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expression cleared. “Why a shuttle? Why doesn’t he just transport back?”

Propping her feet up on the opposite arm of the chair, she leaned into

Kai’s shoulder and frowned. “I mean, if you guys have magic, why don’t

you use it more often?”

“We use magic for what we need,” Kai explained, “but we don’t

abuse it. We can wield it, manipulate it, but we can never hope to fully

control it.”

Of course, not everyone felt that way. To corrupt the gifts bestowed

on them by the ancestors was the blackest of sins. Nevertheless, that

hadn’t stopped countless of Xenons from being seduced by dark,

unpredictable magic in a quest for power, revenge, and even in the name

of love.

The course of his thoughts took him back to the dining hall, to that

moment on the dais when he’d felt the current of electricity zip along his

spine.
Magic leaves a trace.
He’d been so focused on Ivy at the time he

hadn’t recognized the signs.

“If he’s on his way,” Ivy said loudly, interrupting his epiphany, “I

think we need to decide on a plan before he gets here.”

Knowing what he did now, or at least what he suspected, he’d never

allow her anywhere near the sentry. “Tira, when he arrives, have him

escorted to one of the holding rooms.”

“Kai.” Ivy dropped her face into her hands and groaned. “He’s not

going to tell us anything,” she said, her words muffled against her palms.

Finally, she lifted her head, glaring at him with a stubborn set to her jaw.

“You realize this likely has nothing to do with me, right? I’m not the king

of the entire fucking planet.”

“What are you saying, dove? Wyn is here to assassinate me?” While

not outside the realm of possibility, if true, it only steeled his resolve.

“You won’t be in danger because of me.”

“Listen to me!” Ivy shouted, poking him in the chest with her first

two fingers. “If he’s here, someone sent him.”

“We
know
someone sent him,” Sion agreed, leaning forward to rest

his elbows on his knees. “We know
who
sent him.”

“No.” What they suggested was ludicrous. “My father wouldn’t

allow it.”

“No one is accusing your dad.” Softening her voice, Ivy shifted

around so that she could cradle his cheeks in her hands. “What happens

if you die?” Her voice trembled on the last word, but she stared into his

eyes with resolution.

“Without an heir, it would be left to the people to choose a new

Vasili.”

Ivy nodded slowly. “And who do the people trust more than anyone

to protect them?”

A lump formed in his throat, and his heart raced within his chest as

the gravity of what she proposed settled over him. “The elders.”

The next afternoon found them gathered in the library once again. This

time, they were also joined by the rulers of each of the Five Isles. Ivy had

been surprised by her mate’s decision to include them, and she didn’t

know the Vaseres or Vaseras well enough to trust them. Still, if Kai

thought they could be helpful, she trusted
him
.

Cami had wanted to help, and even Tariq had been willing to lend

some muscle if needed. So, Ivy had sent them into the city, hoping Cami

could use her gift to find out something, anything that could be used

against the elders.

Wyn had been called downstairs for mandatory training to keep his

skills sharp so as to be better able to protect the Vasili’s soulmate—as

ordered by the captain of the guard. It bought them some time, but they

couldn’t stall him forever.

“Do you really believe the elders would do something like this?”

Vasera Rya Clearwater brushed her blonde curls back from her face, her

strange, magenta eyes gleaming in the pale rays of sun that filtered into

the library. “They’re supposed to protect us!”

“It doesn’t surprise me.” Jericho shrugged his narrow shoulders

when everyone turned to look at him. “If you ask me, we’ve blindly

trusted the elders for too long.”

“It’s not our place to question them.” With her hands clasped

together at her waist, Lashareal Snowden, Vasera of the Southern Isle,

shook her head emphatically, her black hair sweeping against her

shoulders. “It’s just not done.”

Folded into her favorite armchair, Ivy chewed on the inside of her

cheek, struggling to keep her rising anger in check. One or more of the

elders had potentially planned an attempt on her mate’s life, and the only

people who could do anything about it were all bickering like children.

“I agree with Jericho,” Rya said, surprising everyone in the room,

including herself if the wide-eyed panic on her face was any indication.

“We’ve had no reason to question the Court’s decisions in the past, but I

think we can all agree that things have changed.” She waved a hand

toward Ivy. “If the Vasili’s soulmate is not from our world, it’s

reasonable to assume the elders have been lying to us for some time

now.”

“Perhaps they didn’t know,” Lasha said in defense, but her tone had

lost much of its conviction. “Do you really think more of our soulmates

are out there? Out in the universe?”

“I think it’s very possible, yes.” With a small sigh, Rya’s gaze

flickered toward Sion, the movement quick and subtle.

“I agree, and we’re not alone.” Jericho leaned against the bookshelf,

studying his fingernails. “Since the arrival of Kai’s soulmate, many of

those in the west are beginning to question the wisdom of our isolation

as well.”

“I think it goes without saying that our discussion does not leave this

room.” Dressed in a simple blue tunic and loose, black pants, Kai rested

one hip on his desk, his arms folded across his massive chest. “If the

elders are plotting against me, we still can’t move forward without proof.

My mate believes the best course of action is no action, to allow events

to unfold until we know more.”

His tone held so much disapproval, Ivy swore the temperature of the

room dropped by several degrees. “Yes, that’s exactly what I think.”

“Why?” Speaking for the first time since the meeting had started,

Finndalian Silveroak, Vasere of the mountainous regions of the Northern

Isle rose from where he’d been sitting on the sofa. “Who are you to

decide?”

