“I can do this. I can do this,” Stephanie whispered as she walked beside her brother.
They emerged onto the Caribbean island. The night was balmy, and warm light poured out of the open doors of the fortress on a hill. Evacuees from the castle were crowding into the Sanctuary.
Her eyes went from them to the small party awaiting her. Lord Fieri stood to the side and the elderly Lord Osmond nearby, flanked by three of his Immortal soldiers.
Stephanie joined them. Peace stood beside her, a calming influence on everyone present.
I don’t want to destroy us all. The fear, hidden in Lord Osmond’s subconscious, left her feeling guilty for not learning more about how to lead before being forced into the position. She should have replaced Wynn the day she met him, had she known what needed to happen.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet me,” Stephanie started awkwardly. “What exactly is it you want?”
“An end to your family’s rule,” was the quiet response.
“You had no intention of insurgency at the dinner,” she observed. “I imagine Wynn’s theatrics became your motivation.”
“The latest in a long line of horrors.”
The volcano Wynn had been feeding had finally erupted. “Will you walk with me?” she asked and indicated the beach. “Just us.”
Lord Osmond nodded.
They started away together. Neither spoke until they reached the beach and were out of earshot of the others. She slowed her walk so the elder could match her pace.
“I know you don’t want our society falling apart,” she started. “I know you care about your people.”
“I do,” he confirmed. “Either your family destroys us, or this war does. I have to take the chance I can save my people, once the fighting stops.” There was heavy sorrow in his voice.
Stephanie gazed at him, sensing both his resolution and his reluctance.
“I want to change the way we do things,” she said, eyes on the moon hovering in the night sky. “Our society can’t be transformed by violence.”
“If there had been any other alternative, I would have chosen it,” Lord Osmond said gravely. “Your family abandoned us after years of terrorizing us.”
“Yeah. I get it,” she murmured. “There was a greater threat. One I’m not sure I should discuss, since it was inside the family.”
“If you want me to humor any agreement or cease fire you propose, you will tell me what was important enough that your whole family abandoned their duties.”
Stephanie glanced at him. With Wynn, she had been forced to be honest. Lord Osmond couldn’t read her mind, but the truth seemed like the safest bet in this circumstance, too, after years of Wynn and Kris manipulating everyone. If anything, he deserved it far more than Wynn or Darkyn ever would.
She told him about Wynn’s plan and the threat to Immortals and deities alike, if he became the god he aspired to.
Lord Osmond listened intently, gaze on her face. Whatever his thoughts were, he kept them to himself.
“I’m not Wynn or Kris or Rhyn, and none of them will ever oversee our people ever again,” she continued, returning their discussion to the original focus. “I don’t believe in violence to settle disputes, and I don’t believe in oppressing my people. I do believe if I’m not in the position I’m in, our world and the human world are both lost. I’ve heard this from what I’ll call the most reliable source possible.”
“Your mate,” he guessed. She sensed the elder was assessing her.
“Yes.”
“If Fate foresaw this …” Lord Osmond’s words were hushed. “We are damned either way.”
“Not necessarily. I’ve been considering how to make things better since I discovered Wynn wanted to appoint me his successor,” she started.
“You think you can make amends for tens of thousands of years of pain?”
“No,” she replied and stopped to face Lord Osmond. “But I think I can ensure no one suffers during the next ten thousand years and we don’t risk exposing our people or humans to the demons waiting for us to fall apart.”
“What do you propose?”
“One representative from every clan joins the Council as an advisor and advocate of his or her respective clan.”
Lord Osmond didn’t immediately respond. Stephanie searched his features, encouraged that he wasn’t walking away.
“Full voting rights,” she added. “We’ll make decisions as a community, not as a dictatorship. The advisors will perform duties alongside my family, equals in every way. My family retains its seats on the Council, and in the leadership position.”
“Your family is the reason order is disintegrating.”
“My brothers and Wynn will behave,” she replied firmly. “They become my responsibility to rein in.”
Lord Osmond frowned. “You won’t make them pay the consequences for their actions.”
“I don’t even know how they could make up for thousands of years of stupidity.” She paused. “What is your suggestion?”
“No voting rights for five centuries for Wynn and your brothers, and trials, whereby the community decides all of their fates.”
“I can’t do that,” she murmured. “I’d agree to no voting rights for five centuries. As for the trials …”
She studied him, sensing him stiffen at the prospect she was about to close ranks with her family. She was – to an extent.
