“Hey! That’s my husband you’re talking about. Go let them know we’ll be there in a few minutes and shut the door so I can get up.”

  Shawn left with a chuckle.

  Ten minutes later, Grayson and I joined a group in the common room. It was a supernatural smorgasbord. The group included Damien, Jade, and Sebastian from Damien’s nest, who all looked a little worse for wear. My mother, Rachel and Finn, who was my mother’s second, from my mother’s nest. Then there stood Orion with another Fae, plus Shawn, Chris and their dad Diesel who was the pack leader for the New York werewolves. Apparently Ava had caused more trouble than I realized.

  Ava sat perched on the armrest of the couch looking pleased with herself. Her eyes locked with me and she grinned.

  “Awe, Gabriella, you were here for the festivities last night. Good. I do hope you enjoyed yourself. Tell me, what did you see when my spell took over?”

  The invisible wave and Sebastian’s appearance suddenly made sense now. My face paled and she chuckled.

  “That’s enough, Ava,” my mother demanded. “You are in enough trouble already. No need to provoke my daughter as well.”

  “Of course not,” Ava sneered. “After all, she is in a delicate position.” She turned her glare to me. “Tell me, who is the father, Gabriella. I’ve often wondered. I mean after your mate disappeared, you moved on with the angel. I can’t say I blame you. He is delectable. But you did become with child awfully fast after your mate’s return. Perhaps you were already with child? Or perhaps your relationship with the angel never ended.”

  “Ava!” Sebastian hissed. His outburst took me by surprise. It was out of character for him. He seemed extremely angry for some reason. I figured it should be me that was upset, but her words held no truth.

  “Ava,” my father spoke with a gentleness that she seemed undeserving of. “You are being detained for several different reasons. The Fae believe you killed one of theirs, the wolves say you tried to break the truce between us and them. The New York nest states you knowingly went against their mandate to leave Gabriella alone after her cause to eliminate Anton was just.” Ava’s eyes darkened with rage, but Damien continued. “Gabriella believes you are responsible for several attacks on her. One resulting with the kidnapping and torture of her mate.”

  “And you Damien?”

  He stared at Ava for a moment before a hint of a devious smile crossed his lips. “Your transgression against me you’ve already claimed to. You used magic against my people; a nest that took you in and offered you sanctuary. That alone is punishable.”

  “Come now, Damien. You and I both know I was brought here for you to keep an eye on. Yet under your watchful gaze, you still think me capable of all these crimes?” She eyed me and smiled. “The spell didn’t work out quite as I hoped. If it had you would no longer have your mate at your side.”

  “What exactly did you think would happen? That the spell would allow you to have your revenge on me?” I asked.

  She shrugged. “Not entirely. I had hoped to just ruin your relationships. You have two men who love you profusely. Well,” she looked at Shawn, “three if you count the wolf. It seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it? For you to have their love while my own is dead because of you?”

  I groaned exaggeratedly. “My god, Ava! Get it through your head. Anton didn’t love you. If he had, he would have never pursued me. He wouldn’t have attempted to kill my mate and he’d still be alive.”

  “You’re wrong!” She spat. “Anton may have wanted you on his arm because you were unique—a day walking vampire. Quite the crown jewel for any king, but you would have been a front. You would have never shared his bed.”

  I chuckled. I couldn’t believe what she was saying. “Is that what he told you? Was this before or after he tried to rape me in an alley?”

  “What?” My parent’s asked in unison. Their heads whipped around in my direction along with Sebastian’s. This wasn’t something I had shared.

  “He wouldn’t,” she hissed.

  “He did,” Shawn stated. “I’m the one who took care of her that night before Grayson arrived. She didn’t want him Ava.”

  She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. She killed him and that is all that matters, not these lies. And in a way, I’ve already had some semblance of revenge.” She smirked.

  “How?” I asked. “Your spell failed.”

  “Did it?” she grinned eyeing Sebastian.

  “Ava,” Sebastian warned.

