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I f Elle ever got out of the basement, she was going to find Grevolus and curse his evil ass within an inch of his life.

She should have known he wouldn’t let her go easily.

When she walked in the house, she tried to keep the peace by doing what he wanted.

She had only been gone four days, but the house was a wreck.

Packing boxes were everywhere, and upon inspection, most were only half full.

She handed Grevolus the money from the bank, then asked, “What all do you want me to pack?”

“The necessities. I don’t need any of the knick-knack shit.

” He had gotten rid of all Mr. Johnson’s photos when they first took over the house.

The female, whoever she was, had boxes started in the kitchen and living room, and either she had some type of mental disorder where she couldn’t stay on task, or Grevolus had distracted her.

Elle didn’t want to think about how, so she went to the kitchen and packed all the pots and pans first. She didn’t use her magic, though.

Doing so meant she would be finished sooner, and she needed the distraction to keep her mind off Tony.

“Use your magic, Odette. I want everything packed and ready to go within the hour.” That should have been her first clue that something wasn’t right.

Why did he want everything ready that quickly?

Was he planning on leaving without getting the cash from Tony?

Had he decided the money he had saved was enough?

Elle did as he bade, and she had everything boxed up in twenty minutes. While she was busy, Grevolus took a bottle of whiskey outside while she worked. As soon as she was finished, he returned inside and motioned toward the door leading to the basement.

“There are a few things down here that need packing.” Grevolus opened the door and gestured for Elle to go first. She had no choice but to comply.

Being fae, they could produce their own light, and as such, they had never replaced the burnt-out light bulbs in the fixtures.

Elle called forth an orb, using it to guide her way down the steps.

When she reached the bottom, Grevolus pushed her farther into the room. “Go sit on that chair.”

“I thought you wanted me to pack something.”

“You really are a stupid girl. How in Xeníus’s name did you manage to find someone willing to buy you? Did you spread your legs for the human? Did you weave some pitiful story about how your father mistreated you? Sit your ass down, or he’ll find nothing but a corpse’s shell when he returns.”

Elle retreated to the chair, and Grevolus glared at her. He spoke an incantation, and her sigil hurt worse than before. She hissed through the pain, slapping her right hand against the brand. “Why are you doing this?”

“That’s not possible,” he countered.

“What?” Was he trying to kill her?

Instead of answering Grevolus stalked forward and grabbed her arm, staring at the sigil. He spoke louder this time, and the brand burned worse.

“Stop! Please, stop. What is wrong with you?” Tears streamed down Elle’s face against her will.

“Why aren’t you dead?” he yelled, spit hitting her face.

“Goddess help me,” Elle begged. But no help was coming. Only Grevolus’s fist as it slammed into the side of her head.

“At least you were good for something. With three million, I no longer require your services. Have a good life, Odette. Or not.” Elle barely heard Grevolus chuckle, because her world faded to black.

Elle nocked an arrow along the bow string and aimed.

She turned loose, and the arrow hit its mark, dead center.

Gronk . Novus approved, and Elle grinned at her feathered friend.

“Pretty good, huh?” She was getting better every day.

Yaricelan yelled, “Hah!” and Elle turned to see that her sister had bested her twin.

Thran pushed the blade away from his throat, but he was grinning.

The ground shook as horse hooves beat with each step.

Their father pulled back on Dorcan’s reins, and the beast slid to a stop.

“Where is Elledan?” Ballymar demanded as he dropped from the massive creature’s back.

Elle skirted behind a tree, drawing on the shadows to hide her from view.

She couldn’t imagine why he was angry with her.

The tone of his voice was something she’d never encountered.

The twins lowered their swords, and Yari approached. “Father, what’s the matter?”

“Grevolus of Winterhaven is claiming Elle is his daughter,” Ballymar seethed. Elledan fell onto her backside. No. Ballymar was Elle’s father, not some Und?nthú from the winter court.

“What?” Thran stepped up beside Yari. “That’s preposterous. She’s our sister. She looks just like Yari.”

Ballymar’s ire turned to sadness as his shoulders hunched. “That she does, but your sisters both resemble their mother, whereas you are my spitting image. He’s demanding to approach the elders to prove his claim.” Elle slapped a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. It had to be a mistake.