“Wynn will go to trial. He’s caused the most damage.” And done the most good, she added silently. It would be impossible to condemn Wynn without acknowledging he was the only reason the Immortals had survived this long. “In exchange, my brothers will not go to trial. You and I will preside as co-judges, along with Peace.”
Lord Osmond looked at her hard. “You believe yourself to be unbiased towards your father?” he challenged.
“Honestly? No,” she replied. “If anything, I want him locked away forever so he doesn’t try to fuck over the world again. But Peace has a very measured outlook and the ability to see the greater impact of what decisions we make on our society. He will be fair, and I believe you will be as well.”
“Fate must be present.”
“You would trust my mate?” she asked, surprised.
“I would trust his vision of the Future. As much as I despise Wynn, I’ve been around long enough to know the importance of his role in preserving this world. Whatever we determine, Fate will confirm if we’ve made a decision that will endanger our people,” Lord Osmond said. “In addition, the advisors – one from each clan – will witness the trial to ensure it’s fair.”
“I can agree to that,” she replied. “You were kind to me at the dinner party before Wynn started murdering people. I don’t think you want our society to fall apart any more than I do.”
Stephanie’s heart pounded at the thought she was not only making decisions as the leader of an entire race of creatures, but transforming their society, starting the first day she was in charge.
Lord Osmond said nothing for a long moment. He was pensive rather than defiant.
Stephanie waited, her confidence fluctuating.
“Wynn and Kris never would’ve humored me,” he spoke at last.
“I’m pretty sure they would’ve crushed any insurgency,” she agreed. “We are on the cusp of a new era, I think. Our society desperately needs to transform. I was serious when I told you at dinner that times change, and people need to as well. The Immortals deserve better than what they’ve gotten. I can promise you I intend to ensure change happens.”
“We will need to work out parts of this,” he said. “How long the advisors serve, their duties, compensation for the soldiers lost in this fray.”
“Tonight is a start,” she said. “I mainly want to stop the killing and address the details tomorrow. There’s no excuse for an Immortal hurting another Immortal – ever. I think that is one area where I will be more like my father than anywhere else. The stiffest punishments are reserved for those who hurt their own kind.”
“I would agree.”
They gazed at one another, and Stephanie realized he was waiting for her to make the next move.
She held out her hand.
Lord Osmond shook, and cold fire tore through her as their deal was sealed.
“We can start looking at the details tomorrow,” she said. “We have a mess to clean up today, but first, I want our united forces ready to face any demon incursions. Darkyn isn’t one to ignore an opportunity like this one.”
“Agreed.”
They began walking once more, towards the group waiting for them.
“I sensed you were different at the dinner,” he said. “Wynn was right. He could not have chosen a better successor. Do not let power turn you into something you are not or into a menace like the rest of your family.”
“I want to make a positive difference,” she said. “Too much depends on me for me to become power hungry or selfish or to lose sight of what happens if I don’t focus on our survival.”
His smile was faint.
“Besides,” she said with a grin. “You’ll be there to knock some sense into me if I lose focus.”
“I don’t think I’ll need to,” he replied. “I think we’ll be on the right track for the first time in millennia.”
Touched by his faith and warmth, Stephanie didn’t quite know how to respond. They were silent as they approached the group awaiting them. Andre’s concerned gaze found hers, and Stephanie smiled.
“I’ll order my soldiers to stand down and return control to you immediately,” Lord Osmond said.
“I appreciate you working with me,” Stephanie said. “Our priority is to remain ready to deal with anything Darkyn is planning.”
Lord Osmond bowed his head once and opened a portal, leaving, followed by his lieutenants.
“Lord Fieri, please give the order for a cease fire,” she said to the tense general. “I left a demon and goddess in charge of the troops. Don’t be alarmed.”
He nodded once and left.
Stephanie bent over and began hyperventilating.
Andre touched a cool hand to the back of her neck.
She sucked in deep breaths, her eyes watering. Had she eaten after being resurrected, she would have vomited everything in her stomach several times over by now.
When she felt in control once more, Stephanie straightened. “You’d be proud of me,” she said to Peace.
“I already am,” he replied with his gentle eloquence. “I imagine the concessions were extensive.”
“Nothing we can’t live without,” she replied. “But the era of tyrants and violence is officially over.”
“As it should be.”
“I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.” She rested her hands on her hips. “I have no fucking idea what I’m doing, Andre.”
