1. Rissa

1

RISSA

Roma leaned forward in her chair. A few strands of her wavy dark hair had already worked their way out of her sleek updo, falling around her face. Her hazel eyes were intent on her intended prey. "You can't have a small wedding! It has to be a grand affair, like mine and Bran's. Remember, king of vampires, it's another major PR opportunity."

Hugh, quiet as ever, simply shook his head. I had to admire his determination, and I gave him fifty-fifty odds of actually winning this discussion. Which was better than most against Roma's steamroller tendencies. "No. Absolutely not. There is only one vampire female on Earth. I'm marrying her. It would be cruel to rub that fact in my subjects' faces."

Tanni nodded, expression just as firm as Hugh's. She fidgeted with the end of her long, brown braid. "A small ceremony is better for us. I don't want to be the center of attention in some huge spectacle."

Roma huffed and opened her mouth to argue, but Shay's image on the video screen got her words in first. "A compromise? Have it on Fellmere. We can ensure your privacy. Then have a well- publicized but very exclusive reception. That way Roma gets more fodder for the press, and you don't have to deal with all that much of a crowd."

Shay brushed a strand of golden hair behind her ear. Her other hand rested on her swollen belly. This far into her pregnancy, small as she was, she looked a lot like a bowling ball with stick arms and legs.

Cathy nodded enthusiastically, her short red bob swaying with the motion. "I agree. Just leak the news there'll be a reception and people will be lining up to attend, and then pick a few of them. People really want to visit Shay's place after the last wedding! So, we can keep the number really small and still get the result we need."

I glanced toward Hugh and Tanni. The vampire king didn't appear willing to yield, but Tanni covered his hand with hers. His face softened as he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. He had hidden depths; I'd known him for decades and not discovered he had a romantic streak.

"Then it's settled," Hugh declared in a tone that brooked no argument. "A small wedding at Shay's castle in three weeks. Only our closest friends will attend. And no more than ten others at the reception."

Roma sat back, crossing her arms. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. She meant well, but sometimes her aggressive managing tendencies were a bit much. Thank the heavens above my boss hadn't married her.

A sudden silence descended over the meeting room.

Bran, goblin king and all-around take-charge guy, changed the subject abruptly. "The formless ones. We need to form a plan to deal with them now. Since we're sitting in council, does anyone have ideas for how we can get rid of them and prevent their return?"

I glanced around at the troubled faces of my friends. Rey leaned against the wall, his ever-present smile flattened with thought. Cathy chewed her bottom lip, her freckled nose scrunched in consideration. Roma folded her manicured hands on the table, her expression uncharacteristically grim.

No one spoke. The tension grew thicker with each passing second. My shoulders tensed as a sinking realization settled over me. They were out of ideas. Damn it all. I would have to be the one to break the silence. To offer a solution that would be a tremendous pain in my posterior, and worse, would change relationships I'd spent a very long time building.

I shoved my hands in my pockets, leaning back in my chair. The chair squeaked as I stared at the ceiling. This was something I really didn't want to do. Revealing my deepest secret carried consequences...

On the big screen, Martellus's image shifted. His violet-blue eyes narrowed as he focused his attention on Edward. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

Edward straightened in his chair, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His rugged features remained impassive, but there was a slight tension in his shoulders. "I'm here to help, same as everyone else."

Martellus raised a single brow. "Really? Would someone explain why they've decided to trust you?"

Martellus's doubts were valid. Edward was a daemon, after all. Deception came naturally to his kind.

Edward met Martellus's challenge unflinchingly. "The Council booted me out when I refused to help them when they challenged all of you. I don't have anywhere else to go."

His flat words hung in the air, a mixture of defiance and resignation. It would have made even a really unkind person feel ashamed for challenging him.

Luckily, I was several degrees meaner.

Redirecting my gaze from the ceiling, I studied Edward's chiseled profile. His light red hair gleamed under the fluorescent lights, his close-cropped beard and mustache adding to his rugged charm. But beneath that handsome illusion was the reality of a daemon, a person whose very nature was steeped in power hunger and deceit.

Could we really trust him? Probably not, but then I'd learned to guard my back in a hard school. Edward might claim to be on our side, but there was a good chance he was playing both fields. A double agent, waiting for the right moment to betray us. The human perception of daemons had its roots in the daemon people.

Trust didn't come easily to me. Too many centuries of watching all the plays of treachery and lies that come with all people. Even Rey, my closest confidant, who I trusted with my life, didn't know my biggest secret. Not that it really impacted much in how our friendship worked, either.

