Rescued by the Fae
Date: 2022-01-10 00:00:00+00:00
Description: My soul hasn't been mine for over a thousand years. Ever since I saw her standing on that cliffside in Ireland, Eira has possessed more of me than she'll ever know. But by the time I saw her again, she'd suffered far more than anyone ever should. She'd been broken, abused, and was unwilling to trust me no matter how many times I tried to prove my intentions. For my kind to mate—it's rare—dangerous, which is why no one can know of my ties to the violet-eyed siren or her hold over me. My enemies would love to get their hands on the one thing that could lead to my destruction. But when her life i
Publisher: B.A.D. Publishing, LLC

Siren

Prophecy Series Book 4

Jessica Wayne

Siren
by Jessica Wayne

Copyright © 2019. All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places, or actual events is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Edited by Jessa Russo of Russo’s Editing Services

Proofread by Dominique Laura

Cover Design by Covers By Combs

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

The final installment is coming!

From The Author

About the Author

Also By Jessica Wayne

Prologue

Luxe World: 10,000 years ago

Thames

Black cape billowing behind him, Thames made his way to the castle that stood as a beacon to his people. A beacon he would either rule, or see crumbled to dust beneath his boots. Through death and destruction, he marched, as his followers slaughtered all those who stood against him. It didn’t matter that they were his people; they were weak.

Weakness was something he would never tolerate. Not even from his own kind.

He made his way up the stone steps and into the foyer of the place he’d grown up. The place where he’d learned what his people were truly capable of, if only their current ruler would embrace all the power of their world.

“Brother,” Larynt said in warning.

Thames turned around. His younger sibling stood behind him, sword drawn.

Blood oozed from the wounds scattered across his pale skin. His bright amethyst eyes pleaded with Thames, the black pupils widening with hope that his brother wasn’t too far gone.

Oh, how wrong he was.

“Larynt,” Thames said tightly. “Where are our parents?”

“You have to stop this madness. It is not too late.”

Thames laughed. “It is not too late for you to join me. Do you not realize what our people are capable of? We could rule together, Brother. Side by side. You with the power, and me with the throne.”

“I have no interest in the other worlds. They are not ours.”

“But they could be. With the flick of Father’s scepter, we could own them all.”

“Why? What reason would we have for that?”

Thames stared at Larynt with surprise. How was his brother so blind? “Power, brother. The ultimate power.”

“You have been corrupted. Please, let me help you.” Larynt lowered his sword slightly and took a step closer.

Yes, come closer now, Brother. Let me show you what I am truly capable of. “I am not the one in need of help.”

Larynt stepped closer still, his eyes softening with pity. It took everything in Thames to not attack immediately for that alone. How could his brother not see it was their world in need of that pity? A world that could rise to greatness if only their father would embrace the power.

Once Larynt was within reach, Thames spun, kicking his gut and sending his brother’s sword clattering to the ground.

Thames lunged at Larynt, sliding his hand around his brother's throat.

“Please don’t do this, Thames. We’re brothers,” he choked out, but Thames heard nothing over the sound of his own blood pounding in his ears.

“Blood means nothing to me.” With his free hand, Thames reached for the blade secured at his lower back. Releasing his brother, Thames brought the blade up and sliced it through Larynt’s tender flesh. His brother’s blood splattered him, but he paid it no mind as the body crumpled to the floor, Larynt’s head rolling off to the side.

There was no sadness in Thames' heart, no grief at what he had done. Instead, he smiled, and his amethyst eyes glowed with more power as he absorbed his brother's essence.

“Now, Father, where are you?” he called to the empty hall. He set out to find his father, locating the older man in the throne room.

The king sat on his ruby-backed chair, his eyes boring into Thames’. Not long ago, that stare had intimidated Thames, had made him afraid of what might come.

But not now. In fact, it thrilled him to witness pain hidden beneath those icy depths. Good, now you will feel what I felt when you pushed me to the side.

Thames focused on the scepter to his father’s right. The gold enfolded a giant sapphire, the power source for his people.

“Whose blood do you wear now?” His father's booming voice held a power Thames couldn’t wait to have in his possession.

“Your son’s.”

The king's eyes widened. “You killed your brother.” It was a statement, not a question, and Thames smiled as he nodded.

“His essence was delicious.”

“Why are you doing this, Thames? Did I not show you enough compassion?”

“I am tired of watching our people waste the power at our disposal. We could create and rule all the worlds, and yet, you are content to sit here and share our people’s secrets with Larynt.”

“So, that’s what this is about? That your brother was next in line for the throne?”

“He didn’t deserve the power.”

“Our power cannot be handled by those who would choose to wield it the way you wish to. The scepter chose your brother at birth. It was my fault for not killing you the second I knew what you would become.”

“I was a child and the eldest son!”

“You were a monster. Your mother took pity on you, and therefore, I let you live against my better judgment. I saw what you were the moment you took your first breath.”

Thames' hands clenched into fists. “Where is Mother now?” he asked, realizing he hadn’t seen her, dead or otherwise, since he’d stepped into the castle. She had betrayed him when she’d supported the passing of power to her younger child. A transfer that would have taken place tonight had Thames not intervened.

“Gone.”

“Where?”

“You will never find her.”

Thames closed the distance, and the king rose to his feet. “You will tell me where she is!” he growled as he reached for his father. “Perhaps you sent her home? Back to that pathetic world you picked her up from?”

“You will not harm her!” The king flung the scepter to throw his son back onto the ground.

Thames didn’t budge, and the king’s eyes widened.

“Neat trick, isn’t it, Father? You are powerless against me.” He pulled the glowing emerald from beneath his shirt. “This is my power and the power of those I have slaughtered. I do hope to add yours to it soon.” He knocked his father aside and grinned as the scepter fell from his grasp.

“How did you become this way, Thames? How is it you were born a monster?”

“I am not a monster. I am a god.” He pulled the dagger out of his waistband and knelt, pressing his knee into the crest on his father's tunic.

“Tell me where she is.” His plan would only work if he killed every last Luxe in his bloodline.

“I will never tell you where she is!” His father raged.

“Then you will die knowing I will scour the worlds searching for her. She will not birth another son to take away my power. It is mine.” He drove the dagger down into the center of the dragon on the crest.

His father would never rise again as the primitive creature their kind eventually became once death took them.

Instead, he would just fade away.

As his father’s essence poured into the amulet on Thames’ chest, he smiled. It is time.

The ground shook as his father took his last breath, and Thames stood ready to accept the power that was his birthright.

He lifted the golden scepter with a victorious grin and walked to the balcony to look out over the war that was still raging below. His followers were winning, and before long, they would snuff out the essence of all those who stood against him.

He held the scepter high above his head, and the sapphire glinted in the light. “I am king!” he yelled for all to hear, and the war stopped. The Luxe people turned to him, eyes widening, weapons falling to the ground. Fear replaced the looks of determination below him, and he looked up to the scepter, curious what it was they were looking at.

The light inside the sapphire went dark, turning a milky black, and the world beneath him began to shake.

New screams pierced the sky as dark threads shot from the ancient gemstone, weaving their way like fingers down the stones of the castle walls, and into the ground below.

The ground cracked, fissures opening up as far as the eye could see. Those that didn’t fall into the emptiness ran, trying to escape the threads of black pouring from the gemstone.

As the threads made their way through the crowd of Luxe below, those trying to escape fell to the ground, the life being sucked right out of them. They morphed into something from nightmares as their bodies transformed to what Thames could only describe as living death.

Sores opened on faces that contorted into monstrosities that only belonged in nightmares. Eyes fell from their sockets, the screams turning into nothing more than gargles for help. Please for mercy from whatever awaited them.

He held the scepter in front of his face as his father's words rang in his head, “Our power cannot be handled by those who would choose to wield it the way you wish to. The scepter chose your brother at birth.”

“How is this possible?” He howled into the ever-darkening sky. “This wasn’t supposed to happen!” He never wanted the destruction of his world! Thames had only wanted to rule and bring the Luxe power—his power—to its full potential!

He stared down at the scepter once again and held it in front of his face. “I am the only living heir to the throne! You will accept me as king and give me the power that is my birthright! Stop this assault!”

Nothing happened as the scepter shriveled and turned to dust before his very eyes. Thames howled in outrage, and as he stood alone above the decaying bodies of his people, Thames vowed to fix his world, find his mother, and destroy all the worlds in his way.

1

Guisnow World: Present Day

Anastasia

“Sorceress, thank you so much for coming.” Queen Orlaith pulled Anastasia in for a tight hug before stepping back.

“We cannot tell you how grateful we are for your service.” King Cormac bowed his head kindly.

“I am grateful for your friendship,” she responded easily. “We are happy to see you’re flourishing.” Anastasia looked around the once barren landscape. When she and Dakota had first stepped foot into the Guisnow world, it had been an icy fortress, incapable of supporting any life other than that of its occupants.

Now, though, deep purple flowers sprouted up despite the blanket of snow, showcasing in deep hues against the pale landscape. Children laughed as they ran through the bustling city, their parents watching from afar.

“It is strange to think Vincent’s power reached as far as our world. We never realized the effect he had on our land.” Cormac followed her gaze.

Anastasia nodded. “Terrenia is doing much better as well. The darkness stopped, and while we still haven’t fully healed, it ceased spreading.”

“Terrenia will heal,” Orlaith promised. “It just may take more time since your home took the major hits.”

“Thank you,” she responded, although a part of her wondered if Terrenia would ever fully heal.

“It is always great to see you both,” Dakota offered.

Anastasia studied her husband. She knew the traveling was wearing on him. She’d hoped by now they would be done with all the traveling, but as soon as they thought they were close, another matter came up, and they were summoned away.

She understood now why Monique hid away like she did. Anastasia didn’t support ignoring the needs of others, but she at least could see now why Monique chose to stay hidden even after she’d come into full power.

Being at the beck and call of others didn’t bode well for a life away from the magic.

Anastasia waved her hand, and a portal appeared behind them. The power had come to be second nature for her, and it used little effort on her part for them to travel.

“Are you headed back to Terrenia?” Orlaith asked.

Anastasia nodded. “For now.”

“I hope you find some relief, Sorceress. We wouldn’t have called you had it not been urgent.”

Anastasia offered a kind smile. “I know. That’s what I’m here for. I’m glad I was able to help your daughter.”

She looked down at the young girl cradled in Cormac’s arms. She would be nearing two years old and had come down with a sickness none of the Guisnow cures could heal.

Anastasia had been able to heal the young princess, and in doing so, proven herself to the remainder of the species she’d yet to meet.

“Good luck, Sorceress. Go with the strength and hope of those who follow you.”

Anastasia and Dakota stepped through the light and into their home. She could feel herself relaxing as she took in the familiar space. They both disarmed, and Anastasia breathed in deeply. They’d been traveling so much over the last two years that she felt they’d barely been back.

At first, their trips had been to heal those who needed help. She started with the Fawnis’ world, bringing it back to its former glory. After healing the land, she’d been able to send them home, and they’d flourished ever since.

The Mamsets were still in Terrenia, having taken up residence somewhere outside the village. With Violetta gone, they were the last of a dying race.

After taking care of the Fawnis, Anastasia and Dakota spent time with the Jaitu people, helping them rebuild what Vincent had destroyed.

It had taken weeks of back and forth, but now, the Jaitu world looked as if nothing had ever happened on its life-filled, jungle landscape.

Anastasia’s goal had been to unite everyone and make sure no one like Vincent was able to take advantage of the division between the worlds again.

“So.” Dakota ran his hand through his hair as he leaned against the counter. “Seems we are getting to the end of this.”

Her heart jumped, knowing what conversation he was about to start. She wasn’t ready, not just yet. “Maybe, once some time passes, I’ll feel better about where we are.”

“It’s been two years of peace, Ana.”

“I know, but I just feel like we aren’t done yet.”

“Ana, listen—”

“Didn’t your mom say she wanted to meet for dinner tonight?” she interrupted.

He stared at her for a moment and then let out a breath. “Yeah.” His response was clipped, but she hoped after some time with Elizabeth and Tony, he would feel better.

She just wasn’t ready yet. Things had been entirely too peaceful. It was only a matter of time before the other shoe dropped. Why couldn’t Dakota see that?

When you spent your entire life fighting war after war, it was hard to accept when it was over. Hell, maybe for her it never would be.

Right now, all Anastasia could do was put one foot in front of the other, and continue doing what she was doing, in hopes that eventually she would feel at peace. Until then, the idea of a family was nowhere near the front of her mind. The fear of Vincent and his Brutes returning and taking her child was still very much alive in her mind. That, and the strange amethyst-eyed man who’d promised retaliation.

They stepped out into the sunlight and made their way down the path toward the village. The wall still stood, a reminder of the horrors they faced two years prior during the war on their doorstep.

Overall, though, Terrenia looked just like it had when she’d first arrived. Better even. Much like in the Guisnow world, children ran laughing through the village with not a care in the world. War was the furthest thing from their parents’ minds as they watched on with smiles.

The huts that had been destroyed were rebuilt and, overall, Terrenia was thriving. If you didn’t look for the black tendrils of darkness that had once been threading through the landscape, you’d never even know they’d been there.

Anastasia smiled as Kaley padded over. “Hey, girl.” Since the defeat of Vincent, Kaley had taken it upon herself to become the village cat, spending most of her time running around, searching for someone to play with—or someone to feed her.

She rubbed against Anastasia, but when Dakota reached over to pet her, Kaley gave him her full attention.

Anastasia wondered if somehow Kaley could sense his irritation. Things between them had been strained since he’d brought up the baby conversation three months ago. Why couldn’t he just understand she wasn’t ready yet? Hadn’t they just gotten their lives back? Hadn’t they finally been allowed to be happily married without war looming on the horizon?

Why couldn’t he just be patient?

“Hey, you two!” Elizabeth greeted them happily.

“How did it go?” Tony asked as Anastasia and Dakota stepped up onto the porch.

“Went fine.” Dakota headed into the house.

“What’s going on with him?” Elizabeth asked, watching her son disappear inside.

“Just tired. We’ve been traveling a lot recently.”

“Sure that’s it?” Tony asked.

She forced a smile. “Yes, Tony. It’s been a long time since we just relaxed.”

“The war is over, Anastasia, you can breathe again.” He put his hand on her shoulder.

If that were true, then why did she have a feeling in the pit of her stomach that was telling her it was far from over?

“I’ll relax once the worlds are all at peace.”

Tony raised an eyebrow. “Are they not already?”

“We’re getting there.” Not you, too.

“Everything will settle down soon, Anastasia.” He offered her a smile, and she wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

“Thanks, Tony.”

“You got it, kid. Now, how about some food?”

Anastasia released him, and they walked into his and Elizabeth’s cottage together. The space was warm and decorated in such a home-filled-with-love way that just the simple act of walking in had the rest of the stress from the day melting away.

Pictures from an old instant camera she’d picked up for Elizabeth decorated the walls, along with drawings Tony had done on parchment that used to be designated to mapping out attack plans.

Anastasia never realized what a talented artist Tony was before, but he certainly deserved the credit. Each image was incredibly detailed with pencil strokes, and more realistic than some of the art sold back in Seattle for outrageous prices.

“How are things with the Guisnows?” Elizabeth asked as she prepped the homemade pizza she worked on.

Anastasia glanced at Dakota as she took a seat on a barstool. He sat on the couch, hunched over a glass of Terrenian whiskey.

“Good. It seems the effect Vincent had on the worlds is dissipating.”

“That’s wonderful to hear.” She smiled. “So, what’s next for you two?” She didn’t bother hiding the underlying tone in her voice.

Elizabeth had made it very clear to Anastasia that she was ready for grandchildren.

“I’m not sure yet,” Anastasia answered honestly. She really had no clue. “How are things with the new trainees?” she asked Tony, in desperate need of a subject change.

“They are doing well. Selena is an excellent teacher.”

Anastasia smiled. She and Selena had become close friends over the last two years, despite the fact that the woman had once blamed her for the deaths of her children.

She was grateful that Selena no longer blamed her, but for Anastasia, there was no getting past the deaths that remained dark stains on her soul.

“Anastasia?” Tony pulled her from her thoughts, and she offered him a smile.

“Sorry, I spaced out for a minute. Is my grandmother coming tonight?”

“She is! She should be here any minute.”

Just as Elizabeth finished speaking, the door opened, and Carmen walked in. She smiled at Anastasia, then turned toward Elizabeth. “That smells delicious, Elizabeth.”

“Thank you, Carmen. How are you?”

“Fair to mid-land. How about you?”

Elizabeth smiled. “Doing great.”

“How are things with Queen Orlaith and the Guisnows?” Carmen asked, taking a seat at the table.

“Good. I was able to help their daughter.”

Pride shone on her grandmother’s aging face. “That’s wonderful.” She turned toward Dakota and raised an eyebrow. “Hello, Dakota.”

He lifted his head and smiled, the tension in his brow dissipating. He had a weak spot for Carmen, and no matter how mad he was, he couldn’t keep it up while around the older woman. “Hey, Grandma.” He stood and strolled to the dining table, then kissed her wrinkled cheek and took a seat next to her at the table. After scooting out the chair next to him, he looked hopefully at Anastasia.

She smiled and took a seat, gripping his hand beneath the table.

“I know you aren’t ready yet,” he whispered. “It’s okay.” He kissed her cheek, and she leaned against his shoulder. No matter what they came up against, whether it was fighting side by side in a war, or learning to finally live, Anastasia could handle anything as long as he was beside her.

2

Terrenia

Anastasia

The world around her was dark. Moans and pleas of the dying filled her ears as she searched for any sign of where she was. Taking a shaky breath, Anastasia stepped forward, her head throbbing as though someone had driven a spike through it—or maybe a dozen spikes.

“Hello?” she called out, wincing when the words brought her more pain. “Hello? Is anyone there?”

She could feel the magic in this place, the steady humming as it surrounded her, but it was not from light or good power. The air was pregnant with despair, seeping into her bones, causing them to ache. Her chest heaved as she sucked in breaths that filled her nose with the putrid scent of decaying flesh.

“Hello?” she called out again, stepping toward the rustling sounds before her. Conjuring a ball of light, Anastasia gasped.

“Help us,” a black shape moaned as it reached for her. Woman or man, she couldn’t be sure, it merely resembled humanoid-shaped tar, with the black dripping off of it and sizzling onto the ground.

“What happened here?”

“Help us,” another cried out from behind. Turning, Anastasia realized she was completely surrounded by the creatures. They crawled toward her, and she backed away.

Blue lightning streaked through the air, striking the ground before her, causing the ground to spray up with black dirt.

She shielded her eyes, and when the light faded, cautiously opened them again. A man stood before her, his face shadowed by the night.

“Ana.”

His voice familiar, Anastasia stepped toward him, using her light to illuminate him.

“Dakota! Thank God. What happened here?”

He didn’t speak, just continued staring at her as if not truly seeing her. As she got closer, she covered her mouth with shaking hands. “What happened to you?”

Blue lines climbed up the sides of his neck, disappearing into his hair. Eyes that should have been blue were lined with purple, the expression reflected in them so unlike the man she loved.

“What’s wrong?” She took a step toward him, but he held his hand up to stop her.

“No, don’t come near me.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Me.”

“What do you mean?” The pulsing grew stronger around her, making it nearly impossible to focus on anything. Her vision swam as the crushing pain in her head increased the closer she moved to him. The strange creatures parted for her as she walked, focused more on Dakota.

“I’m wrong. You need to stay away from me.”

“How can you say that? I won’t let anything happen to you!”

“Too late.” He smiled now, and the purple in his eyes flared to life, completely eclipsing the blue. Flinging out a hand, Anastasia’s ears rang as she was blasted back further into the dark abyss.

* * *

Anastasia sat up quickly, her breathing ragged, body coated in a thick film of sweat. What the hell was that?

She laid back against her pillow, pressing a hand to the heart still hammering against her ribs. It had been a long time since she’d suffered from such a bad nightmare. Hell, the last time she’d woken up in a panic, Vincent was still alive.

“Easy, Anastasia,” she said to herself. Opening her eyes, Anastasia squinted at the light pouring in from the open windows. One look at his side of the bed confirmed Dakota had already gotten up, so she dressed and went to find him.

He was sitting on the porch with his shirtless back to her, and she stood for a moment, drinking him in. She doubted she would ever grow tired of seeing him this way, bathed in the sunlight of a new day.

It certainly helped he was incredibly easy on the eyes.

As if her thoughts crept into his own, he turned to grin at her. “Enjoying the view?”

“Always.” Anastasia took a seat next to him, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she leaned against him. His body was warm, a comfort to her even during the darkest days of her life, and it helped now to erase the remnants of the nightmare.

“Sleep well?” He placed a kiss on the top of her head and offered the steaming mug in his hand.

She took it gratefully and sipped on strong coffee, a luxury they brought back with them each time they visited Seattle. There were just some things they couldn’t live without.

“I did. I can’t believe I slept that long.”

He laughed lightly. “You needed it.”

“How about you?”

“Eh, I slept all right.”

“What happened?”

The area between his eyebrows creased, and Anastasia straightened.

“It’s nothing. Just a bad dream.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

He smiled and pulled her back against him. “Nope. I want to sit here with my beautiful wife and watch the sunrise over our home.”

“It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Brightly colored birds took flight for the day. She could see it every day for a hundred years, and Terrenia would still be just as beautiful as it had been the very first day she arrived.

“My view is better.” He grinned down at her, and she smacked his chest lightly.

“Corny.”

“So true though.”

She leaned back against him, grateful for the warmth his body offered to her.

“All those years ago, did you ever think this is where we’d be?”

“In an alternate world?” She laughed. “Can’t say that would have been my guess.”

“Mine either, though, that’s not what I meant. I mean here, together. Sitting on the porch of our home watching the sunrise.”

Anastasia smiled. “I had hoped.” She turned her face up to his and accepted a sweet kiss. His lips were tender on hers, a gentle caress, and she nearly groaned.

How was it that after two years he could still manage to turn her into a pile of mush with just one kiss?

“Have I told you today that I love you?” he whispered against her mouth.

“Not yet.”

“Well, I do. With everything that I am.”

“I love you, too.” She pressed her lips to his again briefly, and then leaned back against him.

“What’s the plan for today?”

Anastasia sighed, she was so ready for a day when there didn’t have to be a plan. A day where they could do nothing but lie in bed all day and no one was counting on them to be in any certain place.

“We need to go to Seattle. I want to check on things there.”

“I was afraid you were going to say that.”

“What’s wrong with Seattle?”

“Nothing, but I’m guessing you’ll want to swing by the precinct and talk to Ashton. Playing mediator between you two is not a fun job. Every time we go, I worry I’m going to have to kick his ass or help you hide his body.”

Anastasia laughed. “Look on the bright side. We’ll be able to get more coffee and bring Tony back a city-made pizza.”

Dakota laughed. “That should earn us some brownie points.”

Anastasia kissed him loudly and got to her feet. “We don’t have to go yet, though.” She grinned and began to back into their home. Dakota stood, his movements primal as he moved toward her.

She ran, giggling back into the house, and when he scooped her into his arms, she knew there was no way life could get any better than this.

3

Seattle

Anastasia

Anastasia and Dakota stepped through the portal and into the living room of Dakota’s childhood home. Elizabeth still hadn’t sold it, and since she owned the property outright, it helped having a place to stay when they needed to be in Seattle for longer than a day.

“Where to first?” Dakota asked, setting down his bag.

“We need to go talk to Ashton.”

“Think you’ll be able to restrain from kicking his ass?”

The detective and she had gotten off to an okay start when he’d helped them in the final battle against Vincent, but that was where their amicable relationship ended. Once he’d gotten back to Seattle and realized a handful of Pickries managed to stay behind, leaving Seattle in a panic, he’d blamed her for bringing her war to his world.

“I can try.”

“Just for the record, my money’s on you,” he said with a grin.

“I’d hope so.”

They turned and headed upstairs to his bedroom, where they kept a change of clothes. The typical Terrenia wear of tight pants and a crop shirt handmade from animal hide didn’t go over well with Seattle residents. After the invasion of Vincent and his Brutes two years ago, they didn’t tend to care much for anything that even looked like it came from a different world.

Just because the cork had been popped on the fact that there was life in different worlds, didn’t mean people accepted it.

Dakota chose jeans and a white T-shirt, covered with a black leather jacket to combat Seattle’s January temperatures, and she chose dark jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt that would hide the gun in her waistband.

Looking more like a modern couple, they climbed into Dakota’s car that he kept stored in the garage and pulled onto the street. She glanced at her old house and smiled as she watched the toddler running around the front yard with his dad.

It was almost therapeutic for her to see new, happy memories being made in the house that held so many horrible times for her. Maybe some of the love there now could wash away the pain of the past.

Dakota reached over and squeezed her hand as they began the drive into downtown. It amazed Anastasia how, for the most part, everything still looked the same. Other than the graffiti damning the other world creatures painted on tunnels and the sides of buildings, with the structures and overall feel, it was as if nothing had changed.

They passed a grocery store, and Anastasia’s mouth began to water. “We need to grab some Nutter Butters while we’re here.”

“You already ate the eight packs we bought last time?”

“Hey! No judgment, Mr. Obsessed with Goldfish Crackers.”

Dakota shrugged. “Those little bastards get me every time.”

Anastasia laughed, but her happy feeling quickly disappeared when they pulled into the parking garage of the Seattle PD.

“Remember, calming thoughts,” Dakota said as he laced his fingers through hers.

“It’s calming to imagine running my fist into his arrogant face. Does that count?”

Dakota chuckled. “Sure, baby. You do you.” He kissed her loudly, and they made their way inside.

A few waves and handshakes later, they were ushered into Ashton’s office. The captain of Seattle PD was never happy to meet them, but today, things felt even more strained than usual.

His dark hair had gone greyer at the temples, and he pulled black-rimmed glasses off to rub tired brown eyes.

“What can I do for you two?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.

Not seeing a reason to beat around the bush, Anastasia cut straight to the point. “We wanted to see if you could help us locate the last remaining Pickries, so we can send them back to their world.”

He grimaced. “Oh, those little bastards. Those are the most annoying fucking creatures I’ve ever come across. Even more so than my ex-wife, and trust me, that’s saying something.”

“Well, hopefully we can get them out of your hair,” Dakota offered.

Ashton looked straight at Anastasia. “Not going to hold my breath, but you’re more than welcome to try.”

“If you could have managed tracking their locations, we might have been able to find them.”

Ashton rolled his eyes. “Recently, they’ve been hanging out over on 118th street near Thornton Creek.”

“Great.” Anastasia started to stand, but Ashton shook his head.

“I’m actually glad you are here,” he said to Dakota. Anastasia didn’t miss the tone in his voice or the way he looked directly at Dakota. “We have a bit of a situation.”

“What do you mean?” Dakota asked.

“Do you remember Gwen Murphy?”

Anastasia thought back through everyone she’d met over the last few years, but no one came to mind.

“You mean the woman Vincent was seeing?” Dakota asked. Anastasia wasn’t surprised he remembered—he had a memory like a steel trap.

Ashton nodded. “What you probably didn’t know, because I didn’t know until last week, was that she has a kid.”

Anastasia straightened. “I’m sorry, what?”

Ashton didn’t respond, simply stared at her, eyebrows lifted in annoyance.

“How old?”

“Kid was born almost two years ago. A little boy.”

“Vincent’s?” Dakota asked.

“Seems so,” Ashton responded dryly.

“Why didn’t we know sooner?” If there was even a chance that little boy would inherit his father’s magic, they needed to know. They had to make sure he didn’t become a threat.

“I told you, I didn’t even know until she came to see me last week.”

Anastasia stood to pace, her mind going a million miles a minute. A kid? The bastard had fathered a son! How the hell had they not known about it?

As she panicked, Dakota asked, “Why did she come see you?”

“She seems to think someone is coming for her son. Says she’s been seeing them in dreams.”

“Is it possible she’s just crazy?” Dakota folded his arms.

Ashton sighed. “Honestly, that’s what I thought at first, too. But she was adamant and, given the history there, I sent an officer over.”

Anastasia stopped pacing and turned toward the man, but he just stared at Dakota.

“And?” Dakota nudged.

“He saw something that I haven’t quite been able to wrap my mind around.”

“What did he see?” Anastasia demanded.

Ashton chewed on the inside of his cheek. “He swears he saw Vincent through a window.”

Anastasia walked over and put her hands on the back of the chair she’d been sitting in only moments before. “That’s not possible. I destroyed him.”

“I’m only telling you what my guy swears he saw.”

“Your guy is wrong.”

Ashton narrowed his eyes. “I assure you that while it may not have been Vincent he saw, there was someone in that house.”

“Do you have an address for her?” Dakota interrupted.

“Do you really think she’s going to want to see either of you? I get that he was unhinged, but you did kill the father of her child.”

“She doesn’t have a choice,” Anastasia insisted. “Address?”

Ashton wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to Dakota. “I hate that I have to say this”—he turned his attention to Anastasia—“but don’t kill her.”

The captain trusted her as much as one trusted running with scissors, but suggesting she might murder someone who wasn’t a threat was taking it a little too far.

“I’m not a murderer,” Anastasia growled, then she turned on her heal and stormed from his office.

“He didn’t mean anything by it,” Dakota said once he caught up with her.

“Don’t defend him, Dakota. He hates me, and that’s something I am a hundred percent okay with, because to be honest, I’m not crazy about him either.”

They continued down to the parking garage and climbed back into the car.

Vincent had a son. Another power-hungry sorcerer in the world that she may have to kill one day.

She didn’t believe the officer had seen Vincent; it just wasn’t possible. She’d destroyed him, hadn’t she? If he was still alive, then where the hell had he been for the last two years? She wasn’t foolish enough to think he would have given up his goal of world—worlds—domination.

And if it hadn’t been him, just who had the officer seen in the window?

“What are you thinking about?” Dakota asked, interrupting her thoughts.

“The fact that Vincent had a kid and we somehow only just learned about it.”

“The child is not an it, Ana.”

“It’s Vincent’s child, Dakota. It’s not human.”

“Vincent was human. Somewhat, anyway. So are you.”

“It’s not the same thing.”

“Why not? What does it matter who fathered him? He’s an innocent child.”

Anastasia shot Dakota a glare. “He may grow up to be just like his father.”

“And he may not. It’s not the bloodline that determines who you become. You, of all people, should know that.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Vincent was your uncle. That means you two shared blood, and you are a good person even though he wasn’t.”

“I turned dark, Dakota. The temptation was there.”

“But you resisted.”

She shook her head and chewed on her lower lip. He was wrong; it wasn’t the same thing. This kid could turn into someone horrible, and while she wouldn’t harm him as a child, the second he grew up and turned dark like Vincent, she would put a stop to him. Without hesitation.

They pulled into the driveway of a two-story townhouse on the outskirts of town. The pale blue paint was paired with white shutters and a white front door. Overall, the home looked welcoming, and nothing like the residence of a woman who had been involved with a psychopath bent on world domination.

Anastasia started to climb out, but Dakota grabbed her hand. “Vincent’s son or not, you need to remember that right now, Gwen is a woman trying to protect her child.” The subtle warning to keep calm was there in his voice, but it only pissed her off.

She wasn’t a hotheaded murderer who was going to start killing innocent people. Dakota, of all people, should know that. She just also wasn’t an idiot who thought a son of Vincent’s would grow up to be a positive member of society.

After a quick squeeze, he released her, and they stepped out of the car. Three knocks later, a blonde woman opened the door. Her hair was up in a messy bun, and there were bags under her eyes, showing that she hadn’t been sleeping much. Her mouth was pulled in a tight line. A cartoon played somewhere in the house.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

They’d never actually seen her in person before. In fact, the only reason they even knew she existed was because Vincent had been seen with her a few times by the public. Ashton had told them she’d all but disappeared after his death.

“I’m Dakota Parker, and this is my wife, Anastasia.”

The woman’s face reddened, and she stepped outside, closing the door behind her. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing here?” Apparently, she’d heard of them also.

“We have been informed that you are worried about the safety of your son.”

“He is none of your damn business, you fucking murderers.”

“Miss Mur—”

The woman drove her finger into Dakota’s chest, and it wasn’t until he reached for Anastasia’s hand that she realized she’d growled. She took a step back to let Dakota handle the woman himself.

“Don’t you dare Miss Murphy me. You murdered the man I loved.” She shot Anastasia a glare. “Slaughtered your own uncle. My son and I are none of your concern, so get the fuck away from my house before I go get my gun and shoot you both.”

“Do you really think a gun can stop me?” Anastasia warned, her fingers sparking.

Gwen didn’t even flinch. “I think it would hurt like hell.”

Dakota looked between the two women and finally just took a step back, pulling Anastasia with him.

“We only want to help,” he said. “If someone does come for your son, call the police and tell them to find us. We will be in town a little bit longer.”

“I told you that I don’t want your help.”

“I understand, but you may need it.” Dakota pulled Anastasia to the car.

4

Seattle

Anastasia

“We shouldn’t have left.” Anastasia insisted as they wove in and out of traffic.

“We didn’t have a choice, Ana. She could have called the police on us.”

“They don’t worry me.”

“You know, they should. You may be the all-powerful Sorceress, but that doesn’t make you immune to this world’s laws when we’re here.”

She glared at him. “I never said it did.”

“No, but you’re sure as hell acting like it.” His hands clenched the steering wheel as he pulled onto the highway. “You may not like it, but Gwen is a human. Her baby is human, whether Vincent is the father or not.”

“If Vincent is the father, we may have a bigger problem than whether or not I follow protocol.”

“And therein lies the issue. When it comes to Vincent, you have a blind spot. You ever think that it’s possible Gwen will raise a good son?”

“She was with Vincent, Dakota. That doesn’t allude much to a good natured, rational side.”

“Love is love, Anastasia. Just because you don’t understand why it’s there, doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”

“Where the hell is this coming from?”

“I’m just trying to get you to see it from another perspective. I love you, but you have a tendency to view things in black and white. There are shades of grey, Ana, and sometimes, those shades are worth looking into.”

She knew what he was saying, understood the consequences she would face if she acted on her instinct when it came to anything Vincent spawned, but she’d seen Maximus and Ophelia. Those two had been Vincent’s children, blood relatives or not, and they had nearly taken out all of Terrenia.

He’s a harmless child… for now.

Anastasia leaned back in her seat and watched as they drove past buildings that had once all been crumbled brick and mortar.

She would stick close, and the second that boy turned into anything more, she would take him out. No more innocent lives would be lost because of Vincent.

