where the moving sand was.

“And I think we discovered what isn’t right here,” Scur said with a sigh. He and Bax stopped walking at the same time, looked at each other, then to the three hobs not too far from them. “They’re outnumbered,” he said, his voice low.

“Moon on the left and quicksand,” Eli said. “Guess those warnings were spot on. We could take those three in our sleep.”

“We’re gonna have to make time,” Khalid said at the same time Scur claimed the dark-haired one in the middle.

“Shouldn’t take all that long, sugar,” the berserker said and casually strolled from his position. “What happened to the rest of you?” he asked the hobs. “Here I thought there would be a lot more than three of you.”

Bax rolled his eyes. “Cut the small talk,” he said and looked to Eli. “Ladies first.” Alyx ran forward and he grabbed her. “Ah ah. You still have a job to do. There will be plenty of bloodshed later.”

Eli curtsied at Bax before taking of, pulling her curved blades out of the side of her boots. “I don’t mind if I do.”

“Bax, go,” he told the faeblin. “I’ll make sure Alyx stays put.” He put his arm around her and pulled her to his side. “Think of it this way, Alyx, neither of us have really been able to assess the strengths of your guard. It will be beneficial for us to watch.” He pointed to where Eli and one of the hobs where fighting.

“Take Eli for example. She never lets him at her back, always knows exactly where her opponent is, and she’s also aware of where Scur and Bax are, too.” He winced when the hob didn’t move quick enough and Eli’s blade sliced a line across his chest, though not deep enough to kill. The woman was quick and skilled and he was glad Alyx had found another warrior for their clan.

Abaxley ran forward in a blur, and then to the side, slipping around the nearest tree. He reached around it and launched himself at the back of the blond hob, slamming him to the ground then gripped him by the hair and wrenched, breaking his neck.

“Damn,” Khalid said with a whistle. “He’s almost as fast as Jed. Though no one is as fast as that kid.” He pointed to Bax. “Keep watching him. See the way he moves? That right there is finesse and skill. Even though he has the strength, he doesn’t need to use it. His speed allows him to always be a step ahead of his opponent. Scur, on the other hand,” he turned Alyx so she could see her berserker, “he uses his strength. Each of us fight uniquely, but have no issue fighting together.”

She nodded. “And they are all magnificent,” she said as Abaxley rolled his opponent and then jogged back to her.

“We don’t,” she said, turning once more. Khalid could feel the urgency in her, the tug inside her body.

The hob Scur had been fighting crumbled to the ground, lifeless. Eli went for the killing blow, and he could tell by her positioning, she expected the hob to fight back. Instead, he leapt back, narrowly missing the scythe carving out his heart, and started to run. Eli moved to run after him.

“Let him go,” Khalid said. “He’s alone and probably won’t even make it out of here alive anyway.”

“I’m sure there’s more than one quicksand pit,” Alyx said and grinned at Scur and Eli. “You are all getting a kiss but first,” she turned. “We need to go this way.”

Khalid laughed and gripped her shoulder. “Promise you can have the next one then.”

“Guess I can live with that,” she said with a sigh. “All right, Alyx, lead us to temptation.”

He and Bax took position at Alyx’s sides, Scur and Eli behind them as their princess led them about a hundred more yards, the moving sand on the left turning into a thick vegetation of wild flowers and vines. Alyx stopped them in front of a large rock, though it wasn’t solid. A doorway was carved into the side, symbols Khalid couldn’t interpret branded all around it. The rock wasn’t anything to look at, but the vines which grew along it were something he’d never seen before. The bluish green leaves seemed to glow in the night. He took a step forward and looked inside, barely being able to make out a set of stairs leading down. “Is this it?” he asked Alyx.

She nodded, her eyes scanning the vines and the symbols. “We descend. But first...”

“Way ahead of you,” Abaxley said and took several pictures. “All done, baby.”