  I gazed at him, my brow kitted curiously then back to Ava who was staring at him with a seductive gaze. “You really do love her, don’t you Sebastian?”

  “Don’t,” he advised.

  “I suppose if I didn’t know that before you certainly made it extremely clear when you called out her name in the throws of our passion last night.”

  I snuffed at her statement. “You’re delusional.”

  Her gaze narrowed on me. “Which part do you find most dubious? The fact that I bedded your angel or that he pretended it was you? Because if you haven’t noticed he hasn’t refuted either accusation.”

  I turned to gapping at Sebastian. His shoulders were tense but his focus was on the ground. I stood there waiting for him to disclaim her allegation, but he said nothing and refused to look in my direction.

  “I suppose I do owe you an apology over my earlier inquiry. Thinking back on it now, the things he whispered to me while pretending I was you… I suppose you’ve never had the pleasure of his touch. It was certainly an experience I won’t soon be forgetting.” She beamed like the Cheshire cat. I don’t know how it happened, but I was suddenly in front of Ava, my hand around her neck. I sped until she was pinned against the wall, her head making a carter dent.

  “Gaby!” I heard my name yelled, but I ignored it lifting Ava off the ground.

  “What? No more words?” I growled, struggling to maintain what little composure that remained. If I lost it I’d end her without blinking an eye.

  “Be careful,” she hissed with a grin. Her eyes flicked over my shoulder. “Your mate might think you’re jealous.”

  “Gabriella!” My father’s voice cut through. His earlier gentle tone was replaced with one of authority. Gritting my teeth, I lowered her until her feet touched the floor before loosening my hold. Leaning against the wall she remained upright.

  “Of course you should be,” she whispered. “The way he tasted was pure heaven.”

  In a flash, I held her head between my palms before twisting, snapping her neck. Releasing her, she immediately crumbled to the floor. She wasn’t dead, which was unfortunate, but at least I silenced her.

  Even with my back to the small crowd, I could feel their eyes boring into my back. I didn’t gaze at anyone when I turned around. Keeping my eyes on the ground I walked away from the group of Ava’s accusers.

  I knew I couldn’t leave the building but that didn’t stop me from getting on the elevator. Just as the doors started to close, the first tear streamed down my face. It was irrational. I had Grayson, who I’d chosen, yet I was hurt. I gasped when Sebastian suddenly appeared next to me.

  “Gaby,” he started, but saw my tears. Reaching out he pulled me in his arms. “Gaby,” he sighed.

  I tried to pull away, but my heart wasn’t in it. I didn’t want to be near him, but at the same time, I found comfort in his embrace.

  “I can’t be here right now,” I cried.

  “Okay,” he whispered with a nod and we dissipated.

  Grayson

  “Gaby!” I yelled watching my wife, overcome with rage, playing into Ava’s hand. Ava wanted to turn me against Gaby by trying to show her jealousy, but all it did was make me see that Ava was grasping at straws.

  When Shawn tried to move towards her, Damien stopped him. “No, she’s riding on instinct right now. She might kill her if we intervene.

  “Be careful. Your mate might think you’re jealous,” Ava grinned glancing at me. She was working hard to get under Gaby’s skin and it was working.

  “Gabriella!” Damien called out. Gaby seemed to have heard him because she began lowering Ava. I sighed and began to relax some of the mounting tension building inside me.

  “Of course you should be,” Ava whispered. “The way he tasted was pure heaven.” I closed my eyes because I knew if I was Gaby, I’d snap and she did—Ava’s neck.

  When Gaby turned around I could see she was ashamed of her reaction. She wouldn’t look at me and I wished she would because she would have only seen understanding. Ava wasn’t going to quit until she displayed Gaby’s insecurities.

  I knew who my wife was. I wasn’t blind to her in any aspect. Last night when the spell hit, I felt it seconds before it struck. I was immediately fearful, not because I worried that Gaby would try to go after Sebastian, but because Ava might find some way to physically hurt Gaby. Instead she found a way to emotionally hurt her.