Dakota eased the car down the off-ramp and groaned. “Shit.” Smoke billowed from between two buildings up ahead. “Looks like we found them. Fucking fairies.”

The Pickries had been damn hard to catch. They’d stayed underground most of the time, only surfacing to cause trouble. So, why are they not worried about being caught now?

Pulling into the alley, Dakota put the car in park. At the end of the alley, two men wrestled on the ground, swinging and kicking at one another. Blood poured from different spots on their faces and arms.

Anastasia shook her head. “Seems those bastards are into fighting sports.” She removed her seat belt and opened the door.

“The Pickries are causing that?” Dakota asked as they stood behind the doors and watched a slightly larger dark-haired man tackle the other back to the ground.

“Even if they aren’t forcing them to fight, I guarantee they had something to do with it.”

The Pickries were perched on top of broken down cars, watching the fighting eagerly. Bloodthirsty bastards.

Dakota slammed his door, and the Pickries’ heads swirled around to look at them. Their iridescent yellow-gold eyes lit up with anticipation when they realized who the new company was.

“Hey!” Dakota yelled to the men.

“Just in time, we’ve grown bored.” The larger of the Pickries smiled widely and snapped his fingers. The other beings moved so fast, Anastasia didn’t see them until it was too late. Both men fell to the pavement, their necks snapped.

“When the hell did you start killing for sport?” Dakota asked angrily.

“When we got bored of this world.” The singsong voice had the tone of amusement, but disdain dripped from its words. “We grew tired of waiting for you to find us.”

“What’s not to like about Seattle? I love it here,” Anastasia responded sarcastically.

“You would. You are ugly inside, Sorceress. A monster wrapped with a pretty little bow.”

“Oh, you think I’m pretty?” She pressed her hand to her chest in mock appreciation. “That’s so sweet.”

“You mock me?”

“I do,” she retorted.

It howled in laughter and looked to the other four that watched with eager eyes. “Baby Sorceress thinks she knows what’s coming.” Its head swirled back to hers. “What’s already here.” It smiled, showing tiny, razor-sharp teeth.

“You? Do you not remember I kicked your ass already?”

It jumped down from its perch on top of an abandoned car and crept closer to her. “You will die,” it said simply.

Anastasia reached for the gun in her waistband. “Not likely.” She fired, and it fell to the ground, yellow blood oozing from the wound. “Who else wants a piece of me?” She aimed the weapon at the others.

“It will slaughter you, Baby Sorceress.”

She grinned. “Let whatever it is come.” Anastasia waved her hand, and a portal appeared. She swung her arm in a sweeping motion toward the remaining Pickries and the corpse on the ground, and watched with satisfaction as they were all flung into the swirling light. Once they disappeared, she shut the portal and holstered her weapon. “Well, that was easy.”

“What do you think they were talking about?”

“Who knows. Probably just trying to intimidate us.” But something inside her screamed for attention, as if a part of her knew something terrible was headed their way. Wasn’t that why she hadn’t wanted to start a family yet? If they added children to the mix, there was more to lose.

“Let’s head back to the house.” Dakota turned back to the car. “I’ll call Ashton and let him know about the bodies.”

“Good idea.” She looked down at the dead human men. When had the Pickries turned violent? They’d fought, sure, even kidnapped Dakota and other Terrenians, but there had been a purpose behind their actions, never just murder for sport.

“You coming?” Dakota asked as he opened the driver’s side door to the ’69 Mustang his father rebuilt years before.

She nodded and headed toward him. No sense in stressing about it now; the Pickries were back in their own world, and they could all kill each other for all she cared.

Hell, she hoped they did.

5

Pickrie World

Plews

“Home sweet home,” Plews commented when he and Kleve landed back in the Pickrie world—their world. One they hadn’t been able to visit for over two years. In their race, only the king possessed power enough to travel between the worlds.

Plews looked down at the body of Jeog, at the bullet hole in his neck. If he’d cared much for the other Pickrie, he might have mourned his death. Truth was, he was bored of both the brethren he’d been trapped with for so long.

“Can you smell that, Brother?” Kleve breathed deeply and grinned, showing off perfectly white, sharp teeth.

“Shall we go find our king?” Plews asked as they flew up toward where the castle stood. Giant flowers greeted them with sweet scents as they made their way home.

The large fortress was made entirely of gold—a metal that was as easy to come by in their world as air—and sat atop their only mountain.

Gemstones in various colors glinted in the sunlight, bringing a smile to the Pickrie’s face. It has been far too long. They flew through the aerial entrance and into the throne room where their king sat. Or, should have sat.

“Leay, why are you in the king’s seat?” Kleave asked curiously after they landed.

The elder Pickrie looked up and smiled. “Plews! Kleave! It’s wonderful to see you this day. Tell me, where have you been? We believed you dead!”

Plews looked over at Kleave, just as confused as he was. “We have been trapped in the Seattle world. The Sorceress sent us here.”

Leay rolled his eyes. “Of course she did. A horrible one, she is. At least she sent you home!”

“Agreed,” Kleave commented.

“Why have you taken the throne? What has happened to our king?”

Leay tipped his chin higher. “I am your king now.”

“What happened to—?”

Leay held up his hand. “We do not discuss it. Now, please tell me of your travels.”

“We had none. We merely sought out a way to return home,” Kleave lied. The three Pickries who remained behind decided to do so of their own volition. They’d abandoned the sorcerer’s cause once they’d realized it was a doomed one, and passed their time with humans who had a particular taste for them.

Plews nearly grinned at the thought. They’d been sought after by humans who wanted to experience ecstasy with other beings and found they quite enjoyed the adventure. Sex, as they called it, proved to be a tasteful pastime.

Of course, the puny species had been unable to stay away once they’d gotten a taste, and while it was amusing at first, they’d chosen to eliminate any trail the Sorceress might have been able to follow back to them.

That was until Jeog had decided he wanted to make the humans fight each other. It had been a brilliant plan to lead her to them, and since Plews desperately wanted to go home, he hadn’t argued.

“Why must you tell false truths?” Leay sighed, and Plews’ attention snapped back to his king.

“I’m not sure I understand what you are saying.” Kleave swallowed hard, and Plews pitied his friend. Lying to the king was punishable by death.

Leay’s eyes turned to Plews. “Tell me, Plews, do you have a different truth to tell?”

Plews considered; he could tell the truth and condemn his friend to death, or lie and join him.

It was an easy decision.

“I regret to report that Kleave is lying, my king. We chose to stay in Seattle and expand our knowledge of the humans. It is regrettable that we stayed away as long as we did.” Plews bowed his head and nearly snickered when Kleave looked his way.

It wasn’t Plews’s fault. Why should he die for Kleave’s lie?

“Very well.” Leay snapped his fingers, and two of his guards flew down to lift Kleave up. “For telling me a false truth, you are sentenced to death.” Leay smiled and nodded to the others.

Pickrie blood rained down on the floor as the guards tore Kleave apart for his crime. When the deed was done, Leay turned his attention to Plews.

“Tell me of the Sorceress.”

“What would you know of her?”

“As I understand it, you still received our telepathic messages, yes?”

Plews nodded.

“Did you inform the Sorceress of anything that was coming?”

“No, my king. I do regretfully inform you that Jeog told her something was coming, but he did not elaborate on details.”

“Where is Jeog now?”

“Dead. His body came through with us, and we left it to be absorbed back into the world.”

“How did he die?”

“The Sorceress killed him, my king.”

“Very well.” Leay shifted in his seat.

“What is our next step?”

“Come with me, Plews, let me tell you of what you’ve missed.”

The new king stood and stretched golden wings. Leay’s muscles tensed, and the old war general made his way down the steps toward Plews. Their old king had spent decades on the throne, and it had softened him, but Leay was just as deadly as he’d been the day he’d come back from the war on the southern part of their world.

Following his new king out onto the patio, Plews was careful not to make a lot of noise or give away the fact he was nervous. His race was an untrusting one, and if Leay had any reason to believe he wasn’t honest, Plews could end up just like Kleave.

The thought made him shiver.

“You wish to know of King Ponty?”

“Only if you wish to tell me, King Leay.” Plews bowed his head. “I serve only you.”

Leay smiled. “That is good to hear, Plews. There is Ponty, if you wish to see him.”

Plews looked in the direction Leay pointed and swallowed a gasp. Ponty was in a golden cage, wingless and dead, his body having been left out in the sun. The once regal king was now dried to a tan husk.

“He refused our new leader,” Leay told him. “Coward that he was, he wanted to do nothing but bathe himself in gold while eating fruit and bedding females.”

“Coward,” Plews murmured, although, truthfully, he wasn’t sure what was so wrong about that.

“Our new leader came to us, and she is all that we need,” Leay sang. “A true beauty, ruthless as she is.”

“Who is our new leader?” Plews asked, curious about what creature would bring such a reaction out of Leay.

His new king turned to face Plews, a smile on his face. “We serve the Siren now, and she has big plans.”

6

Seattle

Dakota

Dakota’s lungs burned as he swam hard to reach the surface above. The water enveloped him, and each time he got closer to the surface, the levels rose, pushing him further from his goal.

He had to get out of the water, away from the icy depths that threatened to claim him below. Ana was waiting for him, waiting to start a family with him, and if he didn’t return to her, that future would never be a possibility for them.

New hope surging in his chest, Dakota pushed harder, and his fingertips very nearly broke the surface. But just as he reached his goal, icy fingers wrapped around his ankle and dragged him back down.

He wanted to cry, to scream, as the surface faded further and further from him.

Dakota kicked, trying to free himself from the hold, but it only tightened and continued pulling him down.

Just as his vision began to fade, something approached from a distance. Dakota squinted… could it be? Had Ana found a way to get to him?

“Ana!” he tried to scream, but only bubbles came out.

The woman got closer, and it was not Ana. The beautiful brunette smiled brightly at him and reached for his hand.

He took it, mesmerized by her, and she pulled him out of the grasp of whatever was dragging him further down into the depths.

“It will be all right, my love,” she said easily, as if there wasn’t water surrounding them. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, and Dakota’s lungs ceased burning as she pulled away.

“What the hell?” he murmured. His eyes widened at the sound of his voice underwater.

“I have saved you.” She beamed. “Now, we can be together.”

“I love Ana.”

The woman’s mouth fell open, and her brows crept down over her bright eyes as her face slowly contorted into a mask of rage. “She does not deserve you,” she growled.

Gone were the soft features, replaced with razor-sharp teeth and glowing eyes. Her mouth opened impossibly large, and she screamed at him. He covered his ears for fear they would rupture.

Dakota turned and kicked, trying to swim away from her, but just as he was about to reach the surface, she slid her icy fingers around his ankle and yanked him back down below.

* * *

Dakota sat up in bed, his body coated in sweat. Ana still slept soundly beside him, and there was no one else in sight.

Great, I’m a grown ass man dreaming about mermaids. He pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes and rubbed gently, trying to get the image of her out of his mind. The nightmares had been coming in waves for the last two months, and each dream was always the same.

A woman saved him from drowning, and he tried to pull away from her, which apparently pissed her the hell off.

At first, dreaming of another woman—half fish or not—had weighed him down with guilt. It still did at times, but it wasn’t attraction he felt toward her. Honestly, she scared the hell out of him, and he wanted nothing more than to get as far away from these dreams as quickly as possible.

Dakota leaned back against the pillow and rolled to his side to face Ana.

Nothing but a silent cry for a family, he assured himself. After all, what the hell else could it mean? He was perfectly happy with Ana. She was his everything, and life without her in it didn’t make sense.

Desperate to feel her, he ran his hand up her bare back. She arched into his touch, and he leaned down to press a kiss to her spine. Her steady breathing eased the last of the nightmare from his mind and calmed his nerves.

He hadn’t brought the nightmares up with his wife, knowing she would only panic and search for a root cause when there wasn’t one. Personally, Dakota didn’t believe war was going to return to them. Vincent had been the threat, and they’d eliminated him.

Besides, with as powerful as Ana was now, he doubted there was anyone willing to stand up against her.

Soon, they would be done traveling, and Ana would have no excuse not to start a family. They would raise kids and live the rest of their lives in peace. Hadn’t they earned that by now?

Dakota eased from bed and groaned when he stepped onto the ground. Why the hell does my ankle hurt? In the darkness, he wasn’t able to see much, so he slipped into a pair of sweats before heading downstairs. As he walked, he avoided the steps that would creak, something he’d been doing ever since he was a kid.

Once in the light of the kitchen, he lifted the leg of his sweatpants up.

“What the fuck?”

Stripes of angry purple bruising encircled his ankle, right where the woman grabbed him in his dream. He reached down and touched it gently. Had the blanket been wrapped around it?

“Ow!” It was tender to the touch, and Dakota looked away for a moment, wondering if somehow he’d imagined it, maybe a remnant from his nightmare.

Looking back down, it was still there and already turning a nasty shade of purple. “That’s super awesome,” he muttered.

Maybe it was time to tell Ana.

“Hello, my love,” a woman said behind him, her voice soft and calm. He spun around, and a shadowed figure stood in the doorway to the dark living room.

“Ana?” he asked, already knowing it wasn’t her.

She stepped into the light, and Dakota stumbled back. Had his thoughts somehow brought his nightmare to life? Or was he still asleep?

“No, my love. It is me.” She cocked her head to the side in an unnatural way, and Dakota opened the silverware drawer and pulled out a knife.

Pulse quickening, Dakota stared at the woman across from him. “Who the hell are you?”

“Do you not recognize me?” Another step toward him.

She was wet, as if plucked straight from the sea, and nude except for long hair that covered her breasts.

Dakota swallowed hard. “You aren’t real,” he whispered, backing into the counter behind him.

She grinned. “Oh, but I am.” Impossibly green eyes shimmered like emeralds beneath thick lashes. “You will find out soon enough. We are meant to be; he has promised me.”

“Who has promised?”Dakota’s heart thudded in his chest, am I still dreaming?

She smiled and stepped close enough to trail a cold finger down his bare chest, and he shivered.

“I can feel your want,” she said softly, looking up through thick lashes.

“I don’t want you.”

“No?” Her tone said she didn’t believe him, but it was the truth. The only woman he’d ever wanted was sleeping soundly upstairs, and that’s how it was going to stay.

“No,” he responded firmly. He gripped her wrist to stop the finger at his waist from going where it had no business being. “Now, tell me, who the hell are you?”

Lifting onto her toes, she leaned forward until their mouths were a breath apart. “You will see.”

The light came on over the stairs, and she disappeared into a puddle of water. “What the fuck just happened?” Dakota ran a hand over his eyes. Pinching his arm, Dakota was prepared to not feel anything, so when the sting of pain radiated from the action, he simply stared down at it.

“Dakota?” Ana’s familiar voice did nothing to warm the chill in his bones.

He cleared his throat and dropped his arm. “In here.”

She stepped into the kitchen and flipped on the light. “Everything okay?”

Dakota nodded. “Just a bad dream.”

“Want to talk about it?”

He offered her a smiled and shook his head. “Upstairs.”

Humor vanished from her face, and she narrowed her eyes. “What is it, Dakota?”

“Let’s talk upstairs.”

“Okay,” she agreed with some hesitation.

“I just wanted a drink.” He reached into the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. “I’m happy to share, if you’re thirsty.”

“Sounds good.” She smiled, and Dakota stepped over the puddle of water still on the floor.

* * *

“So, there was a mermaid in the kitchen?” Ana questioned as they lay in bed.

He covered his face with his hands. “I knew you’d laugh.”

She leaned up on her elbow to look at him. “I’m not laughing. Just curious. How long have these nightmares been going on?”

“A couple months.”

“Why not tell me before?”

“I didn’t want to worry you.”

“You should have told me.”

“I know.” He rolled her over so she was on her back, then leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her neck. “Can you forgive me?”

“I guess. But I’m a little jealous. I can’t compete with a mermaid.”

Dakota pressed his nose against her neck and dug his fingers into her ribs, ripping a giggle out of her.

“What?” She laughed. “I’m serious.”

“And I’m serious.” He looked up at her, all joking aside. “You have nothing and no one to compete with, my sexy Sorceress.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You sure know how to sweet talk a girl.”

“Only my girl.” He pressed a kiss to her lips and pulled her over so she was sprawled on top of him.

“I bet you say that to all the mermaids, too.” She grinned against his mouth.

Dakota did what he could to push the remaining fear from his mind. They could deal with it tomorrow. Tonight, they had each other, and he had no intention of wasting it.

The phone rang, and Dakota cursed before reaching over to answer it.

“This had better be good,” he said gruffly.

“It’s Ashton.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“Gwen called. She seems to think whatever is coming for her son is there now.”

“Fuck. We’re on our way.” Dakota ended the call, and Anastasia slid off of him.

“What is it?”

“Gwen called Ashton. She believes whatever was coming for her son is there.”

7

Seattle

Anastasia

The drive to Gwen’s townhouse felt like it took forever, and the moment they pulled up, Anastasia jumped from the car. Ashton arrived the same time they did, and was climbing out of his car when the first flash of light pierced the night.

“Shit.” Ashton drew his weapon as they ran up to the front door. “Shit, it’s locked.”

“Back up,” Anastasia warned before blasting the door with power. It splintered, wood flying in all directions, and they charged inside.

“No! You can’t have him!” Gwen’s panicked scream led them upstairs, and Anastasia took them two at a time until she reached the landing, ready for a fight.

Gwen sat in front of a door, tears streaming down her pale face. There was no threat that Anastasia could see, and she felt no magic other than her own in the air.

“You can’t have him,” she whispered, curling her legs up into her chest. “He’s my baby.”

“Miss Murphy.” Ashton holstered his weapon and knelt in front of her. “There is no one here.”

She turned to look at him. “You’re wrong.”

In an instant, the scene changed. Pickries and Trepidos poured from an open door at the end of the hall. Battle exploded around them, and Anastasia blasted the nearest Pickrie with magic before grabbing her gun.

“Get them out of here!” Dakota yelled to Ashton as he spun so his back was up against Anastasia’s. “Look out!”

Anastasia dodged the clawed fist of a Trepido who’d dropped its shadow form and spun, kicking out her foot to knock it to the ground. Firing her weapon twice into the beast's face, black blood splattered her before it disappeared in thin air.

Fucking shadows.

Not wasting any time, Anastasia fired her weapon at a Pickrie reaching for the handle of the door Ashton ushered Gwen into when the fight began. It fell to the ground, golden blood spraying from the holes she’d added to it.

When the Trepidos filled the room, darkening it around them, Anastasia put her gun away and reached for her light.

Brightness erupted around them, and her body began to glow with the power she’d come to count on. The shadows were driven from the house in a matter of moments, forced to retreat or die. Then, it was only them and the floor slicked with Pickrie blood.

“What the hell just happened?” Dakota asked breathlessly.

Anastasia shook her head. ”I have no fucking clue. Why were they here?”

“Going after Vincent’s son?”

“But why?”

Dakota shrugged, and Anastasia walked over to the door the creatures had come from.

The small room, a bathroom she saw now, was empty. It was possible the portal had already disappeared, but she hadn’t seen the blue light a portal would typically cast. Strange.

“We clear?” Ashton asked as he crept from the bedroom he’d ushered Gwen into. She held a wide-eyed toddler in her arms.

Anastasia studied the child. His hair was dark, just like her uncle’s, though his features were soft and more like his mother.

Hands clenching into fists, Anastasia forced the anger back down. How could she feel so much rage against something so small? Something so seemingly innocent?

“My love. I told you I would see you soon.”

Anastasia turned to face the woman who’d spoken. Her mouth dropped open slightly, and she stared at the visual representation of the being Dakota had described just an hour before.

She was nude, her dark hair wet and slicked down to her knees. She aimed her shimmering green eyes on Anastasia’s husband, and the idea that this woman thought she was going to get her hands on him was enough to have a growl erupting from Anastasia’s lips.

The woman’s head cocked slightly to eye Anastasia. “She isn’t much, is she?” she said. “Just a baby Sorceress. You can do so much better, my love.” She stepped toward Dakota.

“Take another step, and I will put a hole through you.” Anastasia raised her gun.

The woman’s top lip drew up in a snarl. “I do not fear you, Sorceress. My love and I are meant to be.”

“You’re a little late on that, bitch. He’s taken,” Anastasia growled back. She shot a glance at Dakota, who was staring at the woman, almost as if he were unable to move.

“What are you doing to him?” She’d recognize magic anywhere. The steady pulsing of power radiated around them.

“Nothing he doesn’t want.” She grinned at him and took another step closer.

Anastasia fired her gun, but the bullet went right through the woman, who smiled widely at her. “You cannot hurt me.”

“Try this on.” Reaching for her magic, Anastasia let it seep into her body until she was barely leashing it. She aimed it all at the woman, and fired everything she had at her.

When the light faded, the woman remained unscathed, smiling as she watched Anastasia. “You cannot hurt me.” The woman flung her arm out, and Anastasia whipped backwards into the wall, the sheetrock crumbling from the force of the impact. Anastasia’s ears rang, and her vision swam. For a moment, she couldn’t hear anything but her own blood pounding in her ears.

What the hell just happened?

Real time sped back up, and she jumped to her feet. The little boy in Gwen’s arms began to cry, and Anastasia drew her blade.

“Go,” Anastasia ordered Ashton.

“They aren’t going anywhere.” The woman’s substance disappeared, and in her place was a watery figure. The liquid launched into Ashton, dropping him to his knees. He gripped his throat, choking on the water in his lungs.

Anastasia rushed to his side and placed her hands on his chest, trying desperately to save him.

“No! Hang on!” She poured what power she had left through his body, trying to shove the water out of him.

When he finally coughed up the remainder of the liquid, Anastasia turned to find Dakota. With his back to her, he stared at the now-empty space.

“What the hell just happened?” Ashton choked out.

“That was stupid of you.”

Anastasia’s blood iced, and she turned. Vincent stood just beside Dakota, facing her, arms crossed over his chest.

“How are you here?”

“She is going to take the boy. You have to save him,” he warned, and Anastasia spun as Gwen began choking, falling to her knees just as Ashton had moments before. The little boy stood beside her, screaming and crying. Anastasia pulled him away and handed him to Ashton, then bent over Gwen.

Anastasia did just as she had for Ashton, pouring what little energy she had into Gwen, but it was too late.

The being took form in front of her just as Gwen’s life faded away. “What the hell are you?” Anastasia asked, horrified.

The thing smiled. “I’m Rosabel.” She disappeared and reappeared in front of Dakota. “And he is mine.” She placed her lips on Dakota’s, and Anastasia jumped to her feet to defend him. Just as she approached, the woman disappeared with a laugh, and Dakota fell to his knees.

“Dakota? Dakota, are you okay?” she asked frantically, cupping his face.

“I’m fine.” He stared at her. “What happened?”

“Your mermaid just fucking kissed you.”

“She did what?” He looked completely horrified and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “What the hell did she do that for?”

“I have no damn clue. Is this your fault?” She looked up at Vincent, who shook his head.

“Anastasia, who are you talking to?” Dakota asked, getting to his feet.

“Vincent.” She followed suit, standing beside him.

He straightened and searched the room. “He’s here?”

“He can’t see me,” Vincent commented, looking over at his son, who was staring directly at him from Ashton’s arms. “But my boy can.”

“You can’t see him?” Anastasia asked, her eyes flicking back and forth between Dakota and Vincent.

“There is no one here but us and Ashton.” He looked back at Ashton. “You okay?”

“I will be as soon as someone tells me what the hell is going on.” He checked Gwen’s pulse. “She’s dead.”

“No shit, Sherlock,” Vincent muttered angrily. “No thanks to any of you. Aren’t you all supposed to be the good guys?”

Anastasia placed her fingers to her temples. “Will you just shut the fuck up?” She aimed at Vincent.

“Listen,” Ashton started, but Anastasia held up her hand.

“I’m not talking to you.”

“We need to go,” Dakota warned. “And he needs to come with us.” He gestured to the little boy, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

“You expect me to allow you two to remove the child of a homicide victim?” Ashton gaped at them.

“He is not going to be safe here,” Dakota retorted. “Whatever that thing was—”

“You mean the naked woman who kissed you. How do I know you aren’t working with her?”

“Do you honestly think I would allow someone to make a move on my husband?” Anastasia growled, more pissed off than she’d been in years. They didn’t have time for this crap. “Whatever it was, it is immune to my magic. And not just magic, but bullets as well. She also managed to almost drown you, and did drown the child’s mother, in a dry room.” Anastasia took a step toward the detective.

It didn’t matter he stood over a foot taller than her; she refused to let his hard headedness interfere with what she had to do. “Do you honestly believe you can keep him safe? Because the way I see it, if he stays with you, it will mean death for you both. And probably your family, too.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“It’s not a threat, it’s a promise. She will come for him, and you can’t keep him safe.”

Ashton bit the inside of his cheek, and the look of disgust he shot her both irritated and amused her. She’d saved his life, and he still hated her. Figures.

“How do I know you aren’t going to kill him for his relation to Vincent alone?”

“I suppose you don’t,” Anastasia answered. She was damn tired of people thinking she was a ruthless killer.

“You know I won’t.” Dakota stepped up and put his hand on Anastasia’s shoulder. “She won’t either, I don’t know what the hell your problem is with her, but Ana is not a murderer. If you remember, she’s saved your ass more than once.”

Ashton looked down at the child in his arms and then back up to them.

“Fine,” he growled and turned on his heel to head down the stairs. “But you’d damn well better be gone before I call this in. Child services will never agree to this,” he called over his shoulder.

Anastasia turned back to Vincent, who stared almost sadly down at Gwen.

“She didn’t deserve to die,” he mumbled.

“Then she shouldn’t have gotten involved with you,” Anastasia shot back and followed Ashton down the stairs.

He waited for them beside his car. “If you hurt this child, sorceress or not, I will kill you.”

Dakota stepped between them. “You better watch your mouth, Ashton. Threaten my wife again and she won’t need to kick your ass.”

“It’s not a threat,” he said to Dakota and then turned his eyes to Anastasia. “It’s a promise.” He switched his attention to the little boy, who was now sniffling. “You’re going to go with these two people, okay bud? They will keep you safe.”

“Momma.” The little boy’s lip started quivering as Ashton handed him over to Dakota.

“It’ll be okay, little guy.” Dakota lifted the little boy into his arms.

“Let’s go,” Anastasia said.

“Wait.” Ashton turned and walked back to his vehicle, and a minute later, returned with a car seat. “It’s for an older kid, but it’ll do for now.” He handed the seat to Anastasia and then turned to head back inside the house.

After buckling the crying little boy into the seat, Dakota climbed into the driver’s side and drove them back to his family’s house.

They pulled into the garage of Dakota’s family home, and once the door was shut safely behind them, climbed out of the Mustang. Anastasia didn’t waste any time and conjured a portal as soon as she stepped away from the car.

“Momma!” the little boy cried as Dakota walked to the light.

“It’ll be okay, I promise.” He tried to soothe the child.

“Anastasia.”

Anastasia looked behind them. Vincent stood just inside the garage door.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she asked.

“Who are you talking to?” Dakota asked, looking around the garage.

“Vincent.”

“There is no one here, Ana.”

“He can’t see me. Dead, remember?” Vincent put his hands up. “Where my son goes, I go. You don’t have a choice.” He stepped past her, then through the portal, and Anastasia cursed under her breath.

“He is here, Dakota. But apparently, since he’s dead, you can’t see him.” She stepped through the light and waited in their living room for Dakota and the little boy to join her.

They appeared a second later, and she waved her hand to close the portal off.

It was still dark in Terrenia, but they headed out into the night to Tony and Elizabeth’s house anyway.

“Are you sure leaving him with them is a good idea?” Dakota asked.

“I’m sure we don’t have a choice. And besides, your mother is the most maternal person I know; he will be in good hands.”

“He should be with family,” Vincent growled from behind them.

“Yeah, well, dead people don’t get a say,” she muttered.

“This is going to get old fast,” Dakota groaned.

“You’re telling me,” Vincent responded in disgust. “I don’t understand why you can’t just keep him with you.”

Anastasia stopped and spun on Vincent. “Because I don’t fucking trust him, that’s why. He is your spawn, and I don’t know whether I should stop him from becoming you now, or wait until his first attempt to take over the world.”

“Don’t you dare harm him,” Vincent growled, clenching his fists. “He is innocent.”

“For now.” She scowled back at him and then turned to continue walking.

Dakota had already reached the porch, and Elizabeth was opening the door when Anastasia stepped up.

“Who is this handsome boy?” Elizabeth offered a smile to the little boy just as Tony stepped up and placed a tattooed arm around her shoulders.

“Vincent’s son,” Dakota responded.

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “He had a son?”

“Apparently. We need you two to keep him for us.” Anastasia crossed her arms.

“Where is the boy’s mother?” Tony watched the little boy as if he might grow eight arms.

“Dead. Dakota’s mermaid girlfriend killed her.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “I’m sorry… mermaid girlfriend?”

“Long story, Mom.” Dakota handed the squirming little boy over.

“I want Momma,” the child cried out.

“I know, handsome,” Elizabeth soothed. “But can you please just stay with us for a little while? I promise we will take good care of you.” She turned back into the house, and Tony stepped up to the door.

“Why bring him here? What if he is just like Vincent?”

“You have got to be kidding me. He’s a child,” Dakota argued. “An innocent little boy.”

“Thank you.” Vincent tossed up his hands. “Besides, I wasn’t that bad.”

Anastasia shot a glare behind her. “You nearly wiped out everyone and everything.”

“Who is she talking to?” Tony asked as he searched the dark porch.

“Vincent.”

Tony’s eyes widened, and his hand shot reflexively to his side, where he usually kept his knife. “Vincent is alive?”

Anastasia turned back around. “No, but apparently he decided to grace me with his ghostly presence.”

“Are you certain he is really there? Perhaps you’re—”

“Hallucinating again?” Anastasia shook her head. “No, he is really here. I can feel him.”

“Great. Fuck you, Vincent,” Tony growled and slammed the door.

“Well, that wasn’t very nice,” Vincent quipped.

“Leave us alone,” she said to Vincent. “I don’t care where you go, but until tomorrow, you better fucking disappear before I find a way to kill your semi-transparent ass.”

He put his hands up in mock surrender. “Fine. Consider me gone.” He faded from view, and she and Dakota made their way back to their house.

8

Terrenia

Anastasia

Anastasia removed her weapons as soon as she and Dakota stepped into their cabin. She was angry, exhausted, and her body was still sore from being slammed into the wall.

“So, do you want to fill me in on what happened in Gwen’s house? You’ve been quiet,” Dakota said cautiously.

Like you making out with a fucking mermaid? Anastasia turned to face him. “What did she do to you?”

“What do you mean?”

“When you were frozen and staring at the wall, what had she done to you?”

Dakota grimaced, and he rubbed the back of his head. “You don’t want to know.”

Anastasia folded her arms. “Oh, I really do.”

He let out a sigh and ran his hands through his hair. It wasn’t that Anastasia was concerned about fidelity; Dakota was hers. There was no doubt in her mind he was faithful, but the way that creature looked at him worried her.

It wasn’t like they were any strangers to mental manipulation. With the right power, even the best people were capable of doing horrible things.

“The nightmares I’ve been having, where I’m drowning. It was like that, only she didn’t save me until the very end. When she kissed me in the vision, it tasted like blood, and it—I don’t know what the hell she did to me, Ana, but I feel wrong.” Dakota looked down at his shaking hands. He let out a ragged breath, and turned glistening blue eyes up to hers.

Anastasia crossed the floor to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned against his hard body.

For as long as she could remember, Dakota had been her strength. The solid driving force behind the start of each new day. To see him so upset over what transpired pained her. Especially when her own nightmare crept up her spine.

A sea of the undead.

Dakota turning into a dark sorcerer.

Not possible. She shook her head to clear it. Save it for tomorrow. He was already upset, no sense in making it worse before they knew anything was wrong.

“Of course, it felt wrong, she probably tasted like fish.” She tried to joke with him, but there was no humor in his eyes.

“Even right now, Ana. Something is off.”

“You’re tired,” she assured him. “We’ve both been going pretty nonstop since we ran into each other in that alley.”

He nodded, but Anastasia could see in his narrowed eyes it was still bothering him.

“What happened?” he asked again.

Anastasia sighed and poured them both a glass of Terrenian whiskey. “After she froze you—or whatever it was she did—I blasted her with power. She wasn’t even fazed by it.”

He gaped at her. “What?”

“Then the bitch turned into rushing water and tried to drown Ashton.”

“Wait, she turned into rushing water? Not just a puddle?”

Anastasia nodded, and Dakota turned his glass up, downing the amber liquid in one gulp. She poured him another and continued, “After Ashton, she jumped into Gwen and, well, you know how that turned out.”

“Why did she kill her?”

“She wanted Vincent’s son.”

“But why, and if no one could hurt her, why not take him? Why did she leave?”

Anastasia shrugged. “She kissed you and left.” She left out the conversation they had about who Dakota belonged to, because she didn’t think he needed to hear it. He was already shaken enough, and no matter what that bitch said, it wasn’t true. Dakota was hers, just as she was his.

“And now, Vincent is apparently back from the dead?”

Anastasia pinched the bridge of her nose. “Hardly. He’s a ghost.”

“So, now ghosts are real.”

“Honestly, I wish I were more surprised. At this point, I’m surprised Santa himself hasn’t shown up.”

“Are you sure you aren’t imagining him?” Dakota asked, repeating Tony’s earlier concern.

“Positive.”

“Can I pop back in?” Vincent asked from the open window.

Anastasia closed her eyes and used her magic to slam it closed.

“Whoa, what was that for?”

“He wants back in.”

“Who?”

“Vincent.”

“Well, this is going to be annoying.”

“You’re telling me. Bed?” she asked, exhausted.

“Absolutely.” Dakota got to his feet, and Anastasia gripped the front of his shirt and pressed her lips to his. She kissed him hard, pouring her power into him in an effort to erase whatever Rosabel had done.

When she pulled away, his eyes were heavy and full of lust.

“She won’t get her hands on you again,” Anastasia promised, pulling him toward the bedroom.

After making sure they weren’t being watched—apparently, she couldn’t be too careful these days—she pushed him back against the mattress.

“I thought you were tired?” Dakota asked darkly, but when his hand tightened on her hips, Anastasia knew he wanted—needed—this as badly as she did.

“I’m never too tired for you,” she whispered against his mouth. His hands buried themselves into her hair, and he rolled her over so he was pressed between her thighs.

The hardness of him rubbed against where she ached for him, and Anastasia reached down between their bodies and undid the front of his pants.

He stepped away momentarily to remove them, and she made quick work of her own.

