Chapter 10

TEN

COLLINS

I stopped in front of the mirror that for the moment looked just like any regular mirror. Any minute now it would shimmer and sparkle once Zuriel unlocked all the portals. I exhaled a shaky breath and squeezed Bash’s hand. It was time to face the music.

“Just remember to breathe.”

I turned to face Ellie and tried to smile but failed. “Right. Breathing is good.”

She put her hand on my shoulder. “You were literally born to do this, and I know it doesn’t feel like it right now, but you have everything you need to succeed. Tephine is an enemy unlike any other, but it is possible to defeat her.”

“We just have to figure out how.” I nodded. “No pressure.”

Stellan smirked. “I don’t know. You fae are rather tricksy and devious. I think you’ll come up with some twisted, crazy plan that even psycho won’t see coming.”

Bash chuckled.

I glanced up at my soulmate. “He just called us tricksy and devious.”

“I know.” He grinned.

I rolled my eyes and bumped him with my shoulder. My stomach was in knots and twisting even tighter. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for us.”

Ellie smiled. “Don’t forget to call us if you need us again. We are here, and we are ready.”

“Yes, don’t hesitate to ask.” Savina wiggled her fingers, and her red magic slithered between them. “I love a good excuse to be violent.”

Bash hung his head and laughed.

Maren just shook her head. “You’re all deranged.”

Savina’s gaze snapped to the mirror behind me. She nodded. “It’s time.”

My stomach dropped like I was on a rollercoaster. I exhaled and nodded through the heat rushing through my body. “Okay. Let’s do this. Are you ready, Bash? We have everything?”

He looked down at me and gave me a wry smile. “We did not come here with anything, did we?”

I rolled my eyes and smacked his arm playfully. Then I looked him up and down. “You’ve got your necklaces on . . . What about your rings? I don’t know what those do, but surely they serve a purpose?”

“They do.” He chuckled and held his hands up to show all ten fingers with bands made of solid crystal on each, sitting halfway between the knuckles. “They were a gift from my mother when I was your age. They turn into weapons.”

My jaw dropped. “I want some.”

He laughed and pulled the rose quartz crystal band off of his left pinky, then reached down and took my left hand. “Let’s see if this will fit one of yours.”

The crystal was smooth and cool against my skin as he slid it onto my left thumb. It fit perfectly. My breath left me in a rush. I shivered. “Well, call me Cinderella.”

Ellie and Savina snorted.

“What do you know . . . a perfect fit.” He gave me a sideways grin. “Now, all you have to do is press your fingertip to the ring -palm side – and think dagger. Go ahead and give it a try, Cinderella.”

I nodded and pressed my pointer fingertip to the rose quartz band. Dagger. Warmth spread through my thumb down into my palm. There was a sparkle of turquoise, then a dagger made entirely out of rose quartz sat in my open hand, the hilt fitting perfectly to my palm despite the fact it had been Bash’s ring. “This is so much cooler than a glass slipper.”

“Yeah, who needs a crystal shoe when you can have a crystal sword?” Ellie said with a giggle.

I waved the dagger around and then held it up in front of my face. I felt the fierce passion within the weapon. It wanted justice. I grinned. “ Ring. ”

Just as fast as before, it transformed back into the thumb ring on my left hand.

“Give me your other hand.” Bash held an identical ring up and wagged his eyebrows. When I held my right thumb out, he slid the ring into place. “This one is a sword, but it is identical to the dagger otherwise.”

“Why a dagger and a sword and not two of the same?”

He gave me a sideways grin. “In battle, you want the sword in your dominant hand while the dagger can be in your left. It’s the equivalent of a jab compared to a right hook.”

I nodded. “I hate that that makes sense to me now.”

Everyone laughed.

“Okay. We’ve both got weapons. We have our Third Realm clothing on again—wait.” I frowned and looked down at myself. I’d put back on my black catsuit I’d gotten in Third Realm made of that special, magic material that was slinky and sexy yet somehow kept me warm. Except there was a detail I hated about it. “Ellie, can you do me a favor with this outfit?”

“Let me guess, you see no point in large sections of your skin being out in a realm covered in ice and snow?”

I threw my hands up. “Makes no sense.”

She wiggled her fingers and purple lightning danced between them. Her gaze laser-focused on my outfit for a moment, then she flicked her purple smoky magic at me. “That should do it.”

Once her magic faded, I looked down and grinned. It was still the same black material, still a sexy catsuit, but now there weren’t any cutouts. No more skin showing. In fact, Ellie had even given me a turtleneck so I was covered from jawline to wrists and ankles. I sighed with relief.

