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W hen Elle approached the portal, her sigil tingled, and Anthony’s hand was torn from hers as she was thrown backward, landing on her butt.

Cassi rushed to her. “Are you okay?”

Elle shook her head, tears filling her eyes. She pushed to her feet, wiping grass off the back of her dress. Tony came back through the opening, his eyes landing on the glowing sigil. “Elle?”

“I can’t go through the portal.”

Tony’s hands fisted at his sides. “I’m going to kill the bastard.”

“Get in line,” Yari said, also returning from the other side. She traced a gentle finger against the sigil, but her eyes were filled with fire. “I’ll go get the queen.” Yari stepped into the portal, and it closed behind her.

Elle placed her hands over her face, and her shoulders shook as she sobbed. Tony gathered her into his arms, pressing his cheek to her hair.

Cassi joined them and hugged Elle from behind. “The queen will sort this out. Do you want to go inside to wait? Or I can grab you a coat, if you wish.”

Now that she mentioned it, Elle was cold. February in Norway was no joke. “That would be—” A portal opened, and Queen Zarina stepped through, followed by Yari.

Elle dropped to one knee. “My Queen.”

“Rise, Elledan of Summerland. I and our people owe you our lives, as do the Royals.” Elle got to her feet, and the queen held out both her hands.

“You have my utmost gratitude, Elledan, and I will do everything I can to help you now.” She turned Elle’s arm, inspecting the sigil.

She then held her hand against the mark, her power flowing against Elle’s skin.

The sigil glowed, and Zarina cursed under her breath.

“This is darker magic than I have ever encountered. Tell me exactly how this came to be and what Grevolus said to you.”

“We were hiding from the humans after first arriving on Earth, trying to figure out how we were going to survive with no money other than the few pieces of gold Grevolus had. I made a language translator out of driftwood, and when I handed it to him, he said it seemed he had chosen the right D?nthúlú to bear him a child. I asked how he knew what my mother’s gifts were, and he admitted how he watched several female D?nthúlú to see who had what gifts.

He chose my mother for hers, glamoured himself to look like Ballymar while he was away helping you.

I became upset at him speaking so nonchalantly about tricking my mother into sleeping with him, and fireballs erupted from my hands.

I wasn’t aware I could conjure fire. He removed his dagger from its sheath, and while I was staring at my hands, he grabbed my arm and carved the sigil.

He said he could find me anywhere, and that if I killed him, I would also die. ”

“I will need to confer with the elders since you cannot go through the portal. Yari, do you have parchment and ink? I need to make a rendering of the sigil to take with me.”

“I’ll get it, Your Highness,” Brent offered.

Zarina snapped her head up, glaring at the male. “Princess, is this the young male who has you spending all your time away from Evyndral?”

“Yes, Queen Zarina. This is Brenton McKenzie. Brent, the D?nthúlú Queen, Zarina.”

Brent placed a hand against his heart and bowed his head. “It is a pleasure. Now, if you’ll excuse me...” He took off jogging toward the house.

“And who is this strapping fellow?” Zarina asked, gesturing to Anthony.

“Anthony Stone, My Queen. He is my mate.”

Anthony also bowed his head. Zarina stepped closer and held out her hands.

“May I?” Anthony didn’t hesitate to allow the queen to touch him.

She placed her hands on his shoulders and closed her eyes.

When she stepped back, she smiled at Elle.

“A fine match. The beast within is strong and honorable.”

Brent returned with a notepad and pencil, presenting both to the queen.

She took the pencil, examined it, shrugged, then sketched a perfect likeness of the sigil.

Yari held out her hands for the notebook, and when Zarina handed it to her, Yari tore the sheet from the binding and held it out for the queen.

“I cannot promise a time in which I will return, but I will speak with the elders immediately upon my arrival in Springmire. I will figure out a way to remove the sigil, Elledan. It is the least I can do to repay you for your bravery.”

“Thank you, My Queen.”

Zarina waved a hand, opening another portal. She stepped through, and it snapped closed behind her.

