Tamsin Glen, Fae Realm

Berolith, wrongly ousted, true high prince of the city, paced in the library of his father’s decrepit palace. The old male was trying to use the laws to get their family line back in power, but Berolith knew that the only way for them to be back where they should be was with blood, death, and magic.

A particular type of magic involving a fabled dragonfae.

He let out a snarl as he spun on his heels, his black cloak swishing around him like dark clouds. He couldn’t believe his bad luck. The girl had been in his lab along with her sisters, and he’d been so close to figuring out how to force her to her dragon form so he could take her wings and scales.

And then they’d escaped—all four of them!

He’d sent slavers after them, but they’d lost the females in the fucking human realm. One slaver had been killed, which wasn’t a loss to Berolith—a hundred could die in his pursuit of the throne and he’d dance on their graves. But he needed that dragonfae.

He knew now that she was too young to shift into her form, but her blood was still potent. And he could use the blood he had now to accelerate her aging and force her into her shift.

She’d die of course. But he only needed her alive long enough to harvest what the spell required.

“I have another idea,” he said as he turned on his heels and strode toward the guards waiting for his instructions. “Send out a survey team and find out who is traveling back and forth to the human realm. Whoever has spelled to protect the females is most likely living in the human realm but has ties here, so we’re looking for a male or female who has dual citizenship in both realms.”

The males nodded then turned to leave.

Berolith looked around the library. When they’d been ousted from leadership, they’d lost nearly everything, including the servants who’d normally take care of the place. Now, dust and cobwebs covered everything from the broken chandelier in the center of the vaulted ceiling to the family heirlooms. At least the ones they hadn’t had to sell to keep the palace in the first place.

He glared as his gaze landed on his father, the male seated at a table with a dozen books fanned out. His father lifted his grizzled old face to stare at him. “The law is what will see our family returned to its former glory and nothing else.”

“You’re a fool,” Berolith said with a sneer. “Magic brought our family into power, and it’ll bring us back again. The restoration spell is the only thing that will work to do what we need it to do.”

“Now who’s the fool?”

Berolith waved a dismissive hand at his father and left, his cloak swirling behind him. The little dragonfae’s days were numbered. She just didn’t know it yet.

* * *

Tuesday morning, Micah woke to find Zoey missing from her bed and his arms. His favorite thing was waking up with her. She smelled so amazing in the mornings, all warm and sweet.

He heard low voices in the apartment, one belonging to Zoey and the other to a female he didn’t recognize, most likely Rena.

Climbing from the bed, he tugged on his jeans and shirt from the night before and padded out to find his sweetheart.

“Morning,” he said when he found her in the kitchen holding two coffee mugs and talking to a female with dark brown hair tied into a long braid.

“Hey! Did we wake you up? We’re trying to figure out whose coffee mugs these are.” She gave him a kiss and then introduced him.

“So you’re the famous and mysterious Rena,” he said, shaking her hand.

Her brows went high. “I don’t know about that, but yes I’m Rena. It’s nice to meet you. I’m happy for my bestie but sorry you’re stealing her away.”

“So whose coffee mugs are they?” he asked. “Because I could definitely go for some coffee.”

“They’re mine,” Rena said. “I’m pretty sure, anyway.”

Zoey handed him one. “Coffee’s ready.”

He fixed his cup of coffee and turned to face the females. “So aside from packing today, is there anything else on the agenda?”

“That’s it,” Zoey said. “It’ll take us a while with just the two of us.”

“Three, babe. I’ll help,” Rena said.

“Don’t you have to work?”

She shook her head. “I had to quit. Someone from my past showed up and made a fuss and the manager got all pissy about personal business during work hours. It was easier to walk than to deal with it.”

“I’m sorry. And now I’m moving away! I’ll help with the rent until you find something.”

“It’s all right, I’ve got savings. I wouldn’t dream of taking money from you when you’re just getting started on your new life.”

There was a long stretch of silence in the kitchen and Micah cleared his throat. “If you point me to some boxes or whatever you want to use to pack up, I can start in the bedroom clearing your desk.”

“That would be great,” Zoey said. “There are boxes in the corner of the family room. I’ll be there in a few to help.”

“We’ve got all day, and maybe I’ll hit up my friends to help, although they’re packing themselves up too.”

He left the kitchen and grabbed a box. As he carried it into the bedroom, he overheard Rena sigh and say, “I’ve got some family obligations, that’s all. I just have to take care of a few things and then I can go back to my normal life. I hope anyway.”

“I feel really lost with what’s going on with you,” Zoey said softly. “I feel like I’m losing you.”

“I’ll tell you what’s going on with me when I can, but it’s better for you to be in the dark.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Now give me the other coffee mug and let’s get you packed. You and Micah need to get moved into your new place so you can celebrate by doinking each other in every room.”

“Doinking? Really?”

“That’s what the kids call it. I think.”

Micah shook his head and got to work in the bedroom. The only time he’d ever moved in his life was from his parents’ home to the house he shared with his friends. He was excited to move Zoey in, particularly if she was interested in some celebratory doinking, which was his new favorite word.

His phone buzzed and he saw it was Gideon.

“Hey my dude,” he said, putting the phone on speaker.

“So we gotta move out?”

“Yep. You remember our deal.”

“Hey, I’m happy for you. Luke said you guys are going to get mated officially with the pack on Saturday, so guess what Dad wants me and Bram to do in your honor?”

“I have no idea.”

“Clean out the fire pit and line it with rocks again. It hasn’t been redone in a decade or better.”

“That’s awesome. I’d offer to help but I have to pack my girl up.”

“You’re only offering because you know you’re too busy to help,” Gideon said with a laugh. “I wouldn’t let you help anyway, though. It’s our honor to get the firepit up to snuff. In the meantime, I tasked Luke with packing me up and he told me to go to hell.”

“He’s got a way with words.”

“You know it.”

“We’ll be back and forth today dropping stuff off at the house, so if I can help you out, I will.”

“Thanks, man. Congrats again. That’s two pack members in our age group who’ve found their mates in the last month, I hope that’s a trend that’s going to continue.”

“Me too. Talk to you later.”

“See ya.”

Zoey walked into the room with another box. “So I caught some of that since you were on speaker. What’s the deal with the firepit? Why does it have to be redone for our ceremony?”

“Probably because Uncle Jason wants it done. Cleaning it out will take a day at least. They have to clear all the debris and ash from inside then pull all the rocks that line it and then dig the whole thing out. Then they’ll use rocks from the woods to supplement the ones they already have if they need them. I’ll tell you all about the ceremony before Saturday. Did you ask Rena if she wanted to come?”

“She said she’d try, so I’ll just keep my fingers crossed.”

“I will too.”

They both got to work—him at the desk and her in the dresser—and within a few hours his truck was loaded, as well as Zoey’s car. Rena joined them to help unload, following in her car which was loaded with Zoey’s belongings.

He hoped the day went by fast. He wanted to spend the night in the house with Zoey again. He liked her apartment, but he felt better being in Allen with the pack. They’d just have to work hard and fast to get everything done that they needed to.

He backed into the driveway and hit the button to open the single-car garage door.

Climbing from the truck, he waved at his mate as she pulled into the drive, then he turned his attention to the stuff in the truck. It was going to be a long day with a great ending. He was going to live with his mate and make a home with her.

Anything was worth that.