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“Yeah, but imagine all the changes you would see.”

“That may be true here on Earth, but Evyndral never really changes. At least it didn’t when I was there. I can’t wait to talk to Yari and find out what happened after the battle.”

They spent the rest of the flight talking about their lives.

Anthony explained about being a private investigator and the jobs where he was hired as protection.

He told her about Gregor’s brothers and cousins and all the trouble they had when getting their mates.

Celeste came out of the cockpit a few hours into the trip and fixed them a big lunch.

She asked Elle questions while Tony had his mouth full.

The female had that maternal instinct all the mates possessed, showering Elle with warmth and hugs.

He had no doubt she and Cruz had listened to their conversations, but they weren’t talking about anything private.

The closer they got to Norway, the more excited Elle became.

She removed her bag from the overhead bin and excused herself to the bedroom.

When she returned, she wore a flowing, bluish-gray dress.

Her braids were even more elaborate, and her face sparkled as if it was covered in a thin coating of glitter.

His mate was otherworldly. Since Elle was from a different realm, that made sense, but he had never encountered someone as striking.

“Should I have dressed up?” Anthony was in his usual black T-shirt and jeans he wore unless he was on a job that required something less casual.

Elle cupped his cheek. “You’re perfect. I just wanted Yari to see the younger sister I was before I was taken to Winterhaven.”

Anthony took Elle’s hand and placed a kiss to her palm. “Where did you get the dress?”

“From a thrift store. The one I was wearing when we came through the portal was old and drab, so on the first trip Grevolus allowed me to make solo, I found this secondhand shop that had vintage dresses. I keep it hidden in my duffel so he won’t find it.

I can magic the wrinkles out.” Elle shrugged like it was no big deal.

“I’ll buy you as many dresses as you’d like,” he offered.

“That’s really sweet but not necessary. It’s not like I have anywhere to wear it.

I thought it would be nice to remind Yari of home.

” Anthony didn’t miss the wistfulness in Elle’s voice.

He couldn’t imagine a world without all the luxuries of Earth like indoor plumbing, electricity, and vehicles. Maybe she preferred the simpler life.

Cruz called out that they would be landing soon, so Anthony pulled Elle down beside him.

He fastened her seat belt, even though if something were to happen during the landing, Tony would keep her safe.

Elle grabbed his hand when the landing gear dropped, and relaxed once they were taxiing.

She was chewing her bottom lip as the jet came to a stop.

Anthony squeezed her hand. “Nervous?”

“A little. Thran knew I wasn’t helping the dark during the battle, and I’m sure he and Yari spoke about that.

Still, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen her.

” Elle unbuckled and turned to look out the window.

They had made good time, but it was close to six thirty, and the sun wouldn’t be up for a couple of hours yet.

Being a Goyle, Anthony could see several people waiting outside the hangar of the private airfield.

There was no doubt the tall blonde was Elle’s sister.

She was dressed in jeans, leather boots that came to her knees, and a hooded parka.

It was her long hair and pointed ears that gave her away.

Yari might have almost eight decades on Elle, but they could pass for twins.

“By the smile on Yari’s face, I’d say she’s as excited as you are.”

“You can see her?” Elle leaned closer to the window.

“Gargoyle sight. Wait. Do you have a coat? It’s cold out there.”

“Only a jacket, but I don’t want to ruin my appearance.”

“I think your sister would rather you be warm than stylish.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said with a little heat, so Anthony let it go. He stood and held out his hand. Elle’s grasp was firm as he led her to the door where Cruz had already lowered the steps. Before they reached the ground, Yari was sprinting across the tarmac.

“Elledan!” she yelled. Elle froze briefly, then released Anthony’s hand and rushed down the stairs, into her sister’s open arms.

“Oh, Yari.” Elle hugged her sister as she burst into tears.

Anthony closed the distance as Urijah, Banyan, Brent, and a pretty brunette approached from the opposite direction. If the female was a dragon princess, she didn’t scream royalty the way she was dressed down.

“Anthony, good to see ya.” Banyan, the Norse Gargoyle King, held out his hand. Anthony inclined his head in respect before shaking. Next was Urijah, who looked like the Viking he was.

When it was Brent’s turn, he placed his hand on the female’s back. “Anthony, good to see you again. I’d like to introduce my mate, Princess Cassiopa of Evyndral.”

Anthony placed a fist over his heart and bowed his head. “On my honor, Princess.”

The female giggled. “Thank you, Anthony, but please call me Cassi. And gratitude for bringing Elledan to reunite with Yari. It’s been too long since the sisters were together.”

Anthony kept Elle in his sights as he explained, “I wish our reason for visiting was merely for a reunion.”

“Yes, Travis explained the sigil. If Tovin’s body hadn’t dropped beside the portal, we would have assumed Grevolus hid himself and Elle. Queen Zarina reopened the portal, but they were nowhere to be found.”