He laughed softly. “You’re the right person doing the right thing. Trust me. My job is to know the ideal situation for peace to be created. This is it. You are it.”
Stephanie’s hands trembled.
“We need to return,” he said. “The Immortal leader can’t be absent from her duty.”
She nodded, her eyes on the open doors of the fortress perched at the center of the island. “We can bring them back tomorrow,” she decided. “Probably not a good idea for them to return with dead bodies on the lawn.”
They left the Sanctuary.
The war chamber was packed when they appeared in the hallway outside of it.
Stephanie’s breath caught. All the officers had been returned – along with her four missing brothers and Wynn.
“I passed,” she whispered.
The chamber fell silent once more. She glanced around self-consciously before joining the demon and goddess managing the battle.
The action around the castle had ceased. Lord Osmond’s troops were withdrawing.
“I am done here,” Trayern hissed to her. “I can’t stand Immortals.”
“Oh, are you asking permission to leave?” she asked innocently for his ears only. “Like the little bitch you are?”
He growled but didn’t retort.
“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll call you next time I need a strategist.” Stephanie glanced at Karma, who was more concerned about Wynn than the demon. “Let him go.”
Karma waved her hand without looking at either of them.
The demon sulked away, resuming his position nearby, and Stephanie looked around at the expectant gazes. Her eyes settled on Lord Fieri.
“Open the armory,” he said to one officer before turning to another. “Full accountability of personnel. Injured, dead-dead, living. Now.” The general began issuing quiet orders.
Stephanie glanced toward the aide de camp who appeared to have adopted her. He waited beside her, gaze on her alone.
Her eyes went to Wynn, who was as stoic as ever. She wasn’t fooled by the cold exterior. Her father had given up everything to rescue her and prevent his mate from a lifetime of excruciating pain. Whatever her opinion of him had been, she couldn’t help acknowledging what he’d done. He’d proven himself to be the man she needed him to be.
“Please join me, Wynn,” she said and stepped out of the chamber.
He complied, and they stood far enough away for the guards at the door not to hear.
Tears were in her eyes. “You didn’t fuck us over,” she said, uncertain what else to say.
Wynn smiled.
“I knew you wouldn’t,” she added and wiped her cheeks. “I knew you cared.”
“Did you? Or were you playing the game?”
“Both!” she retorted. “I beat you, Wynn.”
“That is the reason you’re in charge of the Council. I knew you wouldn’t fuck us over, either,” he replied.
Stephanie wanted to hug him, but he had never been the type of father who displayed any sort of warmth or affection. She hugged herself instead, forced to be content with the knowledge he cared enough not to let her rot in Hell for all eternity.
“I had to agree to put you on trial to stop the insurgency. In exchange, my brothers will be left alone,” she said.
“You are doing your duty.” He appeared unconcerned.
She searched his face. She wanted to ask him if he’d hate her for it and simultaneously despised herself for caring about his approval.
“I’m proud of you,” Wynn said, warmth in his gaze.
“Really?”
“Really.”
More tears formed, but she swiped them away quickly.
“Fair warning,” he continued gravely. “You’ve just shown who you are to Darkyn.”
“I know. Know your enemy. It’s the first step to defeating them,” she replied. “Darkyn bad, Immortals good.”
“The game only becomes harder from here.”
Stephanie had begun to realize this as well. “You’ll be here to advise me,” she said. “Even if it’s from the dungeon.”
“After three lifetimes, I’m ready to retire and advise.”
She blinked, not expecting the words from a man as ambitious as Wynn.
His focus shifted to Karma, who lingered a short distance away, in the doorway. The skin around Wynn’s eyes softened, and his smile was genuine.
Stephanie grinned, grateful to learn the tyrant had a heart after all.
“Thank you,” she said. “For everything.”
“It’s not necessary,” was the quiet reply.
“You are so frustrating.” She sighed.
“You’re welcome,” Wynn said, amused.
“Now for the official part.” Stephanie drew a deep breath. “You’re privileges to leave the grounds are hereby revoked.” She waved to the two guards. “Please confine Wynn to his chamber.
“Can I be confined, too?” Karma asked. “I can make sure he doesn’t leave.” She slid her hand into Wynn’s.
“Sure,” Stephanie said, touched by the expression on Karma’s face. Wynn showed little, but one look at Karma, and the joy of their future together was evident.
Four Immortal guards escorted the two of them away from the war chamber.
