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Nekoma inclined his head, then climbed the steps.

When he was close enough, he knelt beside Elle and studied the sigil.

“I need to place my hand on her arm.” When Tony nodded, Nekoma pressed his large palm against the sigil and closed his eyes.

Warmth spread through the mark, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

It was akin to the energy Lilly used to ease the pain.

When Nekoma removed his hand, the sigil was gone.

“You did it!” He’d obviously removed the paralysis as well, because Elle was able to speak. Without thinking, she awkwardly threw her arms around her friend. Her brother. “Thank you, Nekoma.”

Nekoma returned the embrace until Tony asked, “Can you heal her face?”

“I can.” Nekoma placed his palm against the bruising, and within seconds, the pain was gone, and Elle assumed her skin was no longer bruised.

“We owe you our gratitude.” Tony held out his hand, and Nekoma stared at it.

“He wants to shake your hand,” Elle explained. When her brother didn’t move, Elle placed her hand in Tony’s and shook so he would get the gesture. Nekoma then shook Tony’s hand.

“It is done, then?” Queen Zarina asked.

“The sigil is gone, so I can only presume the curse is as well,” Elle said.

“Nekoma of Autumnvale, you have honored the fae this day. Elledan, if you would make the introductions please?”

“Oh. Yes, of course.” Elle told the Queen who everyone was, and when she got to her siblings, she couldn’t sit still any longer. “Everyone, these are my siblings, Yari and Thran, royal guardians to the prince and princess.”

“Come here, Elle.” Thran opened his arms, and Elle stood, wobbling slightly.

Tony steadied her before slipping her arm back into her parka.

He then escorted her down the steps to where her brother waited.

They embraced for the first time in more than fourteen years.

Instead of releasing her, Thran kept his hands on her upper arms, grinning.

“I always knew you were the best of us. When I saw you on the hill fighting against the Und?nthú instead of with them, I said to myself, ‘That’s my sister.’ I have only been prouder one time in my life, and that was when Yari and I were chosen for the royal guard. ”

“Speaking of the royals, who’s watching Cassi and Rhoan?” Elle asked.

Yari joined them, wrapping her arm around Elle’s shoulder. “They’re both in Norway surrounded by a host of Gargoyles.”

Thran looked around at Tony’s family. “As are you. You’ve chosen well, Little Sister.”

Queen Zarina approached them. “Now that Elledan is safe, I need to return to Evyndral.” She reached out and touched Yari’s pendant. “You may return to Norway when you are ready. No need to call on me this time.”

“Thank you, My Queen.”

“Elledan, when you catch up to Grevolus, if you wish, I will take him to the realm where the other dark fae now reside with my brother.”

“And if I wish to handle him myself?”

The Queen’s eyes sparkled. “Then you have my blessing to deal with him as you see fit.” Zarina walked to where Nekoma was watching.

“You have my gratitude, Nekoma of Autumnvale. I do ask that you use discretion when traversing between our two realms.” With that, she turned and opened a swirling vortex, stepping through without a backward glance.

“I need a drink,” Tessa stated. “Let’s take this party inside.” With that, she returned her weapons to the bracelets and strode toward Gregor. “Come on, Stone.”

When Tabitha did the same with her swords, Nekoma asked, “What is this sorcery?”

Lilly giggled. “Not sorcery. Witchcraft.” She waved her wand, then it too disappeared back onto her arm.

“Witchcraft? I like it.” Nekoma was entranced with Lilly, and Elle couldn’t blame him.

“Come on, Lass. There is rum to be indulged in.” Dominic held out his hand, and Lilly took it, smiling at her mate. Nekoma followed them with his eyes. When he caught Elle staring, he dipped his head, a blush staining his cheeks.

“Can you stay awhile?” she asked her other siblings.

“We can. I’m interested in this rum,” Thran admitted.

Elle turned to Nekoma. “And you? Will you stay as well? We have much to discuss.”

“Like going after our father?”

“I prefer the term sire. He was no father to me.”

“No, he wasn’t. Will it bother you if I end his life, Elledan?” Nekoma asked.

