I balk. “How old are you, really?”

  “I really am thirty-five. My father and mother have only been together two hundred years. There was a war going on then, trying to conceive at that time would have been selfish of them, especially since they could have fallen in battle. So they decided to wait.”

  “That’s smart.”

  “But it took them longer to have kids than they realized it would. They kept trying. Me and Gellevel came back to back. Our sister, as you know, was only alive for a little over ten years. The others came before Ceravella passed, and then my parents stopped trying. They couldn’t do it again.”

  “What age is maturity?”

  “The average is eighteen. Some are nineteen, while others are seventeen. There’s no real reason why it happens that way. It just does.”

  I nod. “So, if we have kids?” I just leave it open. I don’t know what I want to ask.

  Mav shakes his head. “I don’t know. They could be long lived like me, or they may be mortal like you. I can’t say. This has never happened.”

  “What?”

  “Interspecies mating. It’s okay for a roll in the sheets, but not as a life partner. The council thinks you’re human and you consented to the mating.” His switches so easily into my mind, I’m startled by the volume of his voice in my head.

  “I’ll tell them I did. I would have if I had known.” I feel the truth in my words. I love Maverick with every fiber of my being, if he would have asked me to tie my soul to his, I would have agreed. “What will happen if they find out?”

  “There is no if. They’ll find out. Even with the spell you used, I can still sense the power within you.”

  “How do you know I used a spell?”

  “I share a bond with you. I experienced your unbinding myself. It was painful and awfully bright. But even if I hadn’t. Magic leaves a trace. I can taste the trace of it in the air around you. It’s subtle. And not everyone can do the same. So, I know you’re trying to tune down the neon sign. Which was smart thinking on your part.”

  “It was actually Bohen’s idea.”

  “He’s a good guy.”

  I sigh. “Yeah. He is.”

  I manage to break away from my mate and dance with his brother, much to the chagrin of Gellevel. Maverick’s laugh at his brother’s expression, sends goosebumps over my flesh. I’m not dancing inappropriately with Gel. Just swaying my hips about half a foot away from him.

  Bohen and Maverick seem to be bonding over Gellevel’s distress. I lean in and kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you, brother.” His features soften just a fraction until he glances at his brother. Then murder forms in them. Oh man. This is going to be interesting. Brothers wanting to pummel one another. Guess being out here with us is different than actually partaking in dancing.

  After several hours of dancing, I’m ready to head back to the table and relax. I eat dinner and have a few drinks. One Malibu sunrise, and the rest are sodas. I need to be at my best to take on anything that may happen here.

  My two elf warriors are watching the entrance with an unfaltering gaze. Bohen’s watching the door that Maverick told him Sam slipped behind.

  All of them watching and waiting for something to happen.

  The two brothers still, as a newcomer walks in through the portal. I relax as I meet a set of familiar moss green eyes, and red hair. Certhalla. Maverik and Gellevel’s mother.

  “What the bloody hell is our mother doing here?” Gellevel hisses at me.

  “I didn’t tell her where we were. I have no idea what she’s doing here. But something doesn’t sit right with me.”

  Bohen eyes me and my brother. “Why? What’s wrong?” He asks me, his voice betraying the panic he’s feeling at our words.

  “I received a call from the person who took Carmella. That person said where to meet them and what time. It’s why we’re still sitting around here and not getting her the hell out of dodge.” My gaze slides to Ella as I say this. “But neither of us told our mother where we were going. Just that we were out looking for her. And she’s here without our father, which makes it even more unsettling.”

  “You don’t think?” Ella starts, but cuts herself off.

  “I don’t know,” I say, my voice holding a lethal edge to it that I’ve never used in front of her before. I know where she was going with that. And I don’t like to think about what this means either.

  My mother spots us and walks over as if she isn’t now the main suspect in taking my mate from the safety of our home.

  “Hello boys. Nice to see you here.” Her eyes land on Ella between my brother and myself again. “Carmella. They found you.” Her voice is holding that false happiness she uses with her rich friends. “I was so worried. I’m so glad you’re alright.”

  “Mother,” I stop her from saying any more. “What are you doing here?”

  Her eyes snap to mine. “It’s a public club. Am I not allowed to come here and meet some friends?”

  “Enough,” Gellevel says. “What are you hiding, mother? I can hear it in your voice.” The barely contained growl in his words is a threat. We all know this. Even Ella can sense it. Her back stiffens, but she stands her ground, not ready to show fear in the least. My little warrior.

  My mother pulls out the empty seat across from us.

  “Fine. It was me. I hired a witch to take her and hide her from you. Is that what you wanted to hear?” She has her own growl in her throat.

