Prologue

Finally.

Castor

The thunder of music surrounding me makes it really hard to hear my Danielle's heartbeat, but it's there—hammering away beneath the horrific noise. I don't know exactly how she ended up stuck amid this nonsense, only that another man's hand is gradually lowering on her hip, and I am gradually contemplating murder.

Invisible to most everyone in this raucous place, I glide through the crowds, feeling with every step that my heart wants to match her rhythm and flee my chest.

"I really do appreciate this," she says, grasping the man's hand to keep it from wandering further. "I didn't know what to do before you showed up."

"Nah, don't worry, baby. You needed a meal and a place to stay. I told you my roommates and I would be happy to help you out."

"Say the word, Dani," the small dark pixie with my bright, brilliant girl snips. "I'll rip out their tongues and make them swallow their eyes."

I can't hold down my smile. The dark pixie. She smells like my Danielle. My darling, darling little bird created a dark pixie. For all her blinding, seelie shades, the little splash of unseelie bursting from her chest feels too right.

Danielle chuckles, awkwardly, as though having these men swallow their eyes isn't on her bucket list.

What. A. Shame.

It's on mine.

"Danielle." I plant my hip against the dirty table, blocking one of the louses off.

Her tangible shock wheels my way.

"Who's this guy?" the pixie quips. "What in the world is he wearing? Humans don't…" The small, young creature gasps. "You're not human, are you?"

"How do you know that name?" Danielle asks.

"Storm?" The guy clinging to her rubs her side. "What's wrong, baby?"

"N-nothing."

Little liar.

Lifting my foot, I plant it against the man's shoulder, then kick him out of his chair.

One of the other men swears as Danielle braces herself to keep from tumbling after him. "Wha—"

I grasp her arm, pull her upright, and steal her away from all human perception.

"What do you think you're doing?" she hisses. "Who are you? What are you?"

"Won't that be fun for you to discover, Danielle?"

"I go by Storm now."

I chuckle. "What a fierce name. It doesn't yet suit you, my feather."

"Let me go." She tugs against my grip.

"Zahra," I say.

Recognition robs the fight from her.

Even her pixie stops fruitlessly hammering her hands against my shoulder to chirp, "You know Zahra?"

"You'd have saved yourself weeks of trouble had you told her where you were and let her get you herself." I comb my fingers through Danielle's hair, feel the soft waves against my skin. It's long. I wonder, desperately, what exact shade it might be.

But.

Then again.

It doesn't matter.

All that matters is that she is mine .

"Please don't touch me so familiarly," she mutters.

"You didn't say that to him." I direct my chin at the man scrambling off the sticky floors, likely looking everywhere for the woman just out of sight.

Danielle stiffens. "I was using him to get a free meal."

I sigh. "Do not tell me you've been doing this since you left home? Locating the trail of anyone who smells like you will be almost as frustrating as disposing of their corpses."

A splash of Danielle's fear hits my tongue as she hardens herself. "You can't know Zahra. She wouldn't be friends with someone like you. You're one of the ones who can get in my head. Don't think for a moment you can toy with me."

"Wouldn't dream of it, love."

"Unhand me. Now."

"Say please again. I like the way it sounds on your lips."

She, quite nearly, knees me square in the groin.

As her balance tips from my having caught her leg, she whispers a fragile oh dear .

"Hush." I sweep her up into my arms, revel in the way my heart yearns for this weight of her, and turn us toward the exit.

Her pixie wraps her fists around the knot of my blindfold. "Stop it! Stop! Where are you taking her?"

"Nowhere you can't join us, hatchling." I let my lips graze Danielle's forehead as she holds onto my robes for dear life. "I would take care not to tamper with my blindfold, though. My eyes turn creatures to stone, so there is a very good reason I'm wearing it."

The tiny hands release the fabric. "Where are you taking my Dani?"

"Home."

"Where is home ?" Danielle asks, songbird voice wobbling.

"Somewhere safe, and enchanting, and lavish. Where I can spoil you senseless and plot the demise of those who have wronged you."

"Why would you want to do something like that?" Her sweet voice breaks .

"Why?" I murmur, pushing us out of the club and into a balmy night. "Because. Doesn't it sound like fun ?"

Without another moment's notice, I step my beloved soulmate into Faerie.