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Wait…

“Who else are we waiting for?” Serena asks before I can get my thoughts together.

I hear them before Theo can answer, though I’m not sure she was going to. Actually, as I watch her, I’m almost positive she wasn’t going to.

I look to Serena as I listen for a sign of who approaches, but she’s not where she was a moment ago. Instead, she's at the door, smiling as she pulls it open and disappears outside without so much as a word to us.

Her mates.

That’s the only answer that makes sense given the fact that Pike and Theo let her leave so easily, not to mention it makes sense with what Theo had said.

It only takes a few minutes before Serena returns, and I almost pat myself on the back for managing to stay put while she was gone. She’s strong, and so are her mates, but these woods are dangerous and nothing like they’ve ever experienced. Even mostresidents of the kingdom don’t venture this far, and if they should, well, they don’t often come back.

Serena is all but skipping as she comes back through the door, dragging the quiet twin, Sol, I believe—the one Pike said I would get along with—behind her. His eyes go wide the second he sees the wall of jars before he quickly looks to the table. I think Pike might have been right.

Blair slips in behind him without a word, moving off to the side, his attention on Serena the same way it always is.

I look him over, trying to, I don't know, understand him better, I guess, but there's nothing. His face is blank, his eyes unreadable, and his posture that of someone who is in complete control. Blair could easily lead an army, yet I get the feeling that's the last thing he would ever want to do. He’d much rather stay back and keep Serena safe from the shadows, almost like the assassins in old tales.

His gaze flick toward me, and we lock eyes across the room. I want to look away, but I can’t. I’m stuck, feeling as though looking away will lose me something, even if I’m not sure what. We remain locked in our stare off for long enough that mine begin to water before Serena coughs and we both look away.

Sol has a book in his hand, one of the few down here. It's one of the many I’d written about what can be found in the woods. I haven’t touched it in years, which is why Sol was able to blow a cloud of dust off of it, right into Serena’s face.

Sol’s less nice brother follows Blair in, his face looking like he just sucked on a lemon as he looks around, but he stays quiet as he lets the door fall closed behind him. His eyes soften as he looks at his brother with their mate, and I’m a little shocked that there doesn’t seem to be even a hint of jealousy. I obviously have never had a sibling, but in the books I’ve read, they are often portrayed as frequently butting heads, and that’s just for things like chores, not something like a mate. Storm moves aside, hisback to my wall of jars, and I get the feeling he doesn’t share his brother's love for learning.

Though I do think he shares. I’d noticed it the last time we were in the clearing. Something’s different with the way Pike and Storm are. They seem more open, and I get the feeling it’s not just friendship, as they all already seemed to have come with that from the other realm.

I’m not judging. It’s none of my business, really. If Serena doesn’t care, then who would I be to? But it does seem odd. Pike and Storm seem to be almost as opposite as they can be.

I wonder how they stumbled upon that…

On second thought, no, I don’t. Not everything needs to be broken down and explained after all, and I feel like a creep ninety-nine percent of the time with Serena already. The last thing I need to do is add thinking about them together into the mix.

Serena smiles as she looks around the room. The cabin is much more crowded now, and I can’t help but feel pride knowing she’s happy in my home. It only lasts for a moment, though; my stomach ties itself in a knot as her eyes sweep the room, filling with sadness for a moment. As quickly as it was there, it’s gone, but I hate that it was there to begin with.

Serena is so pure, fierce, and kind that she, of all people, deserves to be happy.

I wish I could make her happy.

Looking around the room, I try to figure out what might have triggered that look. It doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. The cabin might be full, but there are those that are important to her that are missing.

Lyle’s still out there somewhere. I haven’t been able to track him as much now that I’ve been helping Serena train with her shadows. I’ve been exhausted. Using my magic is taxing, whichis why I usually refrain, but that’s not an option anymore. Serena needs me.

I’ve never been needed for anything more than killing and terrorizing people…it’s strange but not unwelcome. I’m not sure there’s anything Serena could ask me to do that I wouldn’t.

It’s dangerous but somehow feels like everything I’ve ever wanted. To have purpose, to be needed as a person, not just as a tool.

Lyle isn’t the only one that’s missing either, buthewouldn’t come here if—

My thoughts are interrupted as Blair moves back to the door and once again pulls it open as if ready to leave.

What is with this guy?

Instead of walking out, he pulls open the door and steps aside. I’m left blinking hard to ensure I’m really seeing what I think I’m seeing.

Garrett, the prince of Anolas is standing in my cabin…

This can’t be right, and apparently I’m not the only one who thinks that because, other than Theo, all eyes are on him.