But what choice did I have? The formless ones were closing in, their presence seeping into every corner of our world. We needed all the help we could get, even if it came from a source I didn't want to use.

I caught Edward's gaze. A silent understanding passed between us, a recognition of the precarious position of our world. For now, we would have to put aside our doubts and work together.

But that didn't mean I would let my guard down. I'd be ready for when Edward turned on us, ready to strike at the first sign of betrayal. Memory stirred within me, ancient magic thrumming through my veins. Even with most of my power gone I was far from helpless.

Let the daemon cross me. He'd learn the same hard lesson others had. Maybe even survive it.

The leather seat creaked beneath me when I shifted position to be upright again.

Bran stood at the head of the table, his long white hair pulled back in a neat ponytail, emphasizing the sharp angles of his goblin-gray face. He addressed the meeting of kings and their chosen mates with his usual solemn intensity.

"We need ideas, people. The formless ones are gaining numbers by the day. We can't afford to sit back and do nothing." Like Roma, Bran's charisma was palpable.

Silence answered him.

I looked at each person in turn. Rey, his perpetual smirk almost faded, lounged in his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin. Cathy, his mate, leaned forward, her brow furrowed in concentration. Roma, with even more strands of hair curling around her face, sat beside Bran, tension in her delicate features.

Hugh and Tanni sat close together, their hands intertwined. Hugh's massive frame seemed to dwarf the petite vampire beside him, but the love and protectiveness in his gaze was unmistakable.

Cassie fidgeted in her seat, her energy barely contained.

On the video screen, Shay was seated, and Martellus stood behind her. Shay's belly was swollen to the bursting point with their unborn child, the reason she wasn't here physically.

Rey opened his mouth, and I knew that a crazy plan was about to fall out of it. One that wouldn't work, given the circumstances, but he'd go down fighting.

Bran cleared his throat. "Anybody other than Rey?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come, and mumbled, "I could probably do it."

Every head in the room swiveled toward me, their expressions a mix of shock and curiosity. Bran leaned forward, his focus on me like a laser. "What did you say?"

I could feel the weight of everyone's undivided attention, the unspoken questions hanging in the air. Now or never, Rissa. I lifted my chin and repeated, "I said, I could probably do it."

Rey, face transformed by a smug grin, caught my eye. He had always suspected there was more to me than met the eye, and now his suspicions were confirmed. I shot him a sharp look, silently warning him to keep his mouth shut. Rey's smug grin broadened, making me want to smack him.

Bran leaned forward, his dark eyes fixed on me. "I'm sorry, one more time a little louder. Did you say you could do it?"

I sighed heavily, rolling my eyes. "Yes, I can do it. I just need to retrieve something first."

The room erupted into a flurry of questions and exclamations. I caught snippets here and there:

"What do you need to get?" That was Cathy, her brow furrowed in concern.

"How long have you been hiding this?" Roma, her tone more curious than accusatory.

"Can we trust her?" That was Edward. Nice, coming from a daemon. I shot him a glare.

Through it all, Rey remained silent, that infuriating grin still plastered on his face. He was enjoying this far too much.

I held up a hand. "Look. I know this is a lot to take in."

"Do you really think you can do this?" Roma asked. She had that considering expression on her face, probably trying to figure out a way to get video of it and boost the monster approval rating. Roma lived her job. "All on your own?"

"Yes, I think I can. I will need a little help, but I'm pretty sure I can manage it."

Silence hung heavy in the room for a long moment. Curiosity and interest radiated off them in waves. Cathy exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Roma. Hugh frowned thoughtfully, his arm draped protectively around Tanni's slim shoulders.

Rey leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "What do you need from us, Rissa? Just say the word."

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. With a daemon in the room, there was no way I was giving full details. "I need...to go get something. And maybe a little help putting a spell together once I explain how I want it to work."

Roma reached out, her slender hand resting on my arm. "We do trust you. You've never let us down before."

I stood up and paced the edges of the room. "The barrier between our world and the others is like a membrane. It's flexible, permeable. That's how the formless ones are able to slip through."

Hugh leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed. "That's been established, yes. Have you figured out a way to stop them?"

I paused, turning to face the group. "We make the barrier sticky. Like flypaper. Any being without a physical form will get caught, trapped. They won't be able to pass through."

Tanni's eyes widened, her delicate features etched with worry. "Is that even possible? It would have to surround the entire world."

I nodded. "It is. But it will require a massive amount of power. More than I currently have access to."

Cathy tilted her head. "What do you mean? How much power are we talking about here?"