Finn stood taller than most unmated males with a broader, more

muscular frame, but he didn’t exactly have the build of a mated male,

either. Instead of imposing, he looked stretched, almost sickly, with dull

black hair and deep bruises under his eyes. Really, the guy just looked

like he was in pain, and it kind of hurt Ivy to watch him.

That didn’t stop her from shoving to her feet, pulling herself up to

her full height, and sending a heated glare around the room. “I am Ivy

Dalton, Alliance commander and soulmate to the Vasili of Sommervail.

Would you like a resume or would bullet points suffice?”

Kai chuckled at her outburst and strode across the room to stand by

her side. “Easy, dove. We’re not here to fight.”

“Who’s fighting? He asked a question. I answered it.”

Pulling her against his side, he kissed her temple before returning his

attention to their friends and guests. “We also need to discuss the matter

of returning our visitors to their homes.”

Ivy stiffened, and her stomach twisted. From the moment she’d

committed herself to him, Xenthian had become her home. He couldn’t

mean for her to leave, not now.

His arm tightened around her waist, holding her even closer, and he

bent his neck to whisper in her ear. “I know what you’re thinking, and

don’t. I told you when we met, if you run, I’ll chase you. That hasn’t

changed.”

Feeling foolish for doubting him, Ivy relaxed against his side and

quietly exhaled the breath she’d been holding.

“We are here to discuss the elders.” Finn tilted his head toward Sion

and sneered. “I don’t understand how returning these barbarians to their

home world is our problem.”

“Tell me, Vasere, what exactly
is
your fucking problem?” Sion

demanded, his whiskey-colored eyes dark and dangerous.

Snickers and giggles erupted around the room, but neither male paid

them any attention.

“Honestly?” Finn straightened his spine, his blue eyes flashing with

annoyance. “You.” Turning, he pointed a finger at Ivy. “You and your

crew arrive uninvited, unannounced, disrupting everyone’s lives, and

questioning traditions that have been in place since before you were

born. Now, we’re all supposed to cater to you, because you’re special.

Why? Because you’re bedding the Vasili?”

“Finn.” A rumbling snarl vibrated through Kai’s chest, and he

stepped forward, placing himself between Ivy and the Vasere. “You will

take care how you speak to my mate.”

Oh, it was too late for care or consideration. Taking Kai’s arm, Ivy

dragged him back a step and rounded on Finn. She wasn’t intimidated

or impressed by his attitude, and he could take his judgment and shove

it right up his ass. She might not understand some of the quirks of the

Xenons, like their penchant for being absurdly literal, but she knew

enough to recognize the giant chip on the Vasere’s shoulder.

If Finn wanted to toss around blame, he might do better to look in his

own backyard. “You’re egotistical and foolish, and you’ve allowed a

bunch of power-hungry assholes to dictate your life for thousands of

years. We can’t leave, because your elders won’t let us.
That
is how this

is your problem.” She took a calming breath and arched an eyebrow at

him. “As for me being special? You bet your ass I am.”

Finn scoffed, but Ivy simply raised her voice, speaking over him.

“Because I’m a unique fucking snowflake, not because I’m sleeping

with Kai. Which I am by the way, and in case you were wondering, yeah,

it’s good.”

Lasha and Rya slapped their hands over their mouths to quiet their

giggles, and from her usual place by the door, Tira ducked her head and

coughed.

“You can like it or not. Frankly, I don’t care, but I’m not going

anywhere. So, you can either remove whatever bug crawled up your ass

and do something important, or you can go back to your castle in the

mountains and continue to ignore what’s really wrong.”

Fisting her hands on her hips, she surveyed the room. “All of you.

You’re like scared children, too afraid to think for yourselves. I don’t

know how or why you decided to allow your futures to be ruled by the

elders, but it’s time to open your eyes. I’m not the problem here, and you

know it.”

No one should have absolute power, not ever. Xenthian had created

a system of governmental balance, then thrown it all away in willing

favor of tyranny. The Vaseres and Vaseras authority meant little, and

their kingdoms still fell under the long reach of the elders’ power.

She hadn’t been impressed by the Court during their first meeting,

but at the time, it also hadn’t been her place to say anything. If she

intended to stay, become Kai’s queen, things needed to change.

“You’ve been told the only way you can truly be happy is to find that

missing piece of yourself. Then the elders told you that your soulmate

couldn’t possibly be any race other than your own.” Holding her hands

out, she twisted to one side and then the other. “Clearly, that’s not true.

What other lies have the elders told you?”

“How do we know
you
aren’t lying?” Finn countered.

In answer, Ivy motioned toward Kai. “Are you serious right now?

Just look at him.” The Vasere was scared, afraid of change, and while she

could sympathize, she wouldn’t stand aside and allow his ignorance to

put her mate in danger. “I’ve only been here a short while, but just from

what I’ve seen, I think it’s safe to say that there is an alarming imbalance

of mated Xenons versus those who are without companionship.”

Striding toward Finn when he snorted derisively, she stopped just a

few inches away and looked him directly in the eye. “Unless you fix

what’s broken, you’re all going to spend the rest of your very long lives

alone.”

Ivy expected the anger that burned in Finn’s sapphire-blue eyes. She

expected him to rage at her, to question her right to even speak to him.

At no point, however, did she expect him to conjure a gust of wind that

hit her in the stomach, stealing her breath and knocking her back five

feet from where she stood.

Struggling to regain her balance, Ivy rubbed at her stomach while she

called Finn every insult she’d ever heard, and some she made up there

on the spot. Before she could find her bearings or retaliate in any way,

the entire room erupted into a frenzy.

Kai’s upper lip pulled back from his teeth, and he yelled loud enough

to make her ears ring. Instead of bothering with his own magic, he