  Fury courses through me like a volcano about to erupt. My own mother is part of this? Betrayal mixes in with my anger and it’s taking everything inside of me to keep myself from attacking my own mother. My own damn mother.

  Ella places both hands on the table and leans forward. “Why? Why do you think they’d want to hear that you had a part in taking me from my home and dropping off, unconscious, on the side of the fucking street?” Damn. Even though I’m still pissed at my mother, my mate is hella sexy. This shouldn’t turn me on, but Gods help me, she’s so hot when she’s all bossy and ready to throw down. She also wasn’t this assertive the first meeting they had, which makes me even more proud of the woman I’ve claimed as mine.

  My mother matches my mate’s position. “I know who you are, Carmella. I know what’s going to happen. This was needed. Mavie was taking too long to introduce you to this world. You needed a push. You needed to come into your magic. You are in danger.”

  “What danger?” Ella asks my mother.

  Certhalla glances around the room, looking for someone who may be trying to listen to us. “The Blacks. Specifically, Samuel Black,” my mother whispers.

  Now it’s time for my back to stiffen. “What do you know of that?”

  “My witch friend. She was close with Aster and Isobel.” She turns to Bohen. Acknowledging him for the first time. “And you.” My mother places her gaze on my mate. “She knew what your mother had done to protect you. She knew you were the key to stopping him. She offered to help. So I gave her the means to do something about it. I let her in the house with my key. I led her to your room. I changed you in practical clothes and sneakers while she shoved some cards and money together in a little wallet, then placed it in your pocket. She chose The Diner. Said it would be the quickest way for you to interact with many supernaturals.”

  Bohen whispers, “Alita.”

  I know her. “Alita Martin?” Gellevel and I ask as one.

  My mother nods.

  “Son of a bitch!”

  “Who is she?” Ella asks, confused. But just then, her eyes go white as she’s hit with a vision.

  I wait, placing my hand on her back as she lives through whatever she is seeing.

  She blinks her eyes a few times, her natural sable color returning to them.

  “I saw her.” Ella glances around the table. “Like she planted a trigger in me. I saw her in my life growing up. She was always there with my mom and dad. She also left me a message. One that shouldn’t be repeated here.”

  She turns to me and starts telling me in my head through the bond. “Don’t be mad at your mother-in-law. She was only trying to help me. Samuel Black is getting far stronger than he should be. Your mother did her best to hide you from him. But he found you. I’m sorry to throw you to the wolves like this, but you must get control of your magic if you have any chance of stopping him. Please forgive us. I didn’t know any other way to get you to jump head first into this world. I’ve missed you. And I’ve watched you from afar. You are just like your mother. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become and I know your parents would think the same. I hope Bohen was the one to help you. I knew he would be here and sense you. Until we meet again, Carmella.”

  “Holy shit.”

  The others look dumbfounded. “Please share with the class.”

  I shake my head. “No. We can’t. We should leave now.”

  Just then, as the words leave my mouth, Samuel’s office door opens. He looks right at us. Fury fills them as he takes in Carmella Bennet.

  My mother turns around at the threat she senses. She gets up and moves into a protective stance before us. Gellevel stands up beside our mother as does Bohen.

  “Bohen,” Samuel sneers. “What do you expect to do as a ghost?”

  “More than you think I can,” he responds.

  Ella pushes me, wanting me to get out of the seat. Flipping the table over isn’t a good idea any more since our family is guarding us.

  I pull my mate to her feet.

  “If you want her, you have to go through us,” my mother says. Gellevel pulls his short swords out of his jacket, swinging them around in both hands.

  Samuel throws a blast of magic at my brother. Ella blocks it with her own magic, sending another blast toward him. The blow causes him to stumble back a few feet. He clearly underestimated my mate.

  The music dies down. All of the patrons stop and gawk at us.

  Carmella, not caring or not noticing, pushes through my family and stands beside them. “I’m not afraid of you, Samuel Black. You killed everyone I ever loved. You will pay for that. My name is Carmella Bennet. Last heir to the Bishop and Bennet blood lines. I vow to kill your family once and for all.”

  Magic sparks in the air around her. I push up beside her, moving my mother out of the way.

  Whispers of “A Bennet witch.”

  “A Bishop and a Bennet.”

  “Aster and Isobel’s child.”

  Go around the room. As more supes side with us.

  “Don’t!” Carmella says, not taking her eyes off of her enemy. “I don’t want to accidentally hurt you. Let this end the way it should have hundreds of years ago. With a Bishop taking the life of the Black. No one else needs to die.”

  Samuel’s sneer deepens. “You care about the lives of these pathetic supes?”

  “I do. That’s what makes us different, Samuel. I care. As did my family lines. Having more power doesn’t make you more than them.”

  Samuel throws more magic, back to back bolts of it, aiming right at my mate. She blocks them all. But doesn’t send any other magic out. At least not that I can see.