The need for closeness turned to desperation as they removed the layers separating them.

Dakota slipped back on the mattress, trailing his lips up the inside of her leg, his hands sliding up her body as he moved.

“Dakota,” she moaned, desperate for him, but still he took his time. When the heat of his breath fanned across her core, Anastasia arched up, a silent plea for what she wanted.

His tongue darted out, running up her center, and Anastasia cried out, her body desperate for more.

Dakota’s hands slid up her body as his mouth devoured her, his fingers reaching her bare breasts, teasing her nipples to hard peaks as he drove her to the edge with his tongue.

When the orgasm ripped through her, Dakota moved up, driving into her with a single thrust that sent waves of pleasure straight through her.

As their bodies moved together, Anastasia met him thrust for thrust in a frenzied attempt to sate the power building in her blood.

As her release built inside her, Anastasia pulled his mouth down to hers and shattered around him.

9

Terrenia

Dakota

Dakota stared up at the ceiling and listened to the sound of Ana breathing softly beside him. He’d tried to follow suit and get some sleep, but even awake, his nightmares plagued him.

He’d been completely powerless against whatever the hell Rosabel had done to him. He hadn’t even known her name until Ana had told him just before she fell asleep. Every single damn time he tried to close his eyes, she popped into his head.

Dakota knew himself well enough to know something was off, and it started when she’d kissed him in that house. His body felt heavier than usual, and his slight headache was turning into a full-on migraine.

It was more than just the physical, though; his thoughts were turning darker. The few minutes of sleep he’d managed to get were plagued by nightmares of murder.

He’d held a sword in his hand, watched blood dripping down the blade after he’d killed a man. His brother, or at least that’s who he’d been in the dream.

Dakota rolled over to study Ana’s sleeping form. He had to find a way to stop Rosabel because he had the worst feeling that she was far from done with him.

Deciding sleep was just not going to work for him tonight, Dakota slipped on some clothes and stepped outside into the dark.

Terrenia was more beautiful than ever. The death that started with Vincent’s darkness was hidden by new growth now, leaving little trace of the plague that nearly claimed all the worlds two years prior.

“Hello, Dakota.”

His blood chilled, and his mouth went dry from fear. His nightmare stood in front of him, glistening in the moonlight.

“Rosabel, what are you doing here?”

She smiled. “I am so happy she told you my name. It makes things so much easier.”

“Makes what easier?”

“You and I.”

He stood angrily. “There is no you and I,” he told her. “There never will be.”

“But I kissed you.” Her eyebrows bunched together, and her mouth flattened into a tight line.

“I am married. Ana is my wife, and I don’t want anyone but her.”

Rosabel studied him, but smiled and shook her head. “You will. One day soon, I will be the only one you can think of.”

“You’re wrong.”

“No, he told me so.”

“Who? Who the hell is promising me to you?”

She laughed, and the sound was like an off-tune melody. There was darkness in it, and it called to something inside him. Go to her, you want only her. Dakota shook his head. No, he wanted Ana. No one but Ana.

“The king,” she told him. “He has big plans for you.”

“Not. Interested.”

“Why must you deny me?” She stepped toward him and ran a finger down his chest. The coolness of her touch sent a shiver through him. By the look of satisfaction on her face, she thought it was desire that caused his reaction to her touch.

“You want me,” she said with the utmost conviction. “I can feel it.” She leaned closer, and Dakota tried to step back but was frozen in place, much as he had been earlier in the house.

“What do you want with the kid?”

Rosabel cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“The boy. You came for him tonight, why?”

“Why should I tell you?”

“Because you think we’re meant to be.” Use it to your advantage, Parker.

She cocked her head to the other side. “I do not have any plans for the boy.”

“Then why take him?”

“He is my payment.”

“For?”

“I will not tell you anymore until you come to me.”

“Then you’re going to be waiting a long ass time.”

“Perhaps. I suppose we will see, won’t we?” Cocking her head to the side, her solidity vanished, and she turned into a woman-shaped pool of water, standing straight where she’d been only seconds before.

Dakota’s eyes widened, and he clenched his hands into fists, ready to put up a fight if necessary. She going to drown me now?

A moment later, she washed over him. A wave of cold water leaving him soaked and incredibly pissed off on the front porch.

10

Terrenia

Anastasia

Anastasia settled into her favorite chair, lifting the fresh cup of coffee to her lips—

“Am I allowed to come in now?”

She paused, rolling her eyes. “I’m just going to continue pretending you don’t exist,” she said loudly.

He appeared in the living room. “You can keep doing that, or you can let me help you.”

“No thanks,” Anastasia responded, taking a drink.

“This has always been your problem, Anastasia. You’re willing to bury your head in the sand and take the easy out rather than searching for the root of the problem.”

“Excuse me?” She glared at him. “I’d say the fact that I killed your murdering ass proves I’m more than willing to take action rather than simply ‘burying my head in the sand.’”

He shrugged. “It’s going to be your husband’s funeral. Probably yours, too.” He faded away, and Anastasia cursed just as Dakota came into the room.

“Everything okay?” he asked sleepily.

“Yeah. How’d you sleep?”

“Not great.”

She handed him her cup of coffee, knowing he needed it more, and got up to make another for herself. “Nightmares?”

“You could say that.”

She eyed the pile of wet clothes hanging on the line out front. “Do some late-night laundry?”

“Rosabel was here.”

“Again?” Anastasia spun to face him.

Dakota nodded. “She popped up while I was sitting on the porch.”

“Bitch,” Anastasia grumbled. “How do you feel today? She didn’t try to drown you?”

“No, for some reason, I don’t think she wants me dead.”

Anastasia feared she knew what that reason was, but she kept it to herself. “Well, I’ll be putting up barriers around the cabin, just to be sure the little mermaid can’t get back in.”

“You really think she’s a mermaid?”

“I have no damn clue. But it’s about all I’ve got to go on.” She studied his pale complexion. “Why don’t you stay in today, try to get some rest? I was going to go check on Vincent’s kid this morning.”

“You okay doing that?”

“I’m not going to kill it, Dakota.”

“Okay. And he’s not an it.” He ran his hands down his face. “You may be right, though. I’m exhausted.” He yawned, and Anastasia studied the bags beneath his eyes.

“Are you all right?”

“I think so, just tired.”

“Still feeling off?”

Dakota smiled. “I’ll try and get some more sleep. When I wake up, I’ll be good as new.” He set the coffee aside and kissed her softly. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.” She smiled and watched him disappear back into the bedroom.

“He’s not, you know.”

She turned her attention to Vincent. “Excuse me?”

“All right. Can’t you feel it?”

“Feel what?”

Vincent gaped at her. “I don’t even have my magic anymore, and I can feel the difference. It’s a wonder how you’ve managed to conjure anything of any use when you refuse to embrace what you are.” He disappeared, and Anastasia cursed. It was way too damn early to be dealing with this crap.

She turned her eyes back to the bedroom and folded her arms over her chest. Trying to sense something, anything, Anastasia closed her eyes and pushed her power out to the world around her.

When nothing felt off, she cursed. “Fucking Vincent. Still messing with my head even from beyond the grave.” Hands on her hips now, Anastasia closed her eyes and put up a magical barrier around the cabin. At least while he slept, Rosabel wouldn’t be able to get to him. As soon as she got a chance, she would protect the rest of her people, but Dakota came first, since it seemed their new enemy had taken a rather disturbing liking to him.

She stepped out into the early morning sun and smiled as Kaley padded over to her. “Morning, girl.” She patted the cat’s back and continued her walk to the village. Tony sat on the porch, hands in fists on his lap, looking more incorrigible than usual.

“You okay?” Anastasia asked as she stepped onto the porch.

“You mean since you dropped off the spawn of my enemy last night?”

Anastasia threw her hands up. “He was better with Elizabeth than me. I am in no way qualified to take care of a kid right now.”

Tony sighed. “She’s over the moon about him. Has him giggling and making funny faces at her. I just don’t get it. I can’t see anything but that bastard Vincent when I look at him.”

“Join the club.” Anastasia took a seat next to him.

“Anything new?”

“Oh, you mean besides the fact that my greatest enemy has made a return from the dead? Or that my husband has some psychotic mermaid chasing him around?”

Tony let out a laugh. “Yeah, I guess that’s a lot.”

Selena stepped out onto her porch across the way and lifted her hand in a wave. Anastasia returned the gesture and sighed. “What the hell is going on, Tony? Two years of peace and now we’ve got a toddler, a dead guy, and a desperate mermaid on our hands.”

“Strange times,” he agreed, and they watched as the village came to life.

In the time since the final battle, Terrenia had grown to nearly twice the size it was before. They’d had villagers set up a small shopping center where they traded for services or goods, and the town had even elected a board of elders to make decisions and take them off of hers and Tony’s shoulders.

What if that was all going to be put back on the line? What if Terrenia was going back to war?

“What are your plans for today?” Tony asked, pulling her from thoughts of bloody battles.

“Honestly, for the first time in months, I don’t have one. I’ll probably just go talk with my grandmother. See what she knows about what’s going on.”

“So, you’re headed to Texas, then?”

Anastasia smiled. Carmen had moved to the Lone Star State two months after the war ended. She came to visit from time to time, checking in and taking part in family dinners each week.

She said she loved the heat, but Anastasia couldn’t understand why. Texas was beautiful, but damn, was it hot.

“I’m hoping she can tell me something about this thing that’s after Dakota.”

“You think it’s targeting him specifically? Or do you think it’s a coincidence?”

“No, she’s after him. She keeps telling me that he is hers, and that one day they’ll be together.”

“That’s bothersome.”

Anastasia pursed her lips. “More than. Especially since she’s apparently immune to my magic.”

His eyes widened. “You didn’t tell me that.”

“There wasn’t time last night. I blasted her, Tony. Hard. It should have at least hurt her a little, but instead, it just went right through her.”

“Fuck.” He rubbed his hands over his face. “I’d say a trip to Texas is a great idea. Need company?”

Anastasia laughed. “Don’t want to be around the kid?”

He swallowed hard. “Not even a little.”

Tony was not one to back down from a challenge, and she honestly didn’t believe it was the fact that the boy was Vincent’s that bothered him. Tony’s own son had been around that age when he’d been killed along with his mother in a Brute attack.

She couldn’t even imagine the painful memories that must’ve been resurfacing for him. “You are more than welcome to come with me,” she said with a smile as she rose to her feet. “Let me go and let Dakota know we’re going.”

He stood and turned to the door. “I’ll let Lizzie know, too.”

11

Texas

Anastasia

They stepped through the portal and into the chill of winter. January in Texas was as cold as the summer was hot. She pulled her jacket tighter around her and shivered.

“Damn, it’s cold,” Tony complained as soon as the portal closed behind them.

“Seriously, though,” she agreed, beginning the short walk to Carmen’s house. She lived by herself on a ten-acre piece of property. It was secluded and surrounded by trees, so portaling to visit her was easy to do since they didn’t have to worry about anyone seeing them.

Her home was a single-story brick house, with burnt orange shutters and a flower bed with a multitude of colorful flowers swaying in the light winter breeze. It was beautiful and peaceful, but again, the weather changes were too much to bear.

They found Carmen sitting on her front porch in a rocking chair, book in hand.

“Anastasia! Tony! So good to see you two!” she exclaimed, rising to her feet to give them a hug. “Is everything all right?”

Anastasia nodded. “For the most part.”

“What does that mean?”

Tony shivered. “Can we go inside?”

Carmen laughed. “Of course, come on in.”

They stepped into her quaint house, and Anastasia knelt to pet the orange tabby that padded over. Unlike Kaley, this one was normal feline size and rubbed against her leg without knocking her over.

“So, tell me,” Carmen nudged, taking a seat at her table. “What’s going on?”

Anastasia relayed the events of the night before to her grandmother, watching as the woman’s face stayed completely neutral until the very end when she confided how Rosabel had kissed Dakota.

“She did what?” Carmen growled, face turning red.

The flash of anger pleased Anastasia since she’d about lost her mind seeing it happen.

“You heard me correctly. She kissed him.”

Carmen leaned back in her seat, face returning to a normal shade. “Mermaid, hmm? I’ve never heard of one. Perhaps it’s just a creature with the ability to take the form of water.”

“I suppose that’s possible.”

“And what of Vincent? You say he appears, but not as a hallucination?”

“I mean, I suppose if I were going crazy, I wouldn’t notice, but I don’t think that’s what’s happening here. He’s different than he used to be. If I were imagining him, I think he would still be the same psycho from before.”

“He’s different? How?”

“Almost—” She searched for a word to describe him. “Normal. Especially given the fact that he’s a ghost. Which is crazy in itself.”

Carmen shrugged. “Ghosts exist on a different plane then we do, but they’re there.”

“Still wrapping my head around that one,” Tony muttered. “But I suppose after everything we’ve seen, this is just another thing, huh?”

Carmen and Anastasia nodded.

“Vincent is a headache, but he’s not what has me concerned.” Carmen stood to pace. “If this being—this Rosabel—has her eyes set on Dakota and is impervious to your powers, she could pose a considerable threat. I’ll need to do some research and see if I can find something more about who she might be.”

“I could help, you know,” Vincent spoke up from the corner, and Anastasia straightened.

“Vincent,” Carmen growled.

“Where is he?” Tony jumped to his feet.

“Easy boy.” Vincent flickered, and Tony’s eyes widened. “See? Now everyone gets to see me.”

“Want to tell me how the hell you’re here?” Carmen crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes on the newcomer.

He shrugged. “I came to help.”

“Cut the shit,” Anastasia ordered.

“The thing after Dakota is not a mermaid. Those are fiction, Anastasia, something I’d think you would be well versed in by now.”

“Great idea, bring up memories that make me want to kill you all over again,” she growled as images from the Brute stasis he’d put her in two years ago came to mind. He’d nearly managed to convince her that her real life had been a lie, that she and Dakota were actually married with a little girl, and she was an author who spent so much time in her own fictional world, that it had become her reality.

“Is there a point to this?” Tony asked angrily.

Anastasia glanced over at Tony, not surprised at all that he was barely leashing his rage.

“I’ll help you, but I need something in return.”

She rolled her eyes. “There’s the old Vincent we know and hate.”

Vincent narrowed his eyes, eyes that had been silver when he’d been alive but were now a haunting blue. So much like her father’s had been.

“What’s with your eyes?” Anastasia asked.

Vincent’s eyes tightened at the edges for a split second, then his face relaxed. “I want you to keep the boy safe.”

“You want us to keep your son safe in exchange for information,” Carmen clarified.

His eyes darkened. “Yes.”

“Didn’t we do that already?” Anastasia asked. “He’s with Elizabeth in Terrenia right now. We rescued him from whatever the hell that thing was last night.”

“Yes, he is for now, but you two”—he gestured between Anastasia and Tony—“keep talking about getting rid of him.”

“We aren’t going to harm an innocent child.” Anastasia put her hand up to stop Tony from barreling into what probably wasn’t solid to begin with. “So, how about you start by telling us what attacked us last night.”

“Your precious Dakota,” Vincent sneered. “Was attacked by a Siren.”

“A Siren,” Anastasia repeated. “So, mermaids are fiction, but Sirens aren’t? I thought those were the same thing.”

Vincent rolled his eyes. “They are hardly the same thing. Mermaids are sweet, innocent creatures from bedtime stories. Sirens are horrific creatures who would just as soon kill as they would breathe. Which they don’t do, by the way,” he added.

“Okay.” Tony leaned back against the wall. “Tell us about these Sirens. Where do they come from?”

“They come from her world.” He nodded to Anastasia. “But are nearly extinct. They were thought to have been Atlantians once, and the story goes that when they were forced underwater, they sold their souls to survive.”

“Seems there’s a lot of that going on,” Anastasia quipped with a side glance at Vincent.

He glared at her, but Anastasia could have sworn she’d seen sadness flash in his eyes.

“Now, they only exist in the most unpopulated parts of the world. No one has seen one in hundreds of years.”

“So, how do we stop her?”

He shrugged. “As far as I know, it’s nearly impossible.”

“But not completely impossible,” Carmen considered.

“How would Dakota have caught her eye? It’s not like we spend a whole lot of time at the beach,” Anastasia said.

“Not my problem,” he responded with a shrug.

“You had damn well better make it your problem,” Tony growled.

“Do you know how to kill one?” Anastasia asked, putting a stop once again to Tony’s barely leashed rage.

Vincent grinned. “Well, well, well. Did my badass niece meet her match last night?” When Anastasia just glared at him, he continued, “I don’t know. As far as I know, they’re impervious to most magic.”

“But not all?” Carmen asked.

“Again, I don’t know. I can tell you that you’re lucky she didn’t kill him. A Siren’s magic comes from their touch, or in some cases, a kiss.”

Anastasia paled. “What do you mean?”

“She could have killed him with a kiss. It’s where the original Siren legends came from, they would lure sailors from their boats. After they had them in their clutches, the kiss would send them into a terrible nightmare and they would drown. Unless, of course, they wanted the men for something else entirely.”

“If she didn’t want to kill him then why the hell kiss him?” Anastasia had the urge to hit or stab something. At this point, either would do.

“It’s possible she wants to mate with him.”

“Now I want to throw up,” Tony groaned.

“Sirens need to be impregnated by a human, after which they usually kill the one they use.”

“So, this bitch wants to sleep with Dakota so he can give her a child?”

Vincent narrowed his eyes. “So, hers would be a child but mine is a spawn?”

“You tried to murder me multiple times. You’ll excuse me if I’m holding a small grudge.”

He straightened. “If that’s what she wants, she’ll keep coming for him.”

“I shielded the cottage, so as long as he stays inside until I get back, he’ll be fine.” Anastasia rubbed her eyes. “I need to cover the entire village.”

“If you want to kill yourself,” Vincent warned.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean? You blocked an entire city.”

“And look what it cost me.” He muttered his words so low, she nearly missed them. “I can teach you.”

“No. She doesn’t need you,” Carmen said defensively.

Vincent turned to her. “On the contrary. You may be powerful, Carmen. But in terms of actual knowledge, I have you beat.”

“I’d argue that,” Tony growled. “Especially given the fact you lost yourself to the dark.”

“And I’d argue that there is even a dark side to magic.”

The two men, one corporeal, one not, stared at each other. Anastasia cleared her throat. “No offense, Vincent, but I think I’m fine.”

He looked at her and shrugged. “If you need me, call.”

“Well, isn’t he super fucking helpful,” Tony mumbled once Vincent had disappeared.

“At least we know what to look for now,” Anastasia said softly. “We just need to figure out how to stop her.”

“If she can be stopped,” Carmen added. “I’ll start researching. You had better get back and warn that husband of yours.”

12

Terrenia

Dakota

Dakota stretched. His muscles ached, his body was slick with sweat, and the air in the room felt cold despite the warmth from the hearth.

He stood, and his vision swam. Leaning against the bed, Dakota waited until the room stopped spinning before making his way to the small wash basin in the corner.

“Well, this is just fucking great, isn’t it?” he muttered to himself and splashed some water on his face. When he looked back up, he saw that beneath his eyes was dark, making it look like he hadn’t just slept for four straight hours.

He hadn’t felt this bad since the last time he’d had the flu. He stumbled out into the living room just as Ana walked inside.

“What’s wrong?” She rushed to him, and he waved her away.

“I think I caught something.”

“Well, here, let me help.”

“I don’t want you to catch it, too.”

She smiled. “Dakota, that’s the last thing I’m worried about.” She helped him onto the couch, then headed into the kitchen and used her magic to warm up some water for tea.

“How was your morning?” he asked as he leaned back against the cushions.

“Tony and I went to speak to my grandma.”

“Oh?”

She pointed toward the table. “We left you a note before we left.”

“Oh, I just woke up.”

Her eyes tightened around the edges as she watched him, then returned her attention to tea prepping. “So, what’s going on?”

“Pretty sure I caught the flu, or the plague. I’m not sure which yet.” He let out a laugh, but she didn’t smile.

“Not funny. Let me heal you.” When she started to reach for him, he shook his head.

“You need to keep all the strength you can in case Rosabel shows back up. I’ll be fine.”

“Dakota—”

He held up his hand. “People get sick all the time, Ana. No need for special healing just because I’m sleeping with you.”

She raised an eyebrow, and he finally saw the ghost of a smile on her lips. She got to her feet and brought his tea over. “Here.”

“Thanks.” Dakota took a drink, and the hot liquid warmed his throat. “So, what did you find out? I’m guessing you went to visit with your grandma to shine some light on our mermaid situation.”

“Not good news, and honestly, most of it came from Vincent.”

“Are you sure he’s really there?”

“Yes, Tony and my grandma saw him today.”

“Really?” Dakota asked, surprised.

She nodded. “Apparently, he can choose who he wants to see him.”

“That’s just peachy,” he responded dryly. The fact that the bastard could be seen at all was enough to give him cause for concern. “So, what did Uncle Vinny have to say about things?”

“Apparently, she’s a Siren, which is, from what I understand, basically a crazy mermaid.”

“Not a mermaid.”

Dakota jumped to his feet, spinning toward the sound of Vincent’s voice. “What the fuck!” He cursed and fell back to the couch when Vincent took form in the corner of the room. “You could warn a person.”

“Hi, Dakota. I wish I could say it was a pleasure to see you,” Vincent said coolly.

“Yeah, same.”

“You look horrible.”

“You look dead.”

“Okay, guys, think we can cool it with the pissing contest?” Ana’s eyes darted between him and Vincent until Dakota finally looked away. “Now, why are you here?” she asked, taking another drink of tea.

“I thought you might need some help getting the information into his thick skull.”

“Well, I don’t,” she retorted, “so, you can leave now.”

Dakota laid down on the couch and pinched the bridge of his nose. His head was throbbing, and Vincent being in such close proximity was pissing him the hell off. “Can we please just wrap this up already?”

“The Siren wants you to impregnate her.”

Dakota shot up so fast his vision swayed. “I’m sorry, she wants me to what?”

“You can go now,” Ana growled.

Vincent vanished.

“Okay, now can you please clarify? Because I swear I just heard him say she wants to sleep with me.”

Ana let out an angry huff. “That’s what Vincent thinks she wants.”

“This is just fucking awesome.” He laid back down.

“She’s not going to touch you.”

“Oh, I know that. I won’t let her. This hot body is reserved for you only.” He started coughing. When he got it under control, he opened his eyes. Ana watched him closely, worry all over her face. “Baby, I promise, I’m okay.”

“If that changes, you need to let me know.” Ana got to her feet. “I cloaked the cabin, so she shouldn’t be able to get to you while you’re inside. So, get some sleep.”

“Yeah, that’s going to be super easy now with all this mermaid sex business floating around.” She wanted to freaking sleep with him? What the hell? Why him?

“The tea will help,” Anastasia said just as the exhaustion started pulling him down.

“Love you,” he murmured.

“Love you, too,” she said just before he drifted to sleep.

13

Terrenia

Rosabel

Rosabel watched her leave from the pond. Her attention turned to the cabin, where her love slept. She could feel his presence on the other side of the barrier, a beacon beckoning her forward. Only, she couldn’t reach him. Was he in there dreaming of her? Pondering what they could and would be when they were finally together?

Because she was always thinking of him and the things they would do once she was out of their way.

Rosabel all but growled. Anastasia thought she could keep them apart, but all she was doing was putting a temporary stay on Dakota’s future.

They were meant to be together; he had told her so, and he was never wrong.

So, she would wait, because eventually, her love had to come out.

Until then, there was work to be done. She dipped below the water and swam through the portal she’d created. When she surfaced in the Pickrie world, it was no longer dark as it had been in Terrenia, but rather the bright morning.

She stepped out of the water and made her way toward the castle, where the Pickrie king would be waiting for her.

Truth was, he disgusted Rosabel. He’d ogle her breasts as if they were only his to look at. They didn’t belong to him, they were her love’s, and she couldn’t wait until she could rip the flying creature’s eyes from their sockets.

“Play nice, my dear.” The king’s voice sounded in her head.

“I will, my king.”

“No need to worry. If he touches you, then you may kill him.”

Rosabel smiled. “Thank you, my king.”

She continued her trek up the mountain, surprised that most of the creatures were nowhere to be found. Typically, they were lounging on top of flowers or mating wherever they landed.

Disgusting creatures they were.

“Hello, dear, are you lost?” A sing-song voice sounded behind her, so she turned to face one of the said disgusting creatures, hovering just behind her. His greedy eyes looked her up and down as if she were there merely for his pleasure.

“I am not, thank you.” She turned back around, but before she could continue walking, it buzzed in front of her.

“I bet I can help you.” It looked down at her breasts that were barely covered with her long hair, and licked its lips.

“If you touch me, I will kill you,” she said simply and walked past him.

The castle doors were open, so Rosabel made her way inside and to the throne room where Leay sat.

“Hello, my dearest Siren. What can I do for you today?”

“The Sorceress. Tell me about her.”

“What do you wish to know?”

“Her weakness.”

Leay sighed. “Unfortunately, we do not know much, other than she is willing to sacrifice anything for that man.”

Rosabel cocked her head to the side. “You speak of Dakota?”

“You know him?” His golden eyes narrowed on her.

“I do. He is my love.”

Leay laughed. “I very much doubt that; he seems particularly fond of the Sorceress.”

Rosabel’s cheeks flushed, and she stepped toward him.

“Easy, Rosabel. He does not know what he speaks of.”

She stopped and nodded. “I wish for you to gather some of your troops. You will be attacking Terrenia.”

Leay’s face paled slightly. “Attacking Terrenia, that is a suicide mission.”

“Not if it’s done correctly.”

“The Sorceress will—”

“The Sorceress will be far too busy protecting Dakota to care much. We need to turn her power against her; what better way to do that than by removing the faith her people and the other worlds have in her.”

Leay grinned, showing bright white, sharp teeth. “Good plan, Siren.”

“I will notify you when it is time.”

“We will wait for your call.”

Rosabel transformed into her liquid form and dove into the pool of water in the throne room.

As she made her way back toward home, her thoughts remained on Dakota, and the future they would soon have.

14

Terrenia

Anastasia

Anastasia closed her eyes against the light breeze. It carried strands of her hair away from her face, and she wrapped the cloak tighter around her body to fend off the chill.

Night had fallen over Terrenia, and the stars shined brightly against the dark sky. Dakota still slept soundly in their bed, effects of the whiskey and chamomile tea she’d given him.

She’d hoped to give him a dreamless sleep, so she could figure out what she was supposed to do about Rosabel.

Rosabel. Just the thought of that fish-tailed bitch had her fists clenching. Just who the hell did she think she was? Damn mermaid could go searching somewhere else for her sperm donor as far as Anastasia was concerned.

She so much as touches him and I’ll find a way to tear her waterlogged ass apart.

“Pondering?”

Anastasia turned just as a head full of dark hair came up over the edge of the platform.

“Hey, Shane.” Anastasia offered him a smile. “Just taking in the night. You?”

He leaned against the railing and stared out into the dark. “Doing another round of checks before I head to bed. Something isn’t right.”

“I feel it, too,” Anastasia agreed.

“How’s Dakota?”

“Sleeping. I made him some whiskey and chamomile. It always puts him to sleep.”

“Good for him.”

“How are you?”

He still mourned Violetta’s death, and Anastasia wondered if he’d ever be able to let the guilt he carried go. When the leader of the Mamsets lost her life in the final war two years prior, Shane had nearly lost his mind. Since then, he spent most his time below the tree Violetta had magically grown, or in his own cabin.

“I’m doing okay.”

“Shane? Be honest with me.”

“I have my good days and bad. Days where I feel ridiculous for grieving someone I barely knew, and days where I feel guilty for not grieving enough.”

“You know her death wasn’t your fault.”

“Not directly, but she should never have been out there to begin with.”

Knowing the argument wouldn’t get them anywhere, Anastasia changed the subject. “Zarina kicked ass on those Fighter tattoos today.”

Shane chuckled. “They kicked her ass, too.”

“I imagine seven tattoos in twenty-four hours will do that to you.”

“Hopefully, they live up to the mark.”

Anastasia raised an eyebrow. The seven that were recently moved from trainee to Fighter status had done so under Shane’s direct eye; the fact that he had any doubts surprised her. “You don’t think they will?”

He shrugged. “I can hope they do, but only time will tell.”

They stood in silence a few moments, listening to the sound of the night insects chirping their songs. It was peaceful, but the foreboding running through her veins told her this would be one of the last calm nights they would have for some time.

“So, I hear Tony and Elizabeth are keeping Vincent’s kid.”

“Un-fucking-fortunately.”

“How are you handling that?”

“Between Dakota’s mermaid girlfriend, the kid, and ghost Vincent, I don’t know how much more I can take,” she admitted. “I can’t help but feel that something’s coming.”

“Wait, mermaid girlfriend?”

Anastasia shook her head. “Long story.”

Shane nudged her arm with his elbow. “And ghost Vincent?”

“It seems death isn’t even powerful enough to keep that bastard out of my life.”

Shane clenched his fists. “He’s back?”

“Not completely. He has no magic.”

“That must be loads of fun.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, it’s great.”

“Well, if anyone can get a handle on things, it’s you. But let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“I appreciate the faith.”

“It’s well earned. Tony filled me in on what happened back in Seattle. Do we know why this Siren is targeting Dakota and the kid?”

“We have no idea. But she kissed Dakota the night we rescued Vincent Jr.”

“I’m surprised there’s anything left to be worried about,” Shane said with a laugh.

“There wouldn’t be, if she wasn’t immune to my magic.”

No more joking on his face, Shane turned once again to face Anastasia. “Immune?”

“Apparently, she’s made of water, and my powers go right through her.”

“Do we know how to stop her?”

“Not yet.”

“How’s Dakota taking the news? I heard he was sick, but I didn’t realize it was because some woman poisoned him.”

“Oh, she didn’t,” Anastasia ground out through clenched teeth. “Apparently, she wants him alive so they can mate.”

“Oh. Wow,” Shane murmured. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“I have to find a way to stop her.”

“We will all find a way. Dakota is family.”

The conviction in his voice made her smile. Not that long ago, Shane had despised Dakota and blamed him for stealing her away.

“Thanks, Shane.”

“Anytime.” He tapped his hands on the railing. “I’m going to start my rounds.”

Anastasia nodded as Shane made the climb back down to the ground.

“You know, I used to love being outside.” Vincent’s voice sent shivers up her spine. “Gregory and I would sneak out and watch the stars.”

“Why can’t you just stay dead?”

“Do you truly hate me?” he asked.

Anastasia turned, meeting his gaze.

“Are you really asking me that?” When he didn’t say anything, she continued, “You tore apart my life, Vincent. Murdered people that I loved and tried to kill me on more than one occasion.”

“I’m not asking for forgiveness, just for you to look at the bigger picture.”

“What bigger picture?”

“You know,” he said, “it’s strange, but since I’ve been dead, my head has been clearer than ever before.”

“That’s just great for you,” she muttered. When she turned back around, he was gone.

* * *

“How are you feeling?” Anastasia asked when she rolled over the next morning.

Dakota lay awake beside her, staring at the ceiling.

“Like crap.”

The bags beneath his eyes had gotten heavier, and the heat coming from his body was enough to make her sweat even with the chill in the air.

“Dakota, let me heal you. Please.”

“Fine.”

She ignored his tone and pressed a hand to his forehead. After calling for her healing magic, she poured it into his body, and pictured it erasing all of the sickness. When she opened her eyes, he looked even worse than before.

“What the hell?”

“What?” He turned his eyes to her, and the blue was a little dimmer than it had been before.

“My magic isn’t working on you,” Anastasia said, fear kicking her in the heart. If her magic wasn’t working, did that mean the Siren really had somehow poisoned him?

He coughed. “What do you mean, it’s not working?”

“I mean, I just poured a whole hell of a lot of magic into you, and yet somehow, you look worse.”

“Maybe you aren’t supposed to heal basic illness.”

She shook her head. “I’ve done it before.” Anastasia climbed out of bed, and dressed quickly. “I’ll be back.”

He nodded briefly, so she stepped out into the lightening sky and made her way toward the village.

Everyone was still sleeping except the Fighters who were on guard duty, so after a brief wave at them, she climbed the steps to Tony and Elizabeth’s cottage.

“Anastasia, is everything all right?” Elizabeth asked sleepily. Vincent’s son was awake and in her arms.

“Dakota’s sick.”

“I knew he wasn’t feeling well earl—” she started, but the panic must’ve shown on Anastasia’s face because Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and she said, “I’m coming.”

After telling Tony where she was headed, Elizabeth shut the door gently behind them, and together, they quickly walked back to the cabin. Anastasia tried to push the fear out of her mind, but the possibility that the Siren had, in fact, poisoned Dakota, kept creeping back into her thoughts.

Anastasia pushed open the door, and after stepping inside, Elizabeth handed the little boy to her.

“I’ll be right back.” She gave Anastasia a nod of understanding, and disappeared into the bedroom.

“Hi,” Anastasia said to the little boy.

When he just stared at her in response, Anastasia set him down on the couch and began to pace. Minutes felt like hours while she waited for Elizabeth to come out.

Someone knocked on the door, and Anastasia paused. “Come in.”

Selena stepped inside, her face paling slightly when she saw the little boy staring at her from the couch. “Oh, I’m sorry. I brought you some stew for Dakota.”

Anastasia smiled. Selena had always been one of the most maternal people she knew. “Thanks.”

“He okay?”

“Elizabeth is in there with him now.”

“Can’t you heal him?”

Anastasia shook her head, not wanting to admit to Selena how her powers weren’t working on him. “He said people get sick sometimes, and he shouldn’t get special treatment.”

Selena smiled. “Sounds like him.” She stood awkwardly, watching the little boy. “What’s his name?”

Anastasia shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Vincent Jr., or Vinny,” Vincent said from the corner.

She ground her teeth together. “I’ve been calling him Vinny,” she said, ignoring Vincent so as not to alert Selena that the dead man responsible for the deaths of her children currently stood in the corner of the room.

“Hi, Vinny,” Selena said softly as she took a seat on the table across from the couch. “My name is Selena.”

“Hi,” he whispered softly.

“What do you like to play with?” she asked him.

Anastasia glared at Vincent, who watched Selena intently from the corner. There was something on his face, a softness she couldn’t remember ever seeing before, mixed with something she could’ve sworn was guilt or regret.

“Anastasia!” Elizabeth called from the bedroom.

Anastasia shot to her feet, her gaze flicking from the kid to the bedroom.

“Go, I’ve got him,” Selena offered.

After a split second of hesitation, she ran into the room. “What is it?”

