EMMA I turned around to see everyone watching the scene unfold. I blushed under their scrutiny, but I kept my head held high. I was not a snobby Princess, but I was a Princess. I was the Alpha Princess. I might not understand what all that entailed yet, but I definitely was it. I was also Luna Emma. I was a mate, a best friend, and a mentor to an awesome little dude. “We want to wish the birthday girl a happy one indeed,” the singer on stage called out into the mic, breaking through the tension in the room. Everyone looked at me expectantly, so I waved at them. There were now probably five hundred or more spectators just in here. It was the largest crowd focused entirely on me that I ever encountered. I kept a smile on my face even though I wanted to run from the attention. With Kai beside me, I could do this. His hand was firmly planted on my lower back so that I could feel the sparks to keep myself centered. I was not certain if humans could truly feel mate sparks or if it was b

EMMA “Um…” I frowned, looking around the bedroom of Selene’s puppet. Kai’s jaw clenched, showing a singular muscle tighten that ran from his ear to right underneath his jaw. His eyes darkened, just slightly, showing me what the temporary loss of the bond could not. He was worried. As much as he loved me, my mind, and my everything, this was not a place he wanted to spend the rest of our days. I could not blame him either. This was mild compared to the demons that lurked inside of me. Selene was nothing compared to those, and I wanted to get out before their welcoming committee came. “Just kidding. That’s what the Toslati is for,” I winked, waving it in my hand. I walked over to the doorway and drew three large sigils along the frame just as Barachiel had done. Portal jumping had never been my favorite thing, but it was useful in times like this. Over the centuries I preferred to either fly everywhere or use a nifty little sigil I created to give me incredible speed and just run.

EMMA I hugged Papa back and took a minute to relax into his embrace. I missed him so much. As much as I missed him, I could not imagine what it had been like for him. He always had to see me from afar. Sure, he raised me for nine brief years in Blacktree, but after that he had to leave. He saw me in Blood Moon, but it was from afar once again. “Thank you, Papa. I will be back soon. Xander, will you come with me please?” I missed him too much, and I needed a moment alone with him. I also needed his clarity. Right now, I was not sure of much, but I knew he could ground me. Both of my mates had that ability, but Kai had been with me in the dreamscape while Xander had been left alone with Ethan. I wanted to make sure that he was okay. I hated to think of the pain this had caused him. No matter how much he tried to show that he was okay, I still saw the pain behind the mask. It was not something we would forget in a quick moment, but we would move past it. We had to. “Of course, love.”

EMMA “Emmaline,” Papa greeted me warmly. He stood from the head of the table and pulled out a chair beside him for Xander so that I could sit in between my mates. Kai had not changed, but he did lose the jacket, undid the top three buttons, and rolled his sleeves up. The revelation in the suite really made this moment even better. He caught me staring but did not stop it one bit. A hand from both mates found my thighs and squeezed since they could both feel my lust. ‘Behave, and we’ll give you your heart’s desire tonight, love,’ Xander promised me. Having them both with me made my heart full. I gave them both a peck on the cheek, and they looked at me with smirks because they felt my determination. I was bound and determined to get that reward. The three of us were together again, and I could not be happier. Across the table was Ethan who was talking animatedly with a guy I had never seen before. He caught me staring and smiled at me, nodding his head. The guy patiently waited fo

EMMA Both of my mates held me to them, and I felt safe. My breathing was evening out, and the pain in my body had left. My hand already healed, but Xander placed a kiss to where Kai had to bite it. Knowing now what the shadow was, and what it did, made me far more concerned about the situation than when I was ignorant about it. The Nokaura were no joke. They thrived in chaos and pain. They enjoyed filleting their enemies, and they did that to me more times than I could remember at the moment. The seven times that I fell in battle was because of them. I was certainly not looking forward to those memories coming back. What we saw them do in those dreams was child’s play compared to what they truly enjoyed doing with their enemies, and everyone was their enemy. That was why Selene needed to be taken out of the equation. She was aiding them and making them stronger. “When I was thirteen, Heath and Ezekiel began regularly dosing me with an unknown black substance. Were you there the day