II

S tella needed a new mantel clock. Her current one's body was dinged in several places and the protective glass over its face was missing. It also got hung up between six and eight marks periodically and sped up near the two to semi-even out the lag. Her eyes followed the second's hand as it wound around chasing the minutes of the approaching hour. With a delicate touch, she traced the hour's pointed hand standing proudly over the twelve leaving the minute hand to languish over the half-hour.

Her attention drifted to the new mirror above the mantel, lips pinching as she assessed her apartment. She would be the first to admit it could use some updates.

Major updates , she amended.

Except Stella sort of liked the well-worn furniture and outdated fixtures. Her shabby little apartment was a refugee from the elaborate decadence of the upper floors and the overindulgent accessories claimed by the lower floors. It was cozy. Always warm. And best of all, quiet.

A special ward encased her apartment as a barrier between her innate banshee senses and the court populace. Stella's shoulders softened as she relished in the quiet. The ward meant she never had to worry about waking up in the middle of the day to scream out a death sentence if a courtier passed too close to her door.

Her gaze went back to the clock. River, Nova, and Irina were coming to discuss something with her—something important if the conversation was to be held during daylight hours. River hinted the previous night that it was for a new job. Stella sighed, eyes shuttering closed as she rested her cheek on the mantel.

The raven shifter contract she'd secured after Bailey and Ronan left had lasted a blissful four months until both parties mutually agreed to end the contract early. Stella's throat tightened. Mutually peer-pressured more accurately described how things went down between her and Ana, the leader of the raven shifters. The vampyrés had been indignant in their fury, arguing the resident banshee was for the exclusive use of Minor, Major, and Royal Households as if she was owned by them.

Now she was a free agent again, only this time, households weren't clamoring to secure her services. The longer she was without a contract, the more vulnerable she became in court. Anyone could start trouble with her without facing consequences, and while Stella was training diligently with Deval and Nova to defend herself, the thought of fighting still turned her knees to jelly.

Then there was the matter of her income. Without a contract, she had no steady stream of money coming into her account. She swallowed. Her family, on the outside. would feel the pinch in their bank accounts because of it, too.

Stella stepped away from the mantel with a sigh and crossed the short distance to her kitchenette to put on a kettle for tea. As she set it down, the copper pot rattled sharply against the cast iron grates.

They didn't clamor for you before either , a voice whispered in her head. Stella's grip lingered on the kettle's handle, fingers flexing around it. It was all a trick to trap you by the rabidus curse.

Stella sucked in a deep breath and battled the voice away, reminding herself the invitations had been real. They'd just been tampered with. In fact, only one of the invitations hadn't been true. It also happened to be the one that mattered to her most: the Vranas'.

With a heavy exhale, Stella released the kettle. It was getting easier to deal with the darker thoughts that plagued her thanks to her friends and the confidence she was building. But sometimes, they still crept up on her, lurking in the shadows of her mind, just waiting to spring. The thoughts she could handle.

Her dreams were another story.

Nightmares , she corrected herself setting the flames below the kettle to high. The flare of warmth kindled her memory of waking that very morning drenched in sweat. The exact details of the nightmare eluded her, but not the arctic cold that clung to her whilst in it.

Methodically, Stella reached into the cabinet above the slender stove and claimed a fat mug. She didn't bother to take out the large jar nestled into her collection of glasses and mugs, instead, blindly reaching into its depths for a tea bag. Her fingers floundered before snatching up a prize. Dumping the tea bag into her mug, Stella made a mental note to restock as her eyes scanned the next shelf up.

The stash of potions to soothe her vocal cords, supplied generously by River, was in good supply. Her eyes shot up to the last shelf, catching on the green-tinted bottle tucked mostly out of sight. She swallowed, mouth-watering. Pushing onto her toes, she slid the bottle of rhodiola further back until it was obscured completely from view.

A knock sounded abruptly at her door as she settled back down on her heels. Stella's hand flew to her heart.

"Coming." Stella rushed to the door, taking a cursory look through its peephole to confirm it was her expected guests. Then her hands flew over her assortment of locks with practiced ease before swinging the door open. A smile lit up her face as Nova and River entered. "Where's Irina?"

Stella poked her head out into the hall, eyes darting from end to end before retreating inside with them and closing the door.

"She's taking a more roundabout route," River said as she made her way to the kitchenette and grabbed herself a cup of water. "You know how she's been since… everything."

