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“Perfect timing,” Lock commented as she set down two enormous steaming mugs and a sampler plate of pastries. “Help yourself. I’ll be upstairs in my apartment. Let the plants know if you need anything else,” the owner insisted, walking to the door, flipping the sign to closed, and locking it behind her.

Monstera jumped to her feet and squeezed Miko in a tight embrace, then took her hand and led her to our table.

My skin prickled as my veins heated with jealousy, and the ever-present darkness hovering on the edges of my psyche deepening. Part of me hated their casual, platonic friendship. I could admit, at least to myself, that my morose mood heavily tainted my usual cheerful persona.

“Did you,” I cleared my throat. “Did you get my note?”

“I did, but I haven't had a chance to read it yet,” Miko responded, not meeting my eyes.

My hopes fizzled into nothing as my shoulders slumped. What do I need to do to prove to her that I would never leave her like that on purpose? She's my mate, but as a human, I wasn't sure if she felt the soul bond as intrinsically as I did.

“Nope, that's enough, you two,” she said Monstera admonished. “This,” she flicked her hand between Miko and I, “fucking tension between you two is too painful to witness. Shit, I can feel it trying to slither into my aura like I’m guilty by association. For now, let's put all of our emotions away so we can speak objectively and form an actual plan of attack.”

“Fine,” Miko and I said together, her cheeks pinkening.

My mate sighed, pushing her hair away from her face where it clung to her lightly sweat dampened forehead. “Hot tea? It’s at least ninety degrees out, Mo.”

Monstera snickered. “But now your surrounded by magically cooled air. Chai tea is best drunk while hot anyway.”

Miko hummed noncommittally, jumping in her seat as a kale green vine, laden with soft orange flowers, lowered above her mug, unfurled a shiny, round leaf, and deposited several ice cubes, then patted her on the head and returned to the ceiling. “Um, thanks?” Miko grumbled.

Monstera and I shared a look as I struggled to tame my laughter. Fuck, just being in the room with my Miko makes me feel better than I have in days.

“Careful, Honeybee, you don't want to piss off the plants,” I teased.

She stared at me blankly, but I didn't miss the way her lips twitched or how she gradually leaned closer to me over the table as she fidgeted with a rubber duck boasting a blue mohawk in her lap. I reached for a chocolate dipped biscotti just as Huff winked onto the table, stealing it from my grasp. “You’re lucky I like you, Little Shite. That biscuit is bigger than you are.”

My best friend rolled his eye and chomped, making quick work of his snack.

“Anyway,” Monstera said, “I think I've found a solution to your Heechu Hunter problem. Well, Miko and I both did.” She nudged Miko with her shoulder. “We all know that the HHC, as my Fated B dubbed them, has been using portals to capture people in fairytales.”

I growled, taking long drink of my tea and draining it in one go.

Monstera’s eyes bounced between us. “The point is that we need to make a plan but we're going to need help. A lot of it. And you two,” she said, gesturing with her mug, “have to be getting along.”

Huff grinned, displaying his many rows of sharp, white teeth as he brushed biscotti crumbs from his fur with his paws. “The Heechus are ready to do whatever is needed, Witchy.”

Miko’s bestie smiled at him. “Good, because we're going need it on this side of the portal. Hopefully, very soon you'll get your magic back.”

Huff sighed. “I hardly remember what it feels like to have a full well of power. It's been centuries.”

I picked him up and snuggled him against my cheek.

My leg bounced erratically, the urge to devour my mate consuming my thoughts as I watched her swallow thickly and look at Monstera. “Explain something, please. All of these fairytales…are they each in their own realm or are they collectively in a single world on one plane? How does all of that work? From my understanding thus far, all I know is there is reality, or the Human Realm, and the fairytale one. Right?”

I listened intently, curious about the answer as well. Monstera grinned at her bestie. “Yes and no. The Human Realm, as does the Fairytale Realm, exist on two separate planes of reality, but there are also endless worlds, realms, and timelines stacked next to each other like books squished between two bookends.” She sucked in a breath.

“Mo,” Miko admonished lightly, leaning into her side.

“Oops,” the witch laughed and flapped her hand dismissively. “Buuut, that’s not important right now. Anyway, that is the majority of the reason time moves differently in both places, and we have various changes to the environment, like weather.” She paused, her hands flying wildly as she spoke. “However, the potent magic of their world, which I don’t know if Bane has told you, is the most powerful source of magic in existence.”

Miko raised her hand as if she were in class, causing me to chuckle and her to side-eye me. “Yes, he told me when we first met.” A soft blush rose to her cheeks as she no doubt remembered our conversation while she snuggled on my lap in the library’s reading nook. “But why would the HHC steal the Heechus’ magic when they could’ve gotten more from the Fairytale Realm?”

“I’ve always been curious about that, too,” I added.

Monstera smooshed her lips to the side and aqua magic wove between her fingers. I eyed it warily but assumed it ebbed and flowed with the witch’s emotions, either way she was no threat to my lass and I took comfort in that.

“My coven, and several others I’ve spoken to since we were in Peter Pan, have been discussing the same subject,” Monstera informed us, tapping the side of her teacup with a baby pink painted nail. Honestly, it could be as simple as fulfilling their vendetta against the Heechus or ease in which they are able to extract their powers.”