Elle threaded her fingers with Tony’s. “Please call me Elle. I have a feeling there will be a line for those wanting a piece of him.”

“You’re damn straight,” Tessa called from the door. “Now get your asses in out of the cold. This liquor isn’t going to drink itself.”

“I like her,” Nekoma whispered.

“I like you too, Raven. Now, come on.” Tessa winked before going through the door.

“She heard that?”

Elle laughed. “Shifter hearing”

Nekoma cocked his head to the side. “Shifters?”

“Every one of Tony’s family is a Gargoyle. I’ll have him show you later. Come on.” With one hand in Tony’s and the other around Nekoma’s arm, Elle walked back up the steps, followed by her older siblings and Tabitha.

Once inside, Elle removed her parka, and Tony took it, placing it over the back of a dining chair. “Are you hungry?” he asked.

“I could eat.”

“Is chicken parmesan okay?” Tabitha asked.

“I’ve never had it, but if it’s what you had for supper, it smelled delicious.”

“Anyone else hungry?” Tabitha pulled a plate from the cabinet and placed a serving of the chicken on it.

Yari and Thran declined, opting to follow Tessa into the living room after Elle assured them she was fine. Nekoma sniffed the air, and Tabitha arched a brow? “Is that a yes?”

“Please.” Nekoma looked around the house. “This is amazing.”

“My cousin designed it,” Tony said, wrapping his arms around Elle from behind. “Did you really send that flock of ravens to Elle last night? How is that possible?”

“I thought a group of ravens was called an unkindness,” Tabitha said while dishing out a second helping.

“How the hell do you know that?” Tony asked.

“Because I paid attention in school.” She stuck her tongue out at her brother, and Elle giggled.

“I paid attention,” Tony muttered.

Tabitha put one plate in the microwave and pressed a few buttons.

She then turned and leaned against the counter with her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyebrows rose, then her face softened.

Elle looked between the siblings, assuming they were having a silent conversation.

“I know. I’m just teasing.” To Elle, she said, “Tony’s really smart, even if he likes to pretend otherwise sometimes. What would you two like to drink?”

“I’ll take water, please. I don’t think I can handle anything stronger right now.”

When Nekoma also opted for water, Elle motioned to the table. Once they were seated, she asked, “Have you ever been on Earth before?”

“Earth. Is that what this realm is called?”

“It is. It’s quite a bit larger than Evyndral.

Tony, can I see your phone?” When he handed it to her, Elle opened a map app and showed Nekoma, who was astounded.

Elle didn’t blame him. She still couldn’t believe how big the world was.

While Tabitha was passing out the food, Tony got their water as well as silverware and napkins.

Thran rejoined them with a glass of dark liquor. He sat next to Elle, grinning. “Nekoma, I can’t thank you enough for healing our sister. Can you find Grevolus the same way you found her?”

“How did you find me?” Elle asked, cutting her chicken into small pieces.

Nekoma pushed back the sleeve of his tunic, revealing a braided leather bracelet.

“A strand of your hair is woven with the straps. So is Grevolus’s.

Do you remember the time you were about eight sun cycles and you climbed the auderberry tree and slipped, tangling your hair in the branches?

” Elle nodded. “I took a strand then. I already knew Grevolus was your sire, and I wanted a way to find you should he take you without me knowing where he lived. Then the day you went before the elders, I plucked some strands from his head when he was driving off. I twisted them with the leather and cast a locator spell. I can find you anywhere. It took watching Yaricelan and the princess using a portal several times until I could copy the Queen’s magic. ”

“That’s scary,” Thran muttered.

“It would be if I were less than honorable. Just because I am Und?nthú does not mean I am evil.”

Elle reached out and gripped Nekoma’s arm while glaring at Thran. “No, he is not. I also have Und?nthú blood running through my veins, and I turned out okay.”

Thran inclined his head. “My apologies. You have proven yourself this day as well as before the battle all those years ago in delivering Elle’s warning. If it weren’t for both of you, the outcome would have been much different.”

