Danica felt ready to scream.

True to her word, Alara had sent her best witch to them ASAP. She spent about thirty minutes scrying and puzzling and chanting before scratching her head and saying, “I’ll need to consult my peers on this,” and then she left.

Danica knew it was just another way of saying, “I don’t have a damn clue what the hell is wrong with you.”

“What the hell does that even mean?” Danica asked after the witch left. “That ‘the magic feels normal?’ There is nothing ‘normal’ about being a werewolf!”

“Calm down, love,” Gage said, resting his hands on her shoulders.

“How can I calm down?” she shrieked. “I just had the most exhilarating night of my life, and just when I think things are finally settling into place, something like this slaps me in the face! I’m sick of it!” Her shoulders shook with contained sobs, and she rested her forehead against his chest, trying to keep it together. Dammit, why did she have to cry every time she got mad? “I feel like such a mess and I’m so… tired of it all. Tired of the drama and the lies and the secrets. I just want to be with you. Why is that so hard for the universe to understand?”

“Then be with me,” Gage said, cupping her cheek. “Who cares what a stupid tattoo means? I love you. Do you love me?”

“Yes,” she answered without hesitation.

He kissed her head. “Then that’s all that matters. Let the rest of the world figure out what it means. I made you a promise, Danica, that no one—and I mean, no one—would ever take you from me, and I plan on keeping it.”

She hugged him, the strength of his conviction chasing away some of her fears. Gage was always so strong and self-assured, while she felt like her emotions were all over the place. Danica had wanted to tell the witch that “normal” felt “awful” and not right at all. Ever since the bond had snapped, she’d felt as if a piece of herself had gone missing, and her body—her very soul—ached to get it back.

She’d just about sell a limb to feel that connected to Gage again. She just felt so… empty.

Someone gently cleared their throat behind them, and the couple turned.

Alara stood there patiently, looking lovely in a crisp, clean business suit, though it was barely sunrise. “I hate to interrupt, but Gage, you have your panel before the Council this morning. You’ve been chosen as one of the candidates.”

He blinked in surprise. “I thought they weren’t announcing the candidates until two?”

“Apparently they only thought five of you were worthy and wanted to get on with things. Thus, they’re having messengers privately tell each chosen candidate this morning. They are also pushing all the panels up on the schedule to get things going.”

He frowned. “You said I have a panel this morning?”

“Yes.”

He glanced at Danica and then the bed. “I thought you said if I was chosen, the panel would be this afternoon?”

“Like I said, they made a change in the schedules and decided to have you go first.”

He arched a brow, annoyed. “And who is this ‘they’ you keep speaking of?”

“The Council, of course.”

“Well, what the hell is their problem? Why are they so impatient?”

Her tone cooled a few degrees. “I don’t know. But I suspect it has something to do with the witch mafia threat hanging over our heads.” She leveled her gaze at him. Alara was not a woman to be cowed by anyone. “You forget that though I am regent here, my power on that Council is irrelevant. They are above us all in rank and power. And I don’t have enough political sway to begin to ask them why they do what they do.”

“Sorry,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean to jump down your throat. It’s just been a long morning.”

She looked at him sympathetically. “I can understand. And had I any way to postpone this, I would.”

“Right.” He looked at Danica and squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. I’m sure that witch will do everything she can to get us right again.”

Danica tried smiling at him as he kissed her on the cheek and left with Nik, but it felt like her mouth wouldn’t work.

Alara lingered. “You know, there’s a last-minute gala they decided to host tomorrow night to celebrate the candidates. The Council will even be there. Do you have a dress?”

Danica recognized a ploy to distract her when she saw one. She couldn’t deny that it was welcome and hadn’t come soon enough.

She laughed. “Honestly, getting all dressed up is the least of my worries right now.”

“Understandably so.” Alara’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she pressed her lips together, thinking. She took Danica’s hand and started for the door.

“What the—? Hey, where are we going?” Danica yelped.

“To my room. I might have something you could wear.” She looked Danica up and down. “We’re about the same size.”

Well, that was wishful thinking, as Danica found out. To her dismay, Alara was a bit smaller than her. The dresses, while beautiful, gathered at the wrong spots and clung to her curves a little too much. That is, if she could even get them zipped up.

Disappointed and feeling bad about her curves, Danica stared forlornly at her reflection in the mirror, wearing yet another dress that didn’t fit.