“I’ll go first.” He ducked under the doorway, which didn’t clear six feet, and started the descent. He couldn’t feel any fear or trepidation coming off of Alyx, so while he had his guard up, he didn’t think they were walking into a trap. He just hoped he wasn’t wrong.

The air was smoky, heavy with incense and moisture as they descended the staircase. Water, she realized. The cavern was heavy with moisture because water was running further down into the cavern. An underground aqueduct in Faerie that probably spilled over into the Earth plane, and that was how the oasis sprang up. Since water carried magic, created life, this was a hallowed place. A place of reverence and opportunity in a dried-up landscape. Not only in Faerie, but in the human realm as well.

Torches inset in the walls held green fire, Faerie fire, perpetually bright, infinitely dangerous in the right hands, but sat sleeping on the walls, doing the job they were conjured for.

They walked, Khalid in the front then Scur, then Alyx and Eli, with Abaxley and the coyote bringing up the rear. Getting closer to the running water, Alyx noticed the passage opened to a larger room, the sound of soft breathing and dripping water finding them. Whatever was waiting, was waiting patiently. She followed her guard into the space and stepped forward.

In the center someone sat on a large dais, a bemused look on their face. A being sat, with the back end of a large cat, the torso and arms that of a man. Sprouting from its back were large, black feathery wings, and twisting horns protruded from its head. He bowed to them.

“Welcome, Alyx Mayhem, daughter of Carter and Serreta, Goddess in Training.”

“There is very little in this world I don’t know,” the being said. “I am Themopoli, Lord of Mauite.”

He smiled at her faeblin. “Not extinct. Waiting, Abaxley Sennecott, Child of Starlight, Ruler of Stars. Prince of Beginnings.”

“We were charged with protecting that which would bring the world we helped create back to itself. My brothers, Gritipoli, Vindictus, and myself, have been waiting a long time, and it is fortunate you are worthy.”

He nodded. “You took the right road; and carry a piece of the old world with you, willingly.” He motioned to the arm that the cicada melted into. “Your companions gave the guardians a valiant death. You believe in knowledge, and you love, you love with all your heart. All things that make you worthy for this challenge.” He looked to Khalid. “And you, you ensured victory by remembering the tenants, Khalid Ingvar, Son of Hallik and Vetra, Beloved Protector of the Goddess, Lord of Creation.”

Themopoli inclined his head. “When Faerie started, we didn’t have royals, we didn’t have a ruling class. We had beings of power, ones humans called gods and goddesses who worked for the betterment of all. Your lover is a being of immense power, the same with her sisters.”

“We don’t use those terms,” he said to her. “You are all power in your own right, none should be over another. That’s what got us in this mess, the quest for power. You, and the other, the phoenix, will realize your power and soon. All worshiped, all loved, what is that if not a goddess in their own right?”

“He’s got a point,” Eli said. “The title, by the way he explained it, fits you way better than being a mere princess does. You’re far more than that.”

“Is anyone gonna ask exactly what we’re doing here?” Scur said, looking around the room.

He looked to Scur, then Eli. “Scur Nordscov, final Son of Candessa and Gryphon, Consort to the Goddess, Berserker General, Lord of Pain. And Eliora, Daughter of the Darkness, Princess of Lust, Duchess of Agony, a piece of the goddess’s soul. You are all known to me.” He looked to her, his eyes kind. “But you are not whole. Not yet. Soon.”

“Oh, Duchess of Agony, I’m so putting that on a shirt,” Eli said with a grin.

Khalid cleared his throat and Alyx could tell he was trying not to smile. “You’re right, she isn’t whole yet. There is a piece of her, of our guard, that’s still missing. I have no doubts that she will find it.”

“Bax,” Eli said, “he knows all of us because he’s part of Faerie, part of its knowledge. Like it’s brain.” Her attention when to the manticore. “Am I close?”

“All that you are, and will become,” the manticore said. “I assume you are here for the amethyst?”