Her brothers were waiting when Stephanie returned to the chamber. Rhyn was grinning.
“Demon-sis,” he said.
She rolled her eyes at him. “Kiki, make me a list of that infrastructure shit you were telling me about,” Stephanie said. “Kris, Tamer, you’re restricted to the grounds as well. We can talk in the morning. Andre, we need to speak tonight. Rhyn, can you ensure the return of all our refugees starting in the morning?”
No sooner had she spoken the words than she felt the compulsion of a summons.
“Be back in a minute,” she said. A portal opened beside her.
Stephanie curiously obeyed the summons and crossed through, trailed by Trayern.
She ended up by the lake. Along with the dining hall and ballroom, the lake was on her shit list. Lord Osmond’s Immortals had withdrawn from this area as well.
“Using my lieutenant against me. Clever.”
Her excitement and triumph fled at Darkyn’s lethal purr.
Stephanie’s eyes adjusted to the darker surroundings. Trayern moved to stand behind his master, a full head taller than the demon lord.
“I followed your fucked-up rules,” she replied.
“Based on your performance, I’ll modify them next encounter.”
She suppressed a shudder. Would there ever come a day when she’d be on equal footing with the Dark One?
“Where’s my mate?” she asked.
“He’ll be returned to you at dawn.”
Stephanie glanced towards the sky. The moon had sunk beneath the horizon. A thrill went through her.
“How is my mother?” she questioned.
“Alive. For now.”
Stephanie swallowed hard.
“That can change at any moment,” he reminded her. “I’m withdrawing Trayern from your guardianship. The terms Fate outlined have been met. As a demon, you can enter Hell. I trust you understand the consequences, should you exercise this ability.”
“Partial demon,” she whispered, disturbed by the uncomfortable silence that ensued.
“You belong to me, love,” Darkyn returned. “Full or partial.”
She crossed her arms. “I’ll stay out of Hell.” She was at her limit with the stress of the night.
“I heard there was an incident here involving you, Wynn and Trayern,” Darkyn continued.
Stephanie glanced at the demon behind him. Trayern gave no sign he was at all concerned about the incident he’d purposely hidden from his boss. After a moment of internal debate, she shrugged.
“Nothing interesting,” she replied.
Darkyn studied her, a small smile on his features. Did he know the truth?
Was this another test?
“I’m so sick of all this shit,” she said, unable to suppress her anger. “Are we done?”
“For now.”
Everything the demon lord said terrified her.
He turned towards a portal.
Trayern glared at her.
Stephanie flipped him off. He growled deep in his chest in response then trailed his boss.
When they’d disappeared, she unleashed a string of curses and then drew a deep breath. “I hate those assholes.” She touched her fangs, horrified by Darkyn’s claim she belonged to him.
Stephanie stood in the chilly pre-dawn air, breathing in the scent of the forest deeply. She was too wired to feel the fatigue lingering after her resurrection. Hunger rumbled in her stomach, and her thoughts turned to her mate. On a cool morning such as this one, she could think of nothing she wanted more than to feel his warmth and arms around her.
A portal opened beside her. Stephanie waited eagerly, hoping it was Fate.
Instead, her sister walked through, stopped and stared as the doorway to other places closed.
“What the fuck?” Sammy whispered.
Stephanie laughed at her sister’s expression and wrapped her arms around Sammy from behind, hugging her sister against her.
“No, really. What the fuck?” Sammy continued to face the direction of the portal.
Stephanie grinned, relieved to see her sister once more.
The same height as Stephanie, Sammy was athletic rather than slender, with dishwater blond hair and large, dark eyes.
“Who taught you to use the portals?” Stephanie asked.
“The guy you came with to the Sanctuary,” Sammy replied. “Said he was your brother? Andre?” Sammy faced her.
Stephanie’s arms fell away. It took all of her remaining mental strength not to laugh at her sister’s bewildered expression.
“What’s wrong with your teeth?” Sammy asked.
“I’ll explain later,” Stephanie promised.
“You said that before. I’m not moving until you start talking.” Sammy crossed her arms. “Who’s that?”
Mithra stood to the side, leaning against his cane.
“He’s a guardian angel,” Stephanie answered.
“Like Toby?”
“Yes,” Stephanie replied, recalling the angel assigned to Katie and Rhyn. “Can we go inside and talk?”
Sammy nodded.
Together they began walking towards the forest.
“Did mom tell you she’s a magical goddess?” Stephanie asked.