Alara came up behind her and smiled, a determined look coming over her face. “All right, so much for that idea. Come on, get changed and put your shoes back on.”

“Why?” Danica asked, raising her brows.

“We’re getting you out of here,” Alara said with a devious smile. “The boys will be indisposed for a while, and I’d say us girls have earned a little, well, ‘girl time.’”

“Girl time?”

Alara grinned. “We are going dress shopping.”

“Is anywhere open?” Danica said, surprised. “It’s barely daylight out.”

“I know of a place that opens early and closes early,” Alara said with an excited sparkle in her eyes. “It’s in a small town near here, and you know how small towns tend to run on their own schedules.”

Oh, Danica knew all too well. “Normal business hours” in Moonstruck meant anything from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 5 p.m. to midnight and so on. Most of the shops had been locally owned and run by the owners themselves, so they could do whatever they pleased.

Danica couldn’t deny that getting out of the castle sounded wonderful right now. Despite the fact she wanted to cling to Gage like a spider monkey and never let go, she let Alara pull her back to her room, where she showered and dressed before they left in the most expensive car Danica had ever ridden in.

Alara brought along two bodyguards, both of which sat in the back since Alara had insisted on driving “her baby.”

A symphonic metal band Danica had never heard before filtered through the radio speakers. The singer had a lovely, lilting voice that soared over the deep undertones of the bass and guitars. The song was haunting and sad, just the kind of tune her soul needed to heal right now. “These guys are pretty good,” she said.

“I think they’re called Black Rose,” Alara replied idly. “They’re an indie band that popped up a few months ago. Since they’re all paranormals, they’re starting to become pretty popular in the Underworld, and among human audiences.”

Danica blinked, surprised. Imagine that. A werewolf/witch/whatever-they-were rock band. “Cool.”

The engine roared as Alara gunned the pedal. Danica’s teeth ground together as her heart rate shot up.

“What is this anyway?” Danica said, gripping the door handle as Alara took a curve with breathtaking speed. The blood-red car easily hugged the curve and surged forward on the open country road, its engine roaring like an angry lion.

“It’s a Mitsubishi Firestorm. They named it that because you’ll burn up the road in this bad boy.” Alara grinned from ear to ear. “Pretty cool, huh?”

Pretty dangerous. Danica was too scared to look at the speedometer. “Yeah,” she lied through gritted teeth. “Pretty bad. I’ve never heard of them.”

“That’s because there aren’t many models,” she said matter-of-factly. “It’s a prototype. My father had a love for fast cars, a love which he passed down to me. Although, I guess he wasn’t really my father.” Her face scrunched up in a painful wince.

Danica watched her silently for a moment. “I’m sorry.”

Alara blinked and recovered. “For what?” she said aloofly.

“For the whole baby-daddy drama. It wasn’t right of him to treat you that way.” God, she had no idea what she’d do if her father had tried sacrificing her to some demonic witch. Forget the family drama—that shit was messed up.

Alara’s face hardened. “I was glad he did. It reminded me I can’t trust anyone in my world.”

“You can trust Nik, though,” Danica insisted softly.

Alara pressed her lips together. “I know.”

Danica studied her. “But you’re scared to.” She sighed, resting her head back on the seat. “I know that feeling. When everyone in your life lets you down, it can be hard to let go of that distrust. You come to rely only on yourself.” She smiled sadly. “But let me tell you from experience—that gets pretty lonely.”

Alara’s gaze grew heavy. “Sometimes you’re better off alone.”

“You can’t mean that,” Danica chided gently. “I see the way you look at Nik.”

Alara’s face lit up with that warm, loving glow Danica had seen on her own since meeting Gage. “Yeah. Much as it scares me to admit it, I love him. With all my heart. What’s left of it, anyway.”

Danica reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’ll heal with time.”

“I hope so,” Alara whispered.

Danica decided to shift the topic onto something relatively mindless. “Seen any good movies lately?”

Alara blushed. “I’ve never actually been to a movie theater.”

Danica stared at her, waiting for her to say she was joking. “Like, never ever?”

Alara nodded.

“Oh. My. God. Girl, we have got to get you out more.”

“My parents would never allow it, with me being the crown princess and all. My father thought it would be too much of a security risk. Not that that matters anymore,” she added bitterly. “I pretty much grew up in the castle.”

Danica’s shoulders slumped. It sounded so sad, like a lion who had grown up in a cage in a zoo. Animals like that weren’t meant to be caged—they were meant to be free. “Bummer. Remind me when this is all over to show you what the world is really like. It can be fun.”