Elizabeth’s eyes were wide, and her face had paled considerably. “I don’t know. His temperature is sitting at one-oh-three point two. His pupils are dilated, his skin is ashen, and I can hear fluid in his lungs.”

“Oh, come on. I don’t look that bad.” Dakota groaned and coughed.

“You stop right now, Dakota George. You’re in bad shape.”

“What do you think it is?”

Elizabeth shrugged. “It could be pneumonia. Can you heal him?”

Anastasia shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself.

“Her magic didn’t work on me.” Dakota grunted.

“What?” Elizabeth looked at Anastasia, her eyes wide with alarm.

“I don’t know why, it just didn’t work.”

“He needs antibiotics,” Elizabeth stated. “Can you take me to Seattle? I can see about grabbing medicine from the hospital. I still know some people there.”

“Yeah, we can go as soon as you’re ready.”

“We need someone to watch him while we’re gone.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.” Dakota tried to sit, but fell back against the pillows. “Just let me die in peace,” he whined.

“You shush,” Elizabeth scolded. “No one is dying today.”

“Says you,” he muttered, and even with the fear in her heart, Anastasia bit back a laugh.

“You’ve always been such a baby when you’re sick,” she teased.

Dakota lifted the arm that was draped over his eyes, and shot her a glare.

“Where is the boy?” Elizabeth asked Anastasia.

“With Selena.”

“She’s here?”

Anastasia nodded.

“We can have her hang around.” Elizabeth stood. “If you need her, call out, okay?”

“Yes, Mom.” Dakota closed his eyes and almost instantly began snoring.

Elizabeth and Anastasia crept into the living room where Selena played with Vinny. He smiled brightly at her, and Vincent still watched them from the corner. While Elizabeth spoke to Selena, Anastasia made her way over to him.

“She is kind with him.”

Anastasia folded her arms and whispered, “Well, she did raise two children until you got them both killed.”

“I did a lot of things I’m not proud of,” he said through a tight jaw. “We all make mistakes, don’t we?” He eyed her.

Truth was, both Brady and Sarah’s deaths were on her hands, too. Whether Vincent had orchestrated them or not.

“Ready?” Elizabeth asked.

Anastasia nodded.

15

Seattle

Anastasia

Anastasia and Elizabeth stepped out of the portal and into Dakota’s family home.

“Wow, still looks the same,” Elizabeth commented. Anastasia could see she was avoiding looking at the old family pictures still decorating the walls.

“You okay?”

Elizabeth hadn’t been back to the house she’d shared with Dakota’s father, George, since she’d moved out a little over a year after his death.

She nodded sadly. “Just still is a little hard.”

Anastasia squeezed her arm gently before following Elizabeth down to the garage.

Since Anastasia hadn’t driven since just before she’d gone to Terrenia seven years ago, Elizabeth climbed into the driver’s seat, and they made their way toward downtown. The sky was grey, which did little to lighten Anastasia’s mood. She couldn’t stop thinking about what the Siren had said to her. What gave the creature the confidence to be so sure Dakota would go to her?

How the hell was Anastasia supposed to stop something that was completely immune to her power?

“Do you think the antibiotics will help?” she asked, pulling her attention away from much darker thoughts. Elizabeth nodded.

“I’m sure it’s just pneumonia.”

“I hope so.”

“It is strange though, why you couldn’t heal him.”

“Yeah, I’m not exactly sure why that is. I’ve never had an issue with illnesses before.”

Elizabeth shrugged. “Honey, sometimes people just get sick and nothing but time can heal them.”

Anastasia smiled. Dakota had nearly said those exact words to her.

“Has he had anymore run-ins with the Siren?” Elizabeth asked.

“Not that I know of. I blocked all power other than my own from the cabin, so she can’t portal in.”

“Can she get in at all?”

“Unfortunately, I can’t bar her from physically walking in, but if she does, I’ll know about it.”

“I wonder why she chose him? Out of everyone, why is it Dakota she set her sights on?”

“I have no clue. He said the dreams started a few months ago, and I’ve been trying to figure out where she might have seen him. We’ve been traveling so much lately that it’s possible, but I think I would remember if we’d actually had any contact with her.”

“It’s certainly strange,” Elizabeth added as she pulled into the parking garage. “Let’s hope Richard is working.”

Dr. Richard Speight had been providing Elizabeth with medicine for the last two years, whenever she needed it. They had him convinced she was working with a wealthy client who chose to remain anonymous.

One large donation from Dakota’s father’s retirement fund had backed their story, and the greedy doctor had been more than happy to help them.

The hospital was just as it had always been, bright and bustling, and Anastasia did her best to focus on their mission. She hated hospitals, always had and probably always would. The sterile smell that tried so hard to cover the scent of sickness and death filled her nose as they moved toward the Chief of Medicine’s office.

“Elizabeth!” He greeted them with a smile. “To what do I owe this visit?”

“Can we talk in private?” she asked sweetly, and he nodded. “I’ll be right out,” she told Anastasia as she disappeared inside.

16

Seattle

Elizabeth

Elizabeth stepped into the pristine office and forced a smile. Richard was arrogant and greedy, and being in such close proximity to him wore on her patience.

“So, what can I do for you?” he asked, taking a seat behind the rich mahogany desk that probably cost more than operating a single wing of the hospital for a month.

“I need some antibiotics. My client has a nasty case of pneumonia.”

“Oh, well, I’m sorry to hear that.”

She nodded. “I will pay for the medicine, just like always.”

“Well, we have a bit of a problem, I’m afraid.” He stood and gave her a condescending smile.

“And what would that be?” Elizabeth asked tightly. Dick, she added silently to herself.

“Well, I was able to go against hospital policy and allow you to care for your private client before due to the sizable donation he made. It was a way to let the board know we would be receiving compensation even though you were caring for him at home.”

“That hasn’t changed.”

“No, but it’s been two years, and I’m afraid we need another show of faith.”

Greedy bastard. “Unfortunately, my client will be unable to furnish you with an additional payment at this time.”

Richard grimaced. “Well, then I’m sorry to say we can’t help with the antibiotics. Of course, if your client wants to receive the medication, he is more than welcome to come in to the hospital.”

“You can’t do this,” she growled. Dakota’s life was on the line; there was little chance he would survive without the medicine. Not in the shape he was already in.

“I can,” he said simply. “And I am.” Richard returned to his chair behind his desk.

Elizabeth slammed her hands down on the smooth surface, and Richard jumped slightly. “This is crooked, and you know it!”

He barely flinched. “You had your chance to run this hospital and you chose to move into the private sector instead. That is no one’s fault but your own.”

“You bastard.”

He smiled. “I’ve been called much worse. Now, please go.” He dismissed her with a wave of his hand, and Elizabeth briefly considered sending Anastasia and her sword in here.

She’d be willing to bet this coward would have a change of heart if her daughter-in-law got her hands on him. Instead, Elizabeth straightened and offered him an aggressive sneer. “You will regret this, Dick. I’ll make sure of it.”

Elizabeth stepped outside and walked to Anastasia, who was standing in front of one of the large windows.

“Did you get it?” she asked.

Elizabeth shook her head. “Apparently, they want another donation.”

“We gave them nearly everything.”

“I know. Dakota can come stay here. They can’t turn down his care then, but as far as me getting anymore prescribed medicine, we’re SOL.”

“You can’t write the prescription yourself?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “As far as this world’s concerned, I’m no longer a practicing physician.”

“I’ll go deal with him.” Anastasia started toward Dick’s office, but Elizabeth gently grabbed her forearm.

“As much as I’d love to see you kick his ass, we still need this hospital. Dakota is going to have to be seen.”

“Fine.”

Had she not been so frustrated and stressed herself, she could have appreciated Anastasia’s need to deal with her old colleague. But the thought of her son suffering erased all humor from the situation.

Dakota was her entire world, the last shred of her normal life with George, and she’d be damned if she lost him.

17

Seattle

Anastasia

The drive back to the house felt like it took an eternity as Anastasia stared out at the now-rainy sky. She wished Elizabeth would’ve let her kick the door in and show that jackass just what being greedy got you, but also understood why that would’ve been a bad idea.

Dakota needed help, help that apparently only the hospital could give them. Still, she didn’t exactly understand why they couldn’t have kicked his ass and just gone to another hospital.

Elizabeth parked the car in the garage, and they made their way into the house.

“Everything will be fine, honey.” Elizabeth gently squeezed her arm, and Anastasia smiled.

“I know.”

“You can’t keep me from him.”

Both women spun toward the kitchen. Rosabel stood near the sink, about two yards away from them. How quickly could Anastasia close the space between them? Every nerve in her body went on high alert, and her hand itched for a sword that would do her no good here.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Anastasia growled.

“You can’t keep Dakota from me,” Rosabel said easily. “He is mine, and I will have him.”

“You can’t have my son,” Elizabeth said as she moved to stand beside Anastasia.

Rosabel’s head turned to the side to study Elizabeth. “I know you,” she said softly. “He told me all about you. But he thought you were dead.”

Anastasia looked over at Elizabeth. Her face had paled considerably. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You can deny it all you want, but you have his scent.” Rosabel smiled. “I can’t wait to deliver the news of your return.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Anastasia demanded.

“You will know soon enough, Sorceress. You will bring him to me, or I will drown everyone you care for. I’ve already started,” she said with a sick smile. “Dakota is mine.”

“What the hell do you mean you’ve already started?” Anastasia asked, her stomach filling with stone-heavy dread.

“I will continue visiting your friends until you give him to me. It’s your choice after all. Many lives, or the life of one man.”

“You mean to kill him?” Elizabeth asked shakily.

Rosabel cocked her head to the other side. “Of course not. He will be my mate. I will give him the children you refuse him,” she said to Anastasia. “How foolish of you to deny him heirs. The throne needs heirs,” she said softly.

Anastasia’s hands clenched into fists. “Our life is none of your fucking business.”

“It is my business because he is my mate.”

“He is not your mate!” Anastasia screamed.

Rosabel smiled darkly, and her emerald eyes sparkled. “He will be, or you will be the only one standing after I kill all those you care for. I will have what’s mine, Sorceress. He promised.”

Before Anastasia could respond, Rosabel turned into water and disappeared into the sink.

“I hope she ends up in the sewer,” Anastasia grumbled, rubbing her eyes with the palms of her hands.

“What did she mean she already started?” Elizabeth asked.

“I don’t know, but we’d better get back to Terrenia.” She waved her hand, and a portal appeared. The swirling blue light absorbed them as they returned home.

“What throne?” Anastasia stepped out into the familiar air of Terrenia, thoughts of their conversation with Rosabel taking up root in her mind.

“What do you mean?”

“Rosabel said the throne deserves heirs. What throne?”

Elizabeth paled slightly, but she assumed it was because of their interaction with the Siren. “I wish I could answer that,” she said with a shaky smile, then made her way into the cottage where Dakota slept.

“Everything okay?” Anastasia asked Selena when they stepped inside.

“He’s been quiet.”

“I’ll go check on him.” Elizabeth disappeared, and Anastasia checked the room for Vincent. He was nowhere to be seen, and she wondered just where the hell he disappeared to when he wasn’t here.

Could she trust anything that came out of his mouth? Of course not. He was a lying, deceiving, piece of crap, just as she’d always known him to be. But her gut told her there was more to the story than she was getting. Things weren’t adding up, and she figured her uncle was probably at the center of it.

“Anastasia!” Elizabeth called.

Her heart in her throat, she ran to the bedroom. “What is it?”

“He needs to get to the emergency room now.”

Even from the door, she heard his wheezing. “I’ll grab Tony,” she said, knowing he was the only one who could carry Dakota. Based on his current condition, there was no way in hell Dakota was going to be able to walk.

She ran for the door, only to see he was already walking in.

“I was just coming to get you.”

“I know, he told me.” He gestured behind him, but no one was there.

“Who told you?”

“Vincent,” he whispered. “Apparently, Dakota has gotten worse, and he thought you may need me.”

“Well, wasn’t that nice of him,” Anastasia replied dryly. What agenda was he playing at? Did dead people even have agendas?

“What’s going on?” Tony asked as he followed her to the bedroom.

“Thank God, Tony.” Elizabeth’s shoulders relaxed when she saw Tony. “We need to get him to the hospital.”

“They wouldn’t let you have the medicine?”

“Honestly, at this point, I don’t think it would help. He needs fluids and IV antibiotics.”

Anastasia’s heart was in her throat as she watched Tony lift Dakota. His eyes were closed, his face covered in sweat and colorless.

“Let’s get out of here, then, shall we?” Tony suggested.

Anastasia opened a portal, and they stepped back through and into the alley beside the hospital. She didn’t care if anyone saw them, all that mattered was getting Dakota help.

18

Luxe

Thames

Thames studied the shadows lurking before him. The dark void where there should be substance overwhelmed him with pride. His new sons were ready to join the others in the shadow world. His shadow world. One he had created with the flick of his wrist.

His eyes focused to survey his own dying world just as his hand clenched into a fist around his scepter.

The blackness stretched as far as the eye could see, or at least any eye other than his own. No, he didn’t have the luxury of blindness against the darkness, and could see every single inch of his crumbling home. Not that it bothered him tremendously; his home was weak and couldn’t host his abilities.

He was power, and with that came sacrifice. One day, he would have Terrenia, and it would feed his immortality until it crumbled apart at the seams as well.

When the Sorceress had killed Vincent, he’d felt the blow. It had been enough to render him useless for the better part of two years. He’d hoped that time would have given her a sense of peace, he had hoped she would have grown complacent or afraid, much like the coward that had come before her.

Instead, she’d been trying to rally worlds against him. Against what she couldn’t even come close to understanding. He smiled, and the dark glint in his eye went unnoticed by his new progeny.

He owned them. They were just too naïve to understand it. But they would, soon.

“You will go and tell Silex he is to move forward with the next stage.”

“Yes, Father.” The shadow closest to him spoke. The inky shadow vanished, leaving Thames standing alone in his world.

It had been millennia since he’d seen light. He’d hidden away and commanded Vincent to do his bidding.

Vincent. He nearly growled. That sorcerer had proven much more difficult to control than he’d originally anticipated. He’d had plenty of times to kill the new sorceress and yet had failed each and every time.

Why? Because they’d shared blood? Or because he had truly been no match for her?

Thames knew better. When you wanted to take down someone as powerful as she was, you had to attack where she least expected it. Where she would never see it coming.

You couldn’t attack her with power—that would only prove deadly to whomever went up against her. She was entirely too powerful at full strength; he was no fool to that. It was why he hadn’t yet made a move against her.

He had considered killing everyone she cared for, but all that would come from that was her fighting harder to gain revenge.

No, in order to take down The Sorceress, she must be stripped of her will to fight by removing the very reason she fights.

Her own insecurities would prove to be her downfall.

“Master.” Rosabel materialized in front of him and bowed her head.

“What is it?”

“I am almost ready to take what’s mine.”

“Soon.”

“He is weak now, I could go to him.”

“He will resist you still.”

The Siren bit back her next words. Smart. He was growing wary of her obsession.

“I come with news, Master.”

“What news?” He straightened in his chair.

“Your mother is alive.”

19

Seattle

Anastasia

Anastasia stared down at Dakota. An oxygen tube ran across his pale face, and machines tracking his heart rate and pulse ox filled the room with a steady beeping. Seeing him like this was harder for her than she’d imagined.

Especially since she couldn’t do anything but wait.

She leaned forward and rested her forehead against his arm. What was she going to do if anything happened to him? How was she supposed to spend the rest of her life without the one person who understood her?

It seemed crazy to her that after everything they’d been through, a sickness was what would take him away. Almost too crazy. Elizabeth confirmed it was pneumonia, but a part of Anastasia refused to believe it was that simple.

Anastasia straightened and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“How are you doing?” Elizabeth stepped into the room and handed her a cup of coffee.

“It just seems crazy to me how one day he was fine, and the next day we’re sitting in the hospital.”

“Yeah, this is the most aggressive case of pneumonia I think I’ve ever seen.”

“Makes you wonder if it wasn’t caused by something—or someone.”

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes. “You think Rosabel caused this?”

“I don’t put much stock in coincidences, and it would be a hell of a coincidence if Dakota just so happened to come down with an illness the day after she put her nasty fish mouth on his.”

Someone knocked on the wall beside the door, and they both turned in that direction as Ashton stepped inside.

“Mrs. Parker.”

“What are you doing here?” Anastasia got to her feet.

“Want to tell me what the hell you’re doing here? In case you forgot, I’m the cop, so I’ll be asking the questions.”

“How could anyone forget? You rub it in our faces every time we turn around.”

“Dakota is sick, he needed a hospital.” Elizabeth stood and touched Anastasia’s arm to try and calm her down.

It didn’t work. “What the hell do you want?” she demanded.

“I want to know if you’re causing this storm.” He opened the blinds.

“It’s a storm, Detective. Seattle gets them all the time.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Not like this. This isn’t natural.”

Anastasia stepped to the window. The rain was falling harder than she remembered it ever doing before, but sometimes, things change. It wasn’t until purple lightning streaked across the sky that she considered Detective Dickhead might actually have a point.

“I don’t control the weather.”

“Then how do you explain this happening the second you show up?”

Anastasia frowned.

He smiled. “Yeah, that’s right. I was called the second you stepped foot in this hospital.”

“So, now you’re keeping tabs on me?”

“You bet your ass I am. Where you go, trouble follows, and I’m damn tired of our city having to fight your war.”

“It’s hardly my war when Vincent had been gunning for this world, too.”

“And whose blood relative was he?”

Anastasia growled. “Blood had nothing to do with it.”

“Sure it didn’t.”

They stared at each other, neither of them refusing to back down.

“I will say it one last time,” Anastasia snarled. “I don’t control the fucking weather.”

“Then who does? Because I know in my gut this has something to do with you. The last time I went anywhere with you two, I was nearly drowned by some weird ass water chick. Now, you show back up, and the ocean has decided to take out its anger on my city. You tell me if you think that’s a little too coincidental.”

Fuck. He had a point. Not that she’d tell him that. The smug look that would surely show up on his face would be enough for her to end him where he stood.

“I will look into it.” She turned away from him.

“You damn well better because, Sorceress or not, I will kill you if you continue to bring war to my people.”

“In case you forgot, Detective, she’s human, and that makes her one of your people,” Elizabeth snapped.

“She’s an abomination, so no, I don’t consider her one of my people.” He turned and left the room.

“He’s an asshole.” Elizabeth rubbed Anastasia’s shoulder.

“He’s not wrong, though. I’ll be back.” Anastasia stepped from the room and headed toward the stairs. Ashton would likely be on the elevator, and she had no interest in being in an enclosed space with a man she hated and who despised her in return.

After making her way down four flights of stairs, Anastasia stepped out into the fierce storm attacking Seattle. Wind whipped the hair from her shoulders, and she stared out into the distance.

Rosabel appeared in front of her, and a grin spread across her face.

“This you?” Anastasia pointed to the sky.

Rosabel nodded. “This is only the beginning.”

“Why? Why the hell are you doing this? Go find someone else!” Anastasia screamed.

“Why would I do that? I want Dakota. There is no one else for me,” she said simply.

“Why?”

“You should ask his mother.”

“What the hell does she have to do with anything?”

Rosabel shrugged and disappeared.

20

Terrenia

Tony

Tony watched as Selena played with the small boy in the town center. Seeing her chasing a young one around had a smile playing at his lips. Even if that small boy was the son of the man who’d been responsible for so much carnage.

“Hey, Tony.”

“Gage, how’s your wife?” Tony greeted the other man who came to stand next to him.

“Zoey’s good. Tired of being pregnant,” he said with a smile. “Not that I blame her. We’ve got two already.”

Tony let out a laugh. “You certainly do have your hands full.”

Gage and his family had chosen to stay in Terrenia after the war with Vincent came to a close. He, Dakota, and Anastasia had known each other as children, and while the three of them claimed they never got along well, they certainly did now.

He was also a hell of a Fighter, especially given the fact he’d only been training for the last two years.

“She says this is the last one, but that’s what she said after Izzy, and again after Andy was born.”

“She’s a great mother.”

Gage smiled. “She is. How’s Dakota? Serene told Zoey he was sick.”

“Lizzie and Anastasia took him back to Seattle. He needed to be in the hospital.” After he’d carried Dakota inside the hospital, Anastasia had sent him back through the portal to keep an eye on things at home. With Rosabel targeting Dakota, they couldn’t take any chances with their people.

“Damn, what does he have?”

“Lizzie thinks it’s pneumonia.”

“Man, hopefully he gets better soon.”

“I’m sure he will. Dakota’s tough.”

“Isn’t that the truth. Andrew said you had some things to tell me, was that it?”

Tony shook his head. “There’s a potential new threat to our people.”

“What?”

“A Siren by the name of Rosabel. It seems she’s set her sights on Dakota.”

“As in…?”

Tony sighed. “Apparently, she wants to mate with him.”

“Well, I bet Anastasia took that well.” Gage chuckled. “What does that mean for us? You think she’ll attack Terrenia to get to him?”

They’d kept the knowledge of Vincent’s son just between the four of them and Serena. But Tony felt it was time to at least let Gage in on it. How else was he supposed to ask the man to help keep an eye on things? The other Fighters were volatile when it came to the memory of the Sorcerer. He hoped Gage would be less bent on revenge.

“That’s not the only person she’s after,” Tony added, nodding toward the little boy Serena was playing with.

“The kid?”

Tony nodded and lowered his voice. “That boy is Vincent’s son.”

Gage’s eyes widened. “His fucking son? Seriously?”

“We need to keep it under wraps, Gage. The boy hasn’t done anything, and while I hope the other Fighters won’t take it upon themselves to harm him, I don’t want to risk it. There’s a lot of hatred for Vincent amongst our people.”

“Hell yeah there is. That asshole kept my family hostage, too, Tony.”

“Do you mean to harm the kid?”

“Of course not.” He shook his head, and Tony could see he studied the child more closely now. “So, she’s after him, too. Any idea why?”

“We aren’t sure yet. Could be she wants to use him for any power he might have, or it could just be a way to get back at Vincent for damage to her or her people. Who knows at this point? It’s not like we’re the only ones with a grudge against him.”

“True.” Gage considered. “What do you want me to do?”

“Help me keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. I don’t want to alert the others yet. We just got back to some form of normalcy around here; I’d hate to rip that away from them unless absolutely necessary.”

He sure as hell hoped it wasn’t going to be necessary.

“Well, if this Siren is targeting Dakota, I’d put my money on Anastasia kicking her ass before we have to do anything.”

“I hope you’re right.” But it was going to take more than that. Especially given the fact they had no idea how to stop her since she seemed to be immune to Anastasia’s power.

A portal appeared to their right, and Tony expected Lizzie or Anastasia to step through. When they didn’t, his hand gripped the hilt of his sword.

Four large beasts stepped through the swirling blue light, and as soon as Tony recognized the one in front, he relaxed.

“Argento, we weren’t expecting you.”

The Brute’s face was hard. “We’ve got a big problem, Fighter.”

21

Seattle

Dakota

Dakota stood in a dark world. “Hello?” He could feel the death surrounding him, but could hardly see anything. “Ana?” he called, but no one answered.

A bright light appeared in front of him, illuminating a castle just up ahead. Dakota all but ran to it, while trying to be cautious in his new surroundings.

Where the hell was he? He’d just been at home, talking to Ana and his mom, hadn’t he? How did he get here?

As he moved closer, the light brightened, until he was standing on the large stone steps.

“Home,” a man’s voice whispered to him. But that didn’t make any sense. Terrenia was his home, not wherever the hell this was.

He crept up the steps and pushed the large wooden door open. It was dark inside, but Dakota stepped in anyway, taking his time moving down the slender hallway.

“Brother.” A deep voice filled his head, but when he spun, he was alone. Or at least, he had been. Two transparent figures appeared down the hall from him. They didn’t look at him, and Dakota wondered if it were possible they couldn’t see him. Studying the two beings, Dakota felt an instant familiar connection.

One of the men had dark hair and was bleeding from multiple wounds.

The other appeared to be unmarred.

“Larynt,” the unmarred man spoke tightly. “Where are our parents?”

“You have to stop this madness. It is not too late,” the one that had been called Larynt pleaded.

“It is not too late for you to join me. Do you not realize what our people are capable of? We could rule together, Brother. Side by side.”

“I have no interest in the other worlds. They are not ours.”

“But they could be, with the flick of Father’s scepter, we could own them all.”

“But why? What reason would we have for that?”

“Power, Brother. The ultimate power.”

“You have been corrupted. Please, let me help you.” Larynt lowered his sword slightly and took a step closer.

“I am not the one in need of help.”

As Larynt stepped closer, the other man’s hand twitched near his weapon.

“No,” Dakota called out.

They didn’t hear him, and the sword was knocked from Larynt’s hand.

“Please, don’t do this, Thames. We’re brothers,” Larynt pleaded as Thames’ hand closed around his throat.

“Blood means nothing to me,” he answered, and closed his fist. Blood splattered him, and Dakota’s mouth fell open in horror as Larynt’s head rolled to the side of his crumpled body.

The one he now knew as Thames made his way down the hall, and Dakota followed. What the fuck did he just witness?

The hallway led to an open room that was all but empty. The only piece of furniture inside was a throne where an older version of Thames and Larynt sat. His body was tense, as if he knew this fight were coming to him.

Dakota watched, a spectator in whatever was going on, as Thames moved to stand just before the man. But then Thames faded away, and the man looked directly at Dakota.

“Son,” he said with the ghost of a smile. “Or rather, not my son but the son of your mother.”

Dakota had never been more confused.

“You have to come home, boy, Luxe needs you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You will. Thames must be defeated. History cannot repeat itself.”

“Who the hell is he? What is this place?” he asked, but before he got a response, the man’s eyes widened and he disappeared, leaving Dakota standing alone in the room.

“Well, this is just great,” he muttered.

“He is wrong,” Thames said as he appeared in front of Dakota, no longer transparent.

Dakota’s blood iced, and his heart began to hammer in his chest. “About what?”

“Luxe doesn’t need you, and I will not be stopped.”

“I’m not even sure what the hell Luxe is.”

Thames chuckled. “Of course you aren’t. The bitch managed to hide you from me this long. I didn’t even know she was alive until recently.” He circled Dakota slowly.

“Who?”

“Don’t play fool with me.” Thames stepped up to Dakota, leaving just a foot of space between them, and the scepter in his hand blazed with bright light. “I own you, just as I owned Vincent.” The stone grew brighter until the light completely eclipsed everything around them.

“What the hell do you want?”

“Your mind.”

22

Terrenia

Anastasia

Anastasia stepped through the portal with Tony. Shane, Argento, and three Brutes waited for them just inside Tony’s home, looking grimmer than they had even when they’d been at war.

“Argento, it’s good to see you.” It had been nearly two years since they’d had any contact with the Brute race, and Anastasia had missed their king.

“Sorceress.” The three Brutes behind him bowed their heads lightly.

Argento pulled her in for a hug. The humanlike gesture surprised her, and she smiled when he released her. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Anastasia. I’m sorry to hear of Dakota’s illness.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

“He is a great Fighter. I imagine he will come around soon.”

She nodded. “Not that I’m not happy you’re here, but what is the problem?”

Argento’s face contorted in anguish. “My world is dying.”

Panic surged through her, and her magic called out in answer to the quickening of her pulse. “What? What do you mean?”

“It started with a storm, my people are not accustomed to large amounts of rain, and we cannot swim. Many were killed in a flood. Now, darkness is spreading and killing off our plants.”

“A storm?” Anastasia’s heart pounded. “Purple lightning?” she asked, remembering the strange color that had streaked across Seattle’s skyline.

“Yes, how did you know?”

“Rosabel,” Anastasia growled.

“You think it’s the Siren?” Shane asked.

“She’s been pummeling Seattle with a storm ever since we brought Dakota through the portal and into the hospital.”

“A Siren?” Argento asked, his eyes widening. “Then we are indeed in trouble.”

“What do you know of them?”

“Other than the fact they are immune to nearly every type of magic? Not much, I’m afraid. Why is she here, though? Sirens don’t typically attack without reason.”

“She wants Dakota.”

Argento blinked a few times. “She has claimed him?”

“What? No. They haven’t—”

“I do not mean have they mated. Has she said she wishes to mate with him?”

Anastasia nodded.

Argento ran his hands over his bald head. “This is bad news, Anastasia. You say Dakota is in Seattle now?”

She nodded. “He hasn’t woken up since we took him in.”

“We need to protect him. If she takes him, you will never see him again.”

“Yeah, I got that.”

“I don’t understand how she is killing my world. The storm I understand, as Sirens can control weather and water, but as far as the spreading darkness…” He squinted, considering. “I didn’t believe them to have that power.”

“Maybe ours is an overachiever,” Anastasia said dryly. “There’s more on our end.”

“What is it?”

“The Siren has targeted a young boy. Vincent’s son, actually.”

Argento’s eyes widened. “He has a son?”

“Apparently,” Tony retorted. “He’s here now, and safe.”

“Is he like his father?” Argento questioned.

“Not that we know of, but he’s only two,” Anastasia answered.

“Ah, yes, I forgot your children age slower than ours do.”

“Vincent has also made his presence known,” Tony added.

Argento tensed. “He’s alive?”

“No, apparently, he’s a ghost who has decided to grace us with his presence.”

To her surprise, Argento let out a laugh. “It appears I have missed much.”

* * *

Exhausted, Anastasia made her way into her house. She’d been up for over twenty-four hours, and planned on getting a small nap in before heading back to the hospital to take over and give Elizabeth a break.

Kaley met her on the porch and padded over to rub her head against Anastasia’s leg.

“Hey, girl,” she said with a yawn.

After pushing open the door, Anastasia made her way into the bedroom to remove her weapons. She stared at herself in the mirror for a moment, wondering just how she managed to look so pissed off when she barely had the energy to breathe.

What the hell were they going to do? Not even the Brutes, who were one of the oldest races of beings, knew how to stop Rosabel.

Argento had assured her they would find a way, but how? After their conversation, he’d gone back to his world to retrieve more of his warriors and a healer. They were coming back to Terrenia, and the familiarity of war looming on the horizon nearly brought tears to her eyes.

She threw herself onto the bed. When were they supposed to get a break? When was it okay for her and Dakota to start their future together? She wanted kids, didn’t she? Didn’t she deserve to have the little girl she’d seen in the stasis?

“I’m sorry for the current state your Dakota is in.”

She jumped at the sound of the voice. “Can you not pop into my bedroom?”

“I sensed you were resting.”

“Awesome.” She covered her eyes with her hands and sat up. “So, you decided to interrupt the one chance I have at a nap?”

“Only to apologize.” Vincent threw his hands up in surrender, and Anastasia rolled her eyes.

“You apologize? That’s new.”

“What is the news with Dakota?”

“There isn’t any.” She leaned back against her pillow. “He still hasn’t woken up, Rosabel is still a bitch, and Argento now says his world is dying.” She narrowed her eyes. “I don’t suppose you had anything to do with that?”

“No,” Vincent responded tightly. “I have no power in this form.”

“Good to know.”

“You say that, but you may need me.”

“For what? To give me someone else to fight?”

“I am not the same as I was.” He scrunched his nose. “I feel… clean.”

“That’s probably because you can’t sweat,” she said sweetly.

“While I appreciate your sense of humor, now is not the time. We need to focus on stopping Rosabel.”

“I need sleep,” she snarled.

“Fine.” Vincent disappeared, and Anastasia let out a breath.

“Finally,” she muttered, closing her eyes.

23

Guisnow World

Queen Orlaith

Queen Orlaith stared out at her thriving world. Peace looked good on Guisnow, and with the fear of the darkness abated, there was nothing holding her people back from the festivities they so loved to plan.

She watched with a smile as children ran around and chased each other, while their parents watched on, not a care in the world.

Her own daughter slept soundly in her arms. Orlaith looked down and smiled when she snuggled closer.

“How are my loves?” Cormac wrapped an arm around her as he settled in beside her on the balcony.

“We are wonderful,” she responded with a smile. He kissed her gently, and they continued to watch as their people went about their day.

A strange sensation ran up her spine, and Orlaith turned to see a storm looming on the horizon.

“I didn’t know we had a storm coming,” Cormac commented as he followed her gaze.

“We aren’t supposed to.” She stared at the darkening clouds a moment. When purple lightning split the sky, Orlaith turned back to her people and screamed, “Get inside! High ground! Now!”

“You heard the queen!” Cormac bellowed, his voice reaching much further than hers did. The people below them scattered, all grabbing up their little ones and running for their homes. “Let’s go.” Cormac ushered her inside.

“We have to make sure they are safe!” she insisted.

“You have to be safe first.”

Orlaith’s sight went blurry. “Take the baby,” she told him with a voice that wasn’t quite her own, as she fell into a vision.

* * *

Darkness rained down on the Guisnow world. Snow and ice had melted away to reveal crumbling rock below, and Orlaith gaped at the destruction.

Bodies littered the ground, her people dead, their eyes frozen open in fear as they watched whatever it was that had struck them down.

She spun, crying out when her eyes landed on Cormac and their child.

“No,” she cried as she fell to her knees beside their bodies.

“This can be avoided,” a deep voice rumbled in the distance.

“Who are you?” she demanded, getting to her feet once more.

“Someone you do not wish to cross.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“To show you where your allegiance should lie.”

“My allegiance is to my people.”

“Oh? So you do not pledge loyalty to the Sorceress?”

Orlaith narrowed her eyes as a shadow took form in the distance. “The Sorceress is who she was meant to be.”

“That is not an answer.”

“Nor shall it be. She is our protector, and if you harm us, she will hunt you until she kills you herself.”

“I will handle her,” the man sneered. “But you must choose a side, Queen Orlaith. Tell me, how will your people survive if I destroy your world? It has already started; I know you feel the decay spreading.”

“My world has survived much worse.”

“Are you speaking of Vincent? He was nothing compared to what I am. I owned him.”

“Then tell me who you are!” she screamed at the shadow.

“My identity doesn’t matter. Either you stand with me, or you will fall with the Sorceress. Choose soon; the storm is almost upon you.” The shadow faded away with laughter, and Orlaith closed her eyes.

24

Seattle

Anastasia

Anastasia was sitting beside his bed when Dakota’s eyes finally opened.

“Hey,” she greeted when he looked over at her. She leaned forward and touched his hand gently.

“Hey, yourself.” He smiled and tried to sit up.

“How are you feeling?” Anastasia pushed the button on his remote, sending his bed up into the sitting position.

“Honestly, much better.”