“The titles make sense to me,” Khalid said. “Scur is the Lord of Pain, I mean the man literally thrives on it. Eli, well, she did grow up as a torturer, so agony fits her well. Creation for me? I assume it comes from my powers. And you, Bax, you are the beginning of an entire species.” He looked to the manticore. “Yes, we are here for the amethyst. Can you tell us how to retrieve it?”

“It’s here,” he said and gestured to the running water. “Alyx Mayhem, your task is to retrieve it.”

She looked sideways at her guard. Khalid, her protector. Eli, the piece of her soul, Scur, her consort. They would have to talk about that later, even though everything the being before them said felt right, and true. Looking back at the manticore, she moved forward. “Just retrieve it?”

She walked past him and looked down into the water which was moving, but still clear. The bottom of the pool was filled with river stones, and gleaming jewels. She looked up once more. “Which one is it?”

“What’s the catch?” Scur said, stepping forward. “There is always a catch.”

Abaxley sighed. “She has to pick the right one.” He looked to the manticore. “And if she doesn’t?”

The entity cocked his head. “Without the amethyst, you will be unable to access our homeland.”

“Yeah, not buying that that’s the only catch.” Scur crossed his arms over his chest. “What happens if she chooses wrong?”

“Alyx,” Khalid walked over to her, his hand going to her shoulder. “Go with your instinct. It’s what led us here. You know exactly which one you need to take. Don’t second guess yourself.”

Nodding to her captain, she reached up and touched his hand, stroking the skin. She felt Willy stir under her skin on the other side, closed her eyes, and sighed. She felt Abaxley come closer, his hand on her hip, and then Scur was there, hand on her other hip, and Eli’s soft hand slipped into her left.

She opened her eyes and looked down into the pool, her eyes going to a large gleaming gem. She went to her knees, settling, and leaned in, reaching into the water. It was cold, but not overly so, and the touch was like a balm on her skin. She reached and let her fingers drag across the stones, and felt something warm, something almost jolting. She wrapped her fingers around it and pulled it up, and then opened her hand to see a river rock.

“This is it,” she answered, knowing in her bones, with the pulse from the stone, that she was right. Scur helped her to her feet and she approached the manticore, hand out, stone on the flat of her palm.

“We wait for our next task, I guess,” Khalid said and smiled at her when she turned her head to look at them. “I told you you’d know.”

She turned and dropped the stone and it broke in half, revealing a purple glimmer. She bent and picked it up, pulling the stone out. “Amethyst.”

The manticore inclined his head. “That which is hidden holds the most value.”

“And again,” Scur said, “what now? Alyx got the stone, now what are we supposed to do with it?”

The manticore nodded and faded to nothing, leaving them alone in the space. She felt the magic starting to close off. “We need to go. I’m thinking home, and some quality time.”

“First we need to get out of here,” Khalid said, taking her hand and leading her back the way they came, Scur, Bax, and Eli following. That’s when she noticed the coyote loping up the steps in front of them, she hadn’t realized he’d come down with them.

“Think we’ll be able to get a hold of Hendrix once we’re topside?” Scur asked. “I’m hoping Nihar will be around so we can make his head explode with what just happened.”

She laughed. “Sadistic,” she said. “But I agree. Let’s go home, and let’s celebrate.”

Alyx hung up the phone and sighed. the past two hours had been chocked full of conversations with Gogo, Nihar, even Aziz and Kaelyn. It was exhausting, and giving Verity the info was the last thing she needed to do. Now that they were home she was focused on the most important thing, getting some R and R.

On the way home they had talked, and Khalid and Bax had decided they needed some time on the boat, and they were making plans with it now. She had said she wanted Bali, and they were going to make it happen.

But now, now she had unfinished business with her berserker. She slipped her clothing off and wrapped herself in a sheer robe and left the room, walking toward where she knew Scur would be.

