Chapter 41

Stella

Blood and Beryl was a different world from a different era. I"d grown up comparatively wealthy in the Crossroads. There was always a roof over my head that didn"t leak. I had at least one meal a day. My clothes were never rags, and not just because of my power.

In the Crossroads, I"d walked each day on broken cobblestones and pavement that bore the scars of war. If people didn"t watch where they stepped, they could easily become a casualty. Most structures were dilapidated, if they stood erect at all. There was hunger in people"s eyes back in the Crossroads, and they just might cross the street to take a bite out of their neighbor if they thought they could get away with it.

Here in Blood and Beryl, the structures stood tall and proud, reminiscent of photographs from a century ago when humanity thrived and order reigned supreme. The homes and businesses along the streets bore none of the scars of decay that plagued the outside world. There were no broken windows or crumbling gutters. Instead, the buildings boasted a pristine appearance, as if they had just received a fresh coat of paint. There was an air of cleanliness and prosperity that permeated the atmosphere, a bright contrast from the dark squalor and desperation of the streets of No Man"s Land.

Even the people appeared healthy and well-fed. Their faces bore none of the gauntness or weariness that those living beyond the House"s walls wore. If the common folk lived in such luxury, then surely those in positions of power must lead lives beyond imagination.

I"d heard about the Vampire King and his shifter queen, whose animal walked beside her at all times. Niamh would gossip about their love story, looking dreamily off into the distance. Before Danni became consort to the king, she had rejected the cruel wolf prince of another House. Elias had born witness to that rejection, and when the prince"s father would"ve had Danni killed, Elias offered her sanctuary at Blood and Beryl. Then, soon after, he claimed her as his own. It was supposed to be a love match. I couldn"t wait to see for myself so that I could tell Niamh.

At least I hoped one day I could tell Niamh. And Tori. I had to believe my girls were okay. They were both smart enough and tough enough to make it through the portal opening alive.

"I"m sorry for the threats to your life, Stella. I should have come for you myself once I realized who you were."

The King of Panthers looked down at me. His eyes, dark and intense, held the weight of centuries, but he couldn"t have been too much older than me. Though looks could be deceiving with supernaturals. Vampires lived for hundreds of years without aging a day.

Dion looked like he was in his prime. Golden strands of hair framed his face, catching the light in a halo of radiance that accentuated his regal bearing. His eyes were pools of darkness that threatened to suck me in. Except I didn"t feel even a pinch of fear as I met his gaze.

There was an echo of his beast that lingered around him. Like a golden aura pushing off his shoulders. I could still see traces of the giant jaguar in the curve of his mouth, in the way his muscles tensed beneath his skin, ready to spring into action at a moment"s notice.

Supernatural physics was weird. How could a beast that big fit itself into this man… who honestly was still very, very big.

Despite Dion"s massive size and undeniable strength, I knew he wasn"t a danger to me. Something inside me told me he was safe. He was shelter. If I wanted, I could crawl into his lap and he would hold me. He"d tell me everything would be okay. And I would believe.

Except I didn"t want to crawl into his lap. I was happy right where I was. Next to Oz.

"That"s okay," I told the king. "Oz took care of me."

I glanced over at Oz, but he was avoiding my gaze. His jaw was tense, his hands balled into fists. He was stewing. Likely not just over the latest battle he"d nearly lost me in. He was probably thinking back on all our mishaps and how he would give an accounting to his king.

"He never let anyone hurt me. He put himself between me and danger every time. And we made it through safely."

Oz did look at me then. The turmoil churned in that golden gaze that I loved. I wished we were alone so that I could kiss and soothe him. But I doubted that kind of behavior would be appropriate in front of the king.

"I never doubted he would," said Dion. "Once you"re on Panthera, I can assure you there will be no more threats to your life in the palace."

"Can"t say I"m not looking forward to palace life." I grinned as I imagined the luxury, and by luxury, I meant a warm bath and a decent meal. A new outfit didn"t even cross my mind… at first.

"It is what you deserve," King Dion was saying as I was fantasizing about bedsheet thread counts. "I"m sorry I couldn"t get to you sooner. I didn"t see you until we were here on Earth and the portal from Tartarus opened. Had I known where you were, I would"ve found a way to get to you. To bring you where you belonged."

Dion"s gaze was so earnest. His words were so sincere. I reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. When my fingertips brushed his bare skin, I felt… something. It was a connection, but it was faint. Like the power lines had been set, but never charged.

The hum between us grew louder. I felt the vibrations start low in my seat. The huff of air lifted the tendrils of my hair from the back of my neck. Dion glanced past me, a brow raised as he looked at Oz.

Instantly, I took my hand away. Belatedly, I remembered that newly mated males did not take kindly to others touching their woman.

