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I wave goodbye to the still gaping faeries and go back inside. Ben is a foot away from the door and turns slightly when I enter.

I know he heard everything by the look on his face. It’s a mixture of confusion, concern, and teenage petulance. I nod once at him with a grimace, and he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into his body until our hips bump.

Mitri and Kimi are on one side of the room, facing off against King. Mal is a few feet behind his mate, arms crossed as he watches Ben and me.

I clear my throat loudly to break up whatever stare-off I’m witnessing, and Ben turns his head to nuzzle my hair, hiding his smile.

The other three males look in my direction. One set frustrated, and the other two staring intently from blank faces.

“Kimi?” I begin hesitantly. I know what needs to be said, but with his behavior, I’m not sure how to go about it without added drama. I just lay it out without sugarcoating, hoping for the best.

“Tremaine gave a full description of you to a news station, and they’re airing it everywhere.”

“Who knew trout were tattletales?” Kimi mumbles to himself.

Brushing that aside. “Can you disguise yourself if you go into town… or anywhere off the property. Maybe just all the time?”

“You want me to grow a mustache.”

“No,” I slap my hand over my face and hide my grinding teeth behind it. “You didn’t look like this when you picked me up at the Old Man’s place. Can you just change back into the other form for a while?”

“I lost my glamour when Mitri had me in his kill room,” he explains calmly. “Don’t take off your shoes around him.”

My hand falls from my face as I stare at him, my expression sliding from helpless curiosity to disbelief to frustration and ending in irritation. “Does everybody around here have a damn ring of fuckery?”

“What kind of ring would that be?” King asks with a sly smile, goading me.

“Be right back,” Ben mutters, kissing the top of my head. I would hate how tall he is if I didn’t enjoy cuddling him so much.

I’m a standard height. For a Human, at least. I shouldn’t have to look up to see so many people. How have I not noticed this before?

He turns towards the sliding door, opens his version of a portal, and walks through, disappearing.

“Voodoo,” Kimi nods once as if he’s just confirmed something to himself.

“He can cross realms,” King notes and stares at where Ben last stood. “How was he imprisoned?”

I don’t want to explain about the collar or the Bowels to King. I don’t trust him with information on how to hamper Ben’s powers. Two, I want to be petty.

“He considered it a vacation,” I deadpan, lips flat with annoyance.

“Was he running away from home?” Mal’s perpetual frown turns into a smirk as he uncrosses his arms.

“I’d be upset at that comment, but honestly? He probably was,” I shrug.

“It was a nice thing you did, adopting him,” Kimi says flatly.

“More like he adopted me,” I frown as I think about it. He’s the one who provided me shelter and food, after all. Snuggles. Positivity. Compassion.

Huh. He seriously did adopt me.

“Lots of pets choose a favorite owner,” King’s smile gets wider.

I point my finger at him threateningly, “You, go back to Puppet Ville, population one, or stop trying to stir shit up.”

“It’s like we’re meeting for the first time,” King places a hand on his chest and widens his eyes in faux surprise.

I cross my arms and frown at him petulantly. Oh no, I’m turning into Mal.