"Since becoming a vampyré-lycan-demon tribred? Or since that ‘special committee' ruled, we have until year's end to reverse her curse before they—" Nova drew a line across her throat and made a choking nose.

River pinched the bridge of her nose. "Both," she confirmed before gulping down her water. "She doesn't leave the apartment suite unless necessary. The rumors around court haven't lost steam and speculation has only grown about how and why she survived the rabidus curse when nobody else did—"

"Cirian survived that night at the opera," Stella piped in.

The vampyré had been a victim of the rabidus curse. He'd also been saved by River who drew the curse from him in some miraculous feat of magic.

Stella gulped unconsciously at the memory of the deadly and unsettling curse. Its victims had been so ravaged by grotesque black veins, that it made Stella's skin crawl to recall it. It also turned them into ravenous lunatics that killed anyone in their path. Everyone blamed the mysterious phantom dubbed the Shadowmancer for the curse's presence in court, but she, Valdora, and the Vranas knew the truth. Ronan was the Shadowmancer—not by choice but fate's cruel hand—and it was the Circe clan, somehow in collusion with the demons, who had dealt out the curse.

River loosed a sigh as she wandered over to the loveseat and perched on its arm. It gave a horrendous creak.

"Maybe sit at the table?" Stella gestured to the bistro high-top table tucked in the far corner of the room with two wrought iron chairs. It wasn't the most comfortable place to sit for a long time, but it wouldn't put up a fuss like her couch. River made a beeline toward it.

"Cirian also offed himself the next night," Nova said matter-of-factly. "So technically, she is the only survivor by default."

"The gossip wouldn't be so bad if someone from that inane special committee wouldn't have let slip that Irina was made different . They agreed to keep silent so as not to reignite the fear from the rabidus curse… and the shadowmancer." River's eyes rolled heavenward to accompany her reluctant inclusion of the Shadowmancer.

Even now, nobody else knew Ronan had been the shadowmancer or that he'd played the role unwillingly. And they were all determined to keep it that way.

"At first, Irina wouldn't leave the apartment because she couldn't control her demon side. She's gotten a better handle on it now, but she's too nervous to leave for fear of confirming any of the rumors." River released another heavy-laden sigh as she sank down into her new seat. "Which is all to say, she'll be here soon."

Stella nodded and shuffled over to the tea kettle which had started to sputter in pre-emptive release. She turned off the flame and poured the simmering water into her awaiting mug.

With her back to them, Stella asked quietly, "What will she do if we can't reverse the curse?"

"Run." Stella looked over her shoulder to meet Nova's stoic regard. The vampyré gave a one-shoulder shrug. "They'll be hunted, of course, but I'm sure she and Jakob have already discussed a number of different contingency plans."

"It won't come to that." Stella's muscles relaxed at River's confidence. She hoped for all their sake that would be the case.

"Will Ruby be coming with Irina by chance?"

Delicious warmth greeted Stella's palms as she cupped her mug. She raised it to her lips, blowing softly over the steaming liquid, and turned back to her friends. Stella caught the tail-end of Nova's scowl before her features smoothed over. River didn't bother to dim her smirk.

"What am I missing?" Stella's eyes alighted with curiosity as they darted between the two. Nova ignored her looks in favor of rearranging the loveseat's two throw pillows for optimal comfort.

"I wouldn't expect Ruby," River finally supplied. "Her and Nova are fighting."

Nova rolled her eyes. "We're not fighting… per sé. We just have different approaches when it comes to Jax."

Stella arranged her expression into something passably neutral. Her experiences with Jax were limited, but always pleasant and short. However, she knew intimately of the Vranas' concern regarding his behavior. His ambitions once tame, now bordered on obsession. They blamed it on his time in the Otherworld, the place beyond the Mirror of Ways which he and Ronan once traveled. They said he came back different from the boy they knew and raised.

Nova's favorite way to describe him was power-hungry, whether she knew it or not. Ruby's favorite was tied between misunderstood and misguided.

"I think Jax should grow up." Nova crossed her arms as she caught River's eye. " What ?"

"I didn't say anything." River held up both hands defensively and curtailed her burgeoning laugh.

Nova's lips pressed together, holding back whatever words she wished to say, before dragging her gaze to Stella. "We all know now that when Jax and Ronan went into the Otherworld, time passed differently there. Who knows how old either of them really is? And they stopped aging too—without having to die, which is bullshit if you ask me."