While his normally bright blue eyes had dulled and appeared almost grey, the rest of his complexion was back to normal.

“You almost died,” she whispered, tears burning in the corners of her eyes.

He smiled and reached for her. She climbed onto the bed with him and curled up against his body.

“It’s going to take more than a little cold to take me away from you,” he whispered against her hair. “So, what’d I miss?”

Anastasia smiled up at him. “Let’s get you home, and I’ll fill you in.”

“Dakota!” Elizabeth rushed into the room and wrapped her arms around her son. “Thank God you’re all right.” She smacked his arm lightly. “You scared the shit out of us!”

“Ouch, Mom. I’m in the hospital,” he groaned.

“You’ll live.”

“Barely.”

“Next time you’re sick, don’t be stubborn about going to the hospital.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned. “Now, can I go home?”

She smiled. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“You should be nicer to your mom,” Anastasia said when Elizabeth left the room.

“Then she’d get used to it, and I could never be a smartass again.” He pulled her closer to him. “How long have I been out?”

“Two days.”

“Damn.”

“Yeah, you scared us all pretty good.”

“Why didn’t your magic work? I remember you trying to heal me but it not working.”

“I have no clue,” she admitted. “It’s been bothering me.”

“Any word on Rosabel?” he asked quietly.

“Unfortunately, there is. She’s been pummeling Seattle with storms.”

“Seriously? She can do that?”

“Oh yes, it’s apparently one of her many abilities.” Along with luring men to their deaths. Dakota would not become one of those men.

“Any idea how to stop her?”

“None yet, but I’m working on it.”

“I’m awake now, so I can help.”

“Okay, let’s get you out of here.” Elizabeth walked in with a stack of papers. “I may no longer work here, but I do still have connections other than Dick.”

“Woah! Mom!” Dakota exclaimed, and Anastasia let out a laugh.

“Richard, Dakota. I’m talking about Richard.”

“Fine, but maybe keep the dick talk to a minimum? At least until I’m well enough to come up with something sarcastic to respond with.”

“You got it.” She smiled. “I’ll step out so you can get dressed.”

Dakota removed the hospital gown, and Anastasia handed him a stack of clothes she’d folded.

“Dakota, wait.”

“I mean, I guess I’m up for it.” His eyes glittered, but she shook her head.

“What the hell is that?” She pointed to deep blue lines climbing up his back.

‘I’m wrong. You need to stay away from me.’

Images from her nightmares came crashing back into her mind, ominous warnings of what they were now facing.

“What? I can’t see anything.”

“Come here.” She helped him to his feet and guided him into the bathroom to look in the mirror.

“What the hell?” he murmured and touched part of the line he could access.

“Pretty sure that isn’t a side effect of pneumonia,” Anastasia growled, and her power hummed in response. “I’m going to tear her apart.”

Dakota turned to her. “You think this is Rosabel’s doing?”

“Who else? She kisses you, and you end up in the hospital. Now, you have weird ass lines climbing up your back. That seems a little too coincidental to me.”

“Okay, but why? What could she have done to me?”

“I don’t know.” Anastasia traced the lines. They started at the base of his spine, and worked their way up his back and out to the sides of his ribs. If they appeared the night Rosabel kissed him, it would only be a matter of days before they finished climbing to their destination.

“We need to get you back to Terrenia.” Anastasia handed Dakota his shirt.

* * *

Dakota, Anastasia, and Elizabeth stepped through the portal into Tony’s living room twenty minutes later.

He and Argento waited for them.

“Argento! Good to see you, man.” Dakota embraced the Brute King, and Argento bowed his head slightly.

“Good to see you as well, Dakota. I hope you are doing better?”

“Much.”

Anastasia bit back a humorless snort. She hardly considered weird ass spider lines up his back ‘much better.’ He hadn’t told Elizabeth, and they’d agreed to keep it their secret for now.

Elizabeth would have never let Dakota leave the hospital had she known about them, and since they were likely caused by a Siren, there wasn’t much a hospital could do for him.

“So, what’s been going on?” Dakota asked as he took a seat at the couch. “Ana said I missed quite a bit?”

Argento sighed. “I’m afraid my world is once again dying.”

Dakota straightened, all humor gone from his handsome face. “What do you mean dying? What’s happening?”

Anastasia answered, “We think Rosabel has something to do with it.”

“Why do you say that?” Dakota asked.

“It started with a storm that nearly wiped out our capital city. Once the water receded, we noticed black lines seeping into our water and mountains. It’s as if something is draining our world.”

“Shit.” Dakota put his head in his hands.

They sat in silence for a moment, and then he got to his feet. “Okay, so what do we know about our mermaid friend?”

“I’d hardly consider her a friend,” Argento snarled.

“I was being sarcastic.”

“Oh!” Argento started laughing. “I fear I’ve been gone so long I cannot determine the difference.”

“We need to find a way to stop her,” Anastasia insisted. “That’s the only piece of information we need, and I will take her down.”

“In order to find that, we need to know more about her,” Tony offered. “Why is she here? Why has she set her sights on Dakota? Those are questions we need answered.”

“I think if we start looking for a motive, it’s going to equal time wasted,” Anastasia commented. “And we don’t have the time to waste.”

“I’m afraid she’s right,” Elizabeth agreed.

Screams sounded outside, and Anastasia’s pulse spiked as they ran toward the noise. A portal was just disappearing, and Anastasia rushed to the new arrival.

“Queen Orlaith! What happened?” She fell to her knees beside the queen, who was soaking wet. The infant in her arms was screaming, and Anastasia covered the queen’s shaking hands with her own.

“She killed them all,” she cried, then buried her face into her baby. “She came and killed them all.”

“Who killed them?” Anastasia demanded.

Orlaith shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t know her name. But she destroyed my world.”

Anastasia helped Orlaith to her feet and away from the onlookers who had gathered around them.

“Here honey, have a seat.” Elizabeth guided her over to a chair and handed her a blanket to wrap the tiny princess in.

“Tell me what happened.” Anastasia sat across from her.

Orlaith shook her head. “I would much rather you see it for yourself.”

Anastasia hesitated only a moment before pressing the palm of her hand to Orlaith’s forehead.

At the contact, Orlaith closed her eyes tightly, and the horror played out in Anastasia’s mind.

* * *

Orlaith opened her amethyst eyes and stared into those of her husband and protector.

“What is it, my love? What did you see?”

“Our destruction,” she whispered, afraid to even speak the words aloud. “The voice, it told me that if we stand with the Sorceress, if we don’t pledge allegiance to it, we will all die.”

“Who was it?” His hand instinctively went for the hilt of his sword, the other wrapped tighter around their child.

She shook her head and wiped tears from her cheeks. “I do not know. I did not see a face. It was a man, but not a voice I recognize.”

“Vincent? Is it possible he’s returned?”

“No, his is a voice I won’t soon forget. This one was new.” She got to her feet and stared out at the storm heading straight for her home; for the people she loved most in all the worlds. “What can we do, Cormac? I saw it, I saw everyone dead on the ground.” She cried out.

“We do what we can, my queen; we fight.”

Thunder boomed ahead, shaking the ground. Orlaith took the child she was handed and watched in horror as a wall of water began to race toward them. A woman stood down in the center, nude except for long hair that flowed in the wind.

She grinned at them and waved her hand in the air just before purple lightning split the sky.

“Cormac!” Orlaith screamed over the sound of the storm raging around them.

“Get inside!”

“You come, too!”

“I need to make sure everyone is safe!” he yelled back as he headed for the stairs.

“Cormac!” Orlaith screamed and started to follow. She reached him on the stairs, and he turned, his eyes full of determination.

“I am your husband, Orlaith. But I am also the protector of our people, and I need to know that they are safe.” He cupped her cheek with his hand. “You need to go inside or I cannot focus on my mission.”

He kissed her softly and headed down the stairs. Orlaith watched until rain began to pound down on them.

She rushed up the stairs and into the throne room. Minutes felt like hours while she listened to the rumbling outside.

The door flew open, and Orlaith looked up as water surged into the room.

“No!” she screamed, fearing that her husband and people had died. How could they survive amongst all this water?

She ran out of the room and to her bedchamber. After reaching into her drawer, her fist closed around the portal Anastasia had given her in case of an emergency. Just as the water reached them, Orlaith slammed the vial down and swam into the blue light.

* * *

Anastasia opened her eyes. After wiping tears from her cheeks, she wrapped her arms around Orlaith.

“They are all dead,” the woman whispered. “My entire world, destroyed. Why? What is happening?”

Anastasia felt the warmth of Dakota’s hand on her arm. She didn’t have to look down to know that there were sparks on her fingers, or that her skin had begun to glow. She could feel the power brewing, searching for an outlet for her rage.

She pulled back and stood to pace.

“You poor thing.” Elizabeth sat next to Orlaith on the couch and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “There is no reason for destruction like that.”

“There has to be,” Argento commented. “Why else would they tell you not to stand with the Sorceress? There is war coming, and I have a sick feeling it is not only the Siren we have to worry about.”

“You think there’s someone else? We haven’t had any other issues. Rosabel is more than powerful enough to cause that destruction,” Tony argued. “Could be this is all over Dakota.”

“Dakota?” Orlaith’s eyes found his. “What do you have to do with it?”

Dakota sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Apparently, she has a thing for me.”

“The Siren has set her eyes on you?” Orlaith’s eyes darted to Anastasia. “That is bad, Sorceress. Even in my world, we’d heard rumors—legends—of Sirens and their capabilities.”

“Do you know of a way to kill one?”

“I always heard they cannot be destroyed. Water is found on every world and through it, they can portal virtually anywhere. There is always a way for them to survive.”

“So, why go after your world? Because we helped you?”

“I do not know.” Orlaith looked down at her daughter and pulled her closer.

Anastasia crossed her arms. “We need to head to the Guisnow world, see if there were any survivors.”

“It’s completely flooded,” Orlaith murmured as she rocked.

“We have to try,” Anastasia insisted. “I can swim.”

“You can swim, but water is the Siren’s territory,” Argento added. “If you try and take her on, you will fail.”

Anastasia glared at him. “I might not.”

“Yes, you will,” Dakota said. “We don’t know how to stop her. What happens when she manages to take you out? I have zero interest in becoming her new baby daddy.”

“Baby daddy?” Argento asked curiously, then let out a laugh. “You were being sarcastic. Funny.”

“We can’t just sit around. How many worlds is she going to attack? The Brutes are on high alert, the Guisnows have all but been wiped out—”

Orlaith whimpered.

Anastasia cringed. “I’m sorry, Orlaith. How many more are going to suffer because she can’t keep it in her pants? If she even fucking wore pants in the first place!”

“She doesn’t wear pants?” Argento asked Tony, who shrugged and shook his head.

“I appreciate you wanting to go to my people, but I think it’s best you wait,” Orlaith said sadly. “We stand no chance without you, Sorceress, that much I know.” Her voice broke, and she buried her face into her daughter’s damp hair.

Anastasia knelt in front of Orlaith, placing a hand on the queen’s knee. “If I can save at least some of your people, I have to try.”

“I fear there is no one left.” Orlaith choked up on the last of her words.

“If Rosabel went after the Guisnows, do you think the other worlds are in danger, too?” Elizabeth asked.

“Only one way to find out.” Anastasia waved her hand, and a portal appeared. “We’ll be back soon,” she told Orlaith, then she stepped through the portal. She didn’t have to look behind her to know Dakota followed.

25

Jaitu World

Anastasia

Once the portal closed, Anastasia surveyed the world before them. The Jaitu people had re-built after Vincent’s monsters had destroyed their villages and slaughtered their people.

The village before them thrived with light and life, and eased a bit of Anastasia’s growing fear.

If they were all right, then it was possible the other worlds were as well.

“Anastasia! This is a surprise!” The familiar voice brought a slight smile to her face.

“Hi, Nallia,” Anastasia said to the Jaitu queen.

“Dakota, it’s good to see you as well.” She bowed her head slightly. Anastasia noticed a slight swell to her normally flat belly, as well as the threads of gold that had been braided into her hair.

“Nallia, are you expecting?” she asked.

Nallia beamed. “The first Jaitu-Guisnow to ever be born.”

Nix, the Guisnow general, had fallen in love with Nallia, and once the war with Vincent was over, he’d resigned his post and traveled back to her world so they could be together.

“Congratulations.” Dakota offered her a smile, and Anastasia inwardly cringed. It seemed everyone was ready to move on with their lives except for her.

Then again, she’d been right, hadn’t she? They were once again at war.

“So, what has prompted your visit?” Nallia asked with a smile. Anastasia hated that it was going to disappear.

“Is Nix around?” Better to tell them both at the same time.

Nallia’s smile faltered at the look on Anastasia’s face. “Yes, right this way.”

They followed her up some wooden stairs to the top of a tree. The Jaitu built all of their homes off the ground, while the common areas were left at ground level.

They walked through a doorway and into the living room of Nallia and Nix’s home.

Nix was barely recognizable, and Anastasia had to cover a gasp.

Guisnows were pale, their hair completely white as well. The only color were their amethyst eyes. She’d never seen one that didn’t look exactly that way, so the dark-haired man who stared back at her, caught her completely off guard.

“Anastasia, Dakota! It’s wonderful to see you both.” He smiled, and neither Anastasia nor Dakota spoke.

Nix laughed. “I imagine it is strange for you to see me this way. It seems as though my exposure to this world has altered my physical attributes. He gestured to his hair.

“Looks good.” Dakota cleared his throat. “It’s good to see you, too.”

Nix smiled and wrapped an arm around Nallia.

“So, what is going on?” she asked. Nallia was never one to beat around the bush.

Nix looked at her, confused, then back up to Anastasia and Dakota. “Has something happened?”

Anastasia swallowed hard. This was going to suck. Nallia confided in her about a year ago that Nix was having trouble coping with leaving his home world behind. He’d felt as if he abandoned them, even though King Cormac and Queen Orlaith couldn’t have been happier for their friend.

Learning the Guisnows had been nearly completely wiped out was going to crush him. “There’s been an attack,” she finally said.

His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped slightly. “An attack? On Terrenia?”

Anastasia shook her head. “The Guisnows.”

Nix stepped forward, horror replacing the shock on his handsome face. “What has happened?”

“A Siren flooded the world. Only the queen and her child made it out.”

“The king?” His voice was hollow, his amethyst eyes wide and glazed over with pain as Anastasia shook her head.

“Oh no.” Nallia reached for her husband and pulled him close. They stood there for a moment, her holding him as he stared at the wall in disbelief.

“My home is gone?” he asked, his voice shaking.

“We don’t know yet,” Dakota added. “We are going to check it out, we just needed to warn you first.”

“Warn us? Why?” Nallia asked.

“We think she may be coming here next,” Anastasia answered.

“Why?”

“It sounds like whoever is behind this is making a power play,” Dakota responded.

“I thought you said it was a Siren?”

“Who flooded the world, yes, but we don’t know if she’s acting alone.”

Anastasia bit back a smart-ass comment. It would do no good, and she knew Dakota was only being logical, not actually sticking up for the fish-tailed bitch.

“What can we do?” Nix asked.

“I can understand if you do not wish to leave your home right now.” Anastasia held out a portal vial. She kept a few in the pouch at her waist for emergencies, and in her book, saving the Jaitu people was one hell of an emergency. “You can talk about it, and if you decide to leave or if something happens, you can use this. It will bring you to Terrenia.”

“Thank you, Sorceress,” Nallia said, her face completely blank.

“Can I travel back with them? Temporarily, of course, so I may see the queen?”

“Of course, my love,” Nallia responded. “I imagine seeing you would be wonderful for her.”

“Is that all right?” he asked Anastasia and Dakota, who both nodded.

“Leaving them here is not smart, Anastasia,” Vincent muttered, having appeared beside her. “It’s only a matter of time before she comes for them.”

Nallia took the vial. “Is there nothing more you can do?”

Anastasia sighed. “I want to try something, if that’s all right?”

Dakota turned to her, his eyebrows bunched. She’d considered doing this the second they’d stepped foot in the Jaitu world, but she wasn’t entirely sure how it was going to work.

“I know what you’re planning,” Vincent said beside her.

She ignored him. Judging by the fact that no one else turned around, she guessed he’d hidden himself from everyone else in the room. Smart move.

“I can teach you how,” he offered.

She ignored him again. “I want to try and shield your world, much in the way Vincent shielded Seattle from the rest of that world. If I can hide this village, I might be able to keep you safe.”

“Anastasia…” Dakota started. She knew he was concerned about her well-being. After all, if she did do this, and it drained her, they would be more vulnerable than ever.

“I want to try.”

“Won’t it be too taxing on you?” Nallia asked.

Anastasia shrugged. “Truthfully, I’m not sure. But Vincent managed to shield multiple places; I don’t see why I can’t. I’m more powerful than he was.”

“Ouch,” Vincent muttered behind her.

“If you’re sure it won’t harm you,” Nix said softly, tears burning in his eyes.

Anastasia closed her eyes. The air around her snapped with magic as she pushed out with her mind. She envisioned the entire Jaitu city and pushed her magic out until she could all but see the barrier in the air.

She tested the power by pressing against it, and smiled when it held strong.

“Well done,” Vincent commented, and Anastasia opened her eyes.

“I can feel the tension in the air,” Nallia said.

“I’ve never tested it while in another world, though; I’m not sure it will hold once I leave.”

“It will, if you did it right,” Vincent whispered in her ear.

It took all her willpower to keep from ripping him a new one right there.

“If you need us, use the vial.” Dakota reached forward and shook Nallia’s hand.

Anastasia conjured a portal and stepped through, back into Terrenia, with Nix and Dakota on her heels.

“My queen!” Nix fell to his knees in front of Orlaith as soon as the portal closed behind them.

“Nix, it is so good to see you.” Tears began to stream down her pale cheeks again as she looked upon one of her own, a soldier she hadn’t seen in two years.

“I am so sorry I was not there to help.”

“There is nothing you could have done, Nix. Nothing anyone could have done. I just can’t believe—” Her voice broke, and she covered her face with her hands.

“You could have taken her deal,” Dakota said.

Anastasia looked over at him, shocked. His eyes were bright, but something felt off about him. Nix and Orlaith both stared at him, anger in their amethyst eyes.

“Dakota George,” Elizabeth scolded. He shook his head as if trying to clear a bad dream. “That came out wrong. I’m grateful, of course, that you didn’t. I was only saying it sarcastically.”

“Can I speak with you?” Anastasia pulled Dakota from the room.

Once they were outside, she whirled on him. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Meaning?”

“He isn’t fully himself.” Vincent materialized beside them. Dakota stared straight at him, his hands clenching into fists.

“Vincent.”

“Nice to see you.” He turned his attention back to Anastasia. “It seems your husband isn’t very clearheaded at the moment.”

“Probably a lack of sleep,” Dakota answered.

“Yeah, probably.” Vincent didn’t sound convinced though, and Anastasia picked up on it.

“Why don’t you get some rest, then?” she said sweetly. “Maybe sleep will do you good.”

That, and you’ll be in the cabin where no magic can reach you.

“Sounds good,” he said and leaned forward to press a kiss to her cheek. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.” Once he faded from view, Anastasia turned to Vincent. “What in the hell are you saying?”

“I’m saying that perhaps your Dakota isn’t quite himself lately. I thought that was fairly self-explanatory.”

“Why wouldn’t he be himself?”

Vincent shrugged. “He’s been sick, for one, and another thing, the Siren kissed him. Maybe she transferred something to him that neither of you noticed.”

“The blue lines,” she whispered.

“Blue lines?”

Anastasia sighed. Vincent was dead; what harm could come from telling him? “Dakota has blue lines climbing up his back.”

Vincent clenched his fists. He turned away from her for a moment before spinning back around. “Shit, Anastasia. Neither of you thought this should be public knowledge?”

“Dakota wanted to keep it a secret until we knew more.”

Vincent rolled his eyes. “Of course he did.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“That maybe your precious Dakota is not to be trusted.”

Anastasia narrowed her eyes. Was this some kind of game? A way to separate her from Dakota? “If I had to choose one person to trust for the rest of my life, it would be him. How dare you try to come between us.”

Vincent glared at her. “You are so blinded by love that you cannot see what is right in front of your nose.” He disappeared, and Anastasia stared at the place he’d been for another moment.

“Ugh!” Anastasia clenched her fists at her sides. “Bastard,” she muttered. But a part of her wondered if maybe he had a point.

Dakota had seemed fine when they’d picked him up in the hospital, but the way he’d just acted in front of Orlaith and Nix had been uncharacteristic of him. Was it possible there was something else going on? Something she couldn’t quite see?

What if Vincent was right? What if something was wrong with Dakota?

26

Terrenia

Dakota

The night closed in around him, a familiar blanket beckoning him, begging him to wrap himself in it and sleep.

Dakota stared out at the sea of destruction, a chilling smile on his face. Smoke billowed up into the night air, carrying with it the stench of death. Bodies littered the ground, their eyes frozen open, their skin splattered with dark red blood.

He’d won, and now, the power would be his.

“This world was no match for us, Brother.”

Dakota looked up as a man came to stand beside him. His pale skin seemed brighter now, even in the dark.

“What world?”

The man looked down at him, amethyst eyes glowing with power. “Do you not remember?”

Dakota looked back out at where the man gestured. He stepped toward a body that lay in front of the others. Her dark hair was matted with blood, eyes that once were blue were nothing but empty sockets now, the power having eaten her from the inside.

Her mouth hung open on a scream that would never complete, and all Dakota felt when he looked at her was rage.

She’d made him do it.

Why hadn’t Ana joined him? Why hadn’t she seen the future they could’ve made together?

* * *

Dakota woke with a start. What the hell was that? His breathing was ragged, his heart pounding against his ribs.

He closed his eyes, but visions of Ana lying dead on the ground popped back into his mind. Jumping out of bed, Dakota splashed water on his face before leaving the bedroom.

When he stepped into the living room, he was surprised to see Ana lying on the couch. Her eyes were closed, and he could tell by her steady breathing she was asleep. Seeing her there—alive—had him relaxing.

“She’ll never let you be your own man. You will always live beneath the Sorceress’s thumb.” A voice inside his head begged for him to end her where she slept. “It would be so easy. You could slit her throat and be gone before anyone knew.

“Then you can live up to your potential, Dakota. Without her dragging you down for her own controlling amusement.”

Dakota shook his head. No. I don’t want that. But a dark part of him wondered just what her blood would feel like dripping onto his skin.

Dakota started to turn away when Ana opened her eyes. “Hey, you.”

“Hey.”

“Get some sleep?”

“Yeah.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck.

Her brow furrowed as she studied him. “You okay?”

“Yeah, how’s the queen doing?”

“Better. She’s still pretty shaken up—understandably. Shane, Tony, and I are going to portal over and check things out.”

“Shane.”

Anastasia cocked her head to the side. “Yeah, Shane and Tony.”

“Why aren’t I going?”

She got to her feet. “Because I think you need to stay in here, where you’re safe, until we figure out what’s going on with you.”

“I’m not a fucking kid who needs to be babysat, Ana.” Anger fueled him, but the rational side of him knew she was only trying to protect him.

“I never said you were, Dakota.” Ana folded her arms, and Dakota did the same. They stared at each other, two people who were closer than most, and yet now, he felt like they’d never been further apart.

Fuck, he was being an ass. Dakota unfolded his arms. “Sorry, Ana. I think I’m just tired.”

She stared at him a moment longer. “Can I see your back?”

“Why?”

“I want to look at those lines.”

“Why?”

“To see if they’ve spread.”

“Fine.” Dakota turned around and lifted the back of his shirt.

Ana sucked in a breath. “Dammit. We really need to show these to someone.”

He tugged his shirt back in place and turned to face her. “Why? What the hell is anyone else going to be able to do about it?”

“Something, Dakota. You aren’t… yourself right now.”

“Probably because I’m tired and everyone’s up my fucking ass about it.”

“Dakota.”

He shook his head and tried desperately to push the anger he was directing at her back down. “Look, I just need more sleep.” He disappeared back into the bedroom and slammed the door behind him.

Grateful she didn’t come after him, Dakota stared at the bed. He wasn’t tired anymore; what he really wanted was some fresh air. Why the hell should he be locked in this house like it was a fucking prison?

He lifted his boots and pulled them on, then pushed open the shutters that covered the window. After checking outside to make sure no one was nearby, Dakota slipped outside—a fact that pissed him off even more. He was a grown ass man who was sneaking out of his own house.

Bullshit.

Dakota crept into the tree line, but movement in the pond caught his attention. He looked down, seeing only his own reflection—or what should have been his reflection.

As he got closer, he saw the man from his dream staring back at him.

“Dive in, Brother.” The deep voice filled his head, and Dakota pressed his hands to his ears.

The man in the pond smiled. “Come see our kingdom; it’s waiting for you.”

Dakota leaned a little closer, ignoring his instincts, which were screaming at him to get away, to get back inside where Ana’s magic could shield him until they figured out just what the hell was going on.

“Are you going to allow her to control you forever? Control you, but not even be willing to fulfill your desire to become a father?”

Dakota’s hands clenched into fists as he stared at Ana’s reflection in the water.

“She is holding you back.”

“Dakota?” Ana called.

“Come to me, my love, I won’t hold you back. I will give you the family you desire.” Rosabel appeared in the water just below him, replacing the face of the man who’d called him brother.

She looked ethereal, almost beautiful, staring at him from beneath the surface. But that’s not right, he wasn’t attracted to her. Ana’s face came to mind, and Dakota shook his head, trying desperately to clear the fog that was steadily taking over his thoughts.

“Dakota!” Ana screamed.

Rosabel’s attention shifted, and she stepped up, separating herself from the water.

“Interrupting is rude,” Rosabel sneered.

Dakota turned his attention to the other side of the pond where Ana stood, sword drawn.

“Get the fuck away from him.”

“He came to me, Sorceress.”

Dakota tried to answer, but his mouth wouldn’t open. He shook his head frantically, but Ana didn’t seem to notice.

“Dakota, come here,” she pleaded.

He wanted to scream, to tell her he was trying, but his body stayed rooted where it was.

“Dakota is mine now. I told you he would be.” She stepped back toward him, and Dakota felt his hand grip hers, although it wasn’t him doing it. He tried like hell to rip himself away from her, but his body was no longer his to control.

“Dakota, please.” Ana’s eyes pleaded with him, tears shimmering in their depths. “Please come back.”

“It won’t work, you don’t want her anymore,” the voice inside his head told him.

“Yes, I do!” he screamed back, but no sound came out.

“I choose Rosabel.” He heard the words in his voice, but they were not his to say.

Ana’s face fell, her mouth flattening into a tight line, eyes shimmering with tears. Dakota could see the effect the words had on his love as she stared at him, completely and utterly broken.

Shane and Tony ran up beside her, swords drawn. Dakota felt his head turn, and he looked at Shane. “I don’t want her; you can have her now.”

“No!” Dakota screamed inside his head, but the deep voice just laughed at him.

“You are mine now, Brother.”

“Ana!” he screamed, battering at the hold this creature had on him.

“You don’t mean that, Dakota,” Shane said, taking a step closer.

“He does, and if you come any closer, Fighter, I will kill you where you stand,” Rosabel threatened.

“Watch your fucking mouth.” Ana stepped closer.

“Yes! Kick her ass!” Dakota screamed internally.

“Do you think I fear you? Your magic has no effect on me.”

“I swear to you, I will kill you. No matter what I have to do, I will break the hold you have on him, and I will drown you in your own blood or whatever the fuck runs through your veins.” Ana’s fingers sparked, and Rosabel just laughed.

“Shall we go, my love?” She looked up at Dakota.

“No!”

“Yes, we shall. I tire of this world.”

Rosabel stepped toward the water, dragging him with her. Dakota could see the helplessness in Ana’s eyes, and while he wanted to be free, it couldn’t be at the cost of her life.

He was the jackass who ventured outside her protection; it seemed he was going to pay for it with his life.

27

Terrenia

Anastasia

“Vincent! You get your sorry ass in here, now!” Anastasia screamed into the living room of her cottage.

She paced, still not fully believing what she’d seen. Dakota had left with Rosabel, had said he didn’t want her anymore. There had to be an explanation for it, some sort of reason for why he’d done that.

Because there was no way in hell Rosabel had actually gotten him to fall in love with her.

“Anastasia, you need to sit.” Shane touched her arm gently, and she looked up at him, tear-stained and heartbroken.

“I can’t fucking sit. Dakota is gone with that fish-tailed bitch, and I couldn’t do anything to stop him.”

“You know he didn’t leave of his own volition,” Tony said from the corner. “There is no force that could make that boy not love you. Something is up.”

Elizabeth stared at the corner of the room, not fully engaged in the conversation until now. “Anastasia, Dakota loves you and only you. She must have put some sort of spell on him.”

Anastasia couldn’t get the image of Dakota and Rosabel out of her head, or the way he’d looked at her with such cool detachment. His eyes had—his eyes.

“His eyes,” she repeated, looking up at the room.

“What?” Tony asked.

“Vincent!” she screamed again.

“You called,” Vincent said smugly from the corner of the room.

“You had better tell me what the fuck is going on, or I swear I will find a way to kill you again.”

“Where’s my son?”

“With Selena,” Elizabeth answered.

“Why were your eyes silver?” Anastasia asked, taking a step toward him.

“Excuse me?”

“Your eyes, they would flash silver. I thought it was because of your power, but now, I don’t think that was it.”

“Finally taking a closer look, are we?”

“Just answer the fucking question.”

“Where’s Dakota?” Vincent looked around the room, clearly not surprised to see Dakota missing.

“Rosabel took him,” Anastasia growled through clenched teeth.

“Regretting not telling anyone about those blue lines?”

“Blue lines?” Elizabeth got to her feet and stared at Anastasia. “What blue lines?”

“I noticed them when we picked him up from the hospital. There were blue, spider-web like lines climbing up his back and toward his neck. Today, they’d gone even higher, nearly to his shoulders.”

“And you didn’t think that was important information?” Elizabeth yelled, surprising everyone in the house. The woman’s eyes were wide now, and she stared at Anastasia with a mixture of anger and fear on her normally neutral face.

“What is it?” Tony asked.

“This is so bad, so damn bad.” Elizabeth began to pace. “I should have seen it coming, how did I not see it coming?”

Vincent took a seat on the couch. “This just got interesting,” he said as he crossed one leg over the other.

“Seen what coming?” Anastasia stared at Elizabeth, a woman she’d rarely seen get mad, who was fuming now. Rage and grief alike shining on her tear-stricken face.

“My son.”

“What about him?”

Elizabeth shook her head at Tony’s question. “Not Dakota,” she said sadly. “Thames.”

“Who the hell is Thames?”

“A long time ago, before George, I was married.”

“I didn’t know that,” Anastasia said.

Elizabeth looked at her. “No one did. My husband found me nearly starving to death and took me in to be his queen.”

“Queen?”

“I was born in a world called Luxe.”

“Wait a damn minute.” Anastasia raised her hand. “You mean to tell me you knew other worlds existed?”

“Yes.”

Anastasia’s jaw dropped. Her mind running a million miles a minute, and she clenched her fists. Talk about keeping a fucking secret.

“Go on, Lizzie,” Tony said, putting his hand on Anastasia’s arm.

“I was born to a poor farming family, and we barely scratched by with enough food to stay alive. One winter, that ended when the cold weather killed our crops. Amos came to visit with his family, a trip that was supposed to be strictly political, and we fell in love even though he was supposed to marry the princess. They rescued me, and I became his queen.”

“Why have we never heard of Luxe?” Shane asked.

“The Luxe world has been gone for nearly ten thousand years.”

Tony leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. “What happened?”

“Amos was a good man, and the Luxe people were kind to me even though I was not the princess they’d envisioned. We had two sons, Thames and Larynt.” She swallowed hard, and Anastasia noted the tension in her shoulders, the tears in her eyes when she spoke. “When a Luxe male heir is born, they are supposed to bear the mark of inheritance, but Thames did not receive it. His younger brother, Larynt, however, did.”

Elizabeth began to pace again, and no one interrupted the silence as she seemingly relived a past she’d worked hard to forget.

“We could see the difference in our boys as they grew up. Thames was hard, and had no compassion for anyone, whereas Larynt was kind and fair. The world’s magic chose him as the royal successor, completely skipping over Thames. As you can imagine, he was less than happy about that.” Elizabeth pinched the bridge of her nose. “He attacked our world, slaughtered our people, and when he came for us, Amos sent me away. I landed in Seattle, in the year 1987.”

“Are you mortal?” Argento asked.

Elizabeth nodded. “The Luxe live just as humans do.”

“If the Luxe have been destroyed for ten thousand years, how the hell did you end up in Seattle in 1987?” Anastasia bit down on the inside of her cheek to keep from adding a slew of curse words.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. My best guess is the portal Amos sent me through was not just space, but time as well. To keep Thames from hunting me down.”

“What of Thames?” Shane asked.

“I don’t know. I assumed they had all died.”

“And Dakota is this other son, this Larynt guy?” Anastasia asked, trying to force pieces of the puzzle into place within her mind.

“You didn’t think to stand beside your husband?” Vincent asked from the couch.

Elizabeth glared at him. “If anyone is going to give me a speech on loyalty, it is sure as hell not going to be you.”

He shrugged. “Fair point.”

“Why the fuck would you keep this from us?” Anastasia got to her feet and looked at Tony, who didn’t appear all that upset. Why the hell wasn’t he pissed off just as she was? Elizabeth lied to them. Shit, she’d lied to Dakota for his entire life!

“I didn’t think it was necessary.”

“You didn’t think to tell your son he comes from another world?”

“Dakota is human.”

“He’s half-human,” Anastasia clarified. “And you lied to him his entire life.”

“I was protecting him,” Elizabeth insisted.

“Protecting him? Or hiding from your own past?” Shane asked.

Elizabeth glared at him. “I don’t see how this is any of your concern.”

“Dakota is my friend, and he’s missing. That makes it my concern.”

Anastasia’s mind was moving a mile a minute. Dakota was only half-human and possibly the one standing in Thames’ way.

She turned back to Vincent. “Your eyes, spill.”

Vincent got to his feet. “I don’t know, Niece. A lot of the last twenty-odd years are a blur to me.”

“Try.”

Vincent narrowed his eyes at her, before beginning to pace. “I remember going to see you after you’d been born. I remember being angry that your father kept you from me, and I remember bits and pieces of the next two decades, some of which include things I did, although I can’t understand why I did them.”