“Well, fuck,” Tony muttered. Elle shivered, and Tony wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Let’s get you inside where it’s warm.”

Elle didn’t protest. The inside of the house was pleasant with a fire going in a large stone hearth. Elle stopped in front of it, warming her hands, while Tony rubbed her upper arms. Elle leaned her back against his chest, relishing his strength.

Yari removed her parka, hanging it on a hook by the front door. “Why don’t you change out of your dress into something more comfortable? Unless you only wear dresses?”

“No. I have regular clothes. I wanted to remind you of home in case you hated me.”

“Why would I ever hate you, Little Sister? You heard the queen; we owe you. And even if we didn’t, you will always be the brat who traipsed after Thran and me, even when you thought you were hiding.”

Elle smiled at Yari, but her heart was heavy. She had been so sure the queen would remove the sigil, freeing Elle from Grevolus. Now she was convinced more than ever she would never get away from the bastard.

“Come on. I’ll show you where you’re staying.

” Yari tugged at one of Elle’s braids. Tony turned Elle, taking her hand, and they followed her sister upstairs.

When they reached the intended room, Elle noticed both hers and Tony’s bags were on the bed.

She should protest, but she needed his arms surrounding her when they slept later.

Thinking of sleeping, Elle couldn’t stop from yawning.

“Brent mentioned a time difference?” Yari asked, leaning against the doorframe.

“It’s a little after midnight back in the States, but if I could have a nap, I’ll be good to go in a couple of hours. If the Queen returns—”

“I promise I’ll wake you.” Yari pulled the door closed, and Elle wrapped her arms around her middle.

Tony stepped up behind Elle, resting his hands on her upper arms the same way he’d done downstairs. “Do you want to nap alone, or would you mind some company?”

Elle turned into his chest, resting her forehead against his hard pecs. “I would prefer if you stayed.”

“Do you want to change in the bathroom, or would you prefer if I stepped out into the hall?”

“Neither.” Elle took half a step back so she could place her palms on his chest. “I want you to make me forget about the stupid sigil for a while.”

Anthony pressed their foreheads together. “Sweetheart, I would love to take you to bed and ravish your body, but my beast is already being a pain in the ass just being close to you. If we get naked, I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold him back.”

“You mean he would claim me?” Elle tried to hide her smile, but she failed.

“Yep. Unless you’re ready for the bite that ties us together, I should probably let you nap alone.

I can sit over there.” He gestured to a comfy-looking recliner next to the window.

“Let me say one thing first; you’re afraid if Grevolus kills you, that will take me out too, but I would rather claim you and have you for a short while than never know what it’s like being mated.

Wow, I never thought I would say that,” Tony admitted.

Elle’s smile fell. “And why is that?”

“I’ve never worried about finding my mate. Until I met you, I was content with my life. I have a great job, the best family in the world, a cool-ass house in the middle of the woods, and please don’t get angry, but I haven’t lacked for female company.”

“Meaning you have a lot of sex.”

“I wouldn’t say a lot, but okay. Maybe I have been a little promiscuous.” Tony ducked his head.

“Why would that make me angry? You’re a handsome male. You’re young. Sex is nice.”

Tony’s eyes snapped to hers, and Elle rolled her eyes. “Don’t get angry at me, either, Mister.”

“I’m not angry, Sweetheart, but if you think sex is just nice, you haven’t had the right partners,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.

Elle giggled, placing both hands on his cheeks and scratching his beard. “You’re saying sex with you will be better than nice?”

“I guaran-fuckin’-tee it. In all seriousness, I would be honored to claim you as my mate for a few days or for several hundred years.”

Elle moved her hands to the side of Tony’s neck, rubbing her thumbs along his jaw.

“I’ve lived the last fourteen years doing as Grevolus bade.

I need something that’s all mine, and that is you.

Instead of living in fear of him killing me, I want to live in hope.

I want to feel alive instead of merely existing.

If you have no doubt about the future, however long or short it could be, then I would be honored as well. ”