She slipped from the Sithen, her feet light on the cobblestone of the back patio, and then on the mosses and lichens that lived on the ground of the surrounding forest. Scur had a penchant for hanging out in what she called the Moss Garden in a copse of trees just west of the patio. The day was warm, scented of jasmine and peaches as she made her way into the small place Scur liked to hangout.

She found him lying on the ground, arms behind his head. “Strip,” she said as he noticed her, and dropped the sheer covering.

A slow, seductive grin spread across his lips, but he didn’t move. “Look at that. You say the word strip and your clothes fall off. Damn nice talent you have there, minx. How about you come over here so I can get a better look?”

“I wasn’t wearing any clothes. That bit of gossamer just made sure I didn’t freak out Puziel if he saw me.” She sauntered over to him. “Come on, consort...” she teased, though it was something she wanted to talk to him about. “Get those pants off.”

“Take them off me,” he said, brow raised. “I have this thing about you doing anything while you’re naked, but my favorite is taking my clothes off.” This time his brows bobbed, his smile growing. “I believe you owe me. Although, not sure how I feel about this consort thing. Is that what you want from me?”

She went to her knees next to him, motioning for him to stand up. “I think that is what you are, regardless of what I want. Though I kinda like it.” She reached for the button of his fatigues and then pulled the buttons open and slipped her hand inside. “You are my first guard. And you have said I was your end game, right? If we were not in this situation, it would just be me and you, right?”

He hissed a breath through his teeth and pushed his pants down his hips. He didn’t have his shoes on, so he easily kicked his pants to the side. “If you weren’t destined to be with all of us?” he said, looking down at her. “It would be just you and me, Alyx. One way or another, it was always going to be us together. We’ve both known that for a long time.”

She smiled up at him. “So, if I wasn’t a princess, if I was just Alyx, you would have pursued me, and taken me as yours, right? How is this any different? Without being a princess, I don’t think I would be with anyone but you. You are my consort, Scur. Not because I love you more, but because you love me more.” She nuzzled his shaft and then licked a slow line along his thigh.

She heard him take in a deep breath and when she looked up, he’d closed his eyes. “I do love you more than I’ve ever loved anything. I plan on doing that for the rest of my existence and I also plan on being one of the ones who gets you pregnant, Alyx.”

His eyes opened and the look he gave her was intense. All of what he was feeling for her shone through for that instance. “Now get up here. I don’t want you on your knees for me. Unless you’re kneeling, legs spread, over my face.” And there was her foul-mouthed berserker again.

She grinned. “Does it matter that I like being on my knees for you?” she said but still climbed to her feet. She ran her fingernails down his side. “And I expect to have our child, Scur, I’m counting on having it. You and me, we are forever. A dark fairy tale, complete with a happy ending,” she said softly, and she meant it. She loved all her guard, she felt a connection with them, needed them to live and be happy. But she knew without a doubt, if the world had kept turning as it had for the past thirty-two years of her life, she would be with Scur, and would have been happy.

He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it behind him, then his hands were on her ass and he was lifting her up. “Last time I had you like this, seconds away from being deep inside you, you had me stop. We’re not stopping today, minx.” Keeping one hand on her ass, he slid the other up her back then gripped the back of her neck. “It’s just you and me right now, and you’re not going anywhere. I don’t give a fuck if Faerie, herself, shows up and tells you she needs to talk to you.” Leaning closer, he nipped her lip.

“I would tell the bitch to get bent. I would tell the fucking queen to fuck off,” she said and nipped his. “You think I wanted you to stop last time?” She scoffed. “All I wanted was a stiff fucking, especially after watching you fucking dominate on those scorpions.” Nuzzling his throat, she ran her hands down his back, feeling the bunched muscles. The man was perfect, and what was best? He knew it.

“You always want me to give you a good fucking.” He dropped her down a bit and his cocked rubbed against her. He held her there and he stared at her, his eyes glowing around the edges. Then she found herself against the moss-covered ground, his hard body pressing her down. “Hard, fast, and deep first. Then I’ll take you however you want me. Deal?” he asked, already pushing her legs up until her knees were against her chest and his cocked was pressed at her entrance.