Stella glanced at River. The young half-witch was struggling to temper her smile as Nova continued her rant. But when the next words out of Nova's mouth were "power-hungry," Stella gently tuned her out and let her mind wander to Ronan and Bailey. They were still in Paris, waiting for whatever dark magical poison that had ensnared Ronan months ago to pass through his system. Stella hoped it wouldn't take much longer.

Her correspondence with Bailey was one of her favorite ways to pass the time. She loved hearing about their adventures in the City of Lights and getting to see a softer side of the she-wolf through her words. But as of late, their correspondence had become less frequent. Bailey's letters had become shorter too. Stella wasn't quite sure what to make of the change, but—

"And I said it to his face."

Stella zoned back in, her world refocusing on the smug smile Nova wore.

"You told Jax he was a child and that everyone was blowing smoke up his ass about how talented he is? To his face ?" River repeated, mouth slightly agape.

Nova's smile deepened. "Plus, a choice embellishment here or there that I won't repeat."

"No wonder Ruby's mad at you."

Nova's smile lost its enthusiasm. "You know how much she loves Jax. She raised him right alongside Jakob and Sebastian. More so even. This new ‘holier than thou' attitude he's sporting for the masses is getting to her. She keeps saying things like, ‘That's not how I raised him.' So , I thought he should know that he's disappointing everyone."

"And that he's a talentless child?" River added blandly.

"Oh fine, so he's not talentless. He's some kind of weird sorcerer prodigy, but he hardly needs another adoring fan. I stand by my other remarks."

"Duly noted." River's voice was deceptively soft. "But hasn't Ruby also been saying that he's only now just starting to truly process his, ‘long-seeded issues of abandonment'?"

Nova recrossed her arms. She opened her mouth, but no words came out as she avoided River's knowing gaze. Stella's eyes grew wide as the faintest hint of pink rose to Nova's cheeks. It took a lot to make a vampyré flush with emotion outside feedings. River's words either hit their mark or her empathetic persuasion was in play.

"He had decades to process that in the Otherworld," Nova argued and received a dubious frown in return from River. "Okay! Fine! Maybe he is unpacking and processing that now; being an orphan, the whole Wselfwulf kidnapping and torturing him debacle that cost him his eye, and Ronan running off to Paris with Bailey." She counted off the list on her fingers, her once somewhat snarky expression turning begrudgingly grim. "It's not like Ruby hasn't tried to talk to him about it or help him through it. And he certainly doesn't have to be such a twat about it."

"Nova—"

The scalding glare Nova sent River shut her mouth. "I'm allowed to have feelings on the matter. You don't have to like them—nobody does. But I get to have them. He's hurting her by acting this way and pushing her away."

"Maybe he needs someone else to talk to?" Nova softened at Stella's suggestion.

"Yeah, I guess," Nova admitted, her gaze growing long. "I bet if his soulmark showed her face he'd snap out of it."

Stella's head swiveled to catch River's reaction. Her face was painted in the same surprise as her own. "Jax has a soulmark ?" Stella whisper shouted.

"Since when?" River demanded.

Nova went still, her long-off look vanishing. "Did I say soulmark?"

"You absolutely said soulmark," River confirmed. Stella nodded her head along vigorously.

"Then let's forget I said it, okay?" Nova's gaze darted to the door. "Irina wouldn't want—"

"Irina's not here," Stella pointed out innocently and took a sip of her tea at the warning growl that slipped past Nova's lips.

"Not yet!" Nova exclaimed.

"Exactly. Not yet." River smiled sweetly as Nova spared another anxious look to the door.

"He wasn't born with his mark like most are. It was bestowed upon him by the Moon Goddess when he helped lift the lycan curse." River let out a low whistle and leaned back in her chair. "He doesn't like to talk about it or acknowledge it. The shitstorm with the Wselfwulfes went down right after, so..."

Stella absorbed the information in solemn silence but was startled when a soft knock permeated the room.

"I always forget about your wards," Nova commented.

Stella shot her a smile as she heard the lilt of delight in her voice. She set down her tea and went to the door. "Me too," she confided. After checking to confirm it was Irina, she opened the door.

Irina strode in, her cloak of midnight billowing after her as Stella shut and locked the door behind her. With a grace none of them possessed, she lifted back the deep hood which concealed her face. For a moment, Stella could only stare at Irina's profile. She was stunning with classical features and long gleaming hair. Her copper gaze swung to Stella as she dipped her chin in greeting.

"Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice," Irina said.

