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Octavia soared high in the air above one of Nova’s portals, watching while camouflaged as the vampire coven spoke with the two dragons who guarded the portal.

She’d promised Tiber she would watch the asshole Charles leave with her own eyes and she wouldn’t let him down. She’d have done this anyway for Mia. The human was kind in a way she hadn’t expected.

That was mostly based on her own biases, but some truth from what she’d heard of humans from reputable sources. She should have known better, however, considering one of their own princesses now lived in the human realm and was thriving there.

In a place called New Orleans she hoped to visit one day. Perhaps Mia would give her some tips on things to do while there. She watched as the vampires finally crossed the portal. The flash of light indicating their exit, the last thing she needed to see.

She turned away, heading toward the stronghold where she needed to meet with Cyprus and unfortunately, Nolan.

He’d been a beast to deal with ever since the party and had kept asking about Asa, clearly jealous of him. Yet Nolan hadn’t made a move on her.

And while she had no problem making a move when it came to sex, she wouldn’t when it came to her future mate.

They were dragons, he had to chase her, and it was clear that he wasn’t going to. So she was doing what she always did, compartmentalizing her feelings.

Hell, she’d been doing it since she was a dragonling found abandoned on a floating block of ice in the middle of a dead realm.

She had no idea who her family was or where she came from.

And it didn’t bother her anymore. She had her family.

She’d just thought maybe… she might get more. But it seemed as if that kind of life wasn’t for her. She wasn’t going to get to build a future with someone or have dragonlings of her own. And she would eventually be okay with that.

Thanks to a strong tailwind, it didn’t take long to reach the stronghold.

Cyprus, Angel, Nolan and Juno were all waiting in the meeting room for her.

“Vampires are gone,” she said as she strode in, not making eye contact with Nolan because it hurt too much. “What do I need to know?” She kept her focus on Cyprus.

“Starlena made contact. We might have a problem in the north.”