Anastasia pinched the bridge of her nose and muttered, “I can’t believe I’m suggesting this.” She looked up at Vincent. “Is it possible you were being controlled for some of those years?”

Shane took a step toward her. “Seriously, Anastasia? You are going to trust his answer?”

She whirled on him. “How else do you explain what happened with Dakota today? Shane, didn’t you see his eyes? They were silver. Just like Vincent’s had been.”

“This is fucking unbelievable.” He turned around and stalked back toward the counter.

She watched him leave, completely understanding his anger. Vincent had tormented Terrenia for two decades, he’d killed thousands, enslaved hundreds, and murdered the woman Shane loved.

But the fact that there was more to the story was something she couldn’t look past. Not if she wanted to see Dakota again. Turning her attention back to Vincent, she said, “Answer me. Is it possible?”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“Do the Luxe possess the ability of mind control?” Anastasia asked Elizabeth.

“There is no telling what Thames is capable of. He completed total genocide on his own planet. To underestimate what he could do would be a mistake.”

“Fucking wonderful.” Anastasia shook her head.

A woman screamed outside, and they ran from the cottage. Anastasia’s blood pounded in her ears as they approached the village center.

“Robbie!” Tilly screamed from where she was being held by two Fighters.

Anastasia spotted Robbie standing in the center of the village, soaking wet. He gasped for breath, gurgling and spitting water from his mouth. His body shook violently as his eyes rolled back in his head.

“Stop this, Rosabel!” Anastasia screamed and ran for him, only to have her arm gripped by Shane.

“Stop, Anastasia!”

Rosabel appeared beside Robbie just as he crumpled to his knees.

“What the fuck do you want?” Anastasia screamed. “You have Dakota!”

Gasps erupted from the villagers who’d gathered in the center, but Anastasia paid them no mind.

Rosabel smiled at her and turned to face the rest of the crowd. “I will continue murdering you until you cast this so-called Sorceress out. She will be your death.”

“You bitch,” Anastasia growled, sparks lighting her fingertips. She flung her hand out, but her magic had no effect on Rosabel.

“She cannot protect you against me, which makes me wonder why she hasn’t left yet. It would have saved his life.” She kicked Robbie’s body.

“I will destroy you.” Anastasia ripped her arm out of Shane’s grip.

“You don’t have much time,” Rosabel told the crowd. “I will be back soon, if she is still here, you will all die.” The creature turned into water and disappeared into the ground.

“Robbie!” Tilly screamed and fell to her knees beside her husband.

Anastasia ran to them and pressed her hands against Robbie’s chest, trying like hell to put life back into him, but it was too late.

He was gone, and there was nothing she could do.

28

Terrenia

Anastasia

“Surely, this isn’t going to work.” Shane paced the inside of the training cottage, hands on his broad hips. “They can’t throw you out.”

Tony stayed behind with the rest of the villagers, along with Selena. They were holding a meeting with the elders in order to decide the next step.

“I don’t blame you,” Tilly sniffled. “The rest won’t either.” Her chin quivered, and she buried her face back into Elizabeth’s shoulder.

In all the years she’d fought back against the man she’d thought her father, no matter how many times Mitch had beaten her senseless, or how many battles she lost against Vincent, Anastasia had never felt defeated.

Until now.

Rosabel had Dakota.

She’d come into the village and murdered one of their own right in front of their eyes.

The whispers that spread through the villagers had not fallen on deaf ears; they were afraid, and rightfully so. Shit, even she was terrified.

“Surely, your people are not daft enough to believe she will leave them alone.” Queen Orlaith spoke up from where she and Nix sat cross-legged on the floor with the little princess between them.

“You’d be surprised,” Vincent muttered from his corner.

Anastasia shot him a glare. “I don’t think they’ll banish me,” she finally said. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean I should stay.”

Shane whirled on her. “You can’t be serious.”

“You saw what happened, Shane, I can’t stop her.”

“If you leave, everyone will die.”

“If I stay, they will, too. Queen Orlaith, Nix, I think you two should return to Jaitu.”

“We cannot leave you now, Sorceress. You may need us,” Orlaith insisted.

“You will be safer in Jaitu, and with the portal vial I gave Nallia, you can return should Rosabel show up.”

They hesitated before Nix stood. “Very well.”

Anastasia waved her hand and opened a portal to the Jaitu world.

“Should Terrenia cast you out,” Nix said. “You are welcome in our world.”

Anastasia smiled. “Thank you, Nix.”

“It was good to see you again, warrior.” Argento reached out and shook Nix’s hand. “I hope to see you soon under better circumstances.”

“Same here, Brute.”

“I’m so sorry for what happened to your world,” Anastasia told the queen.

Orlaith touched Anastasia’s arm gently. “No matter what anyone says to you, Anastasia, the deaths are not on you. Terrible beings will always find a way to do something horrible, most of the time with no reason at all.”

“Thank you.” Anastasia embraced the queen, who held the sleeping princess, then she and Nix disappeared into the portal.

Just as it closed, the door opened and a grim-faced Tony stepped in. His sagging shoulders and furrowed brow told her everything she needed to know, without him even saying a word. “It’s time.”

“Let’s get this over with, then, shall we?”

Following Tony, Anastasia stepped out onto the porch. The three elders, Serena, Zarina, and Oliver, stood before her, the rest of the village behind them.

She stood, waiting for them to speak, heart in her throat. Shane stepped up beside her, Tony to her other side as she awaited their decision.

Zarina moved forward, her eyes landing on Anastasia. “Sorceress, we cast you out.”

Anastasia’s stomach flipped as some of those who gathered howled in outrage.

“You can’t send her away!”

“We’ll die!”

“Do you not see you’re signing our death warrant?”

Others were not so supportive of her and offered silent nods at the elders’ decision.

“This is an outrage!” Argento howled in anger and clenched his hands into fists. “Do you not see what will happen if you send her away? You are fools!”

Zarina glanced over to him coolly. “Seeing as how you are a guest in our village, Brute, I would ask you again, to keep out of our business.”

“Idiots,” he grumbled angrily.

“You can’t be serious, Zar.” Shane moved down the steps toward her.

Zarina held her ground, her mouth tightening. They’d been friends since they were kids, and Anastasia knew the other woman had always hoped it would turn into something more. “I am serious, and I would ask that you support me. We’re friends and have been for longer than you’ve known her.”

“I can’t support this decision. It’s wrong.”

Zarina scowled at Anastasia and then back at Shane. “Then I suppose you’ve made your choice.” She cleared her throat and turned to face the villagers. “If you don’t support our decision, you may leave with her. Should you leave and change your mind, you will be welcomed back, but only if you choose to side with us. The Siren has spoken, and she will take no mercy on those who stand with the Sorceress.”

“When have we ever backed down?” Tony moved down the steps toward the elders, sending a few of the villagers backing them scrambling out of his path. “When has Terrenia ever bowed down from a fight? We are Fighters! Not cowards.” He glared at the elders.

“I agree with Tony. If Anastasia goes, so do I,” Selena said from where she stood.

“I will go, too,” Shane spoke next.

“Same here.” Andrew and his wife stepped toward Anastasia.

In the end, only a dozen people stood with her; everyone else voted for her removal. Anastasia wasn’t sure how she was supposed to feel. Terrenia had been her home. For years, it had been everything to her, and she’d fought, bled, and nearly died for these people.

Even though she’d thought maybe leaving would be a good idea, it still didn’t soften the blow of being cast out.

“I will honor your wishes,” she said softly and stepped down from the porch to make her way toward her home to pack her belongings.

Where the hell was she supposed to go?

* * *

Anastasia stepped into the bedroom she shared with her husband and took a seat on the edge of the bed.

Tears streamed down her face. How the hell had everything gotten so out of control?

“Are you confident in your decision?” Vincent asked from the corner of the room.

Anastasia sighed. “As confident as I can be.” What a world it was when she confided in her sworn enemy over her friends.

It had to look real, though. The only other person she’d told was Zarina. The woman had more pull in the town than anyone else, and her word would hold solid.

Terrenia had to cast her out, but knowing that certainly didn’t make it any easier.

“I certainly hope you aren’t leaving them to their deaths.”

“I do, too.”

“Doesn’t make it any easier to be cast aside, does it?”

“I just can’t believe they tossed me out. I thought Zarina would face a larger fight to get the ruling passed.”

“People will do strange things when they’re afraid.”

“I’ve never let them down. Not once in the last seven years that I’ve been here, and the one time I need their support, they push me aside.” Sparks snapped at her fingertips, proving just how close she was to losing it.

“Easy, Niece,” Vincent warned. “Those thoughts will lead you down a dark path.”

“What the hell am I supposed to do now? Rosabel is unstoppable, and I sure as hell can’t stay in hiding forever.”

“You fight, just like you have before.”

“What’s left to fight for?”

“Thames needs to be destroyed, Anastasia. You have to know that.”

“How the hell am I supposed to stop him? I can’t even take out that scaly bitch that took Dakota.”

“Your enemy chose her for a reason, Anastasia. You have to pull out of this pathetic pity party of yours and look at the big picture. There’s more to be seen.”

Anastasia clenched her fists. How dare he advise her? He wasn’t her father. Hell, he wasn’t even family to her. “You talk like you have stock in all of this. You’re dead, remember?”

“I have more in this than you could possibly understand.”

Vincent disappeared, leaving Anastasia staring at the blank space he’d once occupied.

Fight. Just what in the hell was she supposed to fight for? Thames clearly had the upper hand here, more so than Vincent ever had. Dakota was gone, Terrenia kicked her out… why should she keep fighting for them when they obviously didn’t give a shit about her?

The door opened, and Anastasia stepped out of her room to see Gage standing just inside the door. “Tell me it isn’t true.”

“It is.”

“Jackasses! Do they not realize what a fucking mistake this is?”

“It’s for the best.”

“You can’t honestly believe that.”

She shrugged, but didn’t respond. Her idea or not, she was angry and brokenhearted.

“Whatever happens, we’re with you. You know that, right?”

She smiled even though she didn’t feel it inside. “I know, thank you.”

“When are you leaving?”

“As soon as I’m packed.”

“I’m going to head home and get us ready to go. Please wait for us.”

“I will.”

Anastasia walked back into her bedroom and stared at the wooden dresser in the corner.

Numb, she packed clothes and her father’s journals into a leather bag and slung it over her shoulder. Eyes full of tears, she lifted one of Dakota’s shirts to her nose and inhaled deeply.

Although it had been washed, she imagined she could still smell him in the soft fabric. What the hell is going to happen now?

Fight. Her hands clenched into fists, and she tossed the shirt back onto the bed. Dakota was her light, her partner, and she was going to fight for him.

Anastasia stepped from her cabin, bag in hand. Kaley padded over and rubbed against her. “Thanks, girl,” she whispered, rubbing her velvety fur.

She swallowed her pride as she walked toward the center of the village. People had gathered, but whether they assembled to see her off or make sure she left, she wasn’t sure. As she moved, she tried to avoid the eyes of those who’d cast her out, and those who’d been too afraid to stick up for her.

Argento, Tony, Elizabeth, Selena, Shane, Tilly, Andrew, Gage, and a handful of others stood at the gate with their bags. She walked over to them, fighting back the anguish building in her chest.

This was her home, and she was being forced from it. By a creature who’d already taken her husband.

“We’re truly sorry it has to be like this,” Oliver told her. His wrinkled face was turned down sadly, and Anastasia met his eyes.

“Not as sorry as I am.” She turned to face the rest of the crowd. “I truly hope Rosabel keeps her promise. Good luck,” Anastasia said, turning toward those who followed her.

The gate opened and, gathering the rest of her dignity, Anastasia stepped out from the safety of the walls with those she could call friends flanking her.

The heavy wood closed behind them, and Anastasia continued walking until they were far enough to prevent any eavesdropping.

“Where are we going?” Zoey, Gage’s wife, asked.

“To my grandmother’s. She has enough property that we can camp out until we figure out what to do next.” Tears filled her eyes as she studied the group of people with her. “I want to say thank you for coming with me, for your support, and I promise I will do everything I can to keep you safe.”

“You are not to blame for what happened this morning,” Selena told her. “We trust in you because you’ve always fought for us.” The woman reached forward and squeezed Anastasia’s hands.

With these people, she could take on the worlds, all of them. And that’s just what she was going to do.

She would fight for those who followed her, and damn it, she was going to win.

29

Luxe

Dakota

Dakota’s eyes fluttered open. For a moment, everything around him was only a blur of color; no shapes could be made as his vision swam.

Had he been drugged? Rapidly blinking, everything slowly formed around him, and he realized he had no fucking clue where he was.

Dakota got to his feet on shaky legs, and looked around the large dark room. The black marble floor was cold beneath his bare feet, and the only furniture in the place was a black chair sitting like a throne beneath the only skylight.

“Hello?”

There was no answer, just the steady echo of the space around him. Step after shaky step, Dakota made his way down a hall and toward a pair of large doors at the end. With a heavy creak, they opened to reveal a balcony.

He stepped out onto the cool stone and stared at a dark sea of destruction. There was no life below him, and his breath came out in gusty puffs of air as the chill seeped down into his bones.

“Beautiful, isn’t it, Brother?” A deep voice spoke behind him, and Dakota spun to see a large man walking toward him.

His dark hair was long and fell to just above his shoulders. Narrowed eyes regarded him warily, as if Dakota was the dangerous one.

This man was destruction, there was no doubt in Dakota’s mind he was deadly.

“Who the hell are you?”

The man laughed. “I suppose you wouldn’t recognize me, would you? Our bitch mother kept you from me.”

“Excuse me?” Dakota’s hands balled into fists.

“I believe you know her as Elizabeth.” The words were said as if they left a bad taste in his mouth.

“She is my mother, and you damn well better watch your mouth.”

The man simply shrugged. “She is not just your mother. You’ll see soon enough.”

“Who the hell are you?” Dakota repeated.

“Thames.”

“And why am I here?”

“Because I need you.”

“Why?”

“Long story, just know you should get comfortable as you’ll be here a while.”

“Like hell. I need to get back to…” A tear-stained Anastasia popped into his head as memories poured in.

“She won’t be waiting for you.”

“What the hell did you do?”

“I couldn’t have her coming after you, at least not before I was ready.”

“Ready for what? What the fuck am I doing here?”

“I’ve been alone a long time, Dakota. Ten thousand years, to be exact,” Thames said, ignoring the question as he looked out over the emptiness below.

“You expect me to believe you’re my brother, yet you’re ten thousand years old?”

Thames turned to face him. “Oh, I’m much older than that.”

“Yeah, you look it.” Dakota pinched the bridge of his nose. “You expect me to believe you’re related to me, through my mother, who is barely fifty.”

Thames snorted. “She is much older than that.”

“This is fucking insane.”

“We are family, Dakota. The sooner you realize that, the sooner we can move forward with my plans.”

“Which are?”

Thames gestured to the dark. “To rebuild our home, of course.”

“This isn’t my home. My place is with my wife.”

“She will do nothing but hold you back.”

“You’re wrong,” Dakota growled.

“Am I, though?” Thames turned and leaned against the railing. “She was so quick to cage you, simply because she was afraid of what you were becoming, when you wouldn’t have thought to do the same.”

“She was worried for me.”

Thames shrugged. “So you say.”

“May I take form?” a woman asked.

Dakota turned as Rosabel appeared. She smiled at him, and all but skipped over to them.

“Rosabel, nice of you to join us.”

“I apologize for my delay. I was taking care of something.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Dakota asked.

“She’s more than welcome in our home, Brother. It was her that found you in the first place.”

“Do I really need to tell you again that this is not my home?” Dakota roared and headed toward the doors.

“Where are you going?” Rosabel asked sweetly.

“The fuck away from here.”

“Oh, Brother?”

Dakota froze, completely unable to move as his body was turned for him to face Rosabel and Thames.

“You belong to me, Brother,” Thames sneered inside his head. “I own you now, mind and body. There is nothing you can do to escape, and if you refuse to help, I will simply force you to do it anyway.”

“Get the fuck out of my head,” Dakota said through bared teeth.

Thames moved toward him slowly, each step a deliberate attempt to intimidate. “The sooner you realize there’s no choice, the sooner we can move forward.”

Thames released him, and Dakota’s body relaxed. “I will never help you.” He turned and ran like a child afraid of the dark. What the hell did that make him?

Stone stairs on the other side of the hall caught his attention, and he took them two at a time, desperate to get out of here and away from this nightmare.

To get back to Ana.

“There’s nowhere to run!” Thames’ booming voice echoed through the halls, followed closely with a dark laugh.

Dakota reached the bottom of the stairs and ripped the door open to reveal another hall.

He sprinted to the end, and ripped the door open. Cold night air bit at him as he crossed the porch and went down the steps. Mud seeped through his toes and up to his ankles, but that wasn’t the worst of it.

The dead stared at him, dark shadows of who they’d once been as they crawled toward him.

Their skin fell from their bones, sagging as they groaned and moved. Dakota scrambled back and fell onto the steps. They continued coming, reaching for him, mouths open, gaping holes where eyes had once been.

He tried to move, but was frozen by fear. What the fuck were these things?

A large hand gripped his arm and ripped him up from the ground. “You have nowhere to go, Brother,” Thames told him.

The dead slunk back away, and Dakota stared after them. “What happened to them?”

“Something they didn’t deserve. But don’t worry, you’re going to help me fix it.”

Dakota stared as he was dragged away, and looked up at Thames when he tossed him onto the cool marble floor.

The truth sunk in, a rock in his gut. He was trapped, and not a damn person would be coming for him.

30

Texas

Anastasia

The portal opened just behind her grandmother’s house, and Anastasia stepped through. Carmen looked up from the book she was reading and smiled brightly as she got to her feet.

“What a nice surprise!” she exclaimed, stepping down from the porch. Her eyes widened as the others began pouring through. “Oh. This isn’t just a friendly visit, is it?”

“I’m afraid it’s more than that.” Tony patted Anastasia on the back. “The rest of Terrenia have decided Anastasia has worn out her welcome.”

Carmen’s hazel eyes focused on Anastasia, and her jaw tightened. “They did what?”

“Rosabel threatened them.” Anastasia shrugged. “They were afraid.”

“That’s bullshit,” Carmen said. “Cowards. Well, you’re all welcome here. Come on inside. We may be crowded, but it’s warm at least.”

They followed Carmen inside the spacious house and spread out throughout the rooms. Before long, Carmen’s house was full of the chatter from the dozen people who’d come with Anastasia.

“So, tell me what happened?” Carmen went to work in the kitchen, preparing hot water for tea or cocoa. Anastasia followed her into the small space, leaving the others to get settled.

“Rosabel took Dakota.”

Carmen spun. “What? I thought for sure he’d just stayed behind to try and talk some sense into those cowards.”

Anastasia shook her head and swallowed hard, despite the lump in her throat. “She took him, or rather, he left with her. I’m not entirely sure what happened.”

“Tell me.”

“It was strange. He stood beside her and said he wanted to leave with her, but his eyes—they were silver like Vincent’s had been.”

“You think he was being controlled? That possibly they both were?”

Anastasia’s eyes filled. How her grandmother always knew what she was thinking, she would never know. But the woman was the closest person to her, aside from Dakota.

“Come here, honey.” Carmen wrapped her arms around Anastasia and patted her softly on the back.

Still fighting tears, the lump in Anastasia’s throat grew to a painful size, making it difficult to breathe. Dakota was gone, Terrenia was no longer safe, and she had no plan as to how she was going to move forward.

“It will be okay, Anastasia. I promise. We’ll find a way to kick this new enemy’s ass just as we did Vincent.”

Anastasia pulled away and smiled. “Thanks, Grandma.”

“Anytime. Now, you think they both were being controlled?”

Anastasia pursed her lips and folded her arms. “I’m not sure. Seems far-fetched that Vincent was being controlled for that long.”

“Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.” Carmen squeezed her arm.

“That’s not even the half of it.”

Carmen turned. “What else?”

“Apparently, Elizabeth is over ten thousand years old.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“She’s from another world, and was married to the king of Luxe.”

“Luxe.” Carmen’s brow furrowed. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“According to her, it was destroyed ten thousand years ago. Her son, Thames, supposedly destroyed it, and according to her, he is the one behind Rosabel targeting Dakota.”

Carmen took a seat at the table. “This is a lot.”

“Rosabel also killed Tilly’s husband.” Just saying the words had crushing guilt settling over her. No matter what anyone said, Robbie’s death was on her shoulders. If it hadn’t been for her, he would still be alive. Shit, a hell of a lot of people would still be alive.

“Oh, no.” Carmen’s eyes saddened, and she pulled out the chair beside her. “You’re carrying an awful lot of this on your shoulders, my dear.”

“How would I not? Rosabel is targeting people because of me; how am I supposed to tell all those people out there that by being with me, they are painting giant targets on their backs? On the backs of their children?” Tears filled her eyes, and she rested her face in her hands.

Carmen ran a hand over her back, trying to soothe her, but the touch went nearly unnoticed.

“They are here because they believe in you, in what you stand for. Don’t think for one second they don’t understand the danger of it. They do, and they stay with you despite that danger.”

“What am I supposed to do?”

“Fight.” Vincent’s sudden appearance pulled Anastasia’s head up. He stood behind the small couch.

“Yeah, you keep saying that.” Anastasia leaned back down.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the bastard’s right, Anastasia. Now is not the time to give up.”

“Where do I even start? I’ve been banished from the village, Dakota is gone, taken to who the hell knows where, and I can’t even begin to understand how I’m supposed to stop Rosabel.”

“We take it one step at a time,” Carmen told her. “Is that all that’s bothering you?”

“I haven’t been feeling well. This is a hell of a time to get sick, huh?”

Carmen eyed her. “Uh-huh, it definitely is.”

“Anastasia.” Tony stepped into the room, interrupting them. “There’s a man here to see you.”

“Who?”

“Ashton.”

“In Texas? What the hell is he doing outside of Seattle?”

Tony shrugged. “Says he needs to speak with you now.”

“Great, just what I need.” She pushed off the couch to her feet. Vincent disappeared again, so Carmen was the only one who followed her out.

Anastasia stepped out onto the porch to face Ashton. “Can I help you?”

Three dozen men with guns out and ready stood behind him. “You can leave, for starters.”

“Excuse me?”

“We were warned you were coming back to this world. People will die if you stay. Seems death has a habit of following you around,” he sneered, more than happy to be the one to deliver the message.

“Warned? By who?” Tony asked.

“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” Ashton responded coolly. “Bottom line is, you all need to go, or I won’t hesitate to put you six feet under.”

“Just what in the hell are you doing in Texas?” Anastasia asked.

“I told you we were warned. We’ve been watching this house, knowing sooner or later you were going to show up.”

“You have no jurisdiction here.” Elizabeth stepped forward and put her hand on Anastasia’s arm.

“I don’t, but they do.” He gestured to the men behind him. “It’s up to you. We won’t risk the lives of our people in this world because some high and mighty bitch wants to run away from her problems.”

Anastasia stepped closer to him, and gasped. The detective’s eyes were silver, just as Vincent’s and Dakota’s had been.

Fuck, when am I going to catch a break?

The men, including Ashton, trained their weapons on her. Bullets could still kill her, but it was the men, women, and children behind her that Anastasia worried about. One stray bullet could mean another light snuffed out because of her.

“Put your fucking weapons down,” Tony growled, hand going to his sword.

“Tony,” Anastasia said gently and shook her head. There was no use arguing. Ashton was not in control at the moment. She never thought she’d wish for the day when she could talk to the detective, but facing his cool logic would do her some justice at the moment. “We will leave.”

“Good.”

“I hope Rosabel doesn’t come back for more blood,” Shane added.

“She won’t touch us. She promised,” one of the men behind Ashton said.

Anastasia looked at him. He was young, barely out of the academy, and his soft brown eyes pleaded with her. They were all terrified of her. What had she done to incur such fear?

“Anastasia, it’s no use.” Vincent appeared beside her, but based on the way no one’s eyes moved, she was the only one who could see him this time.

The sound of a gunshot rang out, and Anastasia threw up her hand, freezing everyone and the bullet that was headed straight for her chest from Ashton’s gun.

She stepped forward and plucked the hot bullet from the air. She waved her hand, releasing everyone in the clearing, and stepped closer to the detective. She threw the bullet, and it bounced off his vest.

“You just made a very powerful enemy.” A portal opened behind her, and she turned to face her people. “Grab your things. We’re leaving.”

The crack of another gunshot cut through the air.

“Anastasia!” Shane pulled her behind him, then crumpled against her.

She reached out to him, then looked down as blood poured from a wound in his chest.

“No!” she screamed, rage and terror roaring to life inside of her. Anastasia turned to face the group of men and a sneering Ashton. “You will pay!” The storm raged around her, whipping her dark hair across her face. Some of the men ran, others began firing toward her, toward her people.

She flung her hands up, creating a barrier the bullets bounced off. She shoved them back toward one officer in particular and watched with twisted satisfaction as the bullets buried themselves in him.

Should she feel sadness? She faced the others, those who would condemn her without even knowing her, and wondered why she shouldn’t simply end them all.

It was the young officer with the brown eyes that stopped her. Who knew how many of them had been forced to come, had been lied to? Hell, Ashton himself wasn’t in control.

“Go,” she told them. “I would never have brought any harm to this world.”

He and the others ran off toward their cars and sped from the drive. She walked over to Ashton, who was lying on his back. Most of the bullets had hit his vest, but a few went into his arms and legs. He would live.

Did he deserve to, though? After everything he’d done? Anastasia conjured a ball of light in her palm and bounced it, enjoying the fear in his eyes as he stared up at her.

Vincent appeared in front of her and shook his head. “This isn’t you, Anastasia. Push the rage down. It will bring you nothing but pain.”

“He tried to kill me! He shot Shane!” she screamed.

“Exactly. Shane needs your help, niece. Think about those who need you,” he urged. “This man is not in control of his actions.”

She snuffed the light out and looked down at Ashton. “You’ll live, this time. But if you come after me again, I will kill you.” Anastasia turned and ran toward the still open portal.

Once on the other side, she knelt beside Shane.

“You okay?” he asked, his body shaking.

“I am. You will be, too.” Anastasia pressed her hands to his chest and poured her healing power into him.

He’d been hanging on by a thread, and she had very nearly left him to die for revenge.

What the hell was she turning into without her light?

31

Terrenia

Anastasia

Bright stars lit the sky while Anastasia stood, arms wrapped around herself, in the chilly night air. The valley below was shadowed, the moon only illuminating what wasn’t darkened by the mountainside.

She’d portaled them to the mountains of Terrenia, in hopes they could find a cavern to keep warm in. They’d found one and quickly built a fire to warm the children, who were both terrified and excited at the change.

Anastasia pressed a hand to the wall as the contents of her stomach heaved again. Stress of Dakota’s abduction was getting to her, and on top of that, she still wasn’t feeling any better.

I better not be getting the flu. Wouldn’t that just be icing on top of the crap sundae she was living in?

Someone stepped out of the mouth of the cave, and Anastasia looked up as Tony stood beside her.

“How’s Shane?” she asked.

“Tired, but he’ll be fine, thanks to you.”

Anastasia scoffed. “He almost died because of me.”

“No, he almost died because of that bastard who shot him.”

She didn’t say anything; arguing with Tony was futile. He wouldn’t see her side of things on this, whether he truly didn’t think she had any fault or just didn’t want to admit it.

“How did everything get so upside-down?”

“What do you mean?”

“Vincent is good—for lack of a better word, Dakota is not, and is possibly being controlled by the same person who I think used Vincent and Ashton.”

“Things always tend to get worse before they get better.”

“Isn’t that the understatement of the year.”

“We will find a way to beat this, Anastasia. Just as you found a way two years ago.”

She sighed. “Any idea where to start?”

“I might have one.”

Anastasia and Tony turned toward the sound of Vincent’s voice. Their uninvited guest leaned against the mouth of the cavern.

“Vincent, how nice of you to drop in.” Tony folded his arms over his chest.

Anastasia glanced up at him, then back at the man she was beginning to see a little different than before. “What idea?”

“What do we know of Sirens?”

“Are you here to help or quiz us?” Tony asked.

Vincent glared at him, then looked back at Anastasia expectantly.

Fine, guess I’m playing this game. “They are nearly impervious to all magic, turn into water bitches, and steal husbands.”

“I would have said it differently, but essentially, yes. We also know where they live, and I just so happen to know they are a secretive species, and it is doubtful she was allowed to leave her home.”

“Okay, what are you suggesting?”

Vincent raised an eyebrow and rolled his eyes, obviously having expected her to put the pieces together. “I’m suggesting you go to where the Sirens live.”

“You want her to walk into the home of these creatures? Creatures who are not affected by her magic?” Tony laughed. “You must be fucking insane; they will kill her.”

Vincent shrugged. “I don’t think they will.”

“And what the hell makes you think that?”

“Because I think they will want their kin back, or at least want to put a stop to what she’s doing. The last thing these beings want is attention.”

“How exactly do you know that?”

“Because when I was—you know—”

“Evil?” Tony quipped, earning a glare from Vincent.

“When I was alive, I went to them, and they nearly killed me.”

“Why didn’t they?”

“Because their princess snuck me out before they could, and then she went to work with Thames.”

Anastasia gaped at him. “You’re saying Rosabel is fucking royalty?”

“Why the hell would you leave that out until now?” Tony accused.

“Didn’t seem pertinent until the stakes were raised.”

“And when exactly were the stakes raised?” Anastasia folded her arms. “Seems to me the shit hit the fan a long damn time ago.”

“Dakota being taken was unfortunate, but not world ending, as you two seem to have a knack for getting out of tough situations. When Thames shut you out of Terrenia, and Earth, that’s when the stakes were raised. He won’t stop, not until you have nowhere else to go. And if you aren’t there to protect them—”

Anastasia’s blood iced as she realized what Vincent was saying, something she probably knew all along but didn’t want to admit. “He will destroy them all.”

“Is that what his plan his? Destruction of all the worlds? What the hell sense is that?”

“I honestly don’t know what his plan is, only what I’ve gleaned from current events.”

Tony stalked toward Vincent. “You better not be fucking holding out on us.”

“Or what?” Vincent looked at him amused. “You going to kill me?”

Tony lunged, and Vincent disappeared. “I swear I will kill him all over again before this is all over,” Tony said, clenching his fists.

Anastasia turned to stare back out at the stars. A dark part of her said to hell with Earth and Terrenia. They could find somewhere else to go, somewhere that wouldn’t push her aside when things got difficult.

A tear slipped down her cheek, and Anastasia wiped it away angrily.

“Anastasia.” Tony stepped up and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t know what the hell to do anymore.”

“I wish I could help.” Tony sighed. “I wish there was an easy answer to all of this, but there isn’t. We have to take it problem by problem.”

She looked up at him. “How am I supposed to do that?”

“We make a list, focus on the issues we’re facing, and tackle them one by one instead of taking the entire thing head on.”

“Thames is our biggest problem.” She stepped closer to the ledge. “You’re suggesting we put him aside?”

“I am. Because if we don’t, there is no chance in hell we’ll win.”

“Fine. Problem number one, Rosabel is threatening worlds and drowning them if they don’t succumb to her will. She also took Dakota, and is trying to get her hands on Vincent’s son.”

“I’d say she’s a pretty big problem. So, how do we stop her?”

“We have to find her weakness.”

“Any ideas as to what that is?”

Anastasia signed. “Honestly, I think Vincent’s right.”

“What was that?” Vincent reappeared on the ledge, a good distance away from Tony.

“I think you may be right. So, how do I find the Sirens?”

* * *

“You can’t be serious,” Shane said as he paced the ledge the next morning.

“Unfortunately, there isn’t another way.”

“You want to go back to the place where I got shot, in order to track down an entire race of Rosabels?”

“When you put it like that, it sounds insane.” Anastasia pinched the bridge of her nose.

“That’s because it is insane.” He turned to look at Argento and Tony, who were the only others outside. “Someone please tell her this is suicide.”

Tony shrugged. “I tried.”

“I don’t believe it’s suicide, not if what Vincent says is true.”

Shane rolled his eyes. “So, we’re staking her life on the word of a murderer. One with literally no skin in the game.”

“I wouldn’t agree with that,” Vincent said, appearing beside Argento.

“How so? You’re dead.”

“My son is very much alive, and his skin is far more important to me than that of any of you.”

“Exactly, he doesn’t give two shits what happens to you, Ana.”

Anastasia straightened at the nickname.

“Anastasia, sorry.” Shane folded his arms. “There has to be another way. What if I went with you?”

Anastasia shook her head. “I need you all here. I can portal in and out quickly if need be, but I can’t risk any of your lives. There’s no telling if the Siren’s will be open to guests.”

“What the hell are we supposed to do if Rosabel shows up? Run around and make it harder for her to drown us?” Shane demanded.

Anastasia sighed. “I can’t be everywhere, Shane. This is something I have to do. Stopping Rosabel is number one.”

“What about getting Dakota back?”

His words were like a dagger to her heart, and she glared up at him. “Getting Dakota back is more important to me than you could even imagine. If I could portal to Luxe and drag his ass back, I would, but unfortunately, with Thames controlling him, that is not an option.”

“Sorry, low blow.”

“Yeah, it fucking was,” Tony said sternly.

“I will go with Anastasia.” Vincent stepped forward.

“Oh goody,” Shane retorted.

“I will be sure she has the knowledge she needs to survive.”

“How about you tell her where to find them and then keep the hell away. After all, you did say they tried to kill you,” Tony reminded him.

“I won’t let them see me.”

“Vincent goes,” Anastasia said. “We leave in an hour.” She stepped into the dimly lit cave, toward the fire keeping the villagers warm in the chilly air.

She stood for a moment, looking over the faces of those who followed her. Children played quietly in the corner, while men and woman conversed happily. Everyone here believed in her, supported her… what if she let them all down?

Vincent had been right; the stakes were never higher than they were right now, because if she didn’t succeed, it wasn’t just their way of life that was in jeopardy. It was their lives, their worlds.

“Everything all right?” Elizabeth looked up from where she sat with Vinny.

“It’s fine,” Anastasia responded curtly, still not having forgiven her for the lies.

“Can we talk?”

“I have nothing to say,” Anastasia answered before stepping to where her bedroll was set up and gathering what she would need for travel.

Her hand brushed Dakota’s shirt that she’d taken with her, and Anastasia closed her eyes.

“I love you, Ana.” His voice filled her head as if he were standing beside her, and Anastasia smiled. I’m coming for you next, she promised and got to her feet.

“Time to visit some mermaids,” Anastasia muttered, before stepping out onto the ledge.