Alara brightened up. “I’d like that.”

They made easy conversation the rest of the way, eventually ending up in a surprisingly chic mall in a town about fifteen minutes from the castle.

Danica saw more guards in disguise watching them in the parking lot. Some talked on cell phones, others pretended to be fellow shoppers walking into the mall…. They all looked so alarmingly normal. On the ride, Danica had asked Alara if they needed more guards. Alara had snorted and said, “Hardly. See that beat-up Camry behind us? And that mini-van ahead of us? Both are full of guards in disguise. There will be more once we get to the mall. Seriously, I have eyes everywhere.”

Alara hadn’t been kidding. Now that she knew what to look for, Danica counted at least twenty men and women who were on Alara’s personal security team, and that was just on the outside of the mall. Danica wouldn’t be surprised to see an army once they got inside.

“No offense, but I’m surprised you can find a mall this nice in a town this size,” Danica said as they went inside, trying not to think of all the eyeballs on her. Though it made her feel more secure to be watched by so many guards, it also unnerved her a bit.

“This town might be small, but it has a lot of old and new money in it. It’s a very wealthy community, actually,” Alara said as they walked through the mall, trailed by her bodyguards. They had ditched the formal castle-guard attire in favor of jeans, sneakers, and T-shirts. Alara said they were supposed to be their “boyfriends.”

“No kidding,” Danica said, eyeing the marble floor, pristine fountains, and modern architecture. The mall had all the mainstream stores she was used to seeing—Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Old Navy—but Alara pulled her into a shop she had never heard of before called The Dress Boutique. It was cute and cozy, with racks and racks of beautiful gowns.

“This is where I buy all my dresses,” Alara said. “They specialize in women with a little extra girth.”

“Sounds like my kind of store.” Danica idly picked up a price tag and her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “Holy shit, this dress is five hundred dollars!”

“So?”

“So I can’t afford that! Well, technically I can, since Gage and I share a bank account now, but that’s still a lot of money to pay for just a dress!”

Alara smiled. “Then let me get it.”

Danica’s eyes bugged. “No! I couldn’t let you do that.”

“Please.” Alara smiled warmly and placed a hand on Danica’s arm. “It’s the least I can do for you after you saved Nik’s life back at that ghetto-licious hotel.”

Danica snorted. “Did you just say ‘ghetto-licious?’”

“See?” Alara said proudly. “You can teach an old wolf new tricks. Before long, I shall sound just as hip and trendy as the rest of you.”

About then, a clerk sashayed over. “Hello, Ms. Crescent! How can I help you? Back for another ball gown?” she said eagerly, no doubt licking her lips over the generous commission she’d receive.

“Actually, I’m here to get a dress for my friend. This is Danica. Danica, Suzie. She’s marvelous and helps me pick out all my gowns.”

“Hello!” Suzie gushed, grabbing Danica’s hand and shaking it with so much fervor that Danica’s teeth rattled. “I’m so delighted to meet one of Alara’s friends!”

Danica smiled with effort. I bet you are, since it means more money for you. “Nice to meet you,” she said with stiff politeness.

Suzie immediately seized Danica and tugged her into a dressing room. “With your complexion, I think pastels will wash you out. We need something that will contrast with that lovely pale-blond hair.”

“You don’t say?”

Suzie shooed her toward the awaiting dressing room. “Go ahead and strip, and I’ll start bringing you gowns.”

“But don’t I get to pick them out?”

Suzie stared at her like she was slow. “Of course. You get to pick from the ones I choose for you to try on.” She slammed the door in Danica’s face, and Danica blinked.

“Well then, okay, crazy,” she grumbled and began undressing. She’d just stripped down to the essentials when the door opened and in walked Suzie with an armload of dresses.

“Jeez, don’t you knock!” Danica said, trying to cover herself.

“Oh, honey, you don’t have anything I haven’t seen before. Come on. Pick a dress and come out so we can see it.”

Outside the door was a wraparound mirror, a dais for girls to stand on and twirl, and some fancy chairs. Alara sat in one, watching Danica with an amused smirk. She giggled as Danica glared at Suzie and mouthed, “Crazy,” before shutting the door and locking it this time.

