18

IVY

MY heart raced with nerves and excitement as Captain Vale pulled the ship into port alongside other vessels and small fishing boats. The long dock housed many different types of boats, none of which I had names for, and there were dozens of people working, who barely glanced our way.

The port otherwise opened up to what seemed like a seaside town. From the deck, I couldn’t make out much other than buildings of a similar height, a hell of a lot of stone, a few cars, and trees.

A lot of trees. They definitely weren’t lacking for them here.

Maeve cleared her throat as she gathered us around her at the main mast. “For now, no one but the Queen and her immediate council know you are here. We need to keep it that way.”

The others stood in a small circle, with Rowan leaning against the mast, Thea on his other side, her worry clear in her eyes. Thankfully, we’d been able to dress in our own clothes, which made me feel a little less other, considering the creatures on the dock were in overalls and boots, regular human clothes—or so it appeared.

I’d managed to get the kids into something clean, unstained, and warm. They weren’t huddled together, which I found comforting. Maisie was hanging from Elias’s arm, while Ginny stood closer to Maeve, and Eloise chose to stand further back with Thea, so she wasn’t stuck in the middle of everything.

Meanwhile, I was tucked into Elias’s other side, thankful for his strength.

Adrian stepped up beside Maeve and held out his hand. “Maeve’s ring, please.”

I narrowed my eyes, almost hesitant, but I pulled the delicate band off my finger and dropped it into his waiting palm. “What’s going on?”

I hadn’t taken it off since the initial charm, and now I missed it. It was a part of Maeve, and it was probably one of the few things she’d trusted anyone with. Adrian might have been my mate, but I wouldn’t abuse Maeve’s trust.

“We’re going to use a charm to hide your power,” Maeve explained, and she sent a small wave of reassuring energy down our bond. She was all team-leader now, and something about it made my thighs clench.

Her gaze flickered to me, eyes roaming my body for a moment before she cleared her throat. “The charm will hopefully hide the immediate strength of your power, just until we reach the palace. Because your magic is anchored and strong, we know it won’t last long.”

I nodded slowly; when Adrian was done with the ring, he gently slid it onto my finger and gave my hand a loving squeeze. “There.”

I smiled up at him. “Thanks.”

It didn’t feel like it was doing anything, but based on the careful glances the rest of the team were sending me, it was having the necessary effect. “So, do I seem...different?” I asked.

Rowan shrugged from where he leaned against the mast. “You seem like you. But that might be because we know your magical signature.”

“For now, we believe it works, and that’s what matters,” Maeve said.

As we waited for the gang plank to be lowered, I caught myself seeking Hawk. Something about his nasty attitude this morning grated on me, and not in an I-hate-this-man kind of way, but in a something-is-wrong way. I hated having empathy for the jackass, but I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him and what he was going through. I couldn’t imagine what he must be feeling after losing one of his team. It explained why he’d been so snippy. Dull, even, when he’d asked to take his leave.

But that’s where my empathy needed to end.

“The ship is ready to say farewell!” Captain Vale announced, his voice still sing-song like. Thea, who stood on the other side of the mast, rolled her eyes when our gazes met. “I am thankful for the opportunity you afforded me with this voyage, but for now, I must say goodbye.” With that, he gave us a flourishing bow, and when he rose, a spark of magic left his hands. The blue turned into tiny creatures that flew into the air, their little fish-like bodies circling the kids, before disappearing like bubbles and floating off into the wind.

While the kids laughed, I shared a look with Adrian. Fae magic , he said down the bond, reaching for my hand again and giving it a squeeze. At least they’re smiling .

He was right. There was bright curiosity shining in their eyes. Even Eloise had a smile on her face. It made my heart soar, knowing that they could find a little joy in this new, strange land.

From the corner of my eye, I watched Maeve step away from the group, her tablet entering her hands. I sighed. It still felt like there was a chasm between us, and I had no idea how to broach it. Last night was progress, but maybe it hadn’t been enough. I didn’t want to read too much into Maeve’s reactions when we were alone; it was going to be an adjustment for both of us.