“I’d ask for a shirt, but . . .” Bash shrugged, “I’ve grown used to it.”

“If it isn’t broken, then don’t correct it, right?”

We all gasped and spun around only to find Weston and Shylock standing just before the portal.

“Oi,” Weston groaned. “Get it right. Bloody hell. Don’t use First Realm slang if you’re going to bloody butcher it.”

“If by butcher it, you mean use proper grammar?—”

“Butchered the phrase, my brother.” Weston just shook his head in disgust. “ If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Got it?”

Shylock shrugged. He turned those blue eyes to us. “Stalling won’t serve you well for much longer, my friends.”

“I’m not stalling.”

Bash arched one eyebrow and smirked.

But Shylock was already moving around us. “Stellan! Thank God. We’ve been worried sick.”

“Well, good luck, guys.” Weston gave us two thumbs-up, then bounced over to Stellan and his brother. “Stelly!”

Bash held his right hand out to me. “Shall we, Cinderella?”

My stomach sank. But I took his hand anyway. “As if we have another choice.”

Ellie stepped beside the portal. “Just remember, Collins, she may seem invincible, but you can beat her. When in doubt, ask yourself . . . what would the Avengers do?”

Bash frowned. “I recognize that reference. I think?”

“Right. Right, right, right. Even Thanos was defeated. I am Tony Stark. I can do this.” I reached out with my free hand and grabbed hers. “Thank you, Ellie. I might have lost my damn mind without you.”

“Well, losing your mind isn’t entirely a bad strategy for this battle.” She winked, squeezed my hand, then walked away.

I glanced over my shoulder and smiled. “Thank you again, Savina.”

Savina nodded once, her face stern but not unkind. A true warrior. “We’ll be ready and waiting to assist. Just send a hobbit to light the beacons, and we will answer.”

Ellie gasped like a little kid who just saw their pile of Christmas presents for the first time. Savina held her chin high with a confident smirk. Maren rolled her eyes again, still smirking. Stellan was having a bromance moment with the Nephilim twins.

Bash gently tugged on my hand. “Come. Our plan relies on the element of surprise. Our window for that is closing.”

I swallowed the hot lump of terror in my throat and squeezed the ever loving shit out of his fingers. “You’re going to have to drag me through it, I fear.”

He threw his head back and laughed?—

Cold air washed over me. Light flashed. I hadn’t even felt him pull me, yet when the light faded, I found us standing in the bank of portals inside The Emerald.

With my mother standing right in front of us.

Her eyes widened. “Collins!”

I exhaled and rushed into her open arms. “ Mom. ”

“I’ve been so worried. “I knew you’d be safe, but I hated being locked away from you,” she said as she hugged me tight. “Motherhood is a nightmare.”

I laughed as I pulled back. “I’m not the one who nearly died.”

“Don’t even joke about that.” She grimaced and shuddered. But then she turned to my soulmate with a wide grin that I found quite a relief. Her approval of my soulmate was more important than I realized. “Bastien, how are you feeling?”

“Please, call me Bash?—”

Mom hugged him. My mother hugged my soulmate, a male she knew to be her enemy her entire life, yet she gave him her trust so quickly. “I’m so glad to see you back on your feet.”

“Oh, uh,” my soulmate looked over my mother’s shoulder at me with wide eyes and bright-pink cheeks, “thank you, ma’am.”

My soulmate. I grinned and tugged my long sleeve up and a little chuckle escaped. That, that is not the saying was written on the inside of my left forearm just as he’d said it would be. His first spoken words to me. I hadn’t doubted him, the floral images on our arms were identical in every way, but it was still nice to see this version too. Bash’s fingertips brushed over the words on my arm.

“There they are!” I looked up as Nickel walked toward us in her golden Nephilim armor. “Did the twins go through already?”

I nodded. “Oh yeah. We left them in a group hug with Stellan.”

Nickel rolled her hazel eyes, but she smiled. “They’ve been impossible to deal with being locked out of home. I don’t think they realized how codependent they’d gotten with Stellan.”

The moment Nickel got close and I felt her golden aura I wondered how I’d confused Hecca for her. Sure, she’d been disguised as her daughter but there was no disguising an angel’s aura. It spoke to the level of my nerves that I hadn’t registered it.

Bash pointed to her armor, then to my mother who was also in armor. “Is there a problem?”

Nickel’s smile vanished. “Not an immediate one. I’ll let Sandra fill you in. I’m going to check in with my crew, then I’m coming right back to hang here in First. That way, if Tephine shows her ugly mug, I can call for backup without waiting for your beacon. Good luck.” She nodded once, then jumped into the portal leading to Second Realm.