Danica wasn’t so sure about Suzie before, but after flipping through the dresses she’d brought her, she had to admit the woman knew what she was talking about. The dresses were all gorgeous and tasteful, and every single one looked great on Danica. She was shy at first to show them off, but she quickly got into the “dress up” game and eagerly twirled for Alara and Suzie.

“That autumn orange one is stunning,” Suzie said.

“I prefer the dark red,” Alara said, eyeing the red dress Danica currently had on. “It screams old Hollywood elegance. With a chignon, some chandelier earrings, and some lipstick to match, she would be exquisite.”

“Yes, yes,” Suzie murmured, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, I have the perfect shoes to match. Do you want to look at the earrings, dear?”

Danica blinked. “Me?”

“Yes, you!” Suzie huffed. “Who else would I be talking to?”

“Well,” Danica said carefully, “it’s just that you haven’t asked me to pick out anything yet.”

“Well, you can’t screw up the earrings,” Suzie said, as if this should be obvious, and waddled off.

Alara gave her an apologetic smile, shrugging as if to say, “That’s Suzie,” before following after the saleswoman.

Danica sighed, gathered her skirts, and walked into the main store. Alara pointed her in the direction of the jewelry, which was off in a separate room. Being the middle of the day and the middle of the work week, there weren’t many people in the mall. They were the only guests in the store, and the jewelry room was empty.

Danica’s jaw dropped as she entered. The room sparkled with a myriad of multi-colored gems. She felt like she’d stepped inside a bright, sparkly rainbow. Most of the earrings were on rotating black velvet racks that pitched dainty lights along the walls.

Her heart leapt to her throat as she eyed the price tags. The dresses didn’t have anything on the jewelry when it came to being expensive. No way could she let Alara cover the earrings too.

Hoping Gage would take, “She didn’t leave me any choice,” as an excuse, Danica looked at the chandelier earrings on display.

She felt someone lean in behind her. “You look radiant,” said a deep, masculine voice beside her ear.

She yelped and whirled, clutching the vanity. “Malachite,” she breathed.

He stood there looking devilishly handsome in a buccaneer kind of way, wearing a brown leather trench coat, a pirate shirt, dark jeans, and boots. His silver-blond hair was pulled halfway back at the nape of his neck, making his Arthurian face seem much more angular and lean. Even she had to admit it was a good look on him.

Malachite smiled, which made him look even more stunning with his perfectly straight, white teeth. “You remembered my name.”

Danica’s eyes narrowed. “Hard to forget the name of the man who made my mate’s life a living hell.”

That knocked the glow right off his face. “I was a different man then.”

Danica pursed her lips and crossed her arms. “What are you doing here?”

“Shopping.”

“Stalking,” Danica coughed.

Malachite didn’t deny it. While it was nice to have the attention of such an attractive man, the fact he was pure evil kind of ruined it for her. “Don’t you have puppies to choke?” she said, giving him a frosty smile that said, “Get lost.”

He stared at her with such sadness, she was almost sorry she’d been a bitch.

Almost.

“Do you really think me to be so vile?” he asked.

“If you’re trying to win me over with this whole ‘hot pirate’ getup,” she said, gesturing to his outfit, “and those sad eyes, it’s not going to work.” She started to move around him when he caught her wrist.

“Wait. Please.” He stared at her hand and his frown deepened. “I don’t understand.”

It took her a moment to catch on to what had upset him. “What?” She jerked her hand free. “Disappointed you didn’t mark me? Sorry, it’s because you’re not my mate.”

“But you are unmarked.”

“And it doesn’t mean a damn thing!” she screamed, fisting the skirt in her hands to keep from hauling off and hitting him. “I love Gage, end of story!”

Malachite’s jaw dropped, like she’d knocked the wind from him. He swallowed hard and ducked his head. “Am I really so despicable to you that the thought of loving me disgusts you so?”

Her anger ebbed, replaced by the teeniest bit of guilt. For a moment, he almost seemed… human.

She growled a sigh and crossed her arms. “Look, I’m sorry. But actions speak louder than words, and you have a history of being kind of a dick.”

His head shot up. “I can change.”

“Then show us,” she said. “If you’ve changed so much, prove to the others you’re a different man.”

“I could be for you.”

She closed her eyes and counted to ten. “Stop it. I don’t know what you’ve gotten in your head, but this infatuation with claiming me or whatever it is you hope to do has got to stop.”

“I could make you happy. I know I could.” He took a step toward her. “Danica—”

His gaze cut to her chest suddenly, widening. “Get down!”