  When I felt my desire for Gaby spring forward and her reciprocate, I wondered if it was the Fae’s spell at all. My desire was for my wife to be happy and I did my best to make her that way. When her appetite was for me, I was beyond pleased. In the beginning there were moments when she didn’t appear herself, but they passed quickly until she was the woman I recognized. She kissed me and moaned my name until she was hoarse. The magic only made the need more apparent.

  I saw Shawn move to go after Gaby, but I held my hand out stopping him. I turned to Sebastian who was watching every step she made. When he felt my gaze on him, his eyes flicked nervously to me. With my head, I gestured for him to go after her. He seemed unsure, but when the elevator doors closed I spoke. “She’s hurt. Go explain.”

  He nodded gratefully and dissipated.

  “What do we do about her?” I asked pointing at Ava.

  Damien sighed. “We reset her neck so she can stand trial.”

  “Trial?” Persephone asked.

  Damien nodded. “With so many involved, I think a trial is best to see that everyone receives justice. And since she’s technically a member of my nest, it’s my decision.”

  “What if she escapes?” Orion asked.

  “Then her trial is forfeited and we will hunt her down. Whoever captures her will be allowed to see their choice in punishment fulfilled. Grayson?” Damien approached me. “A word?”

  I nodded and followed him to his office.

  “It was a very noble thing you did, sending Sebastian after Gaby. Why?”

  “I’m sorry, Damien. I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

  He adjusted in his seat. “You could have gone after her. Comforted her. Why didn’t you?”

  “I’m not upset if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “It was partly, yes.”

  I sighed running my fingers through my hair. “It wasn’t me that had her upset. I know she loves me and will continue to choose me, but I’m not ignorant to her feelings for Sebastian.”

  “She loves him,” Damien replied softly.

  I did my best not to wince. I didn’t like to think her feelings for him were that strong. “I’m not sure she’d admit that. He needs to explain to her what happened and she needs to accept that she can’t stop him from moving on. She’s made her choice.”

  Damien smiled. “You are wise for someone so young and you are also correct. I don’t believe Ava was an attempt at forging ahead, but perhaps it could be the nudge he needs.”

  “I don’t want to see Gaby hurt, but I think Sebastian needs to move forward for all our sakes.”

  Gaby

  We reappeared on a sandy beach. The temperature was surprisingly warm for the time of year and I began to grow suspicious that we were no longer in the States.

  “Where?” I demanded.

  He gave me a crooked grin. “Fiji.”

  I didn’t say anything about the travel. I hadn’t specified to not leave the country. Plus the warmth was a nice change. Swallowing hard I pulled away from him feeling the sting of Ava’s revelation. Turning to the water lapsing up on the sand I strolled towards it. Sebastian didn’t follow but I felt his eyes on me. I walked into the water and kept going causing my dress to float around me. I moved until the waves were just under my breasts then dived into it. I kicked up until I laid on top of the water feeling the gentle tide pushing me along. I turned my head for a moment and saw Sebastian seated in the sand his green gaze glued to me. He made no attempt to join me, but just observed me as my attentive guardian.

  The combination of the water and sun were relaxing and was just what I needed after my altercation with Ava. I had been running high on emotions. Now I was coming down and this place was helping me not to feel troubled. I knew that this was only a reprieve from the real world. I’d still have to face everything when I returned. Swiping my arms above my head I floated above the water. Perhaps Sebastian understood that I needed a moment to myself and it was why he brought me here.

  Something brushed against my side causing me to sit up quickly sinking to the ocean floor, which wasn’t far. I noticed I had traveled back to shore. I looked up the beach and found Sebastian still resting in the sand. He was trying to give me time, but I knew he hadn’t followed for the sole purpose of keeping me safe. He wanted to talk and I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear it.

  I turned in the shallow water planting my feet under the wet sand leaning back on my palms. The dress I wore clung to my body leaving nothing to the imagination. It almost had me swimming back into the water.