Bash and I spun back to my mother and waited.

She grimaced. “Tephine is using Jada as bait to lure us back into Third Realm. We just found out. Don’t ask me how the message was sent. You don’t want to know, nor will it help.”

Bash cursed violently.

My whole body went ice-cold. “Well, there goes our plan.”

Mom cocked her head to the side. “Curious, what was your plan?”

“To create a diversion where I forced parts of the realm to explode—with the help of the civilians—to lure the Royal monsters out. Then we’d sneak off to find the Chaos Stone.” I pulled my hand out of Bash’s to scrub my face roughly. “We wanted to get the Stone. If Chaos was in my possession, I might’ve had a leg to stand on against the big bad wolf.”

Bash twirled my long pink and purple hair around his finger, then tugged lightly. “Stellan was right. She is devious and tricksy. We expected that. She’s thrown a curveball, and now we just have to adjust our swing. I believe that is a proper metaphor?”

“He’s right. No matter what pitch you’re expecting, you have to be prepared to adjust in a moment’s notice.” Mom rubbed her palms together. “I can go for Jada myself. Maybe I can even take Nickel with me. Your job is not to save the Nephilim?—”

“She’s my Nephilim, Mom. Even if I haven’t met the real her, I cannot abandon her.” I pressed my hands to my stomach to try and keep my breakfast in place as I started to pace the hallway. “It’s also too dangerous for you or Nickel. That’s a knife in a gunfight. I already thought you died once, and I am not ready to face that again.”

“It’s also a trap.” Bash crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the ground. His pale-blue hair looked nearly white in this lighting. “Jada currently remains alive to serve as bait. Mother will not hesitate to kill her the moment she gets the chance. And she’ll want to do it in front of you . . . to hurt you.”

“How do you think she’ll do it? The trap?” I wrung my hands together, still pacing. “You know how she operates.”

“She’ll want you to think you have a chance. She’s going to present Jada as a trade. You for her . . . because the human emotions you learned growing up in First Realm will make you want to save an innocent person even if it means you die. ” He snarled and cracked his knuckles. “My father is a joke to her, so we don’t have to worry about him just yet. She’s smart enough to know you’ll never walk up to the firing squad of her and my sisters, for any reason. Plus, she highly underestimates everyone else. So, I suspect it’ll just be her and Jada.”

“You don’t think your sisters will be nearby?”

“I’m sure they won’t be far, but you won’t see them. They all have their own tricks for hiding.” He shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Aryk is our biggest concern. She’s aggressive and unhinged. She’s the loose cannon my mother lets fire at will. And she can read minds.”

My stomach turned. “You still have three sisters left, right? Aryk, Venus, and Marigold?”

He nodded.

Mom cursed. “But they’re too strong for us to take on at once. We need to pick them off one by one.”

“And we need to outsmart my mother. Plan a trick within her trap. It doesn’t have to last long or be some grand scheme, just something to let us get Jada out of there.”

Pick them off one by one. That’s what Mom said. But how? Three Princesses were left. Aryk was wild and a mind reader, so she would prove trickiest to kill. Then again, Marigold had the power to put people to sleep at will, which was very inconvenient. Venus could play with people’s desires by touching them, so it seemed she might be the easiest to take out, but that didn’t mean she was the smartest first target.

Mom and Bash were exchanging ideas on how to get Jada out, but it sounded far too Mission Impossible for my liking. Far too much room for error. My error. Mom was a soldier, a Nephilim soldier who’d been training her whole life for battle. Bash was . . . Bash.

“Not that it matters, Mother will sense Collins’ presence no matter what we do.” He glanced to me as I paced in front of him. “My entire family can sense her presence. Her aura is . . . overwhelming.”

Mom snapped her fingers. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but would you say out of all your remaining sisters that Aryk is the biggest threat? Because of her mind reading?”

“There are ways to protect ourselves from her gifts, but I would still say she is the largest threat besides my mother.” He sighed. “But we’ll need to be tricky. She can’t see our plan coming, and I think we need to narrow down our mission to one target right now. My mother or Aryk?—”

I gasped and froze in place as a crazy idea hit me. They both turned to me with wide eyes. I blinked. “Freaky Friday. That’s it. That potion in Peggy’s shop was strong enough to swap me and Tallulah, and Bash couldn’t tell the difference.”