“Yeah, she did and then said she was going to spend time in Hell,” Sammy replied.
“Did she mention you’ll inherit her goddess powers?”
Sammy’s brow furrowed. “She skipped that part.”
“We have a lot to talk about. I’ll introduce you to my brothers and father,” Stephanie said and linked her arm through her sister’s. “And my husband, when I figure out where he is.”
“This is crazy, sis,” Sammy said, a note of hysteria in her voice. “Mom’s a goddess. Andre said you’re in charge of all the Immortals in the world, and I woke up with a tattoo. How could you get married without me? I was supposed to be your maid of honor!”
“That’s not how it works here. There wasn’t a ceremony or anything. But we can have …” Stephanie started and then froze. “Did you say you have a tattoo?”
“Yeah. It’s pretty, like yours, but I just woke up with it. No tattoo parlor or anything. Is this a weird goddess-Immortal thing?” Sammy asked.
Stephanie didn’t know how to answer that question, not when she was trying to figure out who her sister’s mate could possibly be.
“What’s wrong?” Sammy asked.
“What does your tattoo say?” Stephanie asked, her tone level.
“It’s not a real word,” Sammy said dismissively. “Maybe it’s in a different language?”
Sammy wore shorts and a t-shirt. Stephanie searched her sister’s exposed forearms and legs for any sign of the mating tattoo. “Where is it?” she asked.
Sammy pulled up her shirt to display the skin of her abdomen. “It’s not where I would’ve chosen to get it. But it’s kind of cute, I guess. It’ll look badass with my bikini. There’s a T under my bra.”
“That son of a bitch,” Stephanie muttered. Any exhaustion she experienced after her day fizzled in the flames of her surging anger.
“Who?” Sammy asked, lowering her shirt. “Does it mean something?”
“We have a lot more to talk about than I thought,” Stephanie replied darkly. “I’m going to tell you everything no one told me when I wound up in this place.”
“You’re worrying me, Steph.”
“Ignore me,” Stephanie said with effort. “Mithra’s going to take you back to my room. I have one more matter of business to attend to before we can talk.”
Sammy eyed her, aware Stephanie was hiding something as only a sister could.
“You know what it means, don’t you?” Sammy accused.
“Mithra,” Stephanie called and waved the angel over. “Can you take Sammy to my chamber?”
The angel sighed and walked slowly toward them. “Very well. I’ll return shortly.”
Stephanie stepped back from Sammy. “I promise. We’ll talk,” she said to her sister, who hadn’t completely lost her confused expression. “Twenty minutes tops.”
Sammy studied her before rolling her eyes and walking away. “Let me do it, Mithra,” she said and stopped beside the angel. Sammy focused hard, and a portal opened. She relaxed.
Stephanie waited for her to disappear before she uttered the foulest curses she knew. She stood in silence, struggling to make sense of this latest revelation and the impact it would have on the family she’d tried to protect. Would Sammy join their mother in Hell?
Stephanie touched the knotted scar on her neck. Would Sammy spend every day of her remaining life being torn apart by a demon?
The first time Stephanie had seen demons, she’d been traumatized for months. After spending two months with Trayern, she remained wary of them, and had no intention of crossing one, but also came to understand they weren’t too different than Immortals, who were stronger and tougher than humans. Demons had an added layer of primal ferocity and viewed everyone who wasn’t a demon as food. Being around him, though, helped her expel much of her initial terror. He breathed. He thought. He bled. He wasn’t the monster she’d first thought demons to be.
The idea that Sammy would spend her lifetime being tortured returned Stephanie to the emotionally charged state she’d been in when she witnessed the murder of her best friend. Except, rather than fear, she experienced fury. Stephanie had seen Trayern fight. Sammy didn’t stand a chance.
Horrified by the image in her mind of brave, smart Sammy suffering, Stephanie summoned a portal and went to her sister’s apartment in Oregon. She ransacked it for any of the weapons she suspected Sammy hid only to run into a gun safe with a combination she didn’t know. Grabbing two bats instead, Stephanie returned to the lake. She dropped one bat at her feet and hid the second behind her.
“Trayern,” she breathed the demon’s name.
This time, when he appeared, his expression was knowing.
“For the record, this is personal, not professional,” she told him.
“You heard about my blood monkey.”
Stephanie swung the bat. “My sister is not food!”
