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“Hang on,” Sam said. “You’re, like, mated to Vad?Dude!That’s awesome!” He tried to high-five her. “That’s why you haven’t gone nuts!”

Liz reached out and touched Ella’s knee. “You have to save him.”

“I damn well do not!”

“Whatever you think, he did what he did to save you. That’s his primary goal. That’s all I see.”

Ella swallowed hard.“Bullshit.”She pulled away. “I have to go. Is the portal by the Bay Bridge still working?”

Even as Feehan was promising her backup, she left and magicked herself directly to the portal. She could probably get there without one, but this wasn’t the occasion to be trying new things. Time sometimes moved differently in Otherworld. She might arrive and find Vadim hadn’t even got there yet or that he’d already fought and died. Not that she cared. Not that the bastard owed her anything…

Then why was she so pissed at him? Because he hadn’t believed in her after all? She swiped at something wet on her cheek. Dammit, was shecrying?

Had she really fallen for all his shit about forever together?

Apparently she had.

She checked her weapons and stashed a silver dagger in her back pocket. Didn’t he know that saying about scorned women and revenge? She’d go to Otherworld, kill Adam and reclaim her face by herself. If she did see the slimy worm, she’d make him grovel and beg for forgiveness before she killed him with his own magic. Buoyed by this magnificent image, she stepped into the portal.

“Otherworld central, please.”

Within a heartbeat she was stepping out into a wide paved square with a fantastic fountain set in the center of it. She’d arrived at this point in Otherworld once before, so was familiar with the layout. The sky overhead was a bruised purple and filled with storm clouds. Warily, she approached the statue, which depicted a male Fae dominating a female. She angled her head to study the face of the woman who appeared to be having an orgasm. Or was she? Clutched in the female’s hand was the hilt of a dagger that had already pierced the male’s side.

“Checkmate.” Ella murmured.

“Indeed.”

She spun around to see the still-beautiful-but-elderly woman she’d met briefly on her last visit to Otherworld. This time the Fae queen mother was unattended. Not that it mattered. Her power was immense. She wore a pale yellow gown made up of a thousand floating panels that shifted and mutated at will. Her dark hair was unbound and reached her waist.

“You are cygnet’s mate.”

“So he says.”

“I am his grandmother.”

“He already told me that.”

The female raised her chin. “Did he also tell you who I am?”

“Don’t you mean, what you are?” Ella studied the older woman. “You’re wearing a crown, so I guess you’re Fae royalty. Do you want me to curtsy? The thing is, I’m not in a curtsying kind of mood at the moment.”

“Why are you here?”

“Don’t you know?” Ella pointed at herself. “I want my face back. Where’s the creature called Adam?”

“Where is cygnet?”

Ella grimaced. “What is it with you Fae not being able to answer a simple question? I have no idea where Morosov is, and I don’t care. Iwantmy face back.”

“He is not with you?”

Ella pretended to look around. “Nope. He left last night with Adam.”

A tiny wrinkle appeared on the queen’s perfect brow. “That wasn’t what we agreed.”

“I don’t actually care what you agreed. I simply want to find Adam.”

The Fae queen studied her. “I’m afraid I can’t let you meddle.”