Stella brightened her smile. "It's no trouble. I didn't have anything else planned. Sit, please." A nervous flutter took up residence in Stella's stomach as Irina made her way to the loveseat. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"I'll be blunt." Irina folded her hands atop her lap and straightened her spine. "After much discussion, Jakob and I wish to extend an invitation to you to join our family."

The mug slipped from Stella's hands and crashed against the floor. She leaped back with a gasp. The hot spray of tea wetted her pants and slippers.

Irina glanced at Nova and River for guidance. "Was that a positive reaction or…?"

"Oh, definitely positive," Nova reassured her.

Stella nodded dumbly in agreement. Her heart was too busy trying to beat its way out of her chest. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been so happily surprised, or when fate had fallen on her in such favor. She was about to speak when an unnatural breeze swirled about the mess at her feet and erased it from sight. Stella released a small yelp and hastened back a step.

"Sorry!" River cried. "I was only trying to help."

Stella passed her a quick smile. "It's all right." With a steady, calming breath she met Irina's regard. "I thought… I thought you said earlier this year it wouldn't be possible to join your household or contract for you because of the backlash that would happen. After my failed go with the Corvinas, I thought that proved your point."

"Circumstances have changed." Irina's throat bobbed, but she kept her gaze locked on Stella and her shoulders back. "We're prepared to weather that storm if you are."

Stella couldn't stop herself from shuffling a step closer. "You really want me to be part of your family?"

A warm smile drifted over Irina's lips. Her perfect posture relaxed as she replied, "Yes. It would please us all greatly to have you bear the Vrana name."

Stella waited for a single heartbeat before throwing herself at Irina. Her arms wrapped around the tribred's body with trembling joy.

"Yes! Yes, a hundred times over."

Irina let out a startled laugh and patted Stella somewhat awkwardly on the back. "As much as I appreciate your display of gratitude, it would be in your best interest to maintain a certain distance given my powers. Just in case."

Stella disentangled herself and took three quick steps back.

"Are you going to tell her the other part?" Nova questioned.

"I was just getting to it." Irina huffed and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "There is a condition that must be met before your formal indoctrination to the family. A task to prove your loyalty and commitment."

Curiosity sparked in Stella. "What kind of task?"

"She wants you to get a blood sample," Nova cut in. "From a demon."

Something like ice ran through Stella's veins. Without a word, she turned her back to the three and returned to the kitchenette. Grabbing a new mug and tea bag, she deftly turned back on the stove to heat her kettle. "How much?"

Do not hyperventilate , Stella warned herself as she steadied her breathing.

"Only a sample," Irina quickly supplied.

"A decent sample," River corrected.

Stella looked to River. She wore a patient expression, but there was something akin to concern in her eyes. Stella couldn't make out if it was worry that the task would be too much for Stella to handle or worry that she might refuse. She turned her attention back to the kettle. It was still warm and wouldn't take long to reheat.

"What does that mean, a decent sample?" The kettle began to sputter. Stella emptied its contents into her mug, filling it almost to the brim. "And how do you expect me to do it?" She turned to them with her new mug clutched in both hands close to her chest.

"Perhaps a brief explanation first," Irina suggested. She scooted to the edge of her seat. "The night I was cursed, Valdora came and did her tests. Do you remember everything she said?"

"She proved you and Ronan were infected by the same dark magic from the Otherworld." Stella confirmed with a nod. "But the dark magic you were exposed to included demon blood."

" Supposedly included demon blood ."

Stella wanted to smack herself as the memory came back to her in full. "And Valdora wanted a sample to be certain." Irina nodded. She'd forgotten that piece since she wasn't involved in its procurement—and because the Vranas liked to keep talk of their plans to a minimum, afraid of those who might be listening.

"Clearly, every sign points to it." Irina let the demon's signature darkness bleed her eyes black, then took several deep breaths to call it back. "But yes, Valdora wants to be 100% certain before proceeding with any formal attempts to reverse the curse. Now that we have the grimoire the Circe clan used to create the rabidus curse, we can start making real progress on reversing my condition."

A bolt of shock went through Stella. "Wait. When did you get the grimoire?"

"A couple of weeks back," River explained, a note of apology in her voice. "Valdora, Jax, and I only just managed to open it a few nights ago."

"Oh." Stella sipped her tea casually. It scalded her lips and the tip of her tongue, but she didn't so much as flinch as the burn settled, too overcome by all the new information she was receiving.