“Say that again,” he said, sliding home. It was the only thing he did gently, as soon as he was inside her it was like a switch flipped. He pulled out and thrust in, then did it again and again. Each time taking her faster, a little harder. “Say it again, Alyx.”

“Scur... Fuck yes. Harder, you bastard!” She moaned and threw her arms over her head, biting her bottom lip as bliss started to build between them. “That’s it... Fuck yes...”

Sitting up, he put her legs down then pulled out of her, flipping her on her stomach. He grabbed her hips, lifting her ass in the air, then slid back into her, giving it to her like she asked. “I remember the first time I had you like this,” he said, his breathing heavy. “It was the night of the Revel. The night I fucked you until the sun came up and neither of us could move.” One of his hands gripped her hip, the other moving around her to cover her breast. “Best night of my fucking life.”

“Mine, too. The relief that you were mine...” she moaned. “Scur, if I don’t feel your balls slapping me you are not fucking me hard or fast enough.” She squeezed him with her inner muscles as he pulled out and groaned. “I want bruises.”

“What my female wants...” he said, but that was the last thing he said before she felt his body swell behind her, his cock filling her more as part of his beast took over. He moved fast, punishing her body with each thrust. His hand left her breast and went between her legs, his fingers rubbing circles over her clit.

This she loved. She loved when he gave over and just took her, and she surrendered, like she knew he loved. Moaning, she shuddered as the first orgasm ripped through her, causing her to clamp down on him, her sheath rippling, milking him. Her nipples pearled causing exquisite sensations around her rings, and her clit throbbed as he played a wild tattoo on it.

“Since you were sixteen,” he growled out. He didn’t slow, didn’t give her time to recover.

Fuck, that was true. Seeing him when they were younger, the out and out sex the man exuded, her panties were constantly soaked when he was around. Not that he cared, not that he even acknowledged her then.

“My nights were filled with fucking myself, wishing it was you back then, or fucking other people wishing it was you,” she admitted, as another orgasm tore through her. “Oh fuck... Yes...”

“Fuck,” he roared and he stiffened behind her. She could feel him vibrating. His orgasm was as violent as hers was and the way his hand tightened on her hip, she knew she’d be left with finger-sized bruises against her skin.

Panting, she licked her lips and pushed back on him, feeling her body flutter in answer to him pulsing inside her. She chuckled to herself as she came down, feeling him ease up on her body just a little. “Bet you didn’t know that...”

“No, but I just imagined you doing that through the years.” He pulled out of her and rolled onto his back. “Think you almost killed me with the images. Come here. I’m going to play the role of sweet berserker before I take you again.”

She snuggled in and laid her head on his chest. “I used to fantasize about this, too,” she said softly.

“You can still fantasize about it as long as I actually get to do it.” He tucked her closer, arms going around her. “It might have taken us a while to get here, but now that we’re here, we’re never going back. You’re not needed for anything at the Sithen today, are you?”

“Nope,” she said softly. “Well...” she smiled. “Our little cicada friend,” she pointed to her wrist. “I think she needs to go to the moth room, but that can be for later. She’s content to sleep right now.” She leaned down and licked his nipple. “You have an idea of what you wanna do today?”

“First thing is not talking about the flying creepy crawlies you got living in your skin. Second,” he said, his hand moving to her leg to hike it over his. “We’re going to lay right here and do absolutely nothing for a while.”

“I think we deserve it,” she agreed. “I never thought I would miss being here as much.” She ran her fingers down the furrow of his muscle on his stomach. “Khalid and Bax are planning a boat trip for us to Bali,” she said absently. “A week out, turquoise water, sunshine...”

“You in nothing but one of those tiny bikinis...” She could feel his smile. “Sounds like a damn good plan. Get in a little vacation before the next scroll. But if we’re going on a boat, you might want to teach your little princess of lust how to swim.”