Bran, who was a talented mage and knew exactly how much power it would take, was staring at me unblinking. I could all but hear him putting the clues together in his head. Then he glanced at Rey, whose face was probably going to split if that grin didn't stop getting wider.

Yes, Bran, I have the power of a goddess. Please don't share with everyone in the room.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself for their reactions. "I hid a diamond that contains the majority of a deity's powers, hidden away when the daemons overthrew them."

Trying to keep deniability with careful phrasing was harder than it looked. The room fell silent, the weight of my words hanging in the air.

Edward leaned forward, his dark eyes narrowed. "Where is this diamond now?"

Nice try, daemon.

I laughed. "That's none of your damn business."

Bran stood up, his tall frame towering over the others. "Then that's what we do. We retrieve the diamond, craft a spell, and use both to seal the barrier. Once and for all."

I nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Exactly. Might be some on the fly adjustments to the plan though."

I was going to slide through this with Bran and Rey's help. I owed them.

Rey grinned, his teeth flashing in the light. "When has that ever stopped us before? It's practically mandated!"

The tension in the room easing slightly when I laughed. "True enough. But this time, the stakes are a bit higher."

Hugh leaned forward, a thoughtful expression on his quiet face. "It's a good plan. After we seal the barrier, what do we do about the formless ones already in this world? They could still cause plenty of chaos."

I nodded. He was right, of course. Sealing the barrier would prevent more formless ones from entering, but it wouldn't solve the immediate problem. I was pretty sure a solution could be layered into the spell, but it had been a very long time since I crafted something this large. And given my audience, I wasn't entirely sure how much I wanted to share.

"I know. But it's a start. Once the barrier is sealed, we can focus on finding and dealing with the ones already here." I leaned against my chair.

"How do you propose we do that?" Edward asked, his tone skeptical. "They could be anywhere, hiding in plain sight."

I met his gaze, my own unwavering. "I have a few ideas. But first, I need to retrieve the diamond. While I do that, I'll need a distraction."

Cathy leaned forward, her red hair falling over her shoulder. "What kind of distraction?"

I hesitated, not wanting to put anyone in unnecessary danger. But I knew I couldn't do this alone. "Something interesting. Something that will keep the formless ones occupied while I fetch it and then perform the spell to seal the barrier."

Hugh regarded me, a frown building on his face. "The spell? You'll cast the spell? I didn't know you had that level of experience. Wouldn't channeling that amount of power burn you out or kill you?"

Blast. The vampire king knew more about magic than I'd thought.

As if on cue, Martellus' image on the video screen leaned forward, his violet-blue eyes narrowed in a combination of suspicion and…was that amusement? "Yeah, I'd like to know that too. We've been acquainted for many years, and I believe you've mentioned emphatically a number of times that you don't do magic, that those who do were weak."

And there came old words to bite me in the butt. And the wily troll king was enjoying the moment.

I squirmed in my seat, feeling all their gazes on me. Then Shay spoke up. "How odd. I've never seen you in a vision either, even when it was about Cathy and Rey. That's...interesting."

I sighed, running a hand through my short black hair. "Fine. I'm not precisely a shifter."

Every eye was trained on me, and the room was silent. Oh, hell. I took a deep breath, ready for the plunge. Best to get it over with.

"I'm a goddess. That's what people called my kind. Or they did, before the daemons banished us from this realm."

Stunned silence greeted my revelation.

Cathy was the first to find her voice. "A goddess? Like...an actual deity? With worshippers and temples and all that?"

She appeared to be struggling with the concept, which was fine. I'd put a lot of effort into being the person I was now, who was about as far from divinity as you could get.

I shrugged. "Yeah."

"Which one?" Roma sounded stunned.

"Lots of different names. Innanna and Sekhmet and Bastet, along with others. Something to do with cats usually."

Hugh crossed his arms, assessing me. I'd become a possible threat to his Tanni, and he was working his way through it. "Why pretend to be a shifter?"

"Because I didn't want to leave Earth," I explained, my tone carefully casual. "This is my home. I enjoy interacting with people. I didn't want to abandon you all."

Tanni spoke gently. "So, you gave up your powers to stay in this world?"

The vampire queen was a perceptive woman, for all she was quiet and preferred to avoid notice. "The greater part of them, yes. I sealed away what made me different so I could hide among you without drawing attention from the daemons who were hunting and banishing us."

"Understood," Bran said gravely. "You're going to unseal your powers to stop the formless ones after all this time?"

