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“It's cute you think you're a match for me. But lucky for you, I still want your help. Saladriel, darling, I'm sorry things didn't work out for you. I can see you're unhappy. I will revoke your bond.”

He stiffens behind me, and surprisingly, it's him that stops her. “We didn't work out because I wouldn't let her get close to me. It's my fault goddess, not hers. Please don’t punish her.”

“Well, I really thought I was onto something. But if a woman like that can't even save you, I guess I need to adjust my plans.”

I just know she's going to do something bad.

And whether or not Saladriel actually likes me, I'm fond of him and I feel protective of him.

I won't let him get hurt because of something he had nothing to do with.

“Goddess, we simply need more time together.

I can make him happy, I know I can. It's just been difficult trying to focus on school and all the other distractions around me. It was thoughtful of you to bring us here so we can focus on being together.”

I've guessed her game, and I made a risk, but it's going to pay off. I know it will. It has to.

In the last few weeks that Saladriel’s been with us, I've been giving him space. I didn't want to push him, didn't want to pressure him into anything. Especially because I knew he was with somebody else. Or at least I thought he was.

I'm not even mad that he lied, because I'm sure he did it for a reason. He did not ask to be entangled up in this anymore than I did, and I'm not going to fault him for trying to stay safe the easiest way he could think of.

But now, I feel like it's imperative that we play along with the goddess’ game or things are going to end very badly. Probably for both of us.

He seems taken aback when I spin suddenly and throw my arms around him, embracing him for probably the first time. I hold him and I let him feel the tremors in my arms, let him know that I'm scared too, but to also reassure him that I'm not going to give up on him.

Whether he admits it or not, he reacts to me. I know we can't always help the way our bodies react to things, but the faint taste of his lust tells me he's at least somewhat fond of me as well. I can work with that. And sometimes, a surprise kiss works miracles.

Now that I know he doesn't have somebody waiting for him, I can kiss him the way I've been thinking about since I got his mark.

He's breathless when I finally pull away, but he's definitely smiling a bit. And I can feel the black lines in my arm burn just a little bit less.

“There. That wasn't so hard, was it? This is all televised, by the way. Say hello to your fans, darling.”

I have no idea where the screen is, no idea where the recorder is, or what angle people can see us from, but I want them to know I genuinely want to help them.

If it's within my power. Whatever's causing Glittertopia to not be sparkly and happy, and I think we all know the root cause, it feels like it would be a lifelong dream for anybody to rescue a planet full of unicorns.

Almost as nice as a basket full of kittens.

Damn it. The kittens.

I hold out my arm with the blue orbs glowing under my skin, taking stock of the actual lumps now situated there. They’re firm and a little bit warmer than the surface around them. “What am I meant to do with these, then?”

“I'm so glad you asked. These are your embers. All eight of them. One for each of your mates that are currently visiting my home. If you want to free them, you’ve got to play the game. Easy as that.”

“And how do I play?”

“Unfortunately, you can't do anything until the marks from my sister on your other arm are satisfied. If you want to rescue your mates, you've got to make the ones with you right now yours first.”

“You do know we all have lives in our own world, right? You took the headmaster of an entire school. That's going to cause absolute chaos if we don't return immediately.”

She waves me off. “The second you stepped through that portal, time stopped over there. Not a second will pass while you’re over here. I did that so you can give all of your focus to what I need. Everything there will still be waiting when you get done.”

That’s surprisingly... helpful, actually.

“So we’re here. We were sure that we had to travel all the way to the portal in order to rescue my mates.

Now you’re telling me it was all for nothing because you’re what, not ready for me to compete in your games?

Am I the savior you chose for your realm, or am I not? ”

She sighs, and for a moment I see past the facade that she’s wrought upon herself, the true face she hides.

She looks defeated. “It’s simply not that easy.

The magic in my realm won’t be able to take root until the magic from the other realm is satisfied.

And if you’re thinking you’ll simply waltz out of here, back to your home, and rally up a force you think capable of defeating me, think again; the portal behind you is currently locked and will remain so until I am satisfied. ”

There’s an oomph behind me and I turn to see Rush face down in a cloud, ass in the air, while he munches on the cloud he’s sitting on like it’s actual cotton candy.

He’s got a dopey look on his face, and I just know this is the result of him taking me in the back of my dad’s car.

Bit of a delayed reaction, but if this is all he’s going to do, I’ll consider myself lucky that at least one of my mates doesn’t go absolutely batshit when we have sex.

“You going to handle that?” The goddess asks, pointing to the demon.

I wave her off. “He’s fine. Of course we’re trapped here. What do you want me to do then? Have me and my mates stare into each other’s eyes until we feel something move within our chests? You can’t just force a bond to manifest. It takes time. It takes experiences. It takes… fuck . Rush, no!”

And there it is.

He’s shifted to his standard demon form with blue skin and slightly different features, has stripped, and is now bouncing from cloud to cloud, streaking and yelling, “Wheee!”

“Good luck with that. Come find me when you’re ready.”

The goddess poofs into thin air, leaving me with a group of people that I apparently need to find a way to fall for. Or at least get close enough to them to claim them with my magic.

“He’s headed for the village of elders,” Saladriel says with a hint of amusement. This quickly turns to concern though as he thinks about it. “It’s basically a retirement community. I’m a little concerned him running through their clouds so…naked, will cause some heart complications.”

Perfect. Exactly what I need right now. “Alright. Lead the way, unicorn expert. I have no idea how to navigate these clouds.”