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took a step back. “We really should be going. You don’t want to be late

for your own party.”

“You’re probably right,” Ivy agreed grudgingly as she stepped into a

pair of satin flats. “But, I don’t want to trans—” She gasped and groaned

when her quarters disappeared, and she landed in the middle of the

candlelit dining hall. “I really, really hate that.” She glared up at her mate

while her stomach did somersaults.

“Ivy!” Dragging her mate behind her, Cami pushed her way through

the guests who’d already begun to gather in the hall. “You look

amazing!”

Cami had been similarly shined and polished, and her blue, sequined

dress hugged her like a second skin. “Me? Look at you!”

“My angel is always beautiful,” Tariq mumbled, lifting Cami so that

he could kiss her lips.

It didn’t surprise Ivy to see that he’d chosen a simple black tunic and

black cotton pants for the occasion. She was, however, shocked that Cami

had let him.

“Have you seen Sion?” Cami asked once she was back on her feet.

Her slender fingers covered her mouth, and she began to giggle. “They

made him wear the dress uniform of the royal guard, including the

tights. He’s not happy.”

Ivy shrugged and flicked her wrist dismissively. “When is he ever

happy?”

“Tariq.” Kai nodded awkwardly to the hybrid.

“Kai.”

After the incident in the streets, Tariq still hadn’t forgiven the king,

and Ivy doubted Kai would ever be more than tolerant of the Helios. At

least they hadn’t tried to kill each other, and she couldn’t ask for more

than that.

“Come, dove, there are introductions to be made.”

Nervousness made her stomach flutter, but she knew she couldn’t

hide in the corner all night. After saying a quick goodbye to her friends,

she followed Kai through the great hall, her hand resting lightly in the

crook of his elbow.

“Breathe,” he whispered from the corner of his mouth. “You are the

soulmate of the Vasili. If anyone upsets you, I’ll have them cleaning

toilets for the next ten thousand years.”

She knew he was joking—or at least, she hoped he was—but his quip

helped loosen the knot forming in her chest. “I love you, Kai.”

“And I you.” He patted the top of her hand and leaned in to brush a

kiss against her temple. “Are you ready?”

Taking a deep breath for courage, Ivy pulled her shoulders back and

lifted her chin. “I’m ready.”

“I’m pleased to hear that, because my mother is coming this way.”

Like that, her newfound courage completely deserted her, and Ivy

wanted to turn and run the other way. She’d spoken with Elor

Blackthorn a few times, and she liked the elder, but she’d always known

it was Kai’s mother’s approval that really mattered.

“Ivy, my dear, you look radiant.” Elder Blackthorn beamed as he

approached, his arm curved around a dainty woman with bronze hair

and sapphire blue eyes.

“Good evening, Elder.”

“Please, call me Elor.”

Ivy tried to smile, but her gaze kept shifting to the woman beside him.

Kai’s mother hadn’t spoken, and her expression gave away nothing,

which only panicked Ivy more.

“Dove,” Kai interrupted, stepping in to rescue her, “I’d like for you

to meet my mother, Ava Blackthorn. Mother, this is my soulmate,

Commander Ivy Dalton.”

The female’s face broke into a wide grin, transforming her entire

demeanor, and she stepped forward to pull Ivy into a crushing hug. “I

am so happy to know you, Ivy.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you…” She didn’t know what to call the

woman.

“Call me Ava, dear.”

“Ava,” Ivy said, and grinned sheepishly when the woman released

her. “Kai speaks very highly of you.”

“As well he should. I did give birth to him after all.” With a wink, she

turned to her son, her keen gaze raking over him. “Leave it to you to find

your soulmate when I’m off the island.” Then she pulled him into a hug

as well, practically bending him in half to wrap her arms around his

neck. “I’m so happy for you,
leelan
,” she whispered, her eyes glossy with

tears.

Not wanting to interrupt the moment, Ivy ducked her head and

inched away from the pair. If the
amrita
flowers really could heal her, if

she and Kai did one day have children of their own, she wanted to be the

kind of mother she saw in Ava Blackthorn. Her child would never feel

unloved or unwanted. No matter what path they chose in life, she’d

always love and support them.

She tried to pretend her parents’ indifference didn’t bother her. No

matter what she did or how much she accomplished, she’d never make

them proud. Sometimes, she wondered why she even bothered. They

certainly weren’t worth the heartache.

Julia Dalton-Neeson had the backbone of a jellyfish. On some level,

she probably did care for Ivy, but she’d never go against her men, never

do anything to endanger her status as a claimed female. Kenneth Neeson

hadn’t spoken to her since the day she’d graduated from the Academy,

and it had been longer than that since she’d been permitted to call him

Father. Max Dalton, on the other hand, made it a point to remind her

what a disappointment she was whenever the opportunity presented

itself.

On the day of her testing, when other children had received hugs and

well-wishes from their parents, Ivy had simply been told not to

embarrass hers.

From the corner of her eye, she watched Kai with his mother and

father, and she tried to imagine what it would be like to have a family

like that. If her parents had given a damn about her, maybe she wouldn’t

have worked so hard to make commander, to have her own ship. Then

she never would have met Kai. So, in some ways, she supposed she

would thank them.

An errant, inappropriate thought crossed her mind, and she pressed

a hand to her mouth to muffle her giggles. They’d never been her

parents, just an incubator and her sperm donors. It sounded like the

name of bad band.

A strong, muscular arm slid around her waist, and she shook herself

out of her daydream to find Kai staring down at her, his eyes tight at the

corners.

“Is everything okay, dove?”

She touched his cheek and smiled. “Everything is perfect.”

“It’s not,” Sion interrupted, stomping over to stand next her while he

tugged at the hem of his tunic. “What is this? I mean, seriously?” He

glanced over at Kai and jerked his head upward. “Hey, man.” Then he

returned to his surly disposition. “Ivy, look at me. This is your fault.”

