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But I don’t.

Des gave me the benefit of the doubt only minutes ago. I can do the same for Temper. So I hold my tongue and wait for her to act.

My friend’s eyes snap open, and all at once, the flames of the explosion extinguish, as though they were nothing more than birthday candles being blown out.

Temper’s irises dim, and the glowing red lines that streak through them now begin to recede. Her skin stops sparking, and that hot, overbearing power of hers finally reels itself in.

One moment she’s a savage sorceress, and the next she’s just my friend.

She lets out a faltering breath. “Callie,” she exhales.

That’s all I need to hear. I close the last of the space between us, wrapping Temper in a hug. Her skin feels like sunbaked sand under my touch. She grips me tightly.

“God, I was worried about you,” she confesses.

“I’m so sorry,” I say. I have valid reasons for vanishing on my friend, but I never meant to distress her.

“You’re going to tell me about the wings,” she says as we hug, “and how you’re a soul mate, and how the hell you ended up here. Then and only then can I promise you I won’t fry your boyfriend.”

Now that the imminent danger is gone, I hear the drumming of my pulse. What would’ve happened if I hadn’t come along with Des? What would’ve happened if Temper hadn’t listened to my pleas?

I squeeze her tighter. “Fair enough,” I say into her shoulder.

Around us, fairies are beginning to drop to the earth before cautiously creeping closer. I don’t know how many seconds we have left to ourselves.

I pull away from her. “I can’t believe you blew up a portal to the Otherworld.”

She flashes me a devious smile. “That’s just called making an entrance.”

Chapter 17

Several hours later, after many death threats (both to and from Temper), a near incarceration, and a whole lot of explaining, Temper and I are with Des and Malaki in one of the Bargainer’s private rooms.

Temper crosses her heels over the armrest of the wingback chair she’s in, her back resting against the other armrest. “So let me get this straight: you two”—she points to me and Des—“are soul mates, but you couldn’t get together for a stupidly long time because this one”—now she points to me—“made some ridiculous wish. And right after you both finally got together, she”—me again—“was thrown into a fae prison, and some psycho king decided to give her wings”—and scales and claws—“and you”—she points to Des—“killed that asshole, but now you”—me again—“are stranded here.”

“She’s not stranded here,” Des says darkly. He sits in another chair, his forearms resting heavily on his thighs.

Temper guffaws. “Like she can just waltz her feathery self around LA.”

Malaki steps forward. “Why don’t we talk about the pressing issue at the moment? You obliterated one of the Fauna Kingdom’s portals and held a fairy hostage.”

Temper folds her arms, eyeing the fairy up and down. “If you want an apology, you’re looking at the wrong girl, compadre.”

A knock on the door interrupts the conversation. Des waves his wrist, and the door opens.

The fairy on the other side bows. “My king,” he says. “Lord, ladies.” He dips his head to each of us before returning his attention to Des. “There are Fauna fae soldiers at the palace gates. They’re demanding the sorceress’s arrest.”

And that marks another attempt at incarceration.

Des rubs his chin. “I refuse to hand her over,” he says.

“My king—” the fairy begins.

“The sorceress is an honored guest and thus has my protection and that of my kingdom,” he says. His eyes flick to mine. “Any damages her arrival incurred will be paid in full from my personal coffers.”

My breath catches. He’s so obviously doing this for me. Just when I thought it was impossible to love him more…

Malaki’s eyebrows go up. He assesses Temper, who’s giving him a considering look.