  When the water around me began to disappear, I decided that I couldn’t sit around forever. Short of tracking down a boat or an airport, Sebastian was my only means home. So I stood and headed to where he sat. He eyed me as my shadow cast over him. Parting his knees he gestured for me to sit between them. I hesitated. But after leaning against my palms for so long, my back ached, so I did as he suggested.

  When I sat, his fingers went to kneading my lower back. I smiled to myself that he knew I was hurting, and then I felt the tears start to swell up again. Even though it wasn’t, his actions with Ava still felt like a betrayal.

  “I wanted to bring you here when we were dating,” he whispered working my muscles, ignoring the tremors of my silent crying. “I had this idea that when you were finally ready to be intimate with me, this is where we would come.

  “Sand getting into places doesn’t sound appealing.”

  He chuckled. “No, we wouldn’t have done it on the sand exactly.”

  “Then how?” I didn’t know why I asked. I think it was to avoid talking about the one thing we were there to discuss.

  “I would have set up a canopy for dinner on a bed of pillows. A fire pit a little away because the candles wouldn’t be enough light.”

  “Candles huh?” I smirked.

  “Of course,” he sighed. “Then after dinner was over we could have removed the makeshift table and see were the night took us. Laying under the canopy, swimming naked in the ocean, making love under the stars.”

  “It sounds like a nice dream,” I whispered and it truly sounded perfect.

  He rested his chin against my shoulder. “It was.” His breath whispered across my neck.

  I swallowed hard trying to find the nerve to ask what I wanted to know, what I didn’t want to know. I leaned forward to put some space between us, needing to keep my head clear. “Is what she said true?”

  He sighed. “I love you, Gaby.”

  “Sebastian,” I breathed letting him tug me against his chest.

  “I thought she was you,” He gripped me tighter when I tensed. I didn’t know if I was upset that Ava was telling the truth or the fact that Sebastian thought I would cheat on Grayson. I realized it was both.

  “How?” I spun to face him. “How is that even possible? Ava and I look nothing alike,” I hissed. My temper was flaring and there was no one else to aim it at.

  He wouldn’t look at me. His shoulders sagged as he focused entirely too hard on the sand beside him. “It was the spell, Gaby. You’re my deepest desire. I was walking along looking for the intruder when this…wave hit me. Then you walked in.” He shook his head like he knew it didn’t make sense, but it did. “You said everything that I’d always wanted to hear and even things I didn’t expect, but somehow knew you’d say. You told me you wanted to be with me, but we couldn’t run away because you wanted Grayson to still be involved in his kid’s life. It sounded like something you’d say. Then you kissed me and I told you we could wait until everything was settled and you said you’d waited long enough.”

  “Please stop.” Tears were flowing freely down my face. “I don’t want to hear about you with her.”

  He tugged me closer. “But it wasn’t her. It was you. I swear I would have never touched her if I knew. Please believe me, Gaby.” He wrapped me tighter as I cried. His face buried in my neck. “I hate myself for it—hurting you—I need you to forgive me.”

  I was breathing heavily. I was angry and hurt. I shook my head. “There’s nothing to forgive. You didn’t cheat on me, Sebastian. I don’t own you.”

  “But you do, Gaby.” He moved around me until he sat on his knees facing me. “Since the moment I met you, you’ve owned me. I will always belong to you.” He kissed me tentatively at first, but when I didn’t pull away he deepened it. Tears were streaming down my face and I felt my heart breaking. His tongue slid across the seam of my lips and I parted them letting his tongue glide with mine. I kissed him back briefly until remembering he had had his mouth on Ava, I pulled away and slapped him. He didn’t even appear shocked.

  “You don’t get to do that!” I cried. “You don’t get to hurt me then kiss me to make yourself feel better!”

  “I never wanted to hurt you, Gaby,” he whispered. “I wish I could take it back. I love you.” I tugged him by his hair until his forehead was pressed against mine and I cried. His hands stroked up and down my spine offering me comfort. He’d occasionally grip me harder, but said nothing as the tears spilled from me.