The silver tunic with black, swirling designs hung down to his knees,

just brushing against the tops of his gray boots. “What’s the problem?

You look fine.”

“I’m wearing a fucking dress, Ivy. What part of that is fine?”

She moved closer to Kai’s side and smirked. “Well, perhaps you

should make better life choices.” Turning, she left the shifter to growl

and glare as she maneuvered through the growing throng of bodies. “Is

that Vasere Sundale by the champagne fountain?”

Vasere Jerichonniar Sundale hailed from the Western Isle, the largest

yet least populated of the Five Isles. Not surprising since most of the

island consisted of desert. His long, ebony hair looked much like Kai’s,

only without the bronze streaks to break up the darkness. Of average

height and slender build like most unmated males, there was nothing

particularly remarkable or intimidating about him. Still, the multitudes

parted easily when he crossed the room, the guests giving him a wide

berth.

“You’ve been studying,” Kai praised. “Yes, that’s Jericho. He’s…how

would you say it? A dickbag. Is that correct?”

Ivy clamped her lips together in a desperate attempt not to laugh.

When she finally felt she could speak, she only said, “Close enough.”

“Vasili,” Jericho greeted, bowing his head in respect. His gaze shifted

to Ivy, lingered for a moment, then he snorted dismissively. “All this

trouble for one female.”

Ivy gaped as the Vasere simply walked away, disappearing back into

the crowd. “You’re right. He’s a total dickbag.”

“He’s still young, especially for a ruler.” Taking her hand, Kai tucked

it back into the crook of his elbow and led her toward the far end of the

hall near the windows. “Are you enjoying yourself, dove?”

“I am.” She still worried about lighting the torches toward the end of

the evening, but so far, most everyone had been warm and welcoming.

“There are so many people. Do you know all of them?”

“Most, not all.” His smile widened when they approached a female

with long, dark curls and big, piercing eyes the most intriguing shade of

pale pink. “Rya, I’m pleased you could attend.”

Ryalithryl Clearwater, Vasera of the Eastern Isle, an island covered in

dense forests and sweeping plains. The top of the female’s head barely

reached Ivy’s chin, but what she lacked in size, she made up for in

personality.

“Kai! It’s been far too long.” Rya gushed over the extravagance of the

party, thanking Kai several times for the invitation. “And this must be

your new mate.” She turned her million-watt smile on Ivy. “It’s a great

pleasure to meet you.”

Oh, Ivy liked her. “Vasera Clearwater, it’s an honor.” On instinct, she

reached forward and held out her hand.

Rya stared at it for a moment, clearly confused. Tentatively, she

placed her palm against Ivy’s and squeezed with only her thumb. “Is this

a customary greeting on Earth?” she asked, appearing far too excited by

the simple handshake. “A hand hug? How fascinating.”

Hand hug?
Well, technically, the woman wasn’t wrong. Ivy opened

her mouth to explain about handshakes and other types of greetings, but

stopped when Sion appeared next her, literally out of thin air.

“I’m going to murder him,” he declared, whirling around to look out

over the crowd.

Ivy didn’t know who he meant or what had happened, but she turned

as well, following his gaze. “Since when did you learn to transport?”

“Since never. That asshole Wyn thought I should be closer to
my lady

for protection.”

Ivy understood his suffering, but people had begun to stare.

Changing the subject, she whirled him around by his arm, giving him a

sharp jab to the ribs with her elbow.

“Sion, meet Vasera Rya Clearwater. She’s visiting all the way from

the Eastern Isle.”

“Hello,” Rya said, her voice soft and lilting. She held her hand out to

Sion, mimicking Ivy’s actions from earlier. “Would you like a hand

hug?”

The shifter didn’t take her hand. He didn’t speak. Inhaling deeply, he

shuddered almost violently, holding the breath until Ivy thought he’d

pass out right there. When he did finally exhale and find his voice, it only

made things worse.

“I…you…what I mean to say is…” With that, he clamped his mouth

closed, nodded, and turned abruptly to stomp off toward the other side

of the room.

“Did I say something wrong?” Rya stared after him, worry lines

creasing her brow.

Ivy didn’t know what had put a knot in Sion’s tail, but she’d never

seen him at a loss for words. “I’m sure it wasn’t you.”

The markings on Rya’s neck shimmered, and her eyes narrowed as

she lifted the hem of her pale gold dress. “If was lovely to meet you.

Please excuse me.”

“What just happened?”

No matter the situation, Sion always had a smartass reply, as if he

saved them up to bring out for special occasions. Ivy often wondered if

he used it to shield himself, to hold people at arm’s length. To see him so

flustered, so out of his element, unsettled her.

Kai only shrugged, a peculiar smile playing over his lips. “If I had to

speculate, I’d tell you that things just became more complicated.”

Ivy replied with an unladylike snort. Complicated didn’t begin to

cover it. “Right, because everything was so easy before.”

The long dining table had been removed from the hall, replaced by

dozens of smaller, more intimate circular tables. Music floated

throughout the room, a soft melody barely heard over the sounds of

conversation and laughter. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves,

even the elders, and more importantly, Ivy hadn’t embarrassed herself

once.

Unfortunately, she’d also forgotten what awaited her at the end of

the evening.

After dinner, once their guests had been sated with food and spirits,

Kai took her hand and led her up the steps to the center of the raised dais.

“Are you ready, dove?”

Five silver bowls sat atop stone pillars in a neat row in front of her,

one to represent each of the Five Isles. Her stomach fluttered

uncomfortably, and her pulse sped, but she clenched the jewel around

her neck and nodded.

“You won’t leave, right? You won’t let me hurt anyone?” She’d be