The female stepped closer, and Salem hunched his back, showing his teeth. The female tilted her head and flicked her wrist, sending lashes of water circling around Salem. Salem watched the water cautiously, biding his time to attack. Butwhen the water fell away, the drops of liquid rained down on him, going through his body.
“This creature truly isn’t part of the shadow folk,” the female sighed, her face pinching. Her gaze slid to mine, carefully taking me in. “What is it?”
I blinked and shook my head. “I’m…not sure,” I winced. “He just showed up one day and hasn’t left my side since.”
“And you’re not afraid of it?” She asked as she walked closer to Salem, staring at him inquisitively.
Salem took a step back to stand closer to me, my hand reaching instinctively to pet his back. When my fingers moved along his midnight hair, Zarina lunged quicker than I could see, grabbing my wrist to stare at my hand. My magic pulsed at her sudden movement, erupting around us, blinding me.
Horror washed over me, and I pulled my magic back, panting under the strain. The light quickly dissipated, and I blinked, letting my eyes adjust to the low light. My ears rang as panic started taking over my mind. The last time I lost control, people were injured, people died. My breath felt sharp, and I called out to Samian and Kieran, my voice weak and trembling.
Soft, warm hands cupped my face. My vision finally cleared, and my gaze found Samian’s. Pressure built behind my eyes, burning, but I blinked back the tears. My hands roamed along his body, looking for any signs of injury. If he was hurt—if anyone was hurt—I wasn’t sure what I would do. But I couldn’t find anything; there was no blood, no scratches, or bruising. Samian was completely fine.
Wrenching my gaze from his, I looked around him to find Kieran making his way toward me, uninjured and safe. My knees buckled, and Kieran cursed, catching me before I could fall.
“We’re alright, Princess,” he whispered, holding me tight against his chest. “We’re alright. Zarina and Daelan were able to put up a barrier before any of us got hurt.”
I held onto Kieran, my fingers clenching his shirt as I buried my head in his chest, nodding.
“Kieran, we need to move this conversation elsewhere,” Vivi said softly. There was a strain in her voice that made me pull away from Kieran to see the damage I had caused. Catching the worry in my features, Vivi gave me a soft smile. “We’re all okay, but your magic could have caught the attention of some less-than-savory creatures. To be safe, we need to move elsewhere.”
Kieran nodded, his gaze slipping from Vivi’s to mine as the crimson in his eyes darkened. “Let’s return to the manor. Go directly to the council room. I don’t want anyone to know about Sybil’s presence in the camp. Zarina, Edris, you know your way there, or do you need Viv to take you?” A smug look shifted over his features, his voice turning arrogant, though he kept his eyes on me the entire time. I fought against the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Edris scoffed while Zarina sent him a low growl full of warning. “Careful not to antagonize us, Kieran. WhileImay be a master of patience, Zarina is not. She will tear you into shreds, and I will not stop her. She also has a bone to pick with you after the last time we were all together.”
Breaking away from Kieran’s stare, I looked toward Edris and Zarina, both disappearing in smoke and water. Vivi walked to the others, disappearing with them as well, leaving only Kieran, Samian, and me in the forest.
“Who were they?” I asked cautiously, still staring at the empty spot in the clearing.
“Edris and Zarina are a few of the gods from the Seelie Court. Edris?—”
“The God of fate,” I breathed, whipping my head back to Kieran, surprise littering across my face. “Ivara told me about him!”
“Don’t get too excited, Princess,” Kieran growled, turning to where the gods once stood. “It makes me want to rip his arms off and feed them to that creature of yours.” His jaw clenched, and I could see him fighting to restrain himself from doing just that. I saw it in Samian as well, though he was better at keeping it hidden. I noticed it, though, in the way his mouth twitched as he stared at the ground.
Ignoring Kieran’s threats against the God of Fate, I heaved a sharp sigh. “Salem,” I corrected with a frown.
Kieran and Samian’s heads whipped toward me, confusion twisting their faces. “What?”
“That’s his name,” I murmured, jerking my chin toward the shadow cat. I wasn’t sure what had happened to him when I lost control of my magic, but now he sat beside me, watching the forest.
“You fucking named it?” Kieran growled. “That creature is dangerous.”
“I know that,” I scowled. “ButSalemisn’t dangerous to me. Toyoumaybe, but not to me.”
Kieran sighed, his nose wrinkling with distaste as he stared down at Salem. “The creature?—”
“Salem,” I interrupted, “is fine and has protected me…in his own way. And I would appreciate it if you didn’t call him a creature.” I paused, waiting for Kieran to argue back, but when he huffed his acceptance, I nodded and continued. “Tell me about Zarina.”
Samian laughed, coming up behind me, putting his hands on my waist. I leaned back into his chest, my heart fluttering from their nearness. “Zarina is a dragon,” Samian said, continuing where Kieran left off. “She is a goddess of water. Both she and Edris are part of the council for the Seelie Court.”
“Dragons are real?” I asked, my stomach dropping.
“Yes, and they are all assholes and best to be avoided at all costs if you can help it,” Kieran muttered spitefully.
Samian snorted, his hands wrapping around my stomach, pulling me closer to him and away from Kieran. “Kieran is only saying that because he is the idiot who dared to cross Zarina. He trespassed into her hoard with Edris, and it almost cost them their lives. Dragonsdon’tmess around with their treasure.”
“He transferred me inside a volcano,” Kieran spat. “That doesn’t count.”