“I would have had I not been in such a rush?—”

“Right. I know, I know. But your mother underestimates me and overestimates Aryk.” I bounced on my toes. The idea was forming in my head clearer and clearer by the second. “We get the potion from Peggy again and take it with us. Also, I saw a potion for camouflage. We’ll have you two drink that so you won’t be seen. Your mother is expecting me to rush blindly to her to save Jada, so that may give us a few moments. We sneak in and lure Aryk to us. If she’s as unhinged as you claim, then she won’t stop to think. She’ll just attack me. The three of us hog-tie her like we did Cleo. We make her drink the potion so she and I switch appearances. Then I, in disguise as Aryk, will escort a tied-up fake-Collins to Tephine. She’ll be thrilled. You grab Jada and bail. I’ll kill Aryk.”

They both just stared at me with wide eyes and their jaws dropped.

I glanced back and forth between my mother and my soulmate, and a flicker of doubt rushed through me. But then I shook that off. “Guys, she won’t be expecting it. She won’t realize Aryk is me until I’ve killed her and the spell is severed.”

Mom shook her head and pressed her hand to her stomach like my idea literally made her sick. “What if she realizes it’s you? What if she recognizes her own trick and tries to?—”

“The Stone.”

We both jumped and looked to Bash.

He was staring into space, his eyes laser-focused. He tapped on the moonstone crystal in his chest. “Like I said, Aryk’s emerald stone gives her the power to read minds. So, if Collins is holding it?—”

“I can use power from her stone, like I did outside the police station with you and Venus.”

"If you were touching Aryk’s emerald, the one in her chest, you would be able to read my mother’s mind.” He licked his lips and rubbed his hands together. Those crystal midi rings sparkling under the lights in the hallway. “Mother loves that Aryk can read her mind. She uses that to make my other sisters jealous, so she won’t be wearing anything to protect her mind.”

“Which means I’ll know if she’s on to me.”

Bash nodded. But then he took my face in his hands, forcing my eyes to meet his. “Promise me right now if you get even the slightest suspicion that mother knows, you will abort mission and flee as fast as you can. Promise me.”

I gripped his wrist. “I promise.”

“This plan is insanely dangerous.”

“Exactly. She won’t see it coming.” I rubbed my hands together. “I’ll have Aryk tied up, so she won’t be able to fight back. I just need a second to kill her. If you grab Jada and take off, that will make Tephine furious, and that’s the moment I strike Aryk. And she won’t try to stop me because she’ll just think it’s Aryk killing me. ”

Bash closed his eyes and shuddered. “I hate this plan, but it’s a good plan. But if you can’t do it, can’t kill her then you abort mission immediately. Got it?”

“I’ve seen what your family has done to their crystals, the torture they’ve wrought. I doubt I won’t have the stomach to follow through but yes, I promise, if I hesitate I will bail.”

Mom pinched the bridge of her nose. “Then you need to get to Peggy’s. The sooner you get in there, the better.”

I pressed my hand to Bash’s chest. “Stay here with Mom. We don’t know if your mother has any spies out there. I’ll be right back.”

“You don’t know how to fly there?—”

“She doesn’t need to.” Mom gestured to the portal behind her. “This will take you anywhere in First Realm you want to go. Just think of Peggy’s shop and step through. All you’ll have to do is fly back.”

Bash sighed. “And there’s an intense aura around this building, so you literally won’t be able to miss it. Just close your eyes and fly fast.”

“If I’m not back in ten minutes, Bash, come looking.” I nodded and lunged for the portal. “ Peggy’s shop!”

Cold air rushed over me, and light flashed. I slid to a stop just as the light vanished. My jaw dropped. I was back inside Peggy’s magic shop.

“Holy shit it worked.”

“I love that portal.”

I jumped and spun around to find Peggy Bow standing behind me with a huge grin. “Peggy!”

She giggled and waved with both hands. “Hello, dear! Phillip and Victoria have been worried about you. Are you okay? Wait, you came through the portal here. Why? What do you need?”

“Magic. Help. Potions.”

She nodded and pulled me to the side where there wasn’t anyone around. “Let’s skip the small talk. Just tell me what you need so you can get back to your job.”

“That Freaky Friday potion Tallulah and I took before . . . I need it.” I licked my lips and looked around. “And I thought I saw a potion for camouflaging people. Will that work in the other realms?”

She tucked her red hair behind her ears and pursed her pink-painted lips. “I’ve never left First, of course, but Savina used to use that potion to sneak around while she was in hiding. So, it should work in Third, especially if you wear a clear quartz stone to amplify the magic. Come with me.”

Peggy Bow was a swirl of red hair and pink glitter polka dots on a lavender dress as she spun away from me. I had to give this woman credit, she didn’t waste a single second. She literally sprinted down the aisle of her shop. I’d just caught up to her when she stopped and spun around to face me. She grinned and held up two vials I hadn’t even seen her grab.

