Page 5

Luca stepped forward and dipped into a practiced bow, his blonde-streaked hair spilling over one shoulder.

“Allow me to be the first to say how absolutely stunning you are.” He rose, warm honey eyes meeting mine.

“If you’ll allow me?” He reached for my hand with tattooed fingers—a striking contrast to the dark green of his jacket.

He pulled it toward him, his warm smile faltering just long enough to place a kiss on my knuckles.

I stood frozen. The touch of his hand, the playful gleam in his eyes, and that damn charming smile sent a flush of heat coursing through me.

I managed a mumbled, “Thank you,” that infuriated me.

I’d never let men get to me like that before.

A momentary weakness I’d have to move past quickly if I wanted to survive in this place.

“You’re monopolizing the lady’s time, my brother,” Nico’s gruff voice cut in, breaking the spell. “Michaela, I’m so glad you could join us.”

“Thank you for inviting me. I hope I’m not intruding. I know this is a difficult time for?—”

“Let me look at you.” He interrupted, taking my hand from Luca’s.

He whisked me away from the others and spun me around in front of the fire.

“Perfection. Hiraeth suits you. Red is most certainly your color—like a dahlia in full bloom.” He leaned in close, brushing a loose curl from my neck before whispering in my ear, “And you smell positively divine.”

The warmth of his breath on my neck set me on fire. If I hadn’t been blushing before, my face was surely the same shade of scarlet as my dress.

“This is exactly what I’ve been talking about, Nico,” Fallon snapped. “This girl is yet another thing on a long list of distractions. You’ve had your time to play. Now you need to focus on this family.”

Nico let out a low growl. “I’ve always put the interests of our house first and foremost.”

“Devoting all those years in Neverland was in whose best interest? Spare me. You were running from your responsibilities.”

“I was expanding our kingdom abroad. The beasts now have a foothold in Neverland and a loyal ally.”

“Neverland is weak. Pirates and pixies are no match for what we’re up against.”

“Might I remind you, sister,” Luca interjected, “we were also keeping an eye on Lucius. He may be a rebellious little shit who ruined our plans when he got himself exiled, but he’s still our brother.”

Fallon blanched and took an unsteady step back at the mention of Lucius. The room fell into a tense silence.

I felt like an intruder, eavesdropping on a deeply private conversation. But my curiosity was piqued. I considered Lucius a friend, but I knew next to nothing about him—or any of the princes, for that matter.

Hunter stepped toward his sister, an empathetic look softening his rugged features. He’d lingered back in the shadows as the others talked, but Fallon’s reaction lured him out. He brushed his dirty blonde hair back, before resting his hands gently on her shoulders.

“We should’ve come back sooner. We should’ve sent word before we brought a human…” His gaze flicked to me. “Before we brought Michaela back home. We fucked up. And I’m sorry.”

Fallon looked at him for a brief moment before shrugging off his touch and pushing his bearded chin away. Composure returned like armor snapping into place.

“You all stoked the ember, and now we have a full-blown fire on our hands,” she said, ignoring his apology.

“Do you know the kind of cover I’ve had to run for you since you broke our laws?

The nobles are using her arrival to spread rumors about the sickness that’s broken out among the peasants.

Without Nico’s decree protecting her, they would’ve sacrificed her already. ”

Now it was my turn to blanch. Was that why the guards were stationed outside the visitors’ wing? Not to keep me in—but to keep out those who wanted me dead?

“What are you all talking about?” I asked, unable to stay silent. I was sick of them speaking as if I weren’t standing in the room. So many questions demanded answers.

“It’s nothing, Mic. An outdated law my father passed a long time ago,” Nico said, trying to brush it off.

“It’s time we buried it for good. My father was a great king, but he had his flaws.

He was a purist. He thought it best to keep our realm separate from others—especially the non-magic ones like yours. ”

“I didn’t come here to cause trouble. Take me back to the portal. I’ll go to Neverland. Back to my sister. I’m sure I can find help there.”

“Absolutely not!” Nico and Luca said in unison.

“We have the best healers here,” Nico added. “You must stay so we can get you the help you need.”

I leaned into him, lowering my voice so only he could hear.

“I’ve already outlived my time. Every day past that is a gift.

I’m sure there’s a healer in Neverland. Or I’ll keep using the faerie dust until it stops working.

I don’t deserve anything more than that.

It’s not worth tearing your kingdom apart. ”

Oddly, I felt at peace as I laid it out.

Death had been calling my name for years, and yet I’d found a way to cheat it over and over again.

Someday, my luck would run out. There had always been something freeing about knowing you were dying.

It simplified things. It was almost a mercy, compared to the uncertainty now stretching out before me.

Nico held my gaze, his warm eyes searching mine before he spoke—slow and deliberate.

“We made the right choice bringing you here. I will get you healed if it’s the last?—”

His words were cut off as the doors burst open.