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Any monsters worthy of Helia’s attention are typically powerful, but I can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. There’s a refreshed energy about her.

No, that’s not just rejuvenated energy. She has new energy.

“What aren’t you telling me?” I ask her with a raised brow.

Her eyes glitter with delight. “Guess.”

I blow out a breath. “Helia.”

She rakes her fingers through her hair as she gives me a softer smile, one I haven’t seen on her in a very long time.

One that comes from a place of happiness.

“Bernard didn’t tell you?” she asks, but she knows he couldn’t tell me whatever it is she chose to share with my Raven instead of me.

That’s not his fault, though. I’ve been in the Dream Realm for days.

She finally chooses to end my torment and spits it out. “I found my mates, Cain. At least, I found two of them.” She tilts her head to the doorway. “They’re both enjoying the spa level. I sensed you’d be invading my space tonight.” She eyes the broken glass on the floor with distaste. “They’re human. I didn’t want your brutish beast to break them.”

I go silent. I take no offense to her concerns about my beast around fragile humans, but I can’t ignore the impossibility of this coincidence.

What are the odds that the Monster City Queen and the Elite City King both find mates after centuries of failure?

“I wouldn’t dream of allowing even a hair to be harmed on your mates’ heads. I offer you my congratulations.”

She hums in reply. “Congratulations to you as well.”

That might be a little preemptive of her. As powerful as Helia is, I doubt she understands the depths of my predicament.

“Don’t you find it unusual? Both of us finding mates, I mean? There could be foul play.”

She shrugs. “Perhaps. Who do you suggest would be interfering with fate?”

“Have you met any Gods recently?” I ask. I mean it in jest, but she doesn’t laugh.

“I’m about to meet with one,” she replies, surprising me. “But he seems as lost here as the rest of us were. If there is a deity meddling, I don’t think it’s him.” She tilts her head as if she’s pleased with herself. “He’s… interesting, though. I think you’ll like him.” Her eyes glitter with delight as I try to keep a straight face, but it’s as if the Monster City Queen can read my mind. After how many centuries we’ve known each other, she practically can. “Would you like to stay and discuss the circumstances of a budding new alliance? I promise it’ll be interesting.”

“I’m sure it will be,” I say as I adjust my cuff links. “But I trust you to handle monster affairs.”

I don’t mention that I doubt I’ll be remaining in this plane for very long. Helia might know me well enough, but I’ve never given up my city.

Not even when I lost control and my beast destroyed everyone and everything in Vulcan Village. That place is now a pit, nothing more than crumbled ruins at the edge of my city.

I remind myself of those ruins. Of what little memories I can pull up full of shredded dreams and splattered blood.

Because that can never happen again.

I’ll find these dreamwalkers. I’ll help them get to Scarlett, and then I will leave.

For good.

My city will run on its own for a time even without me. Bernard would let Helia know when a replacement needed to be found, once he was satisfied I wasn’t returning.

I’ll slip away like a lost nightmare, never to return again.

Taking Helia’s hand, I brush her knuckles with my lips. She remains perfectly statuesque with inhuman stillness as she watches me.

“Farewell, Queen Helia,” I say.