∞     ∞     ∞

The portal dropped us just outside of the fae lands’ capital. We landed in a field, and a warm breeze brushed across my skin. I inhaled, my nose tingling. The wind carried pleasant scents that I didn’t recognize, and a pale-green sky stretched across the horizon.

Ahead, the capital sat on a large hilly mound which swelled and stretched upward like a mountain. Houses and shops lined the rising landscape, thousands of stone-walled and thatched-roof buildings stretching along zigzagging streets, and at the top of that large hill perched a castle where the king and queen lived.

The castle shot up from the ground, its spires like thin rockets ready to launch. The combination of the beautiful golden walls and imposing structure was an architectural marvel.

And seeing that reminded me of Major Bavar Fieldstone. I wondered how his request to his aunt and uncle was coming along. The one in which he was hoping to allow entry for the Supernatural Forces to catch Jakub. Perhaps if we failed, the SF would succeed.

“Can you conjure your portals now that we’re here?” I asked. It was at least a quarter mile to the capital’s gates. The entire city was surrounded by a tall wall, sentries guarding each entrance point.

“No, not here. My portal-conjuring ability is limited to earth.”

“Bummer. Should we run to the gates since we can’t portal transfer? Seems like such a short distance that it would be a waste of a portal key.”

He gave me a crooked smile. “Race ya.”

I let out a squeal of surprise, then annoyance, since of course he didn’t wait for a fair start. But I quickly called upon my wolf’s strength and speed and flew after him.

Her magic pulsed through me as the fragrant wind whipped through my hair, and in a second I was on Kaillen’s tail, but since we were moving so fast, it only took a few seconds to reach the capital’s gates.

Kaillen ground to a halt near to the sentries that guarded the gate, then grinned when I slugged him in the shoulder. “That wasn’t a fair start.”

He gave a mock pout. “Don’t be a sore loser, colantha.”

“I wouldn’t be if you didn’t cheat.”

His eyes flashed in amusement, his demon rolling in that fire. “Since when do I fight fair?”

I rolled my eyes. “Noted, your half-demon-highness. I’ll remember that for next time.”

He chuckled. “I’ll make it up to you tonight in bed.”

Despite willing myself not to respond, my toes curled.

Threading his fingers through mine, he tugged me forward.

In front of us, the gate’s large golden bars rose from the paved walkway. Two imposing sentries guarded the entrance, the sharp points of their long spears glimmering in the bright sun.

Their dark eyes stared down at us from their commanding height—a height that surpassed my mate’s. The sentries’ golden skin was on show in their miniscule clothing. Both had heavily muscled chests which were exposed through their leather strap-like attire that only covered their groin area and part of their shoulders. Gold helmets, which matched their skin, adorned both of their heads.

When we stood only a few yards away, the sentries widened their stances and extended their spears toward the center of the gates, creating an X.

A loud clang reverberated through my body, and then a push of strong magic barreled into me. It felt as if we’d hit an invisible wall.

“State your reason for visiting the capital,” the sentry on the right said.

“We’re here to find a few of my friends,” the hunter replied.

Something changed in the sentry’s eyes as he studied my mate and the weapons strapped to him. The sentry’s dark irises whirled, turning to shimmery silver. A rush of magic stole over my senses as they assessed Kaillen and me for treachery.

The magic dispersed, the sentry’s eyes returning to their original inky-black color. With a swift movement, the two sentries simultaneously pulled their spears back to their sides.

“Proceed.”

∞     ∞     ∞

Kaillen led me to a salopas—the fairy version of a bar—in the Huntsmen Quarter. We ducked into the front entryway as rancorous laughter came from within.

I followed him into the dim interior. My werewolf senses adjusted immediately, sharpening the shadows into contrasting lines until the entire establishment appeared flooded in bright sunlight.

A long purple-hued bar ran the length of the room with a few supernatural patrons seated on the stools, and against the opposite wall, two full booths were filled with a large group of fae well into their drinks. The fairies were all howling with laughter, but other than that, the bar was vacant. It was obviously too early, and the capital’s citizens were probably still at work.

A lone bartender stood behind the long bar, but there were no other staff. As was typical in salopas, magically enchanted trays floated throughout the room, serving the dozen customers seated. Waitresses weren’t a thing in the fae lands.

Kaillen strode toward the back corner, not even pausing. In a discreet booth, two supernatural men sat at a horseshoe-shaped table drinking leminai. I hadn’t spotted them when we’d come in.

The green drink was half gone in both of their glasses. I’d had the fairy alcoholic beverage on occasion but knew better than to indulge in more than half a glass. The stuff was potent enough to drop an elephant. Although, now that I had a werewolf’s metabolism . . .

Hmm, perhaps I would have to retry that beverage, but obviously on a different occasion.

As we approached the table, I studied the two men. One was tall and lean with dark auburn hair cut close to his head. Chiseled cheekbones sat high on his face. His skin was pale, and he had eyes that nearly glowed indigo.

When we reached them, a subtle scent of decay rose from him, making my nose crinkle. So Auburn Hair was a vampire.

The vampire grinned. “Old friend! To what do we owe this great occasion?”

“Are you two free for a job?” Kaillen leaned casually against the wall by their booth.

The second guy was a hulking yellow-haired fairy with hazel eyes and pointed ears. “Always.” He raised his glass in salute to Kaillen, then eyed me curiously.

I gave a small sniff in his direction. The subtle fragrance of spicy magic clung to him—the scent of a fairy apparently since Bavar had smelled similar.

Auburn Hair picked up his glass and drained it in one gulp. A glistening drop of the bright green liquid sat on his lip. His tongue darted out as he licked the single droplet. As soon as he finished, his eyes cut to mine, and the corner of his mouth tilted up. “Does this job have anything to do with this lovely lady accompanying you?”

A slight throb began in my core, the vampire’s magic swimming toward me. Auburn Hair, who I was guessing was Barnabas, wasn’t compelling me, but his sexual energy was on full power.

A low growl came from Kaillen as I called up my witch magic, letting it swim through my veins and blanket my senses. The vampire’s pull diminished, and the pulsing desire in my clit faded.

I smirked. Despite my mate’s concern over what Barnabas would do, this wasn’t my first rodeo.

The vamp’s eyebrows rose.

I smiled sweetly.

The low growl that had been filling my mate’s chest disappeared, and Kaillen slid into the booth beside his friends as he dragged me in with him. It wasn’t lost on me that he kept me close, a possessive arm slung low around my hips. “To answer your question, yes, this job has to do with my lovely lady. Barnabas, this is Tala.”

The vampire’s indigo eyes swam with interest as he assessed me with predatory ease. “Nice to meet you, Tala. Barnabas Galvenstein, at your service.” He perused my body, his gaze skating up and down my frame as his smile grew.

Kaillen’s nostrils flared. “Keep your perving to yourself.” Before Barnabas could respond, Kaillen nodded toward the blond. “Tala, that’s Fallon.”