Nekoma swallowed his bite of chicken and took a sip of water before responding. “There are many good Und?nthú, just as there are evil D?nthúlú. I have witnessed numerous light fae doing dishonorable deeds all to gain more gold. I really like this red sauce.”

Tabitha, who had gone to the living room to get a drink, sat down next to Nekoma when she returned. “It’s called marinara, and it is yummy. So, not to change the subject, but when are you going after Grevolus?”

Nekoma set his fork down, placed a finger on his bracelet, then said, “He is on the move. I know the general direction he is traveling, but until he stops, I can’t say exactly where he is.”

“That gives Elle time to recover and the rest of us to come up with the plan to go after him,” Tony said.

“Gah, I wish I could ask Cailín to keep this protection job. I want to go with you.” Tabitha popped her neck from side to side. “We need to call Carleigh and get her help in pinpointing Grevolus. You also should call Mason if you haven’t already.”

“I’ll do that after Elle eats. Mason knows what’s going on, and until Grevolus stops somewhere, there’s not much Carleigh can do.”

“At least text her and let her know the sigil has been removed.”

“Yeah, I can do that.” Tony held out his hand, and Elle passed his phone to him. “I’m going to step outside so you all don’t have to listen to me arguing with my cousin. Be right back.” He kissed Elle on the temple before standing.

“How did you meet your mate?” Nekoma asked.

Thran stood. “I’ve heard this from Yari, so I’m going to get some more rum.”

Elle, having finished eating, pushed her plate back.

“When Grevolus and I came through the portal after the battle, we were in this strange world. We had no money, couldn’t speak the language, everything was so different.

” Elle told her brother about stealing and hiding out, then about Grevolus killing Mr. Johnson to have a place to live.

“We had no way of earning money, so we figured out how to take it from machines called ATMs. People don’t use gold to buy things here.

They use money made of paper.” Elle looked at Tabitha. “Is that right?”

“It’s actually a mixture of linen and cotton, but we call it paper for some reason.”

“Right. They also use these little cards...” Elle stopped when she realized it would be close to impossible to explain how money worked when Nekoma had no idea what banks or cards were.

“Long story short, Grevolus wanted more money than we were getting out of these ATMs, and he tasked me with stealing large sums of it. The sigil made it so that he could track me anywhere. He also spelled it so that if he died, I did as well. I couldn’t get away from him permanently, but I thought being caught by the cops – those who uphold the laws – would be better than living with him, so I put together a plan where I traveled the same distance to each place I stole from on the same day of the month.

The human cops were alerted to the thefts, but it was Tony’s cousin who figured out my plan.

She hired him to find me and stop me, which he did, only it turns out I am his mate. ”

Nekoma asked a lot of questions, some which Elle couldn’t answer without explaining more about the differences between Earth and Evyndral.

“Come on. I want to show you something.” She led him outside to the front of the house where several cars were parked, creating orbs to light the way.

“Those are buggies, but they aren’t pulled by horses.

They have machines inside which allow the vehicle to travel, let’s say magically.

Whereas it would take a horse and wagon one moon cycle to go from one city to the next, you can get there by vehicle in an hour.

There are twenty-four hours in one moon cycle, or day, as they call it on Earth.

The box I used to show you a map of Earth is called a cellphone, which allows you to talk to someone anywhere on Earth.

There is so much technology – things like television and computers – here that it would take half a sun cycle to show you or explain it all.

If you don’t have to go back to Evyndral after we take down Grevolus, I’d love to teach you more about Earth. ”

“You’re asking me to stay?”

“If you’d like. Or, since you can open portals, come back and visit often. You’re my brother, Nekoma. I want to get to know this version of you. I’m rather fond of conversations that aren’t one-sided.”

Nekoma looked... what was the word? Gobsmacked. Did he really think she wouldn’t want him around?

“I would like that. A lot,” he said softly.

As would Elle. Not only did she have a mate who loved her, but now she had a sibling she could spend time with.

She adored Thran and Yari, but their duty was to the dragons.

With the sigil gone, Elle could focus on building a new life in Atlanta with the Gargoyles, and she had never been more excited.