“But that would mean...” Yari didn’t finish her thought. She didn’t have to. If what the dark fae claimed were true, it meant their mother had a dalliance with this male. Elle wouldn’t believe it. Lorhana had adored Ballymar. They were mates for the goddess’s sake.

“I know what it means. I don’t want to believe it either, but your mother isn’t alive to ask. The only way to prove his claim false is to involve the elders.”

Yari sheathed her sword. “Why wait this long? Mother’s been gone three sun cycles.”

“Because Elle is twenty-five. Her powers will begin manifesting soon,” Thran answered.

Her gifts had manifested a few years ago, but her siblings didn’t know she had been honing them all this time.

Elle pulled the shadows closer, hiding her from the others, and crept through the forest until she was far enough away to run.

If they couldn’t find her, then the dark fae couldn’t prove anything.

With Novus flying overhead, Elle ran fast and far.

She slipped out of the shadows when she thought she’d gone far enough, but something made her body freeze up.

“You can’t run from me,” an angry voice said behind her. A dark fae stepped into her line of sight, sneering.

Elle tried to scream for her father, but her voice wouldn’t work.

Novus gronked overhead, diving at the male, pecking at his head.

When Grevolus swatted at the bird, the raven flew off in the same direction they’d just come from.

The fae lifted Elledan over his shoulder and marched toward the dirt road leading into Summerland proper.

Right as they reached the sacred building where the elders resided, Ballymar and Yari caught up with them.

“What did you do to her?” her father demanded as he slid from Dorcan’s back after Yari dismounted.

Grevolus muttered under his breath, and the paralysis was gone. Elledan beat the male’s back with her fists. “Put me down!” He did, none too gently. Elle barely caught herself before falling on her backside.

Her father closed the distance, placing his arm around her shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Elledan. Grevolus has petitioned the elders to test your blood.”

“Mother would never...” Elle choked out a sob. She pleaded with her father with her eyes, but she knew the law. Burying her face in his tunic, she let the tears flow.

“Let’s get this over with. It’s a long ride back to Winterhaven,” Grevolus demanded.

Ballymar gently pushed Elle off his chest. With his hands on her upper arms, he leaned down and made sure she was looking at him. “No matter the outcome, I will always be your father. I love you more than life.”

“I love you too.”

Yari took Elle’s hand as they entered the elder’s home.

She didn’t release it, even when Morlina, the head elder, cut Elle’s free palm, capturing her blood in a bowl.

Next, Morlina took blood from both Ballymar and Grevolus, then sprinkled powder in all three bowls.

When Elle’s turned the same dark color as Grevolus’s, Elle ripped her hand free and turned to run, but Rodark, another elder, stepped in front of the door.

“The blood has spoken. Grevolus of Winterhaven is Elledan’s sire. You must go with him, child.”

“No. It’s not fair! Father, do something,” Yari cried, but they all knew the laws, as archaic as they were.

She was given a few moments to say goodbye, and then she was forced onto a wagon and taken away from her home.

Novus flew overhead, gronking every so often.

Elle cried the entirety of the trip, and by the time they arrived at her new home, her head was pounding.

Elle opened her mouth to beg Novus to be quiet, but no words came out.

She squinted so the harsh sunlight didn’t hurt her head worse, but the sun had gone down, and only a sliver of the two moons.

.. There was only one moon. No, it was no celestial orb.

It was the same light Elle had formed when walking down to the basement.

Elle tried to touch her temples, but her arms wouldn’t move. Grevolus had paralyzed her again.

Her head was throbbing worse than her arm was burning.

Had Grevolus seriously tried to kill her?

Goddess, she hated him more than ever. At least he hadn’t snuffed out the light.

Elle wished she had some of the pain tablets Tony had given her.

She took a deep breath, trying to push back the nausea.

Elle had no idea how much time had passed or why the birds outside were going nuts.

Grevolus’s shouts were muffled, then the door slammed above her.

The old pipes whined as water was turned on, and Elle closed her eyes.

He hadn’t left, but that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

She still had until eleven, at which time Tony would approach Grevolus.

Hopefully, he wouldn’t make her wait that long. She needed her mate.