I blinked and shook my head. “Whoa, you’re quick. Okay, so this is all I need?”

“The two people swapping appearances will share this bottle.” She held up the one in her right hand that I recognized from when I drank it before. Then she held up a new bottle. “This is the camouflage potion. For going into Third Realm, I would drink one vial per person who wants to hide.”

“Right. Perfect. Well, I need to hide two people, so can I get another?”

She snatched a vial off the shelf to her left, then started to hand it to me when she frowned. “You don’t have pockets.”

I sighed. “The fae don’t really do functional clothing. I’m just grateful my skin is all covered.”

“Let me.” She pulled a wand out of her dress pocket and pointed it at my hip. There was a flash and then a little hidden seam appeared in my catsuit. “There we are. Go ahead and shove the Freaky Friday potion in there—I’m assuming that’s the one you’ll be taking?”

“Correct.” I shoved the bottle into the snug pocket as she instructed. “Then I’ll just give these to Mom and Bash.”

“Perfect. Off you go then. Get out of here?—”

“Don’t I need to pay for these?”

“Constantine said the Third Realm Stone Keeper ordered all supernaturals to evacuate to Megelle Island. Money is not something I will accept from you, dearie. Please, just get going. I don’t like you here by yourself with that woman out there.”

I wrapped her in a hug before I could stop myself. “Thank you. Be safe.”

“You too. Now go!” She shooed me with both hands.

Without another word, I turned and sprinted out the front door. There were people everywhere in the street and on the snow-covered sidewalks. It looked like Las Vegas Boulevard on a Saturday night. Last time I was here the streets were empty. Megelle Island was a true and proper small town. The most crowded areas were only Main Street and the big park, so this was wild to see.

And it was my fault.

Constantine had listened to me.

Everyone had stopped in their tracks and were staring at me now. Bash had said my aura was overwhelming. I hadn’t really processed that statement until I witnessed it. The stares were all wide and nervous, like they were watching my every move. I didn’t know how that made me feel. Powerful and it was terrifying. Focus, Collins. I pushed my wings out and they gasped.

My own eyes widened. I gave what had to be the most awkward nod and wave and then shot into the sky. As I lifted higher and higher, I heard their exclamations of shock and concern. But I had to ignore them. I’d told Bash ten minutes, and I didn’t want him to come looking for me. As soon as I got up into the clouds I could see all of the island down below. To say it was beautiful was an understatement. The Island was surrounded by crystal clear blue-colored water. Gentle waves lapped at the coast while sirens splashed in the waves. Rainbows danced across the sky like this place was the most magical place to ever be. Main Street hummed with bright happy auras. On one side of the island there were thick forests where the trees were a kaleidoscope of fall colors. The castle and across from that the Pemberley seemed so inviting with the sun shinning down on it. The whole Island glowed with peaceful auras and that’s what I wanted for the fae in third realm. It made all this worth it.

I closed my eyes and pushed my magic out, searching for that aura of The Emerald. But even with my eyes closed, I felt the blast of heat that could only be the angels’ headquarters and the home base for all the portals. I opened my eyes and looked toward the energy and wondered if anyone else saw the flashing colors that looked more like a neon sign back in Vegas. I took a deep breath, then set my sights on that flashing color and flew as fast as I could.

It wasn’t until I was lowering down onto the rooftop terrace of the building that I realized I had no idea how to get to the portal room. My instinct had been to land on the roof where humans wouldn’t see me. New York was a crazy hectic place and just outside the Emerald was no different. It was odd to be in such a city but also right across from Central Park. It was both harsh with all the movement but beautiful in an awe inspiring way. The sound of blaring horns and car engines filled the air and all I could think was to hide from sight so I wouldn’t get in trouble. But the moment my feet touched the bricks of the lavish terrace, it was like an alarm blaring in my ears. Panic ran through my body and I went into flight mode ready to run right off the roof. This definitely was not a public space. I cursed and jumped and spun around—and slammed into a wall of muscle. With another curse, I stumbled back a few steps and looked up to see who I’d crashed into, and my heart sank.

“Zuriel. ”

He stood there dressed in all black with his pristine white angel wings at his back. He crossed his arms over his chest and arched one black eyebrow. Those sapphire-blue eyes were the prettiest scary thing I’d ever seen.

I opened my mouth, then closed it. My feet carried me back a few more feet. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I’m lost. Where are the portals? I’ve never flown here or walked here even. I’ve only come by portal?—”

He sighed and shook his head. Without speaking, he snapped his fingers and a light flashed.

“COLLINS!”

My back slammed into something fuzzy. I looked up and found the most beautiful moonstone eyes looking down at me. Pale-blue hair draped into my face. I smiled. “I’m back?”