“If she reopened it into Norway, you wouldn’t have found them. Somehow, they ended up in South Carolina in the U.S.”

“Tovin’s demise must have messed with it then. Yari has already spoken with the Queen, and she is ready to receive Elle.”

Elle and Yari approached with their arms around each other. “Anthony, this is my sister, Yaricelan. Yari, please meet Anthony Stone, my mate.”

Surprising Anthony, Yari pulled him into a fierce hug. “Thank you, Anthony. I’ve been so worried about Elledan.”

He patted her back while looking at Elle who was being hugged by Cassi. Once Yari released him, Elle took her place, wrapping her arm around his waist. Tony introduced the Gargoyles to his mate, who all fisted their hearts and vowed their honor.

“When can we see Queen Zarina?” Elle asked Yari.

“She is waiting for us, but we need to be somewhere private to open the portal.”

“Let’s head home, then,” Brent offered. He held out his hand, and Cassi took it easily. Anthony didn’t know if they’d completed the bond, but they were comfortable around Brent’s uncles. If they’d been courting for four years, they should be.

“Let me grab our bags,” Anthony offered.

He jogged back to the jet, where Cruz had placed their luggage at the bottom of the steps.

Banyan approached the pilot and his mate.

Anthony introduced them, and Banyan vowed his honor to Celeste before holding his hand out to Cruz.

“Marcie, a friend of ours who runs Brynna and Travis’s hotel, has a room set up for you.

You can either borrow one of our vehicles and drive yourself, or we can take you. ”

Cruz inclined his head. “If it isn’t out of the way, a ride would be appreciated. Once we get to the hotel, we’ll remain there in case Anthony needs us.”

Banyan grinned. “You won’t lack for company with Marcie and her brother, Lawrence, to keep you entertained.”

“Let me stow the plane in the hangar, then we’ll be ready.”

“Why don’t you and Elle go ahead with the others? Urijah and I will meet you at our house later,” Banyan offered.

“Sounds good.”

Anthony grabbed their bags and stowed them in the back of a large SUV. Brent helped Cassi into the passenger seat, so Tony, Elle, and Yari slid into the second row with Elle in the middle. Yari grabbed Elle’s hand. “Tell me everything that happened to you after leaving Summerland.”

Anthony had heard most of what Elle went through, but she gave her sister even more details, including how she convinced a raven to take a warning to Yari at the royal castle.

“That was brilliant,” Yari cooed.

“It was, if a little frightening having this large, black bird swoop down onto the dining hall table,” Cassi added with a chuckle.

“I wasn’t sure if Novus would understand the directive, but I had to warn you, and I’m so glad it worked.”

“You and me both. Without the advance notice, I doubt we’d have won the battle. With your warning, I was able to send my own message to Queen Zarina. She sent Cassi and me through the portal, then took the other guards to help Thran and Rhoan.”

“What about Melisandra? And what happened to the dark who weren’t killed in battle?” Elle asked.

“Queen Zarina killed her sister and sent the dark who fought with her to another realm where their brother rules.”

They turned off the road onto a narrow drive that led through some trees.

The drive branched off in two directions, and they veered right.

“Banyan and Uri’s house is down that driveway,” Brent said, pointing to the left.

“My parents’ house is this way, and Cassi and I built a house about a mile past theirs. ”

When they stopped, several people were waiting outside Travis and Brynna’s home.

Anthony recognized them, having met the Norse crew several times over the years.

Brent’s younger siblings, Jaxon and Tovi, were standing with Brent’s twin, Trinity.

With them was Nova, one of Banyan and Urijah’s older adopted kids.

Anthony exited the SUV, holding out his hand for Elle. Once she was introduced, Brent said he would take their bags inside while they went to see the queen, but Nova assured him that she and Jaxon could handle the duffels.

Yari lifted a pendant from her chest and rubbed the stone. The air whooshed, and a circular vortex appeared close by.

“Whoa. I hate to say it, Sweetheart, but that’s even cooler than your magic.”

Elle smacked his chest, but there was no heat behind it. To Yari, she asked, “Is Tony allowed to accompany us?”

“You will need to glamour him to appear as a D?nthúlú. Queen Zarina isn’t ready to explain humans and their world to our people.”

Elle waved her hand in front of Anthony, and Brent laughed. “That never gets old. Nice ears, by the way.”

“Let’s go.” Elle grabbed his hand and gestured for Yari to lead the way.

Yari stepped through the portal with ease.

Anthony and Elle approached, and he took a step into the unknown, but Elle released his hand.

Maybe they had to go through separately?

He waited beside Yari, but Elle never came through.

Anthony returned to the other side to find Elle dusting off her dress.

“Elle?”

She looked at him with tears in her eyes. “I can’t go through the portal.”