Anthony knelt beside the bed and removed Elle’s boots.

He kicked his own off, pulled his phone out of his back pocket and placed it on the nightstand, then climbed on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

“Come here.” When he opened his arms, Elle slid closer and rested against his chest. Anthony was at a loss for words.

He had never been scared a day in his life, until now.

Anthony could wield a sword. He had claws that could rip a body in two.

Fangs that could tear out someone’s throat.

What he didn’t have was the knowledge or capabilities to combat dark fae magic.

The elder members of his Clan, his parents included, had fought for their mates, but their opponents had been other Goyles or humans.

Sebastian had fought an alpha wolf. Lydia had tackled polar bears.

Anthony didn’t regret Elle being something different.

He was proud to have a fae for a mate, but he didn’t know how to save her, and that chapped his ass.

Anthony reached for his phone and opened the music app, connecting it to the Bluetooth speakers in the bedroom. Instead of choosing his hard rock playlist, Anthony scrolled until he found something softer and more soothing.

Elle was quiet for about half an hour before pressing a kiss to his neck. Anthony thought she was going to continue exploring, but instead she sat up and leaned against the pillows. “Can I see the photos on the phone of your house?”

“Of course.” Anthony pulled up the folder that showed his property when it was all trees.

“Remember how I told you Sebastian is an architect? Rafael is too, but where Rafe builds commercial buildings, Bas creates residences. I told him what I wanted, and he drew up the plans.” Anthony scrolled slowly through the photos, showing each phase from clearing the property, to pouring the concrete for the foundation, all the way through to the final product.

“I love it.”

“When I had Bas design it, I wanted somewhere big enough for my future family. I know I said I didn’t want a mate, but I also knew it was inevitable.

It didn’t make sense to build something small when I have plenty of relatives who would visit.

My parents and aunts and uncles lived in Atlanta a long time, and since they don’t age, most of them moved to avoid having to wear prosthetics. ”

“What’s that?”

“It’s sort of like your glamour, but it’s a physical mask.

Jonas, Lilly’s father, is a doctor and a scientist. He created the prosthetics so he could remain in Atlanta as the chief of staff at the hospital where he worked.

He taught several of us how to make them, and my uncle Julian came up with a voice modulator.

It’s a tiny piece of technology that allows us to sound like anyone.

Tabitha and I use them sometimes in our work.

Anyway, my generation can remain in Atlanta for twenty years or so before humans begin to get suspicious that we aren’t aging. ”

Anthony kept scrolling, showing Elle the interior. “Since this is now your house too, I want you to feel free to make any changes. If you don’t like the furniture, we’ll get new stuff. Don’t like the color of the paint? We’ll change that too.”

“I appreciate that, but I— Why’s it so hot in here? Did the air conditioner stop working?” Elle fanned herself with her hand. Anthony wasn’t hot, but that didn’t mean his mate wasn’t. Before Anthony could get up and check the thermostat, Elle gasped and slapped her arm. “Tony...”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I don’t think Grevolus believed me. My arm. It’s burning.”

“That motherfucker.” Anthony rolled off the bed and hurried to the galley. He picked up the washcloth from earlier and filled it with ice. When he returned to the bedroom, tears were running down Elle’s cheeks. He set the ice against the sigil, and Elle placed her hand on it, keeping it in place.

“Thank you. I tried using my magic to lessen the pain, but it didn’t work.”

Anthony pressed a kiss to her forehead while swiping at her tears with his thumbs. He kissed her lips softly, then retrieved his phone to call Carleigh. She’d have to forgive him for reaching out so early, but this was an emergency. After dialing, he put it on speaker.

“What’s wrong?” Carleigh answered.

“We have a problem. Grevolus called and asked where Elle is. She skirted the truth, but he said her sigil shows her to be somewhere she isn’t supposed to be.”

“I thought you were going to have it removed. Isn’t that why you went to Norway?” Carleigh asked.

“We did. Elle’s Queen tried, but she wasn’t successful since it was done with dark fae magic.

The elders refused to cross the portal against the goddess’s command, so Elle’s sister and the dragon princess have gone to ask for help somewhere else.

We have no idea how long that will take or if they’ll even be successful.

Since Grevolus is expecting her back in Georgia tomorrow, we’re flying back to Tennessee now. ”

“Guess I don’t need to catch that flight to Norway with Tor and Bodi. What do you want me to do?”