Trayern ducked in time for her first strike to miss, deflected the second one, and was knocked back by the third, which hit him squarely in his side. She lowered the bat, breathing hard, and the two glared at one another. Had he wanted to, he could have killed her by now or at the very least disarmed her.
Was he purposely restraining himself? Or were there rules about him attacking the Council leader?
She swung at him once more, and he ducked.
Trayern straightened. “Where I come from, that’s called foreplay. She’s already figured that out,” he said, referring to his encounter with Sammy at the Sanctuary.
“You son of a bitch!” Stephanie swung again.
Trayern snatched the bat and wrenched it out of her hands. He snapped it over his knee as if it were a tiny branch and flung it. Before he had a chance to react, she swung the second bat and caught him in the side of the head.
The demon dropped and then stood, lowering his head. His taunting was done; he was genuinely pissed.
“This is not how the Council leader behaves,” Mithra chided from the sidelines.
Despite hoping for a fight – one that preferably ended in Trayern’s death – Stephanie had already experienced the amount of damage a pissed off demon could cause.
Trayern spit blood and cracked his neck before stalking towards her.
“You plan on helping me out?” she snapped to the angel.
“I’m afraid not,” was the guardian angel’s remorseful tone.
Stephanie retreated from the angry demon’s advance. “Aren’t you supposed to be at war with demons?”
“It’s complicated.”
She glanced his way. “Fuck.” Mithra wasn’t the only witness to her match with Trayern.
Darkyn stood beside the angel, one hand on Mithra’s shoulder to prevent the angel from assisting her.
Stephanie returned her attention to the storm she’d provoked in time to skirt Trayern’s attempt to grab her. She swung the bat.
This time, he caught it before it hit and yanked it away with one hand while snatching her jaw with the other. His long, sharp fingernails dug into her skin, and he dragged her close enough for her to feel his breath on her face.
“You cannot keep me from her,” he hissed.
“I can and will. She’s hereby confined to the castle, and you are banished from ever entering the grounds,” Stephanie returned. “Further, I’ll be reassigning Mithra or finding a more competent guardian angel to assign to her. You will never cross paths with my sister!”
Trayern’s grip tightened, but Stephanie refused to show her pain. She wasn’t going to back down, not with her sister’s life on the line.
“You have two weaknesses, and both will be in Hell soon,” he replied. His muscular frame was coiled, his eyes blazing. He was close to snapping.
“Do it,” she whispered, thrilled to know she had the upper hand. He was more upset than she was. If Wynn had taught her anything, it was that the person who remained in control of him or herself was in control of the situation. “I’m sure Sammy will love to hear how her mate killed her sister – twice!”
Trayern’s grip tightened.
They stared at one another, each incensed. Finally, he pushed her away.
“Fuck!” The demon paced, clearly wanting to murder her. “You’re weak, and I will outmaneuver you, Immortal!”
“I’m not the only one vulnerable here, Trayern!” she retorted. “You and your boss share the same weakness. He favors you, or you’d be dead, and he will help you reach your mate – or try to – because he already knows what it means to have a mate. I may have shown my hand, but so have you, and I will use everything within my power to not only exploit that weakness, but to protect my sister as well! I will fucking destroy you, if you go near her!”
Trayern was growling.
“Trayern’s earned his mate,” Darkyn purred, far too satisfied for her comfort.
He’s pushing my buttons on purpose. She was too furious to pay this thought the amount of attention it deserved.
Stephanie paced and rubbed her face, trembling from emotion. Trayern’s eyes didn’t leave her. With some bitterness, she realized she’d finally managed to destabilize him the same way he had spent weeks destabilizing her.
“You do not disappoint,” Darkyn said. “I will help Trayern reach his mate, if only to remind you where you belong on the food chain.”
“I will stop you,” Stephanie replied.
“Can you stop her from finding him? The mating bond goes both ways. You may block her from entering the place-between-places for now, but at some point, you’ll lower your guard, perhaps because you’re forced to, and Trayern can summon her. Or, she can simply walk away from the castle grounds, perhaps following a shapeshifter demon who looks like your mother.”
Stephanie turned her attention to Darkyn, hearing the threat in his quiet voice. Her anger spent, she became alarmed the more Darkyn spoke. There was no way to safeguard her sister for the rest of eternity.
“Remember two of your family members have connections to Hell, and so do you,” the demon lord said. “How I treat them depends on you.”
“You won’t hurt Sammy,” she said firmly. “You wouldn’t go through this effort to help Trayern, if you meant to make him suffer a broken mating bond.”
