That time was now.
The Quandary Bloods had been allowed to rejoin the Midnight Fae Realm, thanks to Queen Aflora and her mates, and Lucifer was finally ready for his bride trials.
Zen likely knew that had been his goal all along, which explained her lack of a reaction to the events occurring within her paradigm. But I knew deep down she disapproved.
Just as she disapproved of my helping Lucifer.
Yet she never voiced that disapproval out loud. Instead, she spoke in riddles. Similar to Shade. It was no wonder the two were related.
I peeked up at the starry night through the bare tree branches as I moved. It wasn’t technically real so much as an alternate reality. But itfeltreal. And it truly did remind me of the Midnight Fae Academy grounds.
I didn’t possess the power required to build a paradigm.
It was intricate and needed an abundance of energy from the source. Because it functioned as a world within a world.
Maybe one day I would grow enough to be able to harness that sort of ability, but I doubted it.
My Death Blood soul flourished with deadly energy, not life energy.
The campus gates came into view after about fifteen minutes of walking. Az’s home lurked on the outskirts closer to this paradigm’s version of a LethaForest.
Because of course he chose to live near the trees littered with lethal creatures who adored killing.
He wasn’t quite inside the burning thwomp line, just close enough to feel the heat when their branches exploded in fire.
It probably reminded him of his Black Phoenix side.
I walked along the wall of hissing snake-vines, my wand tucked casually into my pocket. I’d chosen just a pair of black pants and a matching T-shirt. No cloak. So the snake-vines could see the tip of my wand, which was the cause of their agitated reaction.
“You know I’ll only use it if you try to bite me,” I told them conversationally. “Calm down.”
“Maybe it’s a bite they desire,” a voice said from the sky as Melek floated down on a pair of magnificent white wings.
I arched a brow, surprised to see him in his angelic form. I wasn’t sure what type of fae he was, but I knew it wasn’t a Hell Fae. Something uniquely other. An abomination that Lucifer had saved long ago.
“Out for an evening flight?” I asked, taking in the sight of his pristine plumes. They made him appear even more innocent than usual, for obvious reasons.
But I knew it was all a lie.
There was nothing “innocent” about Melek.
His expression gave nothing away, as per usual. “An evening flight requires more than a mile-high sky, so no, not really.”
“Maybe Zen can extend it for you.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Zenaida has other concerns. I can also shift to another realm to explore.”
“And is that what you’re on your way to do?”
He considered for a moment. “No. I think I’ll stay for now. Especially with Az having left to run an errand.”
My lips curled down. “Az left?”
“Ty needed a favor.” He didn’t elaborate. Which meant he didn’t want me to know what favor Ty had requested of Az.
And Az wouldn’t tell me either.
Az and I might fight and fuck, but we weren’t bonded. Not like him and Lucifer. It left me firmly on the outside of their little trio, something I preferred, as I didn’t want to tie myself to anyone. Knowing Az would pick Lucifer over me also helped me put our relationship in perspective and keep my distance.