King Dion was entirely unfazed. In fact, he looked amused. A mischievous glint tugged at the brow he had raised. "You are breathtaking. Too beautiful to be wearing rags like these. Let"s see about getting you out of these clothes."

There went the rumbling again. Dion was playing with fire, and he knew it. Another time I would"ve gone along and roused my man. But Oz and I had just been through so much. The man"s nerves couldn"t take much more.

I sent Dion a look. He got it immediately. I knew he did. The look he sent me back was one of reluctant agreement, like I was asking him to give back a toy he wasn"t done playing with. I couldn"t help but grin at him. I"d never had such an easy connection to someone.

Well, except with Oz. But Oz"s displays of affection were hard won. Dion"s were easily given.

This king wasn"t like the small leaders who ruled by fear. He was open and friendly. He was the kind of man that made his subjects want to lean in, not cower away in fear. But maybe I was reading him wrong. I"d always read men wrong.

Except for Oz.

Well, except for now. Oz seemed a shell of the man who had been prepared to run head first into danger to protect me just an hour ago. Now he couldn"t seem to lift his head to even look at me.

Dion took my hand. There was a warmth there. It tingled like he was someone familiar to me. The way his eyes sparkled as he looked at me made me feel cozy inside. The way he smiled at me made me want to tell him my secrets and know that he would keep them all to himself.

Letting go of the king"s hand, I turned to my mate. Oz"s gaze was locked on my hand, on the spot where Dion had held it. I leaned into Oz and pressed a kiss on his cheek. He jerked as though I"d startled him back to life. His gaze connected with mine and, for a second, he was completely unguarded.

I saw all the love and longing, all the desire and yearning. It was all for me.

"Find me later?" I said to him.

Oz parted his lips. Nothing came out except a choking sound. I slipped out of the Jeep that had pulled up to a sprawling mansion. The kind that I"d only seen in old movies and books. Walking beyond the gates, I stared in awe at the manicured lawn and massive house. I never thought it real that people actually lived like this.

"You must be Stella."

The first thing I saw was the white wolf. The animal looked at me impassively with intelligent eyes. I should have been afraid, but once again, I wasn"t. The animal inside of me was awake. It nudged at my belly, wanting to come out and play. I got the sense that that was what the wolf was sensing: a potential new running mate.

I got the sense that the woman standing beside the wolf was deciding if I might be a new friend as well. "Do I address you as my lady or your Highness?"

The snort that burst from her nose was very unladylike. "You can call me Dani. And this is Nova."

"Nice to meet you both."

"I"m glad you made it out of there safely. The portal opening is causing a bit of a diplomatic nightmare."

"What came out of it?"

Dani shrugged. "Nothing we can"t manage. The House leaders are working to get it all under control."

"Will I be able to make a call to the Crossroads? I have friends there I want to check on."

"You should be able to reach them now. The magic that poured out is settling, and things are getting back into working order."

That was a relief. I wanted to check on Tori and Niamh before I sunk into a bath and wardrobe change.

"I spent a little time in No Man"s Land when I left my house," Dani said as we entered the grand house.

I was so overtaken by the opulence of the place that I didn"t watch my tongue when I spoke. "I heard about that. It was right after you rejected your first mate."

I scrunched up my face and balled my fists, wishing I could tailor the words I'd just said. A glance at Dani told me she was amused and not the least bit offended.

"Best thing I ever did. Though I don"t recommend it for you. King Dion is a good man."

"King Dion? My mate is Oz."

Dani"s brows went up in surprise and then lowered in confusion. "I thought Dion sent Oz to the Crossroads to fetch his fated mate for him?"

I went stock still. Even my heart stopped beating. I should"ve laughed. I should"ve found those words amusing. But they rang with a truth so loud that my entire world tilted.

My brain was like one of those media players that was able to rewind video or audio. There was a whirring sound in my head as I turned back everything that had happened to me over the past few days, everything that Oz had said and done. His reluctance. His denial.

"Would you excuse me for a moment, Dani? I forgot something in the Jeep."

I turned on my heel and headed back down the hall. Back through that grand entryway. Back toward those massive doors. But I didn"t need to go any farther. Oz and Dion were just outside.

"What did I tell you about Stella?" King Dion"s words were like a thunderclap, echoing into the house.

Oz"s voice was subdued, tinged with regret. "You told me to take care of her."

"Is this what you call taking care of her?"

"Sorry, sire."

"I trusted you with her."

The words struck a chord in me, resonating with its haunting familiarity. I"d dreamed this. Then seen it play out between Ken and Uziah. Then dreamed it again. This could not be happening to me again. I could not have fallen for the same game twice in one lifetime. Hell, twice in the same week.

"Stella is too important." There was a low growl in Dion"s voice.

"I know I screwed up," Oz admitted, his voice a tortured whisper.

I didn"t need to hear any more. I knew how this ended.