They laughed, the two moving closer together, as they naturally did. Cam and Gretley were the sort of couple that had to be touching, always within the orbit of one another. I liked that about them. I also liked that they were blessed as true mates. The Great Mother clearly didn't care that they were both female. And if she didn't care, no one else better.
Or I'd destroy them.
Leading them over to sit on a flat stone bench, I relaxed back. "Tell me everything that's been happening?" I said.
Over the next few hours, they talked about their lives in their jeweled homes. They'd been learning their duties, getting to know their families, and arguing over where they would live. The whole “jeweled lands don’t really mix” thing no doubt made it more difficult, but it seemed both lands were making an effort to work something out.
“And neither of you have been mistreated at all?”
We’d all been in the system at some point in our lives. Cam had it easier than Gretley and me— not that I knew for sure with the emerald princess—she was very contained, only sharing her darkest times with her mate. Fair enough too, I had not shared my worst days with them either, not in any sort of detail.
“Not even once,” Gretley said, shadows dancing across her eyes. “I keep waiting for the darkness to rear its evil ugly head, but it doesn’t seem to exist.”
Our eyes met, and it was there I saw familiar demons. That was how I knew she’d been through something similar to me.
"It’s amazing,” Cam said, bubbly as always. “Even our relationship has been no issue. Our families are searching out a neutral location for us to build a house, and we’ve already started our design, incorporating both stones."
"We're strongest around them," Gretley added, rubbing a hand across Cam's arm, before intertwining their fingers together.
"I do feel stronger," I admitted, "but the changes I can see on my body … it's jarring. You spend well over two decades believing a certain version of yourself, and thenbam, you're something else. It takes some getting used to."
Cam snorted. "Girl, we knew you were a princess the first moment we saw you. You just have that regal, commanding sort of beauty. People naturally gravitate toward you.”
I hated compliments, but I also hated people who carried on about getting them, so I tried not to do either. "Thank you. I thought both of you were the nicest, kindest, most genuine people I'd ever met, and the time we hung out in the sanctuary is always going to be some of the best days of my life."
"So far," Cam gently reminded me. "Only the best so far. You have so many more in front of you. You haven't peaked, love, not even a little."
I wished I could accept that. Anxiety had an insidious hold, and at times I couldn't escape.
"The jewels help," Gretley said seriously, picking up on some of my thoughts. We were close enough that our bond was partly functioning. “They eased our anxiety, and I’m starting to think it might have been our separation from them in the first place that made all of us so highly strung."
Highly strung.The polite way of putting it.
"I believe you," I told her, meaning it. "I'm going to embrace the jewels, give it a real try. If that works out the way you and my parents believe, then I might be able to return to Earth and be the fey worthy of Jacob Compass."
Their eyes got wide as they focused on me completely.
"Holy shit," Cam said, leaning closer. "Tell me everything. Right. Now."
My laughter filled the air around us, and with a smile I couldn't wipe off my face, I started talking and didn’t stop until the sky darkened. This conversation with my sisters was exactly what I needed, and with it came a new resolution.
Tomorrow I would be ready.
Tomorrow I would embrace the jewels.
15
Jacob Compass
Atask force was called the day after the president’s email arrived. We met in a neutral area near the Bahamas. I was almost certain that whoever claimed this zone as neutral between all the supernatural territories did so because of the absolute stunning beaches across this small island.
The island, Isle of Mages, had been under supernatural ownership for centuries. The landscape had changed in that time, according to the old maps, but the island itself remained almost the same: white sand, crystal clear turquoise waters, and an abundance of fruit trees that would feed a community.
A few years ago, we'd added huts over the water and some other recreational activities for the leaders to utilize during these meetings, but today there would be no time for water sports. We had serious business to attend to.
"Lots of Guild members here today," Tyson said, leaning closer to murmur in my ear. The head of one of the African nations was close by, and his vampire hearing was second to none.
"Yeah,” I nodded, watching the humans gather together near the back of the room. “I think it's smart to bring in the human side. They might see something we don't, especially those that already work in the government."