32

Antarctica

Anastasia

Anastasia and Vincent stepped through the portal and into an icy, frozen landscape.

“Never been happier to not be able to feel,” Vincent commented dryly.

“Lucky for you.” Anastasia pulled her cloak more tightly around her and turned to face him. “Care to point the direction?”

Vincent gestured toward the ocean, and Anastasia began walking. The ice was covered in a thick layer of snow that came up to her knees, making it less slippery than it could have been, and she was grateful for that.

Slipping and falling on her ass in front of her crazy uncle would not have made her bad day any better at this point.

“I am truly sorry for what happened with Dakota.”

“No, you aren’t.”

“I assure you I am.”

Anastasia whirled on him. “Can we not do this?”

Vincent stared at her. “Do what?”

“This family routine,” she said, gesturing between them. “Where you pretend to give a damn about me. I’m over it, Vincent; you have your way, we’re going through with your plan.”

“I do care.”

Anastasia rolled her eyes. “You have a funny way of showing it.”

“Well, I assure you, I do care. If you’d rather, though, I’m more than happy to put on a neutral face and make this all about the business of stopping Thames.”

“That would be great, thanks.”

Wind whipped at her as they walked, nearly sending her stumbling into the snow more times than she cared to count.

“Stop,” Vincent ordered just before they reached the ledge.

Anastasia stopped and peered down into the bluest water she’d ever seen. A soft voice lifted through the wind. A beautiful melody that soothed her soul, and Anastasia knelt in the cold.

“You might want to get away!” Vincent called, but Anastasia continued to stare into the depths.

A face appeared in the water. A woman with grey hair, but a youthful face that was beyond beautiful.

“Back up!” Vincent called again.

Anastasia got to her feet just as the face broke the surface.

“Why do you come, Sorceress?” the woman demanded as she climbed out of the water.

Unable to speak, Anastasia watched in complete fascination as the woman emerged fully, showing a fishtail adorned with the most beautiful red scales. Soon, it transformed, revealing legs, and the woman rose to her feet.

Two dozen others climbed out, and soon, Anastasia was staring at twenty-four pissed off women wearing nothing but long hair in various shades, from silver to black to a vibrant red that would make even the brightest fire jealous.

“I came to speak with you about Rosabel,” Anastasia said finally.

The woman with the grey hair widened her eyes. “You know of Rosabel?”

Anastasia nodded.

“Grab her,” the woman ordered. The others stalked toward her.

Anastasia backed away and put her hands up. “I came to help you get her back!”

“If you know of Rosabel, that means you work with her. If you work with her, you are our enemy.”

“I am not your enemy. Rosabel stole my husband.”

“Then I am afraid he is lost. There is nothing we can do to get him back.”

Anastasia closed her eyes tightly on a deep breath, then reopened them. “It is not that simple.”

“You can take it up with our queen,” the Siren said, and gestured for the other women to detain Anastasia. Two Sirens gripped Anastasia’s arms and began pulling her toward the water.

“Now would be a good time for you to use magic,” Vincent said dryly, and Anastasia glared at him.

If she used it now, she risked not having an audience with their queen. Granted, if she drowned, there wouldn’t be an audience anyway.

“You do know I can’t breathe underwater, right?”

The Siren studied her. “Yes, I do.” The woman raised a hand, and everything went dark.

* * *

Anastasia opened her eyes slowly. Her head throbbed all over, making it impossible to pinpoint where the pain was coming from.

She was shivering, her body shaking from being wet and cold. Where the hell am I? She was lying on what felt like cool marble, intricately designed to contain lines of every single color known to man. There was no sunlight, no windows, and the only source of light came from a single oil lamp in the center of the room.

Anastasia got to her feet, despite shaky legs, and spun in a circle. “Well, that’s new.”

The walls and ceiling were made entirely of water, and no matter how far she tried to look up, there was no light.

“Vincent?” she whispered loudly.

A blur of motion caught her eye, and Anastasia stepped closer to the wall of water. Lifting a hand, she pressed it into the water, and some spilled out onto the floor by her feet.

Something splashed behind her, and she turned her head as a woman stepped through the water. Like the others, her long red hair draped down over her breasts.

“Where am I?”

The woman didn’t speak, just folded her arms and stared at Anastasia, a general studying their enemy.

“I was told you know of my daughter.”

“If your daughter is Rosabel, then yes, I do.”

“Where is she?”

“Probably slaughtering an entire species somewhere.”

The woman’s jaw tightened, and she took a step closer. “I suggest you be upfront with me, Sorceress. You are here at my mercy. One snap of my fingers and the weight of the ocean will crush you.”

“I am at no one’s mercy.” Anastasia waved her hand to conjure a portal, but nothing happened.

The woman smiled darkly. “You have nowhere to run. Your magic will not work down here.”

“Why not?”

“Because you are in my realm, and my power is the only one that will survive here.”

Well, that puts things in a different light. If she couldn’t escape, she really was at this woman’s mercy, and if that was the case, she’d damn well better come up with a Plan B.

“Your daughter has murdered the Guisnows, and taken my husband.”

The woman’s golden eyes darkened, and a muscle twitched in her jaw. “You lie.”

“I do not. She drowned their world because they refused to switch sides.”

“Switch sides?”

“There is a war going on, one that threatens the lives of every single creature in every world.”

“Yes, I know. I want to know the side they refused to leave.”

Anastasia swallowed hard. “Mine.”

“You fight against Vincent, then? Even though he is of your blood?”

Anastasia narrowed her eyes, tilting her head slightly.

The woman sniffed. “I can smell him on you.”

“I killed Vincent. The Luxe prince, Thames, is the one we have to worry about now.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Thames. I’ve heard whispers of a Luxe rising to power, but I was unsure of their truths. I believed the Luxe world was destroyed.”

“You know of them?”

“They are ancient, as we are. The late king was the one who rescued us.”

“What do you mean he rescued you?”

“Our world was on the brink of destruction as it sank slowly into the sea. He made us what we are so that we might survive.”

“What was the cost?”

“Cost?”

“Everything comes at a cost.”

The woman began to pace. “Perhaps, but he did not ask us for payment as far as I know.”

“Do you know what Thames wants?”

“I might have an idea.”

“Care to share?”

“Perhaps I should request something in return.”

Anastasia rolled her eyes. “What do you want?”

“My daughter back, alive.”

“Afraid that is not possible. She has murdered my friends, stolen my husband, and threatened those I love. She must pay for that.”

“I assure you, Sorceress, she will pay for what she’s done. We are not to delve into the other worlds’ business, as it is not our own. Rosabel abandoned her people, her post as the next ruler, and put my own leadership in jeopardy. She will be punished greatly for her crimes.” Tears shone in her eyes, and for a moment, Anastasia felt for the woman who’d lost her child to the dark.

“What do you know of Thames?”

“I know nothing firsthand, it is important you know that.”

“Okay.”

“Two years ago, a man came here,” she started.

“Vincent.”

“Yes, he spoke of great power beneath the surface of the worlds, and offered to share it with us if we helped him locate it.”

“Great power? What kind of great power?”

“That, I do not know. He seemed sure it was beneath Terrenia, but he spoke of others he would be gathering from as well.”

Seemed her uncle was holding out after all. “You refused to help, why?”

“There was something in him that was not entirely human. Something dark that seemed to taint the air around him. We will have no part in the evil workings of man.”

“Rosabel helped him escape?”

“How do you know that?”

Shit. Anastasia shrugged, trying to play it off. “Lucky guess.”

The woman studied her, mistrust in her eyes. “A very lucky guess indeed. Rosabel did help him escape, because we were going to execute him.”

“Why?”

“He killed one of ours.”

So, it is possible! “How?”

“Excuse me?”

“As far as I know, you all are indestructible. How did he manage to hurt you?”

The queen stared blankly at her. “Do you honestly expect me to tell you how to kill my daughter?”

“I want to know how to stop her without dying myself.”

“Your life is not my problem.”

“It is if you want me to bring her back to you. She can turn into water, which makes her damn hard to keep in one place. How do you expect me to control her?”

The queen narrowed her bright green eyes on Anastasia’s face. “In order to keep her in a static location, you must turn her solid.”

“And how do I do that?”

The queen shrugged. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

Sensing the conversation was over, Anastasia changed the subject. “I have reason to believe Vincent was being controlled by Thames.”

The woman folded her arms. “You don’t believe he acted of his own volition?”

“I think a lot of what he did was due to his own actions, but I also believe he was being manipulated and, in some cases, completely controlled by Thames.”

“Interesting. What of your husband?”

“He is, apparently, Thames’s half-brother, and is also being controlled by him. I believe it’s how Rosabel was able to take him.”

“If you bring Rosabel and your husband to me, I will try to break the hold over him.”

Hope flared to life in her chest. “You can do that?”

“I can try.”

“How do I get back here?”

“You don’t. You journey to where you did yesterday, and we will find you.”

“Yesterday? I’ve been gone an entire day?”

“Yes.” The woman headed back toward the wall of water. “I hope you can swim, Sorceress.” She snapped her fingers and icy water crashed down on top of them.

33

Terrenia

Elizabeth

Elizabeth stood, overlooking Terrenia, while those behind her slept soundly. Stars glittered tonight despite the fact that her entire world had fallen apart in an instant. Dakota was gone, Anastasia hated her, and as it turned out, her eldest son was still alive and seeking revenge against his bloodline.

She turned her head up to the sky and closed her eyes. Never would she have imagined her past would come back to her like this. She’d thought that part of her life was over, and would stay buried like those she’d loved so long ago.

“Hello, Mother.”

Elizabeth looked over and saw Dakota standing beside the entrance to the cave, Rosabel right behind him.

Hope flared, but died as quickly as it came once she got a look at his silver-threaded eyes.

“Thames, I’m guessing?”

“Yes, I hadn’t thought you’d remember me.” He took a step closer, and Elizabeth folded her arms.

“How could I forget? You slaughtered our world,” she retorted dryly.

“Slaughtered? How little you must think of me, Mother. I freed them, removed the bindings of mortality.”

“What little I saw before your father sent me away was not freeing, Thames. It was bloody, it was violent, and it was an end to all life.”

He laughed, and although it was Dakota’s voice, it sounded nothing like him. “You are wrong, Mother.”

“Why did you take him?”

Dakota tapped his fist against his chest. “He’s my brother, perhaps I wanted to get to know him.”

“Larynt was your brother, tell me, what happened to him?”

He smiled, and shook his head. “Larynt was weak.”

“You were always jealous of him, from the time he took his first breath.”

“Our power should have been mine!”

“You couldn’t have handled it.”

“Lizzie, what’s—”

Elizabeth turned as a wall of water shot up to encase the cave. Tony stood on the other side, wide-eyed. He tried to push through, but the water wall only thickened, and he was forced to step back.

“Please don’t, Thames,” Elizabeth pleaded.

“So, this is the man you replaced my father with? Or rather, I suppose this one’s father.” He gestured to himself—or rather, Dakota.

“I loved your father, and I loved Dakota’s father.”

“Bad luck with love, huh, mother dear? How about we continue that streak?”

Rosabel stepped forward and toward the wall.

“No,” she pleaded, “Thames, please don’t.”

Thames laughed. “I’m surprised you’re here. You never had much of a stomach for violence.”

“Why are you here?” Her eyes were full of tears that she refused to shed, but her voice cracked with emotion regardless.

“I wanted to see you, and to warn you.” He lifted a strand of her shoulder-length hair.

“Warn me about what, exactly?”

“You have my son. I want him back.”

“I think you have that backward, Thames.”

“Perhaps. Either way, you have something of mine, and I have something of yours.”

“And just who is your son?”

“The boy you call Vinny.”

Elizabeth folded her arms. “He’s Vincent’s son.”

Thames laughed. “It may have been Vincent’s body that he came from, but he is my son.”

“I’m not turning over an innocent boy.”

“Then I will kill this one.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “No.”

“You don’t have a say in this, Mother. Give me the boy or your precious Larynt will die.”

“Why do you want him?”

“Because he is my son, and unlike some parents, I choose to be there for him.”

A bright blue portal opened behind Thames, and he turned just in time to be blasted by a ball of light.

“Didn’t see that one coming, did you, asshole?” Anastasia said and stepped from the portal.

Thames straightened and laughed. “Have to say, Sorceress, didn’t think you’d hurt this one.” He touched the blood on Dakota’s chest, and wiped it on the black T-shirt he wore.

Rosabel stepped around him, but he put a hand up to stop her.

“Hey, fishy bitch, your mom says hi.”

From where she stood, Elizabeth couldn’t see Rosabel’s reaction, but based on the grin of satisfaction on Anastasia’s, it had been what she’d been going for.

“Is that why you’re soaking wet?” Thames laughed. “The Sirens are a waste of time; they don’t dabble in matters of other worlds.”

“Yes, I know.” Anastasia folded her arms.

Elizabeth stepped around Thames and Rosabel, to stand beside Anastasia.

“You good?” Anastasia asked without looking at her.

“Yes.”

Anastasia turned her attention back to Thames. “So, why are you here? Don’t you have better things to do?”

“Not particularly, nothing is more important than my son.”

“You aren’t getting the kid.”

“Then I’m afraid I’ll have to end this one’s life.”

“No, you won’t. You need him.”

Thames scoffed. “Need him for what, exactly?”

“Not sure yet, but otherwise, you would have already killed him.”

Thames stepped toward them, and Elizabeth swallowed hard. He had no magic, so Anastasia could put him down now if she needed, but it would destroy Dakota if she did.

Dakota’s body jerked, the color draining from his eyes. “Ana?” he choked out.

“Dakota?” Anastasia took a step closer, but Rosabel cut her off.

Dakota’s head shook, and the silver returned. He laughed. “Seems seeing you is a bit more difficult for my brother than I’d originally anticipated. Apparently, he loves you quite a lot.”

“You son of a bitch,” Anastasia growled.

Dakota looked to Elizabeth. “Ouch. Am I right, Mother?”

“I may be your blood, but I do not consider you a son,” she shot back at him.

“No, you don’t, do you? You prefer this weak half-human.” Dakota’s face contorted in disgust as he looked down at his hands.

“Dakota is not weak,” Anastasia said, her fingertips sparking with blue light.

“You really think challenging me is such a good idea?”

“I think I’m really fucking tired of you and your mermaid girlfriend.” Anastasia conjured a ball of light and threw it at Dakota.

“No! You’ll kill him!” Elizabeth screamed and shoved him out of the way. The light went through Rosabel and into the night sky behind them before it disintegrated. The crashing of water sounded behind, and before she knew it, Elizabeth was being pulled to her feet by Rosabel.

“See you soon, Sorceress,” Dakota said, and stepped into a portal of water behind Rosabel.

“Let me go!” Elizabeth screamed, pulling at where he held her arm.

He tossed her onto the floor, and Elizabeth stared wide-eyed at the place that had been her home ten thousand years ago.

“Now, to get into something a little more comfortable.” Thames snapped his fingers, and Dakota fell to the ground.

Elizabeth crawled over to him. “Dakota? Please, wake up!” She touched his face gently.

“Takes him a while to come around once Thames has used him,” Rosabel said softly.

Elizabeth said nothing, not wanting to encourage any further conversation.

“Soon, he will be mine; Thames has promised.”

“He will never be yours,” Elizabeth growled.

Dakota’s eyes fluttered open. “Mom?”

“Dakota! Thank God.”

He sat up, and Elizabeth wrapped her arms around him.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

“They brought me through when I pushed you out of the way.”

“Out of the way of what?”

“Anastasia.”

“What about her? Is she okay?”

“Your Anastasia tried to kill you,” Thames said, coming around the corner and into the room.

For the first time in forever, Elizabeth sat face to face with her eldest son, and it terrified her.

34

Terrenia

Anastasia

“Fuck!” Anastasia screamed once the water portal closed.

“What the hell just happened?” Tony asked, running to her side. “Where’s Elizabeth?”

“She saved Thames, and he took her home, that’s what the hell just happened.” She turned and fought the urge to slam her fist into the nearest surface. Probably a good thing since it would have been solid rock and probably resulted in the bones of her hand shattering.

“She’s gone?”

Anastasia nodded.

“What do you mean she saved him? That was Dakota, not Thames.”

“Thames is possessing Dakota. Using him for who knows what.”

“And you tried to kill him?”

She glared at him. “Of fucking course not, Tony. I was going to stun him so I could take Dakota and the fish bitch back to her mother—who is queen of the Sirens, by the way—so she could heal him.”

“So, now that bastard has Lizzie and Dakota. Isn’t that just fucking wonderful.”

“One big family reunion,” Anastasia said dryly.

She’d barely used enough magic to scratch Dakota’s body when she’d blasted Thames the first time. If she’d been able to hit him a second, it would have knocked him out cold, and hopefully, she could have lured fish breath back home.

Now, that hope was gone. Extinguished before she’d had a chance to come up with a Plan B.

Anastasia turned, facing a grouping of Terrenians watching them from the mouth of the cave.

“I need to talk to you,” Anastasia told Tony before turning toward the narrow path that ran up the side of the mountain.

Tony followed behind her silently as they walked. Once out of earshot of the others, Anastasia stopped.

“Vincent, now would be a great fucking time to show yourself.”

“What are we doing?” Tony asked, and Anastasia held up a hand.

“I’m not even mildly joking, Vincent. Either you show up now or I’ll hand your son over in exchange for Dakota and Elizabeth.”

Seconds passed before Vincent finally appeared right behind Tony.

“You rang?” he asked.

Anastasia pushed past Tony, stopping only inches from Vincent’s face. “You’re damn well right I rang. How about you tell me what you were really doing for Thames?”

“I told you.” He folded his arms. “I don’t remember all of it.”

“Murdering a Siren? Searching for ultimate power beneath Terrenia? Any of this ringing a fucking bell?”

“Ultimate power?” Tony asked curiously. “Here?”

Anastasia nodded. “Apparently. And apparently, this dick knows how to kill Sirens.”

“I promise you, Anastasia. I don’t know how to kill them. I would tell you if I had that knowledge.”

“I have a hard time believing that. If you did, we wouldn’t need you anymore, right?”

Vincent’s mouth flattened into a tight line. “I don’t remember a lot of what happened. Killing that Siren just so happens to be one of the parts I can’t recall.”

“How am I supposed to know if you’re lying or not? How can I believe anything you say?” Anastasia folded her arms. “Fine, let’s assume—and I use that lightly—that you honestly don’t know how to kill the bitch. What about the ultimate power that’s supposedly beneath Terrenia?”

Vincent gaped at her. “Ultimate power?”

“Apparently, you had quite a bit to say about it to the queen.”

He looked away, tense, and Anastasia watched him carefully, searching for any sign of the lie that was surely going to come out of his mouth. Finally, he looked back up at her. “I’ve heard rumors. Terrenia’s life core is supposed to contain more magic than any of the other worlds—combined. It’s why the Sorceress is almost always born of our people.”

“Terrenia’s life core?” Anastasia pressed.

“It’s what makes Terrenia function, what gives us life in this world.”

“Don’t all worlds have that?” Tony asked.

Vincent shot him an annoyed look. “Hardly. Other worlds may have something similar, but it’s nothing compared to what Terrenia supposedly holds. Whomever possesses the magic of the life core would be unstoppable.”

“Awesome,” Anastasia retorted. “So, Thames wants to get his hands on ultimate power that would make him unstoppable. How much time do we have?”

Vincent shrugged. “I don’t know. Unfortunately, that is not something he shared with me—or at least not something I remember.”

“We have to assume he’s damn close,” Tony said. “He’s been ten steps ahead of us since who knows when—probably since he convinced this asshole to be his puppet.” Tony gestured to Vincent.

“We have to get Dakota and Elizabeth the hell out of Luxe.” Anastasia waved her hand. When no portal appeared, she tried again, frustrated. “Why the hell is my magic not working?”

“Try somewhere other than Luxe,” Vincent suggested.

Glaring at him but unable to argue, Anastasia conjured a portal to the Sorceress’s old world. The blue light flared to life, and she snuffed it out.

“Thames has Luxe blocked,” Vincent said. “I’m willing to bet Rosabel is the only one who can get in and out.”

“Fuck!” Anastasia screamed.

“That’s a lot of cussing coming from a young lady,” Vincent said pointedly.

Anastasia turned toward him, eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”

Vincent raised his hands and leaned against the side of the mountain.

Anastasia considered their options. There was no telling when Thames would show his face, and Rosabel had been practically nonexistent since Terrenia shut its gates. “What if I draw Rosabel out? Maybe I can get her to take me to them.”

Vincent laughed. “How the hell are you going to do that? It’s not like you two are best friends.”

“I really hate to jump on any opinion that bastard has, but this time, he’s not wrong,” Tony said.

“She hates me, though, doesn’t she? If I can make myself vulnerable, maybe she’ll come to me.”

“And if she doesn’t?” Tony asked.

Anastasia met his gaze. “Then we’re screwed, because I don’t see another plan.”

“What about the life core? You just going to risk Thames getting his hands on it?” Vincent asked, irritation tightening his tone.

“Thames has always used someone to do his bidding, right? We never considered the possibility that if we can’t get to him, maybe he can’t leave either.”

“Interesting hypothesis.” Vincent straightened and folded his arms. “Are you willing to bet the lives of every world in existence on this guess?”

She glared at him. Who the hell was he to question her? Everything she’d done had been for the other worlds, right down to sacrificing her desire to have children. “This time, I am. Dakota and Elizabeth come first, then I’ll search high and low for the fucking life core. Happy?”

“Not even slightly,” he responded. “I think you’re wasting time on sentiment when there’s a bigger problem.”

“I don’t need a cricket on my shoulder, Uncle.”

“More like a devil,” Tony added.

“If you do this, you might as well hand him the damn power.” Vincent disappeared, fading into the sky around them.

“Think he’s telling the truth about everything?”

Anastasia sighed. “We don’t have a choice but to believe him. Now,”—she turned to him—“any ideas on how to lure a Siren?”

35

Luxe World

Dakota

Dakota pushed to his feet, steadying himself on the wall. Every time Thames possessed him, it took Dakota hours to get back to his normal strength. He pressed a hand to his chest, then withdrew his hand quickly. Looking down, he frowned. Blood coated his palm. What the hell happened?

“You hear that, my love?” Rosabel said softly. “She tried to kill you. I would never do something like that.”

“No, but you’d hand me over to the highest bidder,” he responded dryly.

“What do you want, Thames?” his mother asked, her hand still on Dakota’s shoulder.

“What I’ve always wanted, Mother. I will be revered for who I am and the power I possess.” Thames raised his scepter into the air.

“What happened to you? What did I do to make you believe this was the only answer?”

Thames studied her with disgust. “You always were a weak one, Mother. All of you.” He gestured to Dakota. “Even this half-human is stronger than you all were.”

“Half-human? I think you’ve got that mixed up,” Dakota growled.

Thames grinned at him. “Perhaps you are more dense than I originally gave you credit for. Our mother is not human,” Thames explained. “She comes from this world, and is of my species.”

Dakota gaped at his mother, who stared guiltily at him. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.

“Lovely.” This day just keeps getting better and better. Dakota pushed himself away from the wall. “Whatever you have planned, it won’t succeed.” He needed to focus on the immediate problem, there would be plenty of time to focus on the craziness of the bomb his supposed brother just dropped on him.

Thames looked at him, an amused smile on his face. “Oh? And why is that?”

“Ana will stop you. She kicked Vincent’s sorry ass and yours will be next.”

“Not if I kill her first.” Rosabel looked up at Thames. “Let me kill her, Highness.”

Shit. If Rosabel went after Ana, his wife wouldn’t stand a chance. Not unless she’d finally found a way to put the Siren down.

“What do you want from me, Thames? Other than a ride off this dead fucking world.”

“Dakota, no.” His mother shook her head.

“You don’t get a say in what I do,” he said, a little colder than he’d planned. He was still pissed the hell off she’d hidden who she was from him.

“I want you to accept your birthright.”

“And what’s that?”

“The Luxe power. All that is our heritage.”

“And if I do?”

Thames shrugged. “Our world will be reborn, able to host life once again.”

“Dakota, you can’t—”

Thames put a hand up to silence their mother. “I believe Dakota has already told you that it’s not up to you.” He turned his attention back to Dakota. “It’s up to you, Brother.”

If he accepted the power—if that were even possible—he might have what it takes to get the hell away from here and back to Ana. Maybe even kill Thames, so she wouldn’t have to march back into another war.

On the other hand, he wasn’t stupid. Thames had an ulterior motive; whether he wanted Dakota to obtain the power only to use it himself, or he hoped he would be able to control Dakota into doing his bidding, nothing good would come of this.

But what other option did they have? If Thames couldn’t leave except through Rosabel’s portal, it was probable Ana couldn’t reach them here.

“I want to think about it.”

Thames raised his hands. “Fine by me, Brother. Perhaps a stroll through our home will put things into perspective for you.” Thames opened the door to their cage and turned away. “Rosabel, do not kill the Sorceress… yet.”

“But, Highness—”

“I said not yet. We will give my brother the time he requests to think things over. In the meantime, secure our alliance with the Pickries.”

“Yes, Highness.” She bowed as Thames left the room, then turned back to Dakota. “I will return soon, my love.” She smiled and disappeared into a pool of water.

Dakota spun on his mother. “What the hell are you doing here?”

She stared at him, wide-eyed, apparently surprised by his outburst. “Thames pulled me through when I pushed you; I told you this.”

“Why did you push me?”

“Anastasia was going to blast you; I couldn’t risk anything happening to you.”

Dakota pinched the bridge of his nose. “Do you honestly think she would have killed me?”

“I couldn’t risk it.”

“Ana has been in full control of her power for two years, Mom. She probably had a plan, and not only did you ruin it, but now, you’re stuck in this fucking prison, too.”

“I hadn’t considered. Truthfully, I didn’t think.”

Dakota looked back down at his chest. It was only a small wound, but it hurt like hell.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. She could have killed me with this one.” He gestured to the injury. “But she didn’t.”

His mother narrowed her eyes. “Point taken, Dakota.”

“Shall we explore?” He stepped from the cage and into the throne room.

“I haven’t been here in ten thousand years,” his mother whispered. “So many lifetimes ago.”

“Welcome home.”

“This was never my home, Dakota. I loved my husband and youngest son, but I didn’t feel at home until I met your father.”

It took everything in him to not roll his eyes. How was he supposed to believe a woman who’d lied to him his entire life?

“I’m serious,” she insisted.

“I’m sure you are.”

Dakota walked to the single window in the room and peered out into the dark. Wails and screams of the dying below called out to him, and he shivered remembering the horrible black eyes of the living corpses trapped below.

It was something he never wanted to see again.

“This is horrible.” Her eyes were full of tears, and she covered her mouth with shaking hands.

“I’m guessing it didn’t used to look like this?”

She shook her head. “It was gorgeous, and the people—they flourished. Life was so happy here… what happened?”

“My guess is your eldest son happened. Thames obviously took things into his own hands.”

“This is corruption, Dakota. Luxe is represented by whoever possesses the scepter—the physical representation of the power—if Thames has caused this, I fear for what he may have planned.”

“You and me both.” Dakota turned back toward the horrid scene outside. What the hell was he supposed to do?

36

Terrenia

Anastasia

“I don’t see many options.” Carmen sighed, staring down at the book laid out before her. “You can electrify the water, and that may hurt her, but it will definitely kill you since you have to be in close enough proximity to keep her there long enough to inflict significant damage.”

“I don’t want to kill her. I need the queen to release Dakota, and she wants her daughter returned to her alive.”

“What did she say to you again?” Tony asked.

“In order to keep Rosabel in a static location, I need to first turn her solid.”

“Freeze her, maybe?” Carmen offered.

“Won’t that kill her?” Shane questioned. “At the very least, it’ll make her damn hard to move.”

“True.” Anastasia bit down on the inside of her cheek. How the hell did you turn a water being solid without killing her?

“Perhaps it is simpler than that,” Argento added.

“What do you mean?”

“You could create a barrier around her, much like you’ve done to keep her out of places.”

“But craft it to keep her in!” Anastasia exclaimed. “That’s fantastic!”

“It could work, but it’s not something you’re practiced at, correct? You may fail,” Selena said softly.

“It can’t fail. It’s the closest thing to an actual plan we have.”

“How are you planning on luring her out?” Shane asked. “I doubt she’ll just knowingly walk into a trap, and she already has what she wants.”

“Not everything she wants,” Anastasia said with a smile. “The bitch wants me dead. Perhaps I’ll give her an opportunity she can’t pass up.”

“You’re going to use yourself as bait? Seriously?” Shane glared at her.

“What other options do we have?”

“I don’t know, wait until she shows up?” Tony said.

“We can’t wait. Who knows how long it will be before she comes back? We need to move now if we’re going to get Dakota and Elizabeth out.”

“Dakota is going to be pissed when he finds out you risked your life to save his.” Shane crossed his arms. “I sure as hell would be.”

Anastasia ground her teeth together and turned to face her friend. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep myself together without him, Shane.”

“You aren’t alone.”

“You know it’s not the same. No matter how powerful I am, Dakota keeps me grounded. Without him, I’ll turn into someone you won’t want to know.”

“I don’t believe that.”

Carmen cleared her throat. “I’m going to see if I can help Tilly put dinner together.” She turned and left, Tony and Argento following her further inside.

“I’ve lost so much, Anastasia. My parents, my brother, Gregory, Violetta, I can’t lose you, too.” His voice was soft, pleading, but everything inside her pointed to this being the right option—hell, it was their only option.

She touched his arm gently. “You won’t lose me, Shane. You’re one of my best friends and I promise you this plan will work. It has to.”

He hesitated before nodding. “I sure as hell hope you’re right.”

* * *

Anastasia focused on the pond before her. Closing her eyes, she jumped into the pool of power inside her, and reached out to her target.

Power flowed through her, and Anastasia raised her hands, calling to the water. She pictured her power pushing into the water and forming a cage to keep it contained.

Lifting her hands higher, she opened her eyes. When there was no floating cylinder of water, she dropped them. “Dammit,” Anastasia muttered and pinched the bridge of her nose.

The entire plan rested on her being able to complete this task. She’d managed to keep Rosabel out of her cabin when Dakota had been inside, so why the hell was it so difficult to keep something contained?

“You aren’t focusing.” Vincent appeared beside her, and Anastasia let out an irritated sigh. Great.

“Can I help you?” she asked sweetly.

“I want to help.”

“You made that clear earlier.”

“I still think you’re making a mistake.”

“Noted.” Anastasia closed her eyes again and pushed her power out into the water. Lifting her hands, she imagined the water contained.

This time, all she got was a small splash.

“You have to concentrate.”

“Thank you, Sensei, anything else?”

“You’re entirely too focused on the outcome.”

She spun to face him, hands on her hips. “And just how the hell am I supposed to not focus on the outcome when that’s what I’m working toward?”

“All you need to do is imagine what you are doing, as you are doing it, rather than what it will look like afterward.”

She stared at him. “That makes no sense.”

Vincent put his hands behind his back. “It makes perfect sense. Your father really didn’t teach you much, did he?”

Temper flaring, Anastasia clenched her fists. “Don’t talk about him.”

“He was my brother; I’ll talk about him if I choose to.”

“You are the reason he’s dead.”

“Yes, something I have to live with every day I’m forced to stay in this miserable plane of existence.”

She considered saying something about how he wasn’t really living, but the sad glint in his eye stopped her. Vincent was genuinely bothered by the fact he’d ultimately caused his brother’s death, and as much as she wanted to rub it in his face, she grieved her father just as he grieved his brother.

She let out an exasperated breath. Truth was, Vincent had decades of experience on her. He’d used every type of magic available, so if anyone could help her, it unfortunately was him. “So, you say I need to focus on what I’m currently doing rather than what I want to happen.”

“Yes.”

“Fine, here goes.” Anastasia closed her eyes and imagined her pool of power again. Diving into it, she forced herself to focus only on the step by step of what she wanted to be the final result.

She pictured her magic weaving around the molecules of water she wished to trap, could see each strand of power capturing them as if she was looking directly at it. Raising her arms once again, Anastasia lifted them higher, imagining the water coming up from the pond.

“Open your eyes,” Vincent said softly.

When she did, a cylinder of water floated just above the surface of the pond. Anastasia beamed. I did it! She squealed and jumped in excitement, and the water crashed back down, splashing her.

“Glad I’m not solid,” Vincent said sarcastically.

“I did it!” She faced him, grinning widely. Vincent returned her smile, and for the first time since she’d met him, Anastasia could see genuine, unguarded, emotion on his face. So, what the hell happened to him to turn him so cold?

“You did well. Now, you just need to be able to hold it long enough that Rosabel won’t escape.”

“What happened to you?” The words were out of her mouth before she’d had the chance to filter them.

The pride on his face vanished, returning him to the stone, emotionless Vincent she knew. “What do you mean?”

“Why did you turn out so different from my father?”

“We can’t all be as perfect as Gregory was,” he said dryly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Vincent vanished, leaving her standing alone by the pond.

One way or another, she was going to get the truth, even if it meant figuring out how to trap his ass to this world just as she was planning on doing to Rosabel.

37

Luxe

Dakota

“You can’t do this,” Elizabeth insisted. “It’s suicide.”

“I have to,” Dakota said, pulling on the amethyst robes Thames set out for him.

“No, you don’t. We should be trying to get the hell out of here, not caving to his demands!”

Dakota turned to face his mother. “If I don’t do this, Mom, what power do we have? Ana can’t reach us, Thames can use me whenever the hell he wants, and the worlds are once again in danger. I might be able to stop it.”

“And just how do you expect to do that?” Hands on her hips, she reminded him of the times as a teen he’d done something stupid and she scolded him for it.

Man, those were the days.

“Once I have the power, maybe I can get us the hell out of here.”

“I don’t like it. There has to be another reason, Dakota. Why would he hand over the power to you without a motive?”

“You said yourself he wasn’t chosen for it, right? Wouldn’t that make me—the only living half-Luxe—a perfect candidate? Maybe he really wants this world back.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Thames has always been hell bent on burning Luxe to the ground so he could rebuild the way he wanted it. You can’t trust him.”

“And I don’t, but this is what has to happen, whether we like it or not.” He finished dressing, and turned to look in the mirror.

The man staring back at him was nothing like he remembered. Blue lines had snaked their way up his neck, disappearing beneath the beard he hadn’t had time to trim. His eyes were darker now, shadowed by his exhaustion and lack of sleep.

There was no other choice. Taking in the Luxe power was their only ticket out of this world and back to Terrenia. Back to Ana.