"It's the only way. Believe me, if I could have thought of a different way to do it, we would not be having this conversation."

Shay leaned back into the seat, exhaustion showing on her face. "It must have been a difficult secret to live with."

I managed a wry smile. "You have no idea."

Edward met my gaze, his expression unreadable. "Do you plan to retaliate against daemons? The ones who overthrew your kind? What's to stop the Council from coming after you once you reveal yourself?"

Trust the daemon present to bring all that up. I shot him a glare, annoyed at the reminder of that ancient conflict. "The daemons have already banished my brothers and sisters. They think they got all of us. Even if they realize, they won't stop me from kicking out the formless ones since they're in danger too. Anything else can be dealt with later." I darkened my gaze even more. "Assuming you don't tell them in the near future."

I turned to Rey, my old friend, loved but not entirely trusted. He was the trickster king.

"Well, well, well," he drawled, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. "Looks like the cat's out of the bag, huh?"

I winced at his terrible pun, feeling some of the tension drain from my shoulders. "What are you smirking at?"

Rey shrugged, his lean frame lounging casually in his chair. "I've got your big secret. You still don't have all of mine."

Cathy bopped him on the back of the head.

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do tell."

His grin deepened as he shook his head. "Nice try, but we've got other things to focus on right now. Like getting your powers back and kicking some formless ass."

Bran cleared his throat, drawing everyone's focus.

"Rissa, I have to ask," he began, "why did you choose to stay here on Earth all this time? You could have gone anywhere, to any dimension, and yet you remained."

I shrugged, a wry smile tugging at my lips. "What can I say? I grew attached to this place, to the humans and the monsters alike. There's just something about the chaos and the creativity here that I couldn't bear to leave behind."

Roma. "But to hide for so long, to keep your true self a secret... wasn't that lonely?"

I met her gaze, a flicker of ancient sadness passing through me. "Sometimes, yes. But I found ways to keep myself entertained, to make small differences where I could." I smirked. "Let's just say that a few 'miracles' throughout history might have had a bit of divine intervention behind them."

Cathy, her blue eyes wide with realization, chimed in. "That's why you joined forces with Reynard, isn't it? To hide in plain sight as his second-in-command?"

I nodded, a fond smile playing on my lips as I glanced at Rey. "Nah, it's because he's not boring. Even exiled in Dream he was fun." I paused, my expression turning serious. "But now it's time for me to face the formless ones head-on."

Edward leaned forward, curiosity plain in his face. "Rissa, I'm curious about the technical aspects of the spell to create this sticky barrier around the world. Could you elaborate on how it will work?"

I shot him a sharp glare, my green eyes narrowing with suspicion. Edward's question felt a bit too probing and specific to me. "That's not something you need to worry about."

My tone made it clear that I wouldn't tolerate any further questions on that matter.

Cathy got up and walked around the table, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Rissa, are you sure you can do this? It's not that I don't believe in you—you've never let us down before—but I don't want you to burn yourself out either."

I turned to face her, my expression softening at the genuine concern in her pale, freckled face. "I appreciate your worry, but I've got this. Once I have my full powers back, creating the barrier will be well within my capabilities."

Rey grinned, his hazel eyes sparkling with mischief. "Plus, she's got me to watch her back. We'll make an unstoppable team, just like old times."

I rolled my eyes at his antics but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "Just try not to get in my way, Rey. I don't want to accidentally stick you to the barrier while I'm working."

Laughter erupted, even Martellus smiling briefly. But as the chuckles died down, a sense of determination settled over the group.

Roma fixed me with a considering gaze, obviously trying to hold onto the lighter mood a few moments longer. "You've been holding out on us. All this time back on earth, and you could have been making cat food commercials and making yourself rich and famous."

I nodded. "You're absolutely right. I'll try to make up for the lost opportunity. Not."

Hugh spoke up. "I'm sorry, but why haven't you done this a long time ago?"

That question hit a little too close to home, made me wince. "I try not to interfere. Part because I'm trying to stay under the radar, part because it's not always a great idea to interfere. The formless ones are a clear threat to the world. Once I'm exposed, I'm going to need to figure out what to do going forward."

My gaze flickered to Edward. While the others seemed to trust him, a part of me couldn't help but worry that he might use this information against me.

I pushed the thought aside and continued, "Short version, I truly try not to intervene unless it's dire. And since it's becoming dire, I'm intervening."

Rey clapped his hands, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get this show on the road!"

The others began to file out of the room, their chatter fading as they disappeared down the hallway. I lingered for a moment, considering my course of action. I needed to go to the middle of an ocean, and I really hated sailing.