“I plan to,” she said, her smile against his skin. “She is that...to me I mean. Seeing her, I just want to drown in her.”

“Yeah, I pretty much picked up on that from what I heard of you guys in the closet at the party,” he said with a laugh.

“Did it turn you on?” she teased. “It should. She’s...” she giggled. “I couldn’t keep my hands off her.”

“Did hearing you make those sexy little sounds of pleasure as she was getting you off turn me on? Fuck yeah, it did.” He moved her up his body until he could kiss her. “It wasn’t easy trying to be the good guy and not walk in earlier. I’m not really good at being the good guy.”

“I don’t think you will have to be going forward,” she said and sighed, settling herself.

She let her mind wander to what the manticore said. She didn’t go into detail with Verity, or even Gogo, telling them they would have to have lunch soon enough. Goddesses. It was heady. But her hope had soared at the idea of being powerful, but not because of the power. She wanted to help protect Faerie, lend her own life force, talents past death, to helping it thrive.

And knowing her guard all had special names, designations... Scur as her consort made the most sense, along with the idea that Khalid was her protector, and Eli was the Princess of Lust. But Abaxley, they would have to talk. It was interesting to her that the manticore didn’t mention his goblin parentage, but just his fae, and linked him to Starlight. The Ruler of Stars... She wasn’t sure what it meant, knew Abaxley didn’t know either. Whatever it meant, they would face it together.

Sliding her hand down his stomach, she found Scur hard, and squeezed then swung her hips so she was straddling him. “So...I think I need to ride.” She rolled her hips. “All you need to do is lay there. You up for it?”

Task one was done. They were lucky, making all the right steps and choices even though a lot of it felt like she was bumbling through. Still they had the first jewel, and hope for a future where her, her guard and all of Faerie became better than they were. She decided to be happy, not worried, and resolved to start her month-long vacation, which she earned, right now.

She sank down on him and sighed, feeling the connection with him once more and closed her eyes, slipping into a lovely rhythm, slow and deep. “I love you, Scur,” she whispered and he gasped, feeling the orgasm start to build once again. “To the end of the world...”

“Everything is on schedule then, Baalim?” Incanta said to her companion and turned to her lady, Innoa. “Is there a problem?”

The hobgoblin female curtsied and then bowed, her small branches starting to grow from her head signaling her of high birth in their ranks, but Incanta could barely remember what the girl’s parentage was. Not that it mattered, she would never cede the throne to anyone. She didn’t give thrones away, she took others for her own.

She smiled. Lemmot was the head of her detail she sent after the stone. Which meant he was bringing her her prize or... “Is he alone?”

“Well?! Send him in!” she said, dismissing the girl. Her guard hobbled in moments later and then fell to his knees.

“Empress,” he said, and she saw blood on his lips. “I failed. We were ambushed, our task was filled with pitfalls and situations that picked us off, one by one. And then the Mayhem bitch...”

She scoffed. He failed her, yes, but their race? “Stand, if you can, Lemmot. Tell me. Who was with her?”

“Three males, one was the old goblin king’s son, and a female.” He coughed, blood coming up.

“I don’t know, I fled, to come back to you, to give you this information.”

He shook his head. “We were ill prepared. They were not. The nomarts were right, one of royal blood must be on the task. It’s how she was able to make it as far with all her guard.”

Sighing, she looked to the man sitting with her. “I suppose that means I must do the next task myself?”

Baalim looked up from his tablet, which he was constantly reading something on, and grunted. “I find if you want anything done correctly, you need to do it for yourself, or make sure the one you assigned the task isn’t a complete idiot.” He eyed Lemmot. “If these were the best you had, you have problems.”

Lemmot stayed quiet, which was smart. She wasn’t one to reward insolence, and the male didn’t know who Baalim was to her, so he erred on the side of caution. Exactly the kind of male she wanted beside her.

She looked to Lemmot and Innoa. “Go. See to his wounds and if he makes it through the night, send him to my chambers.”

