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Every time I hear her voice, it’s the greatest gift any inmate could ever receive. The truest blessing for a monster trapped in this unending nightmare prison for damned souls, who are now pitted against each other in a war that has no victor, no end, only pain.

So much pain.

Chapter41

Bianca

“Nico… my Nico… I’m going to get you back. I promise. So just hold on. You’re mine and I’m yours, and nothing and no one can keep us apart.”

“Honey.” My dad’s voice crashes through my dream.

I flinch from sleep, sitting up so fast I get dizzy.

“You’re okay,” my dad soothes and then sits on my enormous couch. “You were dreaming.”

My heart pounds as I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to get back into that dream, to remember the feeling, the connection. “I thought I felt him. Nico. I thought he felt me too.”

Dad’s eyes are knowing and tinged with sadness. “Love’s like that.” Then he pats my hand. “I’m sorry to wake you, especially since it appears I interrupted something important, but your monsters said we’ve reached an inn and that our steeds need tomeditateand center themselves before we continue.”

His face skews humorously. “I’m picturing some super funky downward-facing dog, followed by interpretive dancing, possibly with a tambourine and some burning incense.”

I blurt a laugh and lean into him. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Mistress,” Bastien says excitedly from the now-open carriage door, “I get to eat in aninn!”

“Yes, you do, and I’m fairly certain you can order everything on the menu.” I rise from my seat, taking Bastien’s hand so I don’t trip on my way down the steps in my lovely green traveling dress—just now realizing that I match the interior of the carriage.

I’d heard quite a bit of chatter before stepping out of the carriage, but once on the ground with Bastien, everything becomes eerily silent and all eyes are on Bastien and me.

“What’s going on?” I whisper to him.

Into my ear, he softly says, “You know how humans would feel if Santa, the Easter bunny, leprechauns, and a dragon climbed out of a carriage in the middle of Times Square?”

I chuckle. “I’m thinking SWAT teams, the National Guard, and every fruity cult leader who’s prophesied the end of the world would descend upon the place. Violence would definitely ensue.”

Bastien laughs freely, snuggling into me. “Too drastic—let me try again. How about if your favorite actor really were a sea god and remained loyal forever to thatflying lizard-loving queen with the violent tendencies…andthey showed up in a golden carriage in Times Square?”

“Oh, now I see. Yes, that would be big, exciting news, with no SWAT team,annihilate-them-immediatelyvibe.” I breathe in the delicious scent of him that makes my mouth water and other parts of me tingle wantonly.

Bastien shivers in response to my sharp and then shuddering breaths as our song becomes all sorts of frenetic.

“So we’re like rock stars,” I say giddily, leaning to kiss his lips that taste surprisingly like a strawberry milkshake. I can’t stop myself from tasting him, giving everyone—except my dad behind us—quite a show.

“Exactly,” he murmurs between kisses. “Human women and Tarans—both are exceedingly rare. A human womanwitha Taran? That’s unicorn-sighting rare in this realm. And now we’re both here in their village about to dine attheBrooketon Inn.”

My face attempts to mirror the same jubilance that’s overtaken Bastien’s, but eventually, it adopts a more bewildered expression that is totally authentic.

Bastien kisses my nose. “Right, sorry, the Brooketon Inn is a legendary waystation between the four quadrants of our land. Admiral Ignatius C. Brooketon was a legend himself, but that’s for another day.” Bastien is babbling so goofily that I can’t help but feel like we’re floating even when we’re still on the ground. “Alltravelers in the realm visit the Brooketon Inn.” He beams. “We’re about to be seriously big news in theentirerealm—news that may reach the queen before we do.”

“Wait… are we like celebrities now? Do we have to worry about paparazzi chasing us and taking our pictures?”

“Nope. The only cameras in the realm are in Clumberton Castle, but if anyone tried to take your picture without permission, Archie and Pennie would behead them and mount their lifeless skulls.” He winks at me. “I don’t think you ever need to worry about your privacy is all I’m saying.”

I wrap my arm around Bastien’s. “Did I mention that I love it here? And that I love you?”

Bastien’s excitement dims, overtaken by a deep contentment. “I love you too, Mistress.”

“Aren’t we the lucky ones now?”