Dakota closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Or at least he sure as hell hoped it was.

“Let’s get this over with,” he said, opening his eyes.

“This is a mistake, Dakota.”

Dakota gripped his mother’s hands. “Please, Mom, just put your faith in me.”

Tears filled her eyes, and she nodded. “Fine.”

Making their way out of the room and down the hall toward the throne room, Dakota held his breath.

Their lives depended on this going well, but what if it didn’t?

Thames turned away from the window, a smile spreading slowly over his face. “You look good, Brother. Like a true Luxe.”

“Let’s get this over with.”

Thames laughed. “Ready to take your rightful place?”

“To be clear, I do this only to help this world come back. When it’s done, you will not come after Terrenia or any of the other worlds anymore.”

Thames raised his hands in surrender. “Of course. I only want my home back to its former glory.”

Dakota let out a breath. “What do I do?”

Thames reached for a large book that sat on a table in the center of the room. “Come forward, Brother.”

After one last look at his mother, Dakota stepped toward Thames.

“This book is the entire record of our history. Our world was once powerful and full of life; these pages hold every secret, every event, and every life. Place your hand upon the cover.”

Dakota studied the leather-bound book. It was ancient, there was no denying that, and even without having any power of his own, Dakota could feel the energy snapping around it, calling to him.

He reached forward and laid his hand over the engraved dragon crest on the cover.

“Do you feel the power, Brother?” Thames asked, his amethyst eyes brightening. “All that power will soon be ours.”

“Ours?”

Thames smiled. “Our world’s. The power will soon be back in our world.”

Nice save, maniac.

Dakota looked back down at the book. The dragon below his hand began to glow, and Dakota closed his eyes.

Warmth traveled up his arm, and filled his body, sending every doubt he’d had scattering away like cockroaches in the light.

“Yes,” Thames said softly. “Yes, Brother! Take it in!”

Energy pulsed through him, filling every inch of his body as it claimed him.

Why had he been so worried? This was right! This was what he was made for!

“Dakota!” his mother called.

Dakota opened his mouth to tell her it was okay, but nothing came out. A burst of power surged into his body, and Dakota jolted, trying like hell to keep his hand on the cover as the power filled him.

38

Terrenia

Anastasia

“You’re absolutely sure about this?” Shane stood, arms crossed over his broad chest, staring at the pond.

“Not in the slightest, but I think it’s going to be the better plan.”

“You are literally walking into her world, Anastasia. She could kill you before you even get a chance to trap her.”

Anastasia looked away from the glassy surface and back to Shane. “She could, and she has the ability to kill every single one of us before we could even put up a fight.”

“You aren’t making me feel better about this.”

“You don’t have a choice. I’m doing this. If I don’t lure her out, I can’t trap her, and if I can’t trap her, I can’t save Dakota and Elizabeth.”

His mouth pulled into a tight line. “There could be another way.”

“Do you honestly believe that?”

Shane was silent a moment, but finally shook his head. “Just don’t die.”

“I’m going to do my best.”

“You ready?” Tony asked, stepping from the cavern with Carmen.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Anastasia pulled off her boots and removed her weapons, setting them to the side of the water.

It’s now or never. Who knew if her plan would even work? It was quite possible Rosabel wouldn’t hear her, or a better possibility that she wouldn’t care.

After all, she already had what she wanted most.

Anastasia closed her eyes and ignored the stab to her chest.

“This will work,” Carmen said softly. Anastasia turned to face her grandmother.

“I hope so.”

Carmen squeezed her hand. “It will. Believe in yourself.”

Anastasia looked back at Tony and Shane, and the mouth of the cavern just above them. Those who’d followed her, watched with hope and determination in their eyes. These people—her people—believed in her, and she would not let them down. “You will portal them out if things go south?” Anastasia asked, turning back to her grandmother.

“I will get them to safety.”

“Thanks, Grandma.”

“You got it, girl, now go fishing.”

Anastasia chuckled and took a deep breath. “Here goes.” She jumped into the pond, the cold water hitting her like an icy blast to the face.

Swimming hard, Anastasia dove down to the bottom of the pond. It was dark, so, using her power, she conjured a ball of light to illuminate her surroundings.

It was a damn good thing she’d always been a great swimmer and could hold her breath.

She kept herself below the surface and did her best to ignore the bone-chilling cold temperature of the water.

Just as her lungs began to burn, Anastasia started swimming toward the surface. The sunlight beckoned her closer, but just before she broke free, something gripped her ankle, dragging her back down.

Her heart pounded as panic set in. Looking down, she saw the satisfied smile of her target as she pulled her further into the water.

Calm down. Anastasia focused her power just as she’d done earlier, centering it around Rosabel.

“See each step as you complete it,” Vincent had told her.

Doing what he’d instructed, Anastasia kicked away from Rosabel and swam for the surface.

Anastasia gasped for air, her lungs burning as she continued to focus on the cage around Rosabel.

“You okay?” Shane was by her side as soon as she pulled herself to shore, and she nodded.

Turning back toward the water, she lifted her hands into the air slowly.

“What the hell?” Tony muttered as Rosabel came out of the water.

“Let me out!” she screamed, her shrill voice nearly giving Anastasia a splitting headache.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” Anastasia finally said, still slightly breathless.

“How dare you!” Rosabel screamed.

“Good job, Niece.” Vincent appeared beside Rosabel, unseen by anyone but Anastasia.

She nodded and turned to Carmen, who beamed. “Well done, Anastasia! Your father would be so proud.”

Anastasia smiled and turned back to her catch. “Now, you’re going to help me, or I’ll let you wither in there until the day you die, Princess.”

Rosabel straightened at the title just before narrowing her eyes on Anastasia. “You went to see my mother.”

“I did. Interesting woman.”

Rosabel spat on the ground. “She’s a disgrace and a coward.”

“Thames tell you that?”

Rosabel didn’t respond, just folded her arms over her bare chest.

“I know Thames still has Dakota and Elizabeth. I want them back.”

Rosabel laughed. “Good luck with that, Sorceress.”

Anastasia grinned and lifted a hand. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a pulse of electricity into Rosabel’s prison. No need to be in the water when I’ve brought the water to me.

Rosabel screamed, her body jolting as the power surged through her. She crumpled to her knees, and Anastasia closed her fist, eliminating the power.

“You will learn that you don’t have a choice here, Siren. I have the upper hand, and I will torture you every single fucking day until you help me get my husband back.”

“If you’re so powerful, why don’t you go get him yourself?”

“Because, as I’m sure you know, your water portals are the only way for anyone to get in or out of Luxe.”

Rosabel grinned. “Then it seems I have all the leverage, doesn’t it?”

Anastasia sent more power into Rosabel, and she screamed again. Kneeling just in front of her, Anastasia lowered her voice. “I will torture you until you are nothing but a smoking heap of cooked fish. I strongly suggest you help me.”

Rosabel lunged, hitting the invisible barrier and falling back. “Agh!” she screamed. “You will not win against him.”

“You underestimate me.” Anastasia stood. “You going to help, or should I get to cooking?”

Rosabel growled. “I look forward to watching him bleed you.”

She turned back to Carmen, Tony, Shane, and Vincent. “Shane, feel like a swim?”

“Hell yeah.”

“Great.” Not wanting to waste any time, Anastasia pulled on her boots and attached her weapons before turning back to Rosabel. “Take us there, now.”

Rosabel snarled, before waving her hand at the pond. The water began to swirl, turning a deep purple.

“Want me to go first?” Rosabel asked sweetly.

“Not a damn chance,” Shane said, stepping forward. “See you on the other side.” He jumped into the water, and Anastasia followed, bringing Rosabel with them.

Surprisingly dry, Anastasia dropped to her feet. Rosabel emerged from the portal behind her.

“I don’t see anyone,” Shane whispered, and Anastasia nodded. They stood in a hallway made entirely of white marble.

There were no pictures, tapestries, or decorations other than the sconces lighting the way down the hall.

She turned to Rosabel. “Which way?”

“Straight,” she responded tightly.

Anastasia drew her sword, and Shane did the same as they walked quietly down the hall in the direction Rosabel had sent them.

The entire time, Anastasia kept her focus split on what was near her and the Siren cage behind her. If she lost track and dropped the barriers, Rosabel would kill them in an instant.

No pressure.

“Dakota!” Elizabeth’s familiar voice traveled to them down the hall, and Anastasia broke into a run.

The hall was long, but ended in a large throne room. Thames stood just before Dakota, smiling gleefully at her husband, who held onto a book as pure energy pulsed around them.

“Watch Rosabel!” Anastasia yelled at Shane.

Elizabeth spun to them. “You have to stop this!”

“Get back by Shane.”

Thames looked over Dakota, a smile on his face. “You’re too late, Sorceress. He’s mine.”

The power stopped, and the book fell to the ground. Thames backed away, disappearing down a dark hallway as Dakota turned toward her.

He stared down at his hands as if they weren’t his own, and when he looked up at her, his blue eyes had turned the same shade of violet as Thames’ eyes.

“No.” Were they really too late?

Dakota shook his head. “Ana?”

She nodded. “I’m here, Dakota.”

He stared at her a moment longer, before rushing toward her. “Ana!”

Anastasia dropped her sword, barely hearing the clinking as the metal hit the ground. She wrapped her arms around the husband she hadn’t seen in what felt like forever.

“How did you get here?” He pressed a kiss to her lips, and Anastasia held on.

“Rosabel.”

“Not by choice, my love,” Rosabel assured him.

“Fuck, Ana, I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

“We all missed each other,” Shane said. “But we need to get the hell out of here before dickhead comes back.”

Dakota released her, and Anastasia stepped back to greet Elizabeth.

“Thank you for coming,” she said, tears in her eyes.

“Of course.” Anastasia wrapped her in a hug. “I’m sorry I was so awful.”

“You weren’t awful; I should have been honest with you both.”

“Let’s go,” Shane urged again.

“Rosabel, open another portal.”

Rosabel rolled her eyes but waved her hand, creating a swirling puddle on the ground.

“Not so fast,” Dakota said.

Anastasia turned, facing him. The color of his eyes darkened, and he grinned at her, so unlike the Dakota she knew.

“You betrayed me,” he said to Rosabel.

“No! She tortured me! I only brought her here for you!”

“I told you to leave the Sorceress alone for now, how did she get her hands on you if you truly didn’t betray me?”

“My king, she was vulnerable, I only wanted to make you proud!” Her voice squeaked, and Anastasia stared in horror as her body began to wither before them. “No!” she screamed. “Please no! I can still serve you!”

“I have what I need.”

Anastasia dove for her sword, but Dakota flung it away with a flick of his wrist.

“Man! It feels so good to have actual power!” He flexed, and Shane pulled Anastasia to her feet.

Rosabel was nothing but a dry husk on the ground.

“You can’t have him!” Anastasia screamed.

“He is already mine.”

“Over my dead body,” she growled.

“I can arrange that.” Dakota blasted her with a ball of power, but Anastasia blocked it, sending it flying into the nearest wall.

Dakota grinned. “You do like to fight, don’t you?”

“There is no contest.” In a move to distract, she flung a ball of light at him, he dodged, and she immediately blasted him with another, knocking him to the ground.

When he didn’t move, she turned to Shane. “We don’t have much time. Get him, and let’s get the fuck out of here.”

The portal Rosabel had conjured had shrunk, but was still active. Elizabeth dove through first, followed by Shane and an unconscious Dakota.

Grabbing the book Thames had dropped, Anastasia headed for the portal.

“You won’t save him.”

Anastasia turned and faced Thames, who’d apparently released his hold over Dakota momentarily.

“I will, and then I’m coming back for you.”

Before he could react, she dove into the water.

39

Terrenia

Anastasia

“What the hell is the plan now?” Shane asked.

Anastasia turned to face Tony, who stood just inside the mouth of the cave with Carmen. “You guys take everyone back to Terrenia. Tell Zarina that Rosabel is dead; she’ll let you back in.”

“How are you so sure? We were told you weren’t allowed back ever, and there isn’t a person here who is willing to return without you.”

Anastasia stepped toward Tony and lowered her voice to just below a whisper. “I told her to send us away.”

“You did what?”

“It was the only way Rosabel would leave Terrenia alone. She would have continued killing had I not left.”

Tony ground his teeth together. “We will be discussing this further,” he said, warning in his voice.

“You got it.”

“What are you going to do?” he asked.

“Shane and I are going to go see some Sirens.”

“Where’s Rosabel?”

“Dead.”

“Didn’t you say they would only help you if you brought them Rosabel?”

“I don’t have a choice now. She’s dead. I have to hope they will still help.”

“Good luck.”

“Get everyone back to Terrenia. We’ll meet you there.” She waved her hand to open a portal, and together, she and Shane stepped through with Dakota.

“Shit, it’s cold!”

Snow flurries surrounded them, the barren landscape having grown even colder than the last time she was there.

“Set him there.” She pointed to a spot right next to the water.

“What do we do now?”

“We wait. Hopefully, not for too long.”

Shane stepped up beside Anastasia. “You okay?”

Anastasia shook her head. She was far from okay. Now, not only did Thames still have control over Dakota, but he had power, too. Power he gained because Dakota was the only other heir to that fucking hell of a place.

“Dakota will be fine, Ana.”

She nodded, ignoring the burning lump in her throat.

Two women broke the surface of the water. “Do you have what we asked for, Sorceress?”

“Rosabel is dead,” Anastasia told them. “Your queen said she would help my husband.”

The women looked at each other. “Our queen said she would help in exchange for Rosabel. You did not come through.”

“I didn’t kill her, Thames did!”

“We do not accept your terms. Good luck.”

“He will die without help! Thames has control over him and his magic now!”

“Then we will leave our home. We suggest you do, too.”

“Cowards!” Anastasia screamed as the women disappeared back into the water.

Anastasia started to jump in, but Shane held her back. “Don’t, Ana, we will find another way.”

She spun on him. “How, Shane? How the hell are we supposed to find another way?”

Tears burned in her eyes as she looked at Dakota’s limp body.

“You are Anastasia Silvan. The fucking Phoenix, for shit’s sake. You will find another way.”

Anastasia shook her head and closed her eyes, trying like hell to fight back the surge of tears threatening to break free.

They had to get Dakota secure and find a way to block Thames from getting to him. If they could do that, maybe it would buy enough time for her to figure out a way to kill the bastard.

Then Dakota would be free, the war would be over, and they could move the hell on with their lives.

“Let’s get back to Terrenia.”

“You got it.” Shane lifted Dakota, and Anastasia conjured another portal to take them home.

* * *

They stepped through just as the gates opened and Zarina stepped out. “Good to see you, Anastasia.”

“Good to see you too, Zarina.”

“Your grandmother and the others just finished their journey through the portal.”

“Thanks.”

“It’s good to see you, Shane.”

He smiled. “You too. You look nice.”

“Thanks.” She blushed, looking down at her colorful dress.

“We don’t have much time,” Anastasia told them. “We need to get him somewhere secure, so if Thames has control of Dakota when he wakes up, we have him contained.”

“Your grandmother said you were going to see someone about severing their bond? Did that not work?”

“Rosabel was killed; she was my only leverage. They won’t help us.”

“Anastasia, I’m so sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about. We need to act, though.”

“Of course. Let’s go.”

They made their way inside the gate, and Anastasia couldn’t help but smile at the way everyone greeted each other.

She’d had to leave to keep Terrenia safe, had hoped Rosabel wouldn’t have suspected she and Zarina had orchestrated it.

Apparently, it had not only been real enough to keep Terrenia off the Siren’s hit list, but the villagers had believed the performance too.

As for those who’d willingly cast her out, she didn’t hold a grudge. They only wanted to do what was best for their families—she might’ve done the same in their shoes.

“Where are we taking him?”

“My house. It’s far enough outside the village center I should be able to magically cage him just as I did Rosabel. At least until we can come up with something else.”

“Anastasia!” Argento rushed toward her. “Is he okay?”

“Not yet. Thames still has a hold on him.”

Argento clenched his fist. “Lying scum. Those Sirens will pay.”

“It’s not on them. I couldn’t deliver Rosabel, and that was the deal.”

“Does not excuse their actions.”

“Either way, we need to come up with a new plan and fast. My magic isn’t going to keep him contained for long.”

They entered the cabin, and Shane laid Dakota down on the bed. “What now?”

“Everyone, clear out,” she instructed, stepping into the living room with them. Closing her eyes, Anastasia pictured herself walling off the bedroom. Once it was done, she opened her eyes and sent up a silent prayer it would hold.

“Lizzie?” Tony rushed inside, and Elizabeth ran to him. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, I just—I tried to stop him.”

“What did he do?”

“He accepted the Luxe power. Thames convinced him it would only be used to heal the world.”

“Dakota believed him?” Anastasia asked, surprised. It wasn’t like him to blindly trust someone—let alone an enemy.

“He thought he could use the power to get us back home.”

Anastasia closed her eyes. Thames had taken complete advantage of Dakota. Why was she surprised? Not like he was a fucking boy scout. Thames was a genocidal maniac.

“Ana?”

At Dakota’s voice, Anastasia turned. He was sitting up in bed, rubbing his head.

“That you, Dakota?”

He nodded. “What the hell happened? How am I back here?”

“Thames used you as a vessel for the power. I blasted you with enough magic to knock you out, but it’ll only be a matter of time before he takes over again.”

“I’m so fucking stupid,” Dakota said, placing his feet on the floor. “What are we going to do now?”

“I’ve blocked you inside this room, and we’ll come up with a plan.”

He looked up at her, complete resolution in his eyes. “You need to kill me.”

Anastasia shook her head. “Absolutely not. There is another way.”

“If you kill me, the power will be gone. Thames can’t use me if I’m dead.”

“Boy has a point,” Vincent said as he appeared.

“You shut your mouth,” she said to her uncle before turning back to Dakota. “You too. No one is going to kill you, Dakota. We will find another way.”

“We can try a stasis,” Argento suggested. “I don’t know how long it will hold, but I can retrieve my healer from my world. He will be able to give us more information.”

“Could that work?”

“It’s possible. It places the mind in a hallucination. If Thames doesn’t realize that’s what’s going on, it should keep him busy for a while.”

“Go,” Anastasia said. “It’s a great plan, Argento, thank you.”

“Anything for you two,” he said, bowing his head.

Tony cleared his throat. “Let’s give them a few minutes while they have it, shall we?”

Tony, Elizabeth, Carmen, Zarina, and Shane left the room, leaving Anastasia and Dakota staring at each other through an invisible barrier.

“I’m sorry, Ana.”

“For what?”

“Everything. If I’d just stayed put when you asked me to—”

“That wasn’t your fault. Thames was controlling your thoughts.”

“I can’t help but feel responsible.” He got to his feet and walked over to where she stood. The magical barrier kept him inside, and he lifted a hand to press against it. “I love you.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I love you, too.”

“Promise me you’ll end it if you have to.”

“End what?”

“My life.”

“I’m not killing you, Dakota. I would rather die than see anything happen to you.”

“It’s not just our lives, Ana. He is going to destroy everything. You may not have a choice but to kill me. Thames has to be stopped.”

Tears slipped down her cheeks. “I’m not killing you, Dakota. I can’t.”

“Please, just promise me.”

She stared at the man she loved. How had they gotten to this place?

“I need you, Dakota.”

“I need you, too.”

“Your child needs you.”

His eyes widened. “What?”

Anastasia smiled, although tears still slipped down her cheeks. “I’m pregnant, Dakota. Don’t make me promise you; please don’t make me do this alone.”

He smiled and started to speak, but screamed instead, falling to his knees.

“Dakota!” She started to take down the barrier, but stopped when Dakota lifted his head and his eyes were bright amethyst.

“Isn’t that sweet?” he sneered.

“Thames,” Anastasia growled, hands clenching into fists.

“I get to be an uncle?”

“Not all it’s cracked up to be, I can tell you that.” Vincent appeared beside her.

“This is an interesting surprise,” Thames cocked his head to the side. “Can’t say I expected to see you again.”

“The feeling is quite mutual.”

“Can’t even kill a man right, can you?” he directed at Anastasia.

“Oh, she can, trust me. I’m dead. Just seems to be some reason I’m stuck here. Perhaps I have some unfinished business.”

“Is that supposed to frighten me? You were never powerful enough to deny me, Vincent. Not as a young man and certainly not as you aged.”

“I may not have been, but Anastasia is.”

“Is she? You and I both know she doesn’t have what it takes to kill this man.” He gestured to himself. “As long as I possess my brother, she won’t kill me.”

“Dakota, if you can hear me, I will stop him, no matter what.”

“Dakota’s not home right now,” Thames said with a grin. “This cage won’t hold me long, you know. Eventually, I will break free.”

“And then I will kill you,” Anastasia said. “Because I would rather bury Dakota than see him forced to commit horrible acts for you.”

She turned to leave, Vincent beside her. Thames laughed, and Anastasia forced herself to keep moving even though all she wanted to do was turn around and blast the bastard again.

40

Terrenia

Anastasia

Argento returned an hour later with his healer, Rayden.

“Good to see you, Phoenix,” the elderly Brute greeted her with a bowed head.

“Good to see you too, Rayden. Thank you for coming.”

“Absolutely. The king says you may need my stasis services.”

“I think so. Dakota is being controlled by Thames—a Luxe who was behind everything we went through with Vincent. We need to put Dakota out of commission long enough to figure out how to permanently separate them.”

Rayden considered what she said, his eyes focusing on the wall behind her head. After a moment, he looked back at her. “A stasis should work. It’s never been used for this purpose before, but in theory, it could do what you need.”

“I’ll keep the room blocked as well, just in case we need a backup. I’ll need to drop it long enough for you to get in and put him under.”

“Then let us proceed.”

“Do you have everything you need?” Shane asked.

Rayden held up his hands. “These are all I need. Take me to Dakota.”

Anastasia walked through the village, guiding Rayden to her cabin. Once inside, she took a deep breath before heading toward the bedroom.

Dakota stood at the window, and when he turned, his eyes were normal again. Well, as normal as lavender eyes could be.

“Thames, you will be stopped,” Argento growled.

“It’s Dakota right now,” Anastasia told him.

“I don’t know for how much longer.” Dakota looked down at his hands. “There’s no telling when the asshole will be back. What’s the plan?”

“Rayden is going to put you in a stasis. Once you’re under, we’ll come up with a plan to separate you two.”

Dakota nodded. “I’m so damn happy about what you told me, Ana, and I swear, once I wake up, I will make this up to you.”

Anastasia smiled. “I know you will.”

“Okay, let’s do this.” Dakota took a seat on the bed, and Anastasia dropped the barrier just long enough for them to get inside before raising it again.

“Lie back please, Dakota.” Rayden stepped over to the edge of the bed as Dakota did what he was told. “This won’t hurt; it will feel like drifting into a deep sleep.”

Anastasia wrapped her arms around herself, tears filling her eyes. “I love you,” she said.

“I love you, too.” Dakota smiled and closed his eyes.

Rayden began chanting, and Argento touched her shoulder. “All will be well, Phoenix. We will stop Thames and save Dakota.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Rayden stopped chanting and straightened. “It is done.”

He stepped away, and Anastasia walked to the edge of the bed. Brushing a strand of hair from Dakota’s forehead, she studied him. His mouth was slightly open, his eyes moving beneath the lids, making it look like he was simply sleeping, enjoying a dream. Which she supposed he was.

“What did you give him? What vision?” she asked Rayden.

“A happy one.”

“Thank you.” Leaning down, she pressed a kiss to Dakota’s forehead before dropping the barrier and stepping out with Argento and Rayden.

Just as they reached the door, someone screamed outside, and Anastasia ripped it open.

In the time they’d been putting Dakota under, Pickries had apparently decided it was the day to wreak havoc. The pounding of the creature’s wings covered screams of terrified villagers as they flew over them, striking at innocent people trying to escape.

“Wrong fucking day,” she growled and conjured up twin balls of flame. Launching them at the nearest fairy, Anastasia blasted it from the sky and ran toward the center of the village.

About a dozen Pickries sat atop the houses, staring down at the village center where Shane, Tony, and the entire Fighter force stood.

“Give us our king!” One sitting on top of the medical cottage called, and Anastasia immediately recognized it as one of the beings she’d kicked out of Seattle the last time she and Dakota had been there.

Back when this shit storm started.

“Good to see you again, baby Sorceress,” it said to her with a sinister grin.

“Wish I could say the same.”

“Give us our king’s host, and we will leave.”

“No.” Anastasia called two more flames to her palm and threw them at the Pickrie, but it dodged.

“Then this means war.”

“Good.”

The sky darkened and filled with the sound of a thousand beating wings as Pickries poured from the trees beyond the village.

“Get everyone to the bunkers!” Anastasia screamed. Rayden nodded, then began running through the village, alerting those in hiding.

Anastasia left her sword sheathed and instead called upon her magic. She couldn’t let herself get too drained, or the barrier around Dakota would fall, but there was no way in hell she was going to win with her sword alone.

The thundering noise grew louder, and Anastasia took a deep breath. “Get ready!”

Pickries poured into the village, and Anastasia used her power to blast the first round. A wave of dizzying nausea hit her when the smell of burnt flesh filled her nose, but she pushed past it. Great time to be pregnant.

The second wave dropped down, and Anastasia drew her sword. A Pickrie dove straight for her, and Anastasia slashed out with her sword, slicing right through a wing and knocking the creature to the ground.

It howled in agony and reached for her with long claws. She dodged, stabbing her blade through its back.

“Anastasia, look out!” Shane called.

Spinning just in time to avoid another Pickrie, Anastasia ducked, driving her blade up into its chest.

Spurting golden blood, it fell to the ground, and she headed straight for another. She lifted her blade, ready to attack, but was shoved from behind and stumbled into another.

She ducked again, barely missing a clawed hand, but didn’t anticipate the second one that reached for her. Skin ripped as the claws dug into her arm, dragging her up in the air.

Wind beat down on her from the Pickrie’s wings as it lifted her higher into the sky. Raising a hand, she blasted it with power, and it released her.

Anastasia fell back toward the ground, managing to stop herself with a barrier just before the impact killed her.

It still fucking hurt, though.

Bruised and bloody, she plunged back into battle, determined to get these assholes out of her village.

Using magic and her blade, Anastasia took down over two dozen Pickries before the rest began to retreat.

The Fighters around her cheered in victory as the cowards flew away, disappearing into the large portals they’d created.

“You better run, you bastards!” Shane yelled at them, shaking his sword.

His body was covered in lacerations and golden blood. Anastasia turned to check Tony, who was mostly unscathed except for a cut on the side of his head.

Argento and the Brutes he brought with him stood just behind her, and he nodded, letting her know they were all right.

From the looks of things, the damage wasn’t all that bad, especially considering they had been majorly outnumbered.

“Why did they leave?” Tony asked. “Seems they could have wiped us all out if they’d truly wanted to.”

“Dakota.” Anastasia took off in a sprint toward her cabin.

As the cabin came into view, Anastasia growled. Two Pickries slammed repeatedly into the shuttered windows, trying like hell to get into the bedroom and to Dakota.

“Hey, assholes.”

They turned, and Anastasia blasted them with magic, turning them into nothing but a smoking pile of ash.

Flinging the door open, she ran straight for the bedroom. Dakota slept soundly on the bed, still locked in his stasis. She let out a whoosh of air.

“Took you long enough. I thought for sure they were going to get in,” Vincent said dryly.

“Village came under attack.”

“I heard.”

“Anyone get in here?” she asked.

“No, those two were the only ones trying.”

Anastasia nodded and looked back at Dakota. “I need to go see if everyone is all right.”

“I’m happy for you, you know.”

Anastasia turned to face him. “Sorry?”

“That you’re going to have a child. I am happy you are getting what you want.”

“It won’t mean a damn thing if we don’t stop Thames.”

“Sometimes it’s okay to be happy, even if the world around you is turning to shit.”

Vincent disappeared with a smile, and Anastasia ran back toward the center of the village.

Shane and Tony were helping a handful of Fighters to the medical cottage, but all in all, it didn’t look like they’d had any casualties.

Shane stepped back outside and headed for her. “Dakota okay?”

She nodded. “It was all a distraction. Two Pickries were trying to get in and get him. They’re dust now.”

“Okay. Well, I’d say we got lucky today.”

“Yeah, but for how long? They’ll keep coming back. We need to separate Dakota and Thames.”

Shane put his hand on her shoulder. “We will.”

“Thanks,” she said, smiling up at him.

“What do you say we get a drink? I think we’ve earned it.”

Anastasia’s hand went to her stomach before she thought about it.

Shane’s eyes widened. “Really?”

Her face flushed, and she nodded. “You are the only person I’ve told other than Dakota. Thames and Vincent overheard, but I haven’t told anyone else.”

“My lips are sealed.” Shane wrapped her in a hug and kissed her forehead. “I’m so happy for you, Anastasia. You deserve this.”

“Thank you.”

Shane set her down and stepped away. “I’m going to see who else I can help.”

“I’ll go check to see if there’s anything I can do for Elizabeth.”

“Awesome. Your grandmother is in there doing what she can, too.”

Anastasia watched him walk away and headed for the medical cabin, thoughts still on Dakota and trying to figure out just how to get them out of the mess they were in.

41

Terrenia

Shane

The branches of Violetta’s tree were barren now, its leaves and life having died when she did.

Shane sat on the ground below, staring up at what had once been the second most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Second only to the woman who’d created it.

How was it he hadn’t known her long, yet she’d held so much power over him that even now, two years after her death, he grieved her?

Wind whistled by, making the barren branches shake. He had to stay focused on days like today when it was so easy to get pulled down into depression. Other than his friends, he had no one.

After Anastasia decided she only wanted to be friends, he was sure he’d never find anyone else who made him feel such life. Then came Violetta—the actual definition of life on her planet—and she was ripped away from him because of this fucking war.

A war that’s almost over.

They had a plan now, and with Dakota back—even in stasis form—they were one step closer to being able to take down Thames.

Not that he had much to look forward to afterward, but maybe he could find happiness with someone again. Have a family of his own.

His thoughts drifted to Anastasia and Dakota. He truly was happy for them; complicated past aside, they were two of his closest friends.

Shane got to his feet and brushed the dirt off the back of his pants. It was time to move on, to forget the past and focus on the future.

Pressing a hand to the trunk, he closed his eyes and pictured Violetta as if she stood just before him.

“Goodbye.”

He turned away and caught some movement just ahead. “Hello?” No one should be out at this time of night. After the Pickrie attack this afternoon, they’d implemented a curfew to make sure everyone was safe inside when night fell. Other than the Fighters patrolling, and he, who’d briefly stepped out, everyone had turned in long ago.

The figure stopped and turned.

Shane straightened. “Dakota?”

Dakota waved and turned off course toward Shane. “Hey, man, what are you doing out?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Shane said warily. Dakota’s eyes weren’t quite their usual shade of blue, but they looked clear. Still, unless Anastasia had let him out, there was no reason he should be out here. And Anastasia wouldn’t have let him out unless she’d been able to separate him from Thames.

“I woke up.” Dakota shrugged. “Seemed strange to me, but I figured I would go surprise Anastasia.”

“You mean, Ana.” Shane’s eyes narrowed. “And how would it be a surprise? She would have had to let you out, right?”

Dakota laughed. “I’m so out of touch, aren’t I? Yes, of course I mean Ana. She let me out after I woke up, to get some fresh air.”

Shane reached behind his back for his sword and cursed. He hadn’t strapped it on when he’d come out to sit by the tree. He wasn’t on patrol, so it completely slipped his mind.

Dakota reached back and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m guessing you aren’t buying this?”

Shane stared. “Let’s go see Anastasia,” he said hesitantly, taking a step forward. If Dakota was in there anywhere, he’d come out. He had overcome Thames before when they’d rescued him. Surely, he could do it again.

“Nah, I don’t think so.” Dakota moved toward him, and Shane backed up.

“And why’s that?”

“Because I have other plans.”

In the blink of an eye, Dakota was inches from Shane, his hand gripping the back of Shane’s neck.

He twisted, escaping the grip and slamming his fist into Dakota’s cheek. After recovering from the move, he braced himself for another attack.

“You know, being inside his head”—Dakota tapped his fingertips to his temple—“I am privy to all of his thoughts and memories. Seems you always had a hard-on for the Sorceress, didn’t you? Even after you two became buddies, you still hoped she’d end up with you.”

Dakota moved toward him.

“Not true, I moved on. Dakota knew that.”

“Did he? Because from where I’m standing, he never trusted you.”

Shane ground his teeth together. “You’re a liar.”

Dakota shrugged, stalking toward Shane as a predator sized up its prey. “I guess we’ll never know. I bet your Sorceress will grieve your death, won’t she?”

Dakota crossed the distance between them and pressed his hand to Shane’s chest, just above his heart.

Pain surged through him, freezing him in place. His body felt like it was on fire as invisible flames climbed up his body and centered on his heart.

“I know she is a healer, but tell me, Fighter, can she heal you if your heart is ripped from your chest?”

Shane’s breath caught in his chest as his heart rate picked up. Sweat beaded on his forehead and spots swam in his vision.

Off to the side, Violetta stood in a gown of pale pink. She smiled, and lifted a pale hand in greeting.

A tear slipped down Shane’s cheek as Dakota ripped his hand from Shane’s chest.

After a brief moment, the pain was gone, replaced with an overwhelming sense of peace. Shane fell to his knees, the jarring motion shaking more tears from his eyes. As he began to fall back, Violetta appeared beside him, bathed in beautiful moonlight.

“Come with me, my love,” Violetta said softly, extending her hand to him.

Shane took it, and everything went black.

The final installment is coming!

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From The Author

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Jessica

About the Author

Jessica Wayne was born and raised in southern California where she and her family trained horses. She grew up traveling to different competitions, as well as showing sheep and rabbits for 4-H and the FFA.

After moving to Texas with her family, Jessica joined the Army National Guard where she served for seven years.

From the moment her grandmother introduced her to Nora Roberts’ wonderful world of romance, Jessica knew she wanted to create her own stories and share them with the world.

She has been writing full time for the past four years, and is a stay at home mom. She currently resides in Texas with her husband, their two children, and their dog.

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FANTASY

A Tethered Duet

Collateral Damage

Their Own Time

The Prophecy Series
phoenix
fighter
sorceress
siren
unity- Coming Soon

Co-projects

Star-Crossed

Amria

Supernova

SUSPENSE
the corrupted series
deceived
concealed

Terminated- Coming 2019

Betrayed- coming 2019

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

A Year Of Love

Available on AudioBook

Deceived

A Tethered Duet

Collateral Damage