"Yeah, for once, things actually went well for us. Your mates are great too." I laugh to myself. Out of my sister's mates, I'm closest to her snow leopard mate, Tiernan.
"Yeah, the cat and dog are always scheming together. What happened to cats hating dogs?" Fi yells, trying not to laugh.
Arching a brow, I look shocked at my sister. "You want me to hate your mates? That doesn't make any sense, Princess Craft Herpes..." At the mention of her glitter explosions, Fi chases me around the island. I'm barely jogging, and she's giving it her all. Shifter stamina for the win.
Finally, the time I've dreaded is upon us when Revelin motions for us to head outside. Instead of stopping, I run past him and out into the yard. In the corner of the yard, blocking the trail I would normally take to the field Tiernan and I hunt in, is a portal. Not just any portal—the one my sister is going to walk through.
The twinkling of the portal is a captivating, mesmerizing phenomenon that beckons travelers from our world to the mystical Fae realm. Its surface is a radiant tapestry of light and luminescence. Upon closer examination, I realize it's not just a singular glow but an intricate mosaic of countless tiny, shimmering lights. They're reminiscent of fireflies on a warm summer night, yet they possess an otherworldly quality, twinkling with a sense of purpose. Some blink like stars whileothers flow and weave in mesmerizing patterns, creating an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of colors that defies description.
"Wow..." I stare, amazed at what I'm seeing, and soon my sister grips my hand, staring right along with me.
Glancing over at her, I chuckle. "Your personal rave is more intense than this."
Fi slaps my arm, and I see reality sink in. "Fer, it's time..." Her normally strong voice wavers as she squeezes my hand harder.
I pull Fi to me, hugging her tightly and burying my nose in her hair to memorize her scent. "I'm gonna miss you." Sniffling, I tremble in her arms as she reluctantly pulls away.
"We will find a way to be together for the holidays. Or some prince will be sleeping alone." She glares over her shoulder at Revelin.
"Holidays are on the list..." Revelin types furiously on his phone and then smiles. I can almost bet he just added reminders for the holidays so we can try to make it.
Tiernan and Khol step through the portal, followed by Dezi. Revelin stands at the entrance waiting for Fi as the guys pull me back toward the blacked-out armored car that is apparently Khal's.
I'm fighting the tears that want to fall as I watch my sister reach out and take Revelin's hand. "Be safe, Fluffy... Remember, I am only a pixie away." Revelin smiles as he looks at Fi.
"I love you, Fer!"
"Love you more!"
No sooner are the words out of my mouth than Revelin pulls my sister into the Faerie and, with a snap of his fingers, shuts the portal. I stand there stunned for several moments before Torben wraps his arms around me and guides me to the car. Once inside, Khal is in the driver's seat with Diaval up front. Easton is in the back seat, and as soon as Torben slides in, he pulls me into his lap. His bear rumbles to me, trying to soothe my frayed nerves.
Khal starts the car, and we head down the long driveway. The rustic dirt road winds through the serene forest, departing from the comfort of our home. The path is lined with towering trees, their leaves forming a natural canopy overhead. Sunlight filters through, dappling the road with specks of gold. The earth is covered in a carpet of fallen leaves and twigs as we embark on our journey.
Blackmore, here we come.
Chapter 1
Feray
I watchmy home gradually fade in the rearview mirror.
The familiar sights of my little slice of heaven grow smaller and more distant with each passing moment—the weathered porch where Fi and I shared countless cups of tea, the garden where herbs still grow wild and unruly, the windows that glowed warm on cold nights. The engine hums softly, and the road stretches out before us, leading into the heart of an old-growth forest.
Towering trees surround us, their branches forming a natural canopy overhead. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the road. The air fills with the earthy scent of moss and the sweet fragrance of wildflowers. Birds sing their melodic tunes, creating a soothing symphony that accompanies our journey.
As we drive deeper into the forest, ancient trees stand like silent sentinels, their gnarled roots and massive trunks a testament to the passage of time. The road winds through the forest, curving gently and revealing glimpses of hidden streams and clearings carpeted with ferns. Watching the cabin fade into the distance isbittersweet. It marks the beginning of a journey into my past—one where I have no clue where it will lead.
It's hard to say goodbye to Fi and the log cabin we've come to call home. My chest aches with the separation, a physical pain that pulses with each mile we put between us. When I finally pull my eyes away from watching where we've come from, I look at the puzzle before me. The doctor and the banker—two ancient shifters that are my mates.
Easton sits beside me, his copper hair catching the light that streams through the window. He's a phoenix, and who knows how long he's lived. Every time he resurrects, he becomes young again. That could be a blessing and a curse all the same. At least, that's what the one book I had from school said. So far, half of what the books have told us is true, the other half fiction.
Socially, the book said phoenixes are mostly loners who mate for life like wolves. There's no notation about polyamory in their society. From what I can piece together, it doesn't happen with their people. Which means I'm asking him to go against everything he's ever known.
That brings me to Diaval. He puzzles me more than Easton does. His profile is sharp and aristocratic as he stares at the road ahead, silver-streaked dark hair swept back from a face that could have been carved from marble. Easton at least came out and said he needs time. Diaval, the grumpy dragon, hasn't said squat to me about what I am to him.
He gave me a coin that scares the shit out of anyone who sees it in my possession. Khal told me he noticed Diaval had packed the mug I gave him, so it must mean something. The book said dragons live in flights, and once upon a time, the femalesoutnumbered the males. Now, like with most shifters, males outnumber females.
I remain snuggled in Torben's arms, his massive frame surrounding me like a fortress of warmth. He runs his fingers through my hair as I look at Easton in the back seat with us. The steady thump of Torben's heart against my ear is a metronome of comfort. Just as we emerge from the forest onto the open road, Diaval huffs. "Easton, you better drive. Her anxiety is driving my dragon insane." I wince.Are my emotions are that loud?