Her lady was a vicious thing. It was something she was going to have to remember. “For use. Have him washed, and ready,” she said, turning back to her companion.

“Please tell me you don’t plan on torturing the boy. I’ll never understand all the thirst for war and violence. There are other ways of getting what you want. Though, you do need that stone. We need that stone,” Baalim said, his voice hardening. “What we both want won’t work without it.” He walked over to the settee and sat down. “Of course, that stone is now lost to us, which means you better get the next one. And when I say you, I mean you.”

“Lemmot is from a very prominent hob family,” she said and sat in her high side chair, crossing her legs. “He’s more useful to me alive and in my bed than he is dead.” She smiled, thinking about tying him down and using his body. If the dark gods were smiling, he would get her with child, which was part of her end game. “Trust me, he will enjoy his task, should he live the night.”

Picking up a berry, she popped it into her mouth and chewed, then swallowed. “I had hoped to let my retainers do this, you don’t see the redheaded bitch doing this. No, she has someone else, and yes, I understand she is a royal in the eyes of Faerie...”

Baamil shook his head. He placed the tablet beside him and crossed his legs, resting his ankle against the opposite knee. “Do you know what’s worse than the blood and the violence? Using sex to control. No matter the station, no matter the parentage, if one of my people falls out of line, doesn’t complete their task, they are removed. Quickly. It would be the same even if it were my son. The only person you can count on is yourself, Incanta. Look what happened to Poseidon. If he used his brain instead of followed his emotions, he would still be alive and would still be controlling the Light Court.”

“Well thank the fates he had his little hissy fit and got himself taken out,” she said dryly. “Remember one thing, Baalim, hobs are an endangered species. I must produce an heir, and unless you’re going to submit to me...” she smiled sweetly. “But you are right.” She sighed. “The scroll, is it still under lock and key?”

“Only the two of us can access it. We have some time before it will give us the next clue, which means you need to prepare yourself and find a new set of men to take with you. I’m still trying to work out my little situation, though it doesn’t seem as urgent as it once had.” He smiled a cold, cruel smile. “It seems my prey isn’t doing so well for herself. I do enjoy your torment. I think I’ll let her fester in it a bit longer.”

His tablet beeped and he looked down before swiping the screen and looking back at her. “And Incanta, I will never submit to you. Not in business and certainly not in the bedroom. I have no interest in fucking you. Sex ruins partnerships.”

“Which is fortunate, as you don’t do it for me.” If he did, nothing would stop her. She took a sip of her wine. “We have ‘til the next moon, right? Three weeks?”

He nodded. “That should give you enough time, one would think. You are planning on going yourself on the next mission, correct?”

“Seems I must, if those cursed nomarts are to be believed.” She sighed and drained her wine. “Royalty and all...” She didn’t even have royal houses. Roue was all there was for royals, descended from the high king of the femorians. Which meant she needed to breed, and she needed to solidify their position.

“Once we have both the Light and Nightmare Courts under our rule, we’ll make sure to pay the nomarts back for their assistance. I’m thinking their extinction would be appropriate.”

She gave him a small smile. “Of course.” She had plans for a few of them herself. “If we are through with this meeting, I have a treatment to get to.” She stood. “Keep me abreast of what’s happening, yes? And I do hope you will be in on the plans for this next task.” Especially because he knew much more about the human realm.

Baalim stood as well, collecting his tablet. “I have to meet with my son on my other project. But yes, I’ll be there. You know how to contact me.” He walked up to her, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. “This isn’t over, Incanta. We might have missed on the first round, but we won’t miss on the second.”

She watched him walk out of her receiving room of her recently acquired palace and smiled. Yes. Things would work out. Baalim might be immune to her charms, unlike Poseidon, but it didn’t matter. If nothing else, she would have her heir, even if it meant seducing that fetching son of his. And the high throne of Faerie was in her grasp. All she needed was to reach out.