He arched one pale eyebrow. “Where did you just come from?”

Mom huffed. “We were expecting you from the elevator at the end of the hall, Collins.”

Bash lifted me back onto my feet, then his gaze slid up and down my body like he was making sure I wasn’t injured. “Cinderella?”

“I panicked and landed on the terrace on the roof.” I shuddered. “Zuriel.”

Bash chuckled and kissed my forehead. “How did it go?”

“Terrifying. I don’t think anyone is allowed to land up there. The second my feet touched, it was like WOO WOO WOO alarms in my head—and then I literally ran straight into Zuriel at, like, full speed. Do you know how that feels? Like running into a brick wall—and that’s not what you were asking me.”

He laughed.

I sighed. “Peggy was amazing. I’ve got our potions right here. One of these for each of you. She said Savina used to use them in Second Realm to hide, so they should conceal you two.” I lifted my hands to show both camouflage vials.

“Did you tell her Phillip would pay for these?” Mom asked as she took one of the vials.

“No, she won’t accept payment from me.” I handed the other vial to Bash, then tapped on my pocket. “But she did give me a secret pocket so I can keep the Freaky Friday potion on me. Cool, huh?”

Bash inspected his vial. “Before we take these and head into hell, we need to get you two some extra protection.”

“What did you have in mind?” Mom gestured over her shoulder. “They’ve got an armory here with weapons?—”

“No. No, not that.” He looked to me, then tapped on the crystals hanging from his neck. “I wear these crystals to prevent my family from using their tricks on me.”

“What stones do you think we need?” I rubbed my hands together and called on my magic. “Like yours? Amethyst, rose quartz?—”

“Onyx and black tourmaline as well.”

“Oh, Peggy said to wear clear quartz to enhance the potions.”

“I like this Peggy.” He scratched his jaw. “Is she a Wentworth descendant?”

Mom pursed her lips. “That’s actually a great question.”

“All right, all right, all right. I’ve got this. One second.” I closed my eyes, held my hands out in front of me, and pictured a necklace made of crystal beads. Metal was not in my skill set, so I had no idea if this idea was going to work, but I saw the image clear in my mind. Round crystal beads the size of marbles connected together. With all five stones. I felt weight in my palms, so I opened my eyes and grinned. Two identical necklaces now sat in my hands with beads of pink, white, purple, and black. A self-satisfied giggle bubbled up my throat. “Will these work?”

“Those are perfect,” Bash said with a smile as he plucked them out of my hands and held one out to my mother. Once she took it, he turned back to me and slipped it over my head. “Keep these on.”

“Okay, we good to go now?”

Mom tucked her necklace under her armor. “Time to drink?”

Bash squeezed my hand but his gaze was on my mom. “Sandra, you may or may not be able to see me, but Collins will sense you. Our auras cannot be hidden from the Stone Keeper, fortunately for us. Let’s drink and execute the plan.”

I knew this camouflage part was included in my plan, but as they swallowed the potion, my mind filled with doubt. And fear. Mostly fear. I was trying to play the part of strong, confident Stone Keeper who could handle anything on her own, but I wasn’t that person. Not yet. So, the idea that I wouldn’t be able to see them made me want to vomit. I closed my eyes and focused on breathing slow, easy breaths before I sent myself into a panic attack.

Mom cleared her throat. “That was surprisingly tasty. Peggy is so good.”

“She must be a Wentworth somewhere in her line.” Bash chuckled softly. “Remind me to ask Savina later.”

Mom’s hand tightened on mine. “Collins, honey, are you okay?”

Bash’s fingers brushed over my cheekbone as he reached to tuck my hair behind my pointed ears. “Cinderella? Are these nerves or ailments?”

“Just nerves. I’m trying not to panic.” I opened my eyes and gave them reassuring smiles. “I tend to freak myself out pretty easily. Tallulah usually talks me off the figurative ledge. I’m fine. Go ahead, drink your potions so we can get this over with.”

Bash arched one eyebrow. “We did, love.”

“Right. The tasty statement, I heard that. I’m fine.”

Mom glanced down at herself, then up to me, then over to Bash. “I can hear him, but I can’t see him.”

My jaw dropped.

Bash grinned. “Have no fear. Though I cannot see you, I can sense your aura because I know you’re there.”

“I can see you both perfectly.”

Light flashed within the portal to my right and then Nickel stepped out. She spotted me there and frowned. “Where’s Sandra and Bash?”

My jaw dropped again. “They’re right here.” I lifted our joined hands up.

“Well, that is reassuring,” Bash said with a grin. “I definitely like this Peggy.”