Give her time , Elias said, coming up behind me. He grabbed my waist and pulled me into his chest. A mate bond for Changed vampires is...different. It’s not common.

My heart clenched. It’ll be okay, right?

Of course, Angel , Elias replied, his arms tightening around me. Trust me.

And I did. I trust him—I trusted all of them—with my life. With the lives of my sisters and best friend.

So, I knew I had to trust him about this, too.

“The car is here,” Maeve announced as she rejoined our group. “There are three, but we will be in one, just to be inconspicuous. It’s not uncommon for those not born on the island to visit, so you shouldn’t stand out. But there are still protocols, and you are still in danger.”

“Does that mean Ivy has to leave us again?” Ginny asked quietly. She wrapped her arms around herself in a hug, and her bottom lip popped.

This wasn’t an I-want-extra-ice-cream pout, and immediately, it had my skin prickling. “Gin—”

“Not at all,” Maeve replied. She knelt down so she was the same height as Ginny. My breath caught in my throat. “It’s so you’re all safe, which is what really matters. We just have to make it look like we’re splitting up, when really, we’re all staying together.”

When Ginny nodded, I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew it wouldn’t last long, but damn, it was good knowing that I wouldn’t have to part from them in this new world. That they would be with me, always.

Captain Vale guided us off the ship with a few more farewells and bows and little instances of magic to make the girls laugh. Elias hoisted Maisie into his arms, while Ginny clung to my hand, and Eloise walked between us down to the dock. Funnily enough, the plank didn’t shift or rock. It was as steady as stairs, and instead of questioning it, I chalked it up to magic.

You’d be right , Adrian said down our bond. Magic is used freely here. It’s integrated into almost every part of our lives.

A shiver ran down my spine at that. Being so focused on the kids, I hadn’t noticed the shift in the air, the way this world felt so...different from the one we’d left behind. The hairs on my arms prickled with it, and my own magic hummed. Not from danger. But from being home .

I sucked in a breath and released it slowly as Ginny and I hit the dock. It was rough wood yet completely sturdy, and when we were all gathered at the base of the plank, it disappeared. Ginny pressed herself into my side with a gasp, and we watched as the ship-ferry- thing pull ed away from the end of the long port.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—I will never get used to that, ” Thea muttered. She heaved a breath, and her eyes met mine. “I’m dying for a shower.”

I wrinkled my nose. After the last couple of days, I didn’t want to imagine what I smelt like. “Same.”

“I’d like a cheeseburger and fries and a shake,” Maisie declared, still wrapped in Elias’s arms. “And two movies. ”

Beside me, Thea snorted, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. “That’s a tall order, nugget.”

“Oh, and nugs,” she replied with a firm nod.

Any tension remaining dissipated as we all broke out into soft laughter. My shoulders loosened with a new wave of hope. Hope that we might actually survive this giant change without too much damage.

~

Thick forestry lined either side of the Queen’s Road . They called it that because it was the only ‘known’ road to the palace. According to Maeve, it was charmed with so many wards and protections that they knew exactly who was entering or leaving at any time. If an animal crossed, the guards were aware immediately. It was like having a hundred security cameras on the long stretch of windy road, only the magical kind.

And getting to the palace through the forest? Near impossible—or so they claimed.

Excitement bloomed in my chest the longer we drove, only barely subdued by the fact that as soon as we arrived, I was going to be thrown into Queen-training. But even that brought a sense of comfort. Taking control over my magic almost felt like having control over my life again.

The car slowed, and I peeked out the window at a large, intricately designed gate. Flourishes of flower-like designs made from iron, I assumed, decorated it. They looked almost familiar in a way, but I bit my tongue and sat back. The palace itself was still obstructed, and I sighed.

Adrian tapped my knee from where he sat across from me in the limo-styled car, his eyes bright and shoulders relaxed. “Ivy, look.”

I frowned before turning to the window. A gasp left my lips as the land shimmered, and the palace came into view.

Breathtaking . That was the first word that came to mind.

Tall towers and spires reached for the clear sky, while vines and flowers climbed the stone exterior with bursts of colour. Bridges filled the spaces between spires and towers, while other buildings jutted from the main large structure.