“I can prevent her and your mother from leaving Hell ever again.”
Coldness streaked through Stephanie. Her fear returned. Darkyn was not someone to mess with, no matter how angry she was, or which of her loved ones was involved. If she became reckless, she condemned them all and possibly the Immortals she was charged with protecting.
Her eyes went to Trayern. He met her gaze. She’d challenged Darkyn and his favored lieutenant, a strategist whose prowess she’d already witnessed, to a game she wasn’t prepared to play.
“I’ve got an eternity to wait you out, Immortal,” Trayern said. “At some point, you’re going to need something from Hell. Don’t think that won’t come at a cost and I won’t be the one making the deal.”
“I lied to your boss for you,” she said, anger warming her face again.
“He already knew. I keep no secrets from him. He planted the thought in my mind that he knew you’d find. Often, when people feel they have the advantage, they lower their guards, and you did.”
Stephanie was silent, too upset to speak. Wynn’s assertion that her game with Darkyn was just beginning settled into her thoughts.
“Darkyn let Fate choose which of his lieutenants was assigned to you,” Trayern taunted. “I didn’t know about Samantha until I saw her at the Sanctuary, but my boss and your mate did.”
“Bastard,” Stephanie muttered. She wasn’t sure exactly who she was directing the curse toward – Trayern, Darkyn, or her own mate.
“Be smart about this, Immortal.” The demon approached her, calmer. “You can’t do shit about it, and you know it. You wouldn’t be this fucking pissed if you could.”
“We’ll see,” she replied and lifted her chin in defiance. “I’m the daughter of Wynn and Chaos and the mate of Fate. If anyone can figure this out, I can.”
“Darkyn couldn’t deny the bond, and neither could Fate.”
Stephanie couldn’t think of any comeback for the truth.
“Where’s my mate, Immortal?” Trayern growled.
“Keep fucking with me, Trayern. Hell may have a hostage I care about, but I have one of yours as well. Don’t think I won’t use my sister against you or that I won’t confine her to the dungeon for an eternity if it means she’s safe!”
“Spoken like the daughter of Wynn,” Darkyn said.
Holy fuck. I just pulled a Wynn.
“I’m not … fuck!” she exclaimed, horrified she not only finally understood why Wynn had thrown his sons into the catacombs but found herself agreeing with the sentiment behind the tactic. “I’m not like him!”
“From where I stand, you are,” Darkyn stated.
Realizing they were assessing her every word, move and expression, Stephanie shelved her internal conflict and released the breath she’d been holding.
“I won’t let you have her,” she said more calmly.
“You’ve already lost this battle,” Trayern told her.
Stephanie glared at him. She despised his ability to force her to confront the truth she didn’t want to acknowledge.
“We’ll see,” she managed.
“Who’s the little bitch now, Immortal?”
Stephanie’s hands clenched into fists. “You’re so lucky your boss is here, little boy.”
Trayern snorted. “Tell Samantha I’ll see her soon.” He sidled away, joining his boss.
Darkyn smiled, and Stephanie shuddered. He knew exactly what to do and say to upset her.
The two disappeared through a portal.
Stephanie let out a scream of anger and then flung her head back, eyes on the morning sky. She’d doubted her ability to lead, to manipulate, to become enough like her father to wrangle the power and influence she needed to safeguard her people.
After this confrontation, however, she saw her situation in a different light.
The same lengths she would go to for her sister were those she’d have to go to for all the Immortals. Every threat had to be personal and every solution calculated and detached. If she viewed the Immortals as her family, and learned to ruthlessly negotiate and manipulate like their lives were on the line, she would become the leader they needed.
The distance between what she knew and what she needed to know suddenly seemed shorter and less overwhelming when she understood the bigger picture of what it’d mean to lose anyone else to someone like Darkyn.
Darkyn was the unforgiving teacher Deidre had claimed him to be. Wynn had taught her what her duty was and the importance of making it a priority; Darkyn had shown her how to feel by throwing her weaknesses and fears in her face. She needed both angles in order to lead. The lives of everyone around her depended upon her.
Concerned for Sammy, and dissatisfied with her encounter with Trayern, Stephanie wiped the blood from her jaw and started towards the forest.
“Take a portal, Mithra!” she barked. She strode away from the lake, needing the time and space to cool off before faced with the mess awaiting her in the war chamber.