“Nickel, we’re here.” Mom shifted her weight around. “We took one of Peg’s camouflage potions so you may not see me if I come back through, but I will tell you if I see you.”

Nickel shuddered. “God, I don’t want to know what your crazy plan is. Just do it and good luck.”

I squeezed their hands. “Bash, please bring us home.”

Bash nodded and lunged. My body went flying after his, my wings carrying me without me telling them to. I dragged Mom through the portal with us. When the light of the portal vanished, all I saw was white everywhere. Bitter, cold air slammed into my face and hands. When I looked up for the floating islands the snow nearly blocked them out. Huge icicles hung from them like deadly weapons. I knew I should be able to see the castle in the distance but it too was faint among the gray sky and constant snowfall. I could no longer see the forest shining with different colors of the wildness of the land. Ice pelted my face stinging my cheeks and nose. I hissed and cursed.

Bash exhaled in a rush. “This is too much snow for three days. That cannot be a good sign.”

“Binding herself to the Realm will have changed things.” Mom glanced around at all the snow surrounding us. “I know us being invisible doesn’t help each other, but we need Collins to look like she’s alone, so let’s drop her hands.”

I groaned but didn’t fight them when they let go of me. “Okay. Where are we? And where might we find Aryk?”

“We’re on the outskirts of what used to be a village, but has been long since deserted since the weather turned cold. Mother won’t sense us out here. It’s like a desert in First Realm.” He narrowed his eyes on the frozen horizon. “And Aryk will be on her ship.”

“Where do we find this thing?”

Bash stood directly in front of me, close enough that our bodies touched in a few places. He tangled his fingers with mine. “Collins, close your eyes and feel for it. These crystals speak to you. All you have to do is listen. It’s a Viking-esque pirate ship made entirely of crystals.”

I closed my eyes without hesitation. Closed was good. Closed meant I didn’t have to see all the snow. I didn’t see the evidence of the overwhelming feat in front of me. Instead, I leaned forward and rested my forehead on Bash’s chest. The moonstone embedded in his skin was cold against my face. That spicy vanilla scent of his seeped into my senses, bringing my racing pulse down a few notches.

“Collins?” Mom hissed over the wind. “How are we doing?”

“Just trying not to freak out for a second. I’m fine.” I pressed my hands to Bash’s stomach to feel the warmth of his skin. “It’s fine. I’m fine. Just have to find a Viking ship in the snow. Just find the ship. No big deal.”

“ Just breathe, Cinderella, ” Bash whispered against my ear, his warm breath sweeping over my face. “You can do this. One step at a time. Don’t overthink it. Just call out to the ship with your mind, and I think it’ll answer.”

I looked up and met his gaze. The strength in his eyes chased away the flutter of doubt. I wasn’t alone in this. I had Bash and he wasn’t new to this realm. I nodded and then closed my eyes, but he didn’t take his hands off of me.

Ship. Aryk’s ship, are you out there? I pushed with my magic, like waving my hand through smoke. I saw it in my mind. It was made entirely of smooth rose quartz. It had confused me to see Aryk’s ship made of the stone that was her Venus’s stone of power, though it was probably a strategic move to rustle Venus’s feathers. Come on. Where are you? Talk to me.

And then I felt a wave of longing. Of pain and heartbreak. Sadness. An image appeared in my mind as if I was looking at it with my own eyes. In front of me was a mountain of thick white snow . . . and a woman with fiery orange hair that glowed like flames in the white. Aryk. The vision was from her ship.

I licked my lips and nodded, pushing my magic into the ship. I see you. I feel you. Why are you hurting? Tell me how I can help you. Cold air washed over me in ripples, almost like water rushing over rocks—I gasped. I wasn’t actually in the water, it was merely the stones talking to me through images of their memories. And they were showing me Aryk’s ship was a ship like one made for water. Did she take you from the sea?

The image changed. Suddenly, I was looking up at a purple sky with water bubbles all around me. Little fish made of crystals swam all around me. The water was cold, but I felt warm. I felt happy. There were huge chunks of crystals in every color lying with me on the sea floor. I felt them buzzing almost like they were talking to each other. It reminded me of a coral reef— Oh no.

Anger that wasn’t entirely my own filled my veins. Did she take you from your home in the sea? With your friends?

I was now looking down at those crystals on the seafloor as I was dragged higher and higher, moving farther and farther from my family. My friends. I was screaming and crying. It wasn’t my memories, it was the ship’s, yet a very real tear slid down my cheek.

Bash sucked in a sharp breath. His finger wiped the tear from my face. “ That’s not your pain, but you can free it. Make it right, ” he whispered against my hair.