As I turned to leave, Rey materialized at my side, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. He leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, "I knew it. And I think I even know why you really kept it hidden."

I barely suppressed a groan, rolling my eyes skyward. Of course, Rey would choose this moment to be smug. It was just like him to pounce as soon as he could.

I shot him a withering glare, dusting off my very best sarcasm. "Enlighten me, oh trickster king. What deep insights have you gleaned from that brilliant mind of yours?"

Rey's hazel eyes danced with mischief as he took in my exasperated expression. "Come on, Rissa. It's me you're talking to. I know you better than anyone."

I huffed out a breath, crossing my arms over my chest. "You think you're so clever, don't you? Fine, let's hear it. Please, tell me my motives."

Rey's smile widened, and I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of smugness that was about to come my way. Sometimes, having a best friend who knew me better than I knew myself was more of a curse than a blessing.

Rey tapped his fingers against his chin, pretending to ponder the question deeply. "Well, for starters, you're not exactly the type to bask in the adoration of worshipers, are you? Listening to endless prayers and pleas?"

I scowled. That wasn't a pleasant memory. "That's not?—"

"And secondly," he cut me off, holding up two fingers, "you've never been one to crave power or control. In fact, I practically had to drag you kicking and screaming to be my second in command."

I opened my mouth to protest, since I remembered differently, but the words died on my tongue. Damn him, he was right. The memory of being revered as a goddess almost gave me hives.

It was long ago, and I planned for it to not happen again.

Rey's expression softened, his tone growing more serious. "But most importantly, Rissa, you value your freedom above all else. Acting as a goddess... it ties you down, robs you of the chance to have the life you choose."

I twitched my shoulders. Rey's words hit uncomfortably close to home. A sudden urge to punch him hit me, to escape his knowing gaze.

Rey took a step back, tilting his head. He knew me well. "Hiding your light under a bushel for a couple thousand years? That was a great trick. I've got to hand it to you."

I snorted, some of the tension draining from my jaw. "Don't get too cocky, Foxman. I've still got a few surprises up my sleeve."

Rey's grin turned wicked, his hazel eyes sparkling with challenge. "Is that so? Well then, keep an eye out, because now I have to do one twice as good to you."

Cathy, who'd been listening quietly, groaned, shaking her head in mock despair. "You've created a monster."

They exited the room, and I paused a moment before I followed, fighting the urge to twitch my tail in agitation. Of course, my tail wasn't actually present at the moment, but old habits die hard. I wasn't sure whether to feel relieved that my secret was finally out in the open, or paranoid about the potential consequences.

When I made my way into the hall, Edward suddenly appeared in front of me. I pulled up short, narrowing my eyes at the daemon. "What do you want, Edward?"

He shifted his weight from foot to foot, looking uncharacteristically uncertain. "I was wondering if I could crash on your couch for a few days."

I raised an eyebrow, folding my arms across my chest. "And why, exactly, can't you crash on your own couch?"

Edward glanced around the room, as if making sure no one else was listening. "I'm worried the Council might come after me, that kicking me out wasn't enough. I need a place to lay low for a while."

I studied him for a long moment, trying to gauge his sincerity. Edward was a wild card, and I wasn't entirely sure I could trust him. But at the same time, I didn't want to leave him out in the cold.

Tomorrow, I'd pawn him off on Rey. It was surprising he hadn't made the request of one of the others.

I sighed, setting a hand on my hip. "Fine. You can stay with me. But only until I find you another place, and you'd better not cause any trouble."

Edward's shoulders stiffened, and he nodded at me. "Thanks. I owe you one."

I waved him off, already regretting my decision. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't piss me off."

As we walked out of the Repupair offices together, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing something. If I had, I'd find out soon enough.

As we reached my black SUV, I finally turned to face him, my arms crossed over my chest. "You want to tell me what's really going on here, Edward? Because I'm not sure I buy this whole 'the Council is after me' routine."

Edward shifted uncomfortably, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I told you, Rissa. I stood against them at the goblin king's wedding, and now I'm worried they might retaliate."

I narrowed my eyes, studying his face for any sign of deceit. "And you've been bouncing around from place to place since? Why not just stay with one of them? We aren't friends."

He sighed, running a hand through his close-cropped red hair. "I don't want to put anyone in real danger. You're the only one I trust to handle the Council if they come knocking. Plus, I feel like they won't think of you in the list of places I might stay."

I snorted, shaking my head. "Flattery will get you nowhere. But fine, I'll buy your story for now."