“Please,” she said. “I need to find Prince Aidas.”
“I do not know who that is.”
“Apollion, then. Surely you know the Prince of the Pit.”
“I do not know of such people. This world is not Hel.”
Bryce slowly shook her head. “I … Then where am I?” She surveyed the silent others, the winged males and the other Fae female, who stared coolly. “What world is this?”
The front door opened again. First, a lovely female with the same brown-gold hair as the one already standing before Bryce entered. She wore a loose white shirt over brown pants, both splattered with paint. Her hands were tattooed to the elbows in intricate swirls. But her blue-gray eyes were wary—soft and curious, but wary.
The winged, dark-haired male who stepped in behind her …
Bryce gasped. “Ruhn?”
The male blinked. His eyes were the same shade of violet blue as Ruhn’s. His short hair the same gleaming black. This male’s skin was browner, but the face, the posture … It was her brother’s. His ears were pointed, too, though he also possessed those leathery wings like the two other males.
The female beside him asked the petite female a question in their language.
But the male continued to stare at Bryce. At the blood on her, at the Starsword and the knife, the blades still gleaming with their opposite lights.
He lifted his gaze to her, stars in his eyes. Actual stars.
Bryce pleaded with the petite female, “My world … Midgard … It’s in grave danger. My mate, he …” She couldn’t get the words out. “I didn’t mean to come here. I meant to go to Hel. To get aid from the princes. But I don’t know what this world is. Or how to find Hel. I need your help.”
It was all there was left to do: throw herself at their mercy and pray they were decent people. That even if she’d come from another world, they’d recognize her as Fae and be compassionate.
The petite female seemed to repeat Bryce’s words to the others. The female with the tattooed hands asked Bryce a question in their language. The petite one translated: “She wants to know what your name is.”
Bryce glanced from the tattooed female to the beautiful male at her side. They both possessed an air of quiet, gentle authority. The others all seemed to wait for their cues. So Bryce addressed the two of them as she lifted her chin. “My name is Bryce Quinlan.”
The male stepped forward, tucking in his wings. He smiled slightly and said in the Old Language, in a voice like glorious night, “Hello, Bryce Quinlan. My name is Rhysand.”
EPILOGUE
Ithan Holstrom crouched, a hulking wolf among the rain-lashed shadows outside the Astronomer’s building, monitoring the few people in the alley braving the storm.
No word had come from Pangera. Just a mention of an explosion at a lab outside the city, and that was it. He didn’t expect to hear anything from Bryce and the others at least until the next day.
But he couldn’t help the urge to pace, even as he guarded the doors across the alley. He’d seen no glimpse of the Astronomer. No patrons had entered. Had Mordoc dragged the wretch off for an interrogation about why Ithan and his friends had visited him? And left the mystics here—unguarded and alone?
He’d fucked up guard duty with Hypaxia. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. Not with the mystic caged beyond those doors.
Another Fendyr heir to the Prime. An Alpha to challenge Sabine.
Something moved in the shadows far down the alley, beyond the neon glow of the signs above the tattoo parlors and bars. Swift and hulking and— He sniffed the air. Even with the rain, he knew that scent. Knew the golden eyes that glowed in the rainy darkness.
Ithan’s growl rumbled over the slick cobblestones, his wet fur bristling.
Amelie Ravenscroft, his former Alpha, only snarled back, sending whatever patrons were on the streets scattering into the buildings, and melted into the dimness.
Ithan waited until her scent had faded before letting out a breath. He’d been right to come here, then. If he hadn’t been here … He glanced to the doors again.
He couldn’t stay here indefinitely. He’d need others to keep watch while he rested.
His phone rang from where he’d left it on the stoop of an alley doorway, and Ithan shifted into his humanoid body before answering. “Flynn. I was about to call you.” To beg for a massive favor. If Sabine came here, or Amelie returned, packs in tow …
The Fae lord didn’t reply immediately. Ithan could have sworn he heard the male swallow.
He stilled. “What is it?” Flynn’s breathing turned harsh. Jagged. “Flynn.”
“Shit went down.” The Fae lord seemed to be struggling for words. And to hold back tears.
“Is …” He couldn’t face this. Not again. Not—
“Ruhn and Athalar have been taken prisoner by the Asteri. Dec saw it on the palace feeds. Tharion called from the Depth Charger pod to say Cormac’s dead.”
Ithan began shaking his head, even as he contemplated the risk of discussing this on the phone. Breathing was somehow impossible as he whispered, “Bryce?”
A long, long pause.
Ithan slid to the soaking ground.
“She disappeared. You … you gotta come hear it from Dec.”
“Is she alive?” Ithan’s snarl tore through the rain, bouncing off the bricks.
“The last we saw her in this world … she was.”
“What do you mean, in this world?” But he had a terrible feeling that he already knew.
“You have to see it for yourself,” Flynn croaked.
“I can’t,” Ithan bit out. “I’ve got something to do.”
“We need you,” Flynn said, and his voice was full of an authority that people outside the Aux rarely heard. “We’re friends now, wolf. Get your furry ass over here.”
Ithan peered toward the towering doors. Felt himself being pulled apart by Urd herself.
“I’ll be there in fifteen,” Ithan said, and hung up. Slid his phone into his pocket. Stalked across the street.
A blow from his fist dented the metal doors. The second one broke the locks. The third sent them crumpling inward.
No sign of the Astronomer. Too bad. He was in the mood for blood tonight.
But Ithan stormed to the nearest tub. The wolf mystic floated in the murky, salt-laden water, hair spread around her, eyes closed. Breathing mask and tubes back in place.
“Wake up.” His words were a low growl. “We’re going.”
The mystic didn’t respond, lost to wherever her mind took her.
“I know you can hear me. I need to go somewhere, and I’m not leaving you behind. People are lurking out there who want you dead. So you can either get the fuck up right now or I can do it for you.”
Again, no response. His fingers flexed, claws sliding free, but he kept his hand at his side. It was only a matter of time until someone came to investigate why the doors had been ripped open, but to tear her from that dream state … she’d been so tormented the last time.
“Please,” he said softly, head bowing. “My friends need me. My … my pack needs me.”
That’s what they’d become.
He’d lost his brother, his brother’s pack—the pack that would have one day been his—but this one …