“Can you make it appear as if Elle is still in Nashville? At the Compton Suites specifically?”

“That’s easy enough, but what if he shows up in Tennessee?”

“He said the cops came by his place, so now he’s insisting he and Elle have to move. He told her to get her ass back there.”

“You’re not going to him, are you?” Carleigh asked while typing.

“I don’t really have a choice,” Elle said. “If this is him warning me, I don’t think I’ll survive anything worse.”

“Can’t we pay the bastard off? Make a bargain with him to remove the sigil for an ungodly amount of money?”

Anthony thought it was worth a shot, but he didn’t know the male. “What do you think, Sweetheart?”

“We could try, but we’ll need to be careful. He’s evil, and I don’t doubt he’ll try to take the money and not remove the sigil.”

“Carleigh, please reach out to Luna. We should land in Nashville around eight their time, putting us in Atlanta around one or so.”

“You got it. I’ll see you both soon.”

Elle removed the ice from her arm. “Do you think Celeste would make me some coffee?”

“I know she would. Are you hungry?”

“Not really.”

“Okay. I’ll be right back.”

Anthony knocked on the cockpit door, and when he stuck his head in, Celeste said, “I’m on it,” before he could ask.

“Thanks, Celeste.”

Elle had moved from the bedroom to the seating area of the cabin, and Anthony plopped down beside her. He’d never felt so useless in his life. Before he could get too maudlin, his phone buzzed with a text. He should have expected his twin to reach out, what with his mood being as dark as it was.

Elle leaned against his arm so she could look at the screen. “Red Jr.?”

“Tabitha.”

Red Jr.: What’s wrong?

Anthony didn’t want to worry his twin, but she would fret regardless, especially if he wasn’t truthful, so he gave her a condensed version.

Red Jr.: When Cailín’s off her case, I’m going to pass this job on to her so I can help you and Elle.

Tony: I appreciate the offer, but there’s nothing you can do unless you know dark fae magic.

Red Jr.: When the sigil is taken care of, I want my shot at this fucker.

Anthony smiled at his sister’s ire. She had yet to meet Elle, but she was still ready to avenge her. He should have never doubted how she would react to him finding a mate. He needed to remember this moment when Tabby found hers.

Tony: How’s it going with the super star?

Red Jr.: It’s quite entertaining. Trista can’t focus on training for staring at Joey’s muscles.

Tony: You’d think someone like her would be used to hot guys.

Red Jr.: True, but her other movies have been mostly romcoms where the leading actor was handsome but clothed. Nothing like Joey in shorts and a tank.

Joey Palamo was a beast. He was a half-blood, but he came from his father’s Samoan bloodline, and Malakai’s family was something special – a Clan of their own, dating back thousands of years if not further. When they got together and the males performed a haka, it was truly a sight to behold.

Red Jr.: Let me know when you land.

Tony: Will do.

“I thought you were private investigators,” Elle said.

“We are, but we also provide security. Trista Bellinger is filming a movie in Atlanta, and she wanted a female bodyguard.”

“Tabitha must be tough then.”

“That she is. All of our females are. We all trained together growing up. I’d take any one of them to have my back in a fight.

Just like I would be proud to fight alongside you.

” Anthony tapped Elle’s nose, and she gave him a smile, the first one in hours.

After serving their coffee, Celeste returned to the cockpit but not before pressing a hand to Elle’s face again.

Anthony didn’t know the female, but he wouldn’t doubt if she had kids. Her maternal instincts were too strong.

They were about an hour out of Nashville when Elle whispered, “I’m scared.”

Anthony knew this. He felt it through their bond, but he hadn’t wanted to broach the subject.

He was scared too. No, Anthony was terrified.

Instead of admitting it, he called on his Goyle for strength.

He projected confidence and love through the bond.

If anyone had told him even a few days ago he would be in love with a female, he would have scoffed, but he had no doubt what he felt for Elle was the all-consuming adoration he saw between all the other mates. When the fates chose, they chose well.

“I know you are, but I want you to trust your sister, Cassi, and the Queen too. The dragons owe you their lives, and if your goddess won’t help, we have to believe Mórdrake will. In the meantime, we’ll confer with the witches.”

“I’m not doubting someone will eventually remove the sigil, but I have to go back and pretend everything’s okay. I’m not sure I can pull it off.”

“You can. You’re so strong, Elledan. We’re going to get through this.”