"We have a plan, sort of." Stella latched onto the eagerness and hope in Nova's voice and gestured for her to go on. "We want you to infiltrate the Lunar Court."

Stella's eyes widened as she mouthed Nova's plan.

"Then, once you're in, you find yourself in a ‘compromising' position." Nova used air quotes. "Or some situation where you have a plausible reason to defend yourself against a demon. You use your immobilization attack on them and then bam ! You cut them, get their blood, and get out."

Stella blinked. "That's, er, very straightforward."

Nova shrugged. "Sometimes the simplest solution is the best."

"It's only—" Stella chewed on her bottom lip, her grip tightening on the mug "—that if it's as straightforward as all that, why aren't one of you doing it?" She glanced between Nova and River, but it was Irina who answered.

"We have exhausted multiple avenues on the venture. Somehow, in some way, each attempt we've made to procure a sample ourselves has been thwarted. The demons at court have now started to outright avoid our family. And we can't risk pulling in outside help to get the job done. You are our best chance now."

Stella absorbed the information with a long sigh. "Why infiltrate the Lunar Court then?"

"Because it's located in the auxiliary housing of the sixth subfloor—"

"Which is where the Styx is and where the demons are housed," Stella finished.

The side of Irina's mouth quirked up sardonically. "Exactly."

A flutter of nerves overcame Stella's stomach. As straightforward as the plan seemed on the outside, she knew it would be more complicated if she managed to actually infiltrate the Lunar Court.

Infiltrate the Lunar Court? Like some kind of undercover agent?

Stella bit back the maniacal laughter that threatened to spill forward at the thought, but it died away altogether as her heartbeat continued to prattle on excitedly at the idea. No one at the court thought much of her, let alone saw her as a threat of any kind. If she did this and pulled it off, lured some demon under false pretenses and got their blood—er pulse went mad in her ears—she would finally be seen and taken seriously.

She would make a mark and prove she was more than just a hired hand.

She'd belong somewhere.

Redefine the banshee's course at court for future generations.

And maybe... maybe she'd come into her own more, too. Find herself—whatever that meant.

Self-confidence wasn't innate for Stella like it was for the women before her, but she was trying. She'd been trying since River and Bailey walked into her life and didn't run immediately in the opposite direction. Filled with hope, she set down her mug on the counter behind her and then stepped forward.

"How would I get in?"

Irina sat up straighter. "To be fair, it's been progressively getting trickier. When the Lunar Court first established itself last year, all one needed was a recommendation from founding members to be welcomed into the fold. However, in recent months, they've become much more selective about who they give membership. At present, there's a small three-person commission in place to screen applicants."

"I heard recently a new selection process is in the works. Some kind of lottery," River added. "Which means we need you to infiltrate the Lunar Court as soon as possible, while the commission is still screening applicants."

Stella folded her arms over her chest. "How do I get seen by the commission?" she asked River.

"Davina Asatar is currently on the commission, and she owes Deval a favor."

"Really? Why?"

"You don't want to know the answer to that. Trust me." A faint blush crept onto the apples of River's cheeks.

"Our sources say they have an office in the auxiliary housing area, at the end of the hall to the right. Once you're there, make sure you talk to Davina. Ask her some questions about the application process, then hand her this." Irina removed a sealed note from her cloak. "It should get you membership without too much protest."

"And once I'm in, I'll find a way to get close to a demon and take their blood using my immobilization power." Anticipation lit a fire inside Stella.

She'd never dreamed of doing something so covert or daring, let alone having someone believe in her enough to ask it of her. Stella's bottom lip found its way again between her teeth, her mind running a mile a minute before slamming on the brakes.

"You never said how much blood I needed to get." Stella let her gaze land on River.

"It's a bit hard to say." River gave an apologetic grimace. "We need a large enough blood sample to confirm demon blood was used in the rabidus curse and to be used in the spell to reverse it potentially. For confirmation, we can make do with a few good drops. It's the other one that may prove to need more. Whatever you can collect will be helpful though."

"So... a vial's worth?" Stella questioned with uncertainty.

"If you can manage that." River nodded enthusiastically. "But even if it's just been dabbed up on a handkerchief, we can get the blood sample off it with magic."

Stella released a long rush of air. "Okay then. I'm in."

"You are? You'll do it?" Irina's eyes glimmered with hope.

"When should I go?" Stella asked with a smile.

The three women regarded one another before answering in unison. "Now."