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“This guy is so much stronger than Dorian, Mom. He could hurt us.”
She cupped my cheeks. “And he can try. But, in the end, he’ll fail.”
I wanted to believe that, but I couldn’t. I only wanted to go after Kai to keep her and the rest of my family safe. My mother gazed out at the horizon where the Summer fae were small figures in the distance.
“Are you sure you made the right choice in letting Draya go?”
“Yes,” I answered with no hesitation. “Draya got mixed up with the wrong fae. It’s not her fault she was dealt a shitty hand.”
“You’re right,” my mother agreed. “Although I am curious to see how she adapts to life here. We’ll see her again in three months when we visit the Spring Court for the Equinox ball.”
I was also curious to see how Lia’s situation with Bayleon and Bastian worked out during those three months.
“Oh, and before I forget,” my mother said as we walked into the palace. “Your father sent a message saying that he, Iston, and the others will be gone for an extra couple of days in the mortal realm. Is that okay?”
That was the best news I’d heard all day. I wasn’t ready to see Iston.
“I am completely fine with that,” I replied, coming to a halt when Marin and Owen turned the corner. “There you are,” I called out to her. “It feels like I’ve barely seen you since you’ve been here.”
Her cheeks turned red, especially when Owen smiled over at her. Owen cleared his throat. “That would be my fault. I’m sorry, Your Highness. I didn’t mean to take your best friend away from you.”
I waved him off. “It’s okay. I’m just glad she’s happy.”
Marin bit her lip and smiled wider. “If you want to know, I plan to stay in the Winter Court a little longer. I’m going to meet Owen’s family; plus, it’ll give me and you more time together.”
My mouth dropped. “Oh wow, that’s great. I can’t wait.”
She hugged me and kissed my cheek, whispering in my ear. “I owe this all to you. Thank you.”
I embraced her back. “I didn’t do anything. This is all you.”
We said our farewells, and they walked out of the palace just as my brother and Aidan came in. Aidan was also from the Summer Court and was Shailyn’s older brother. He, too, was a dragon shifter. His dark hair had grown longer since the last time I saw him, and his eyes were a majestic pale green that I’d never seen on anyone.
Seeing Beck and Aidan standing together was a stark difference. They both had dark hair, but Beck’s skin was pale like snow, and Aidan’s was golden like the sun.
“Aren’t you a little late?” I teased. “Your family already left.”
Dressed in the Summer Court’s signature golden warrior gear, Aidan stopped in front of me and smiled. “I’m flying back. Even if I don’t leave for another four hours, I’ll still beat them.”
“Must be nice,” I laughed.
He inclined his head, indicating we go outside. “Want to go for a ride for old time’s sake?”
Aidan was twenty-six, four years younger than me. When he turned sixteen, his parents wanted him to learn to fly with a rider on his back. Of course, no one volunteered except me. The first time seeing the Land of the Fae from the air was a memory I’d never forget. After that, I rode with him a lot until he joined his father as one of the leaders of the Summer Court army.
Aidan lifted his brows, waiting on my answer. “What do you say, Ella? You up for it?”
I was about to say yes when a familiar sinking feeling settled like a rock in my gut as my magic swirled around me, causing my senses to be on edge. Kai was in the Land of the Fae and he was close, too close. I could feel him. He was in the palace.
I plastered a smile on my face and shook my head. “Not today, Aidan. Raincheck?”
Aidan nodded once. “Done.” He turned to my mother and bowed. “It was good to see you again, Aunt Ariella.”
My pulse spiked the closer Kai got. There were so many darkened corners in the palace, so many places he could hide. Finally, Beck and Aidan walked out of the castle and my mother nodded toward the hallway that led to the kitchen.
“Do you want anything to eat? I think there might be some chocolate cake left.”
My heart pounded even harder, blaring in my ears. Kai had made a big mistake coming intomyhome. Luckily, I could sense him down the opposite hallway. All I wanted was to get my mother as far away from him as possible.