“I always thought a woman with fangs was sexy.” Fate, shimmering, exited the forest before she reached the trail.
Stephanie crossed the distance between them in four steps, tripped and stumbled into his arms.
He laughed as he caught her. She breathed in his brown sugar scent. With his strong, warm embrace around her, the events of the night didn’t seem as terrifying as they were. She hadn’t realized how much she needed his strength, or how starved she’d been for his touch, until she experienced both again. She melted into his body.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Did I do it?” she asked. “Did I stop what you Saw coming?”
“For now,” Fate replied.
She looked up at him, tensing.
Fate’s gaze twinkled with mirth. His dark edge was gone, settling her fears before he spoke. There was nothing in his features but tenderness and warmth. “You did,” he said. “There will be a great many more challenges, but the event I’d feared for some time is no longer a threat.”
“Oh, thank god.”
“And … I can see your chains-of-events now that you have your soul.”
She feared asking what he Saw in her Future. But if his smile was any indication, he foresaw nothing bad.
“You can’t leave me anymore,” she told him and swallowed her tears. “I hope you Saw that.”
“I did,” he replied and rested his forehead against hers. “It’s us now. For good.”
“Thank god!” They stood in peaceful silence, enjoying each other’s warmth. “Where were you?”
“Restricted by Darkyn from interfering, as much as I wanted to.” The dark edge entered Fate’s voice again. “My brave little Stephanie challenging Trayern to a duel.”
She sighed. “Did you know about Sammy?”
“I did.”
“I’m not going to let it happen! She’s my only sister!”
Fate didn’t reply, and she suspected it was because he didn’t want to tell her what Trayern already had, that this was a battle she wasn’t going to win.
“I won’t let him hurt her,” she whispered. “I can’t.”
“Demons don’t hurt their mates. Even they regard the bond as sacred.”
“I don’t believe that.”
Fate squeezed her to him.
“I can’t do this alone,” she added. “I’m not sure how I’ve gotten this far.”
He pushed hair from her features and wiped her cheeks. The tenderness was back. “Because you’re the woman I’ve always known you to be. I didn’t need my power to know your heart and recognize your potential.”
She smiled, touched by his faith. “I missed you.”
“You’ll never miss me again.” He pushed her lip up to gaze at one small fang. “Sexy as fuck.” These words were spoken low and husky. Desire flared to life in his gaze. “You’re welcome to bite me whenever you want, gorgeous.”
She nipped his finger, and he smiled.
“One hundred percent chance I’m going to fuck you senseless tonight,” he whispered. “And every night after.”
Exhilaration flared within her. Fate’s dangerous edge had always left her breathless.
“But right now …” His eyes lingered on her fangs. “You have work to do. Can’t let the Immortals fall apart on your first day of duty.”
She groaned, wanting to spend quality time with her mate.
He laughed, pulled away and took her hand. “Come on. I’m here to entertain you during your breaks.” He winked. The light of lust in his gaze assured her she’d have no rest anytime soon.
Together they began walking into the forest and the castle beyond it.
“Want to know how many kids Wynn and Karma have?” he teased.
“God, yes!” she exclaimed. “I hope it’s like twelve, and they’re all crazy. Am I right?”
“I can’t actually tell you.”
“What?” She smacked his arm. “Do not be an asshole like every other man in my life!”
Fate laughed. “Four girls. All of them as wild as Karma. But you can’t tell anyone.”
“That will drive Wynn insane,” Stephanie said with an evil smile. “I hope he learns how to be a decent father. Person. Immortal. A decent everything.”
“He will. He knows what he values now, and it’s not becoming a deity.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” she murmured. “How many kids do we have?”
“You’ll find out.”
“Are they as wild as Karma?”
“One of them will be.”
Stephanie smiled. Her eyes lingered on his handsome features. Since wading into the stormy waters of the Immortal world, she hadn’t been able to imagine a future with the Immortals.
With no small amount of joy, she believed she now could. Her human life seemed far away, a dream. This was where she belonged, with an insane family, an arrogant god, the fate of the human world on her shoulders, and no shortage of Immortals, demons and deities waiting for her trip up.
I can do this, she thought, surprised to feel the truth of this statement resonate within her. This is where I’m meant to be.
“I love the idea of spending my life with you,” she murmured.
“Me, too.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her into his body. “More than I can ever tell you.”
Stephanie sighed. Whatever the Future brought, she could face it, as long as her mate was at her side.