The girls bounced in their seats at the sight of a real-life fairytale castle. Never in my wildest dreams had I expected this . It looked like we were sitting at the top of a small incline in the valley, and behind the palace was a huge, thundering waterfall. The cliffs on either side looked to be dotted with structures, and as we pulled down the cobblestone drive, I was able to take in the way the palace itself wrapped around the valley.

“Holy shit this is amazing,” I whispered, gripping Elias’s hand as the car slowed. “It’s huge.”

My shifter mate’s chest rumbled, and his hand tightened around mine. “You like it?” he asked quietly, his lips by my ear.

“It’s—” I couldn’t find the word to describe the building. It was magical. Towering. Extravagant. And that was only the outside. What were the grounds like? The interior? We hadn’t even had a chance to fully glimpse the rest of the town that sat below the palace. Technically, it wasn’t a town.

It was a sprawling, expansive city one might find in Europe. All cobblestone, with cathedral-like buildings reaching for the clouds and even modern structures, though not made from steel and glass like back home. Nestled near the mountain, with forest surrounding it, and parks interspacing parts of the city we saw from the road, it was beautiful.

“There’s a huge lake down below the palace at the base of the waterfall. During the warmer months, there are galas and functions down there,” Adrian said. He seemed so at ease now that we were here. Maybe he’d missed home more than he’d let on.

“You’d like the library,” Rowan added. He was less at ease, though. His smirk was stiff, forced, and for the first time, I was sure it wasn’t because of me. “It’s huge. Like the one in that princess movie.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the description. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“The Phoenix Compound is in the mountain behind the palace,” Maeve said, and at the sound of her voice, I turned to her completely. “And Oberon Academy is on the other side of the mountain.”

I blew out a harsh breath at the reminder. “Right. The academy.”

At least it was close. I’d take that. There would be a mountain between the kids and me, but at least I knew they were close.

The driver took us into a basement, though I wasn’t paying much attention. The powerful wards surrounding the palace brushed over my skin as we drove down. I barely suppressed a shiver. They were hard getting used to, but they weren’t nearly as jarring anymore. But it was strange having some basic understanding of them. The longer we drove, the more recognised; they were deeply ingrained in the structure of the palace, like each brick and stone had been carved with a charm for protection.

I shook my head. Another thing I’d have to learn. I glanced over at Adrian, who watched me with a soft, knowing smile.

From my other side, Maisie stifled a yawn just as the car pulled into the large garage. There were all sorts of vehicles pulled into the hundred or so spaces, but the limo kept driving until we reached the other side of the lot, which circled around a small garden plot.

“I feel like we’re at one of those really sophisticated hotels,” Thea said. “And there’s going to be a butler waiting for us, who’ll turn up his nose at how awful we look. Ivy, we look terrible.”

I looked down at my clothes and grimaced. Unfortunately, she was right. The yoga pants and oversized t-shirt were totally out of place. “I’m sure we’ll get to, freshen up before we see anyone, right?” I glanced between my mates, who shrugged. “You have got to be kidding me. We’re meeting the Queen now? ”

Adrian, looking rightfully ashamed, rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought you knew.”

“Obviously not,” I replied, snatching my hand from Elias and crossing my arms. “I smell like boat and car accident still. If I have to meet your mother , I’d rather do it clean .”

Before he could respond, the limo rounded the little garden plot and stopped. Like Thea had predicted, there were several people waiting for us. Some dressed in clean, pressed black suits, with their hair combed back. Others were in gear, with weapons strapped to their belts and actual earpieces like the secret service.

The door opened, and we were ushered out. Rowan went first and took Ginny with him; Maeve and Eloise went next, while Adrian followed, giving me one last look before joining the others. Elias gave my knee a squeeze before sliding out and unfolding to his full height. He offered his hand, the warmth of his love so clear.

I sucked in a breath and reached for his hand. His fingers wrapped around mine, and he gave me a gentle tug. Don’t worry about the way you’re dressed, he whispered down the bond, you’re perfect .

I wanted to respond, but as soon as I left the safety of the limo, I saw her.

Queen Greer.