I nodded. Just like I did for Cleo’s stone. I pushed my magic out again. I can set you free, send you home. I already sent Cleo’s stone home. You don’t have to hurt anymore. Just come to me.

The ship filled with fear but also desperation. In my mind, I saw Aryk climb onto the ship and stand at the mast. The ship was panicking. It was still surreal to me this unique way I had to communicate with crystals but I had no time to question or doubt it.

It’s okay. Bring her with you. I promise to set you free. Just come to me. Now. Come to me.

There was a moment where nothing happened, but then I felt the air pulse around me. In my mind, I saw Aryk flinch and spin around in a panic. Her eyes were wide. She scrambled to get control of her ship, but it wasn’t listening.

It was coming to me.

It was escaping.

I opened my eyes, grinned, and stepped around Bash. There was nothing in front of us but a pale-lavender sky and rolling hills of snow that did look just like a desert. Yet I felt the ship coming. It was like I’d called for my puppy, and it was sprinting as fast as possible to get to me. “It’s coming. You two get down in the snow to help hide your auras, just in case. Stay on either side of me and watch my back, but I shouldn’t need you just yet.”

“We’re here and ready.” Mom held her weapon at the ready and eyed the horizon.

Bash squeezed my hand, then stepped away. “I will not hesitate to jump in if I think you are in danger.”

My heart warmed, but I had to focus on my mission.

Save the ship. Trap the bitch.

“I feel it.” Bash crouched down low in the snow. “Coming in quick.”

Mom rolled to the balls of her feet. “Is she on it?”

I nodded. “She’s confused and alarmed.”

Bash chuckled, but it sounded devious.

And then I saw it. Like a real pirate ship blasting over a wave, it rolled into view: a rose quartz crystal carved into the shape of a huge Viking ship. At the front was a dragon with its mouth wide open baring its teeth. A large mast stuck up from the center of it and portholes lined both sides of the damn thing. It was glorious and intimidating to see, even as I felt its pain and sadness.

Relief thundered through the air. The ship saw me. And I saw myself standing in the snow, dressed in all black with only my long pink and purple hair to guide it. Yet there was no Bash or Mom, so Peggy’s potion was working. That made me grin. The image of myself zoomed in closer, and it made my pulse quicken. If I hadn’t known that was me, I would’ve been alarmed. The woman standing there looked fierce and furious. My grin looked maniacal. My pointed ears sparkled in the reflection of the snow. My eyes glowed bright turquoise. I looked confident and terrifying.

I’d never seen myself from another’s perspective.It was oddly reassuring. Confidence I hadn’t felt a moment ago now rushed through my muscles. The fears I’d had simmered down just a touch. The girl I was looking at through the ship could handle this, without a doubt.I held my chin higher and pushed my shoulders back. I’m here. Come to me. It’s time to send you home.

I saw Aryk again. This time she was staring over that dragon at the front. Snarling. At me. “Who does she think she is? Coming in here by herself. She thinks she can steal my ship to trick Mother. What a fool.”

I’d heard Aryk’s words as if she was standing right next to me.

“What’s your plan, Collins?”

“I’m improvising.” I narrowed my eyes on the ship. I’m going to break you back into the separate pieces you used to be. If that’s okay, please show me what that looked like.

Instantly, I saw a massive cluster of rose quartz crystals piled on the seafloor. They were round and smooth like river rocks.

Okay, I hear you. I don’t know if this will hurt you ? —

The image in my head changed to a zoomed-in picture of Aryk’s snarling face.

Let’s end this together. When I break you apart, pin her down for me.

The images from the crystal vanished, like it knew I needed my full range of vision to do this. It still blew my mind that I communicated with crystals like they were my puppies, but I was over questioning this new identity of mine. The Stone Keeper of Third Realm had a duty to do, and I wasn’t going to let the souls of the crystals suffer any longer.

Aryk and her tortured ship dipped down with the hill of the snow. I held my hands up and pushed my magic out. Turquoise mist swirled around my hands, glowing and crackling like sparklers on the Fourth of July. The ship soared back up from the valley on a wave of powdery white snow. Aryk’s neon-orange hair flew into the air, and I heard her roar.

Let’s burn one more bridge.

I pushed my magic out as hard as I could. It rolled out of me like a tsunami and slammed into the ship. The ground rumbled and warmed. My magic coiled around every inch of the ship. I pictured that image it had shown me of what it used to be before Aryk stole them . . . then I let out a scream. For them. For me. For Bash. For everyone hurt by this Royal Family.

RELEASE THEM.

The world exploded into a cloud of glittery pale-pink.