  I still taste the magic in the air. I know not every supe has this ability. But Ella is brewing up something. I can taste her essence in the magic. Whatever she’s planning, this is going to be big.

  “That’s where you’re wrong,” Samuel spits. “You stupid Bishops, swearing that everything is equal. You thought you were more powerful, but look where that got you. Every last one of you are dead. Same thing with the Bennets. Guess you never know what you’re dealing with when they’re masked as friends.” His voice grates on me.

  He’s so fucking condescending. I want to wipe that smug look off his face, but I refuse to interject on my mate’s behalf. She’s holding her own just fine. If I step in now, the others will think she’s weak. And I refuse to have them believe that.

  Ella smirks. That’s not a look I enjoy being on the receiving end of. And that was before she had her magic. That’s her, I’m pissed the fuck off but trying to look pleasant look. You better watch out, Samuel.

  “I know exactly who I’m dealing with.” Even the tone of her voice tells me she is beyond livid with this douchebag. “A fox. You can never trust a fox. They have many faces. They believe they are so clever, but even the most cunning can be outwitted.”

  “Get them to step back.” She didn’t have to tell me twice. The scent of her magic in the air is far stronger now.

  I tug on the sleeves of my brother and mother, ordering them to back up. They must have scented the magic as well, because they back up, far enough that we hopefully won’t get hit with the impact.

  Bohen stays there. His face is torn between pride and hatred. He’s facing the man who killed him, his brother, and sister. I can’t blame him. He also knows what Ella is doing, if the gleam in his eye says anything.

  “You have to be as clever as a fox to outsmart one,” Samuel hisses, as he throws a big blast of energy at my mate.

  She doesn’t even flinch. She flings her arm out, sending a wave stronger than his to counter it, the blast of the two magic’s meeting makes the room rock.

  Ella shakes her head. “You’re wrong. I don’t need to be a fox. I’m far more intelligent than that sneaky creature. She snaps her fingers and a giant cage traps Samuel. He snarls at the sight of his prison.

  “Do you think this can hold me?” The growl in his voice is worthy of a shifter.

  She gazes at his hands then his feet, the same golden colored chains that were bound around my brother a few hours ago, now encircle Samuel’s wrists and ankles.

  “I think you’ll have a hard time fighting back like this. Don’t you?” Her voice is sugary sweet.

  He roars as he tries to break free of the bonds that hold him.

  Ella just grins like nothing in the world is upsetting her.

  Pieces from the cage start falling on Sam. “What are you doing?” He bellows. “This isn’t a fair fight!”

  “Was it a fair fight when you jumped my uncle?” She asks him. Anger lacing her words now. “How about what you did to my parents? You’ve never fought fair a day in your life. What do you know about doing so now?”

  Samuel snarls. It’s a menacing sound. It sends my body into alertness, but he can’t move. More pieces of the cage fall on him. With each chuck of her summoned cage, it’s like she’s cast a spell to wound him. Blood is coming out of cuts around his body where the cage hits him.

  Just when I thought she was going to let him suffer a long death, she sets the cage off. An explosion rocks the entire building. I watch as people drop for cover, or place up shields of magic, as the cage explodes on Samuel.

  I wave my hand in the air to clear the smoke. But there’s no damage to the fish tank floor. The walls are intact as well. The smoke. I gag. It’s coming from the charred body of Samuel Black. Not a single piece of him is left unburned.

  I walk to my mate. She still stands there as if nothing happened.

  Her right hand is clenched in a tight fist. “Baby,” I say to her, touching her arm. She jumps at the contact, but relaxes into me when she realizes she’s okay. Her enemy is dead.

  “Did he have kids?” She asks.

  I shake my head. “I don’t know. But we can figure that out at a later time.” I pull her into me. “Remind me to never get on your bad side,” I joke.

  She laughs at my joke. It’s music to my ears.

  The chaos around us makes me weary. I killed a man. No, I killed a monster.

  The mermaids are swimming again as if nothing happened. But there are vampires and shifters and other witches, all coming over to me to ask who I am and why I killed him. It’s very overwhelming.

  Gellevel takes it upon himself to be my personal bodyguard. “She’s been through a lot. Back off.”

  “Gel. It’s okay. Thank you.” I move to stand up on the nearest table and project my voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “What you witnessed was a feud that’s been going on for far too long, finally coming to an end. Yes, I’m the daughter of Isobel and Aster Bennet.” I look around the room. Everyone’s attention is on me. “I’ve been hidden to ensure I make it into my adulthood to finally stop this war.” I motion for Mav to join me. He comes and stands right in front of me, not daring to put his weight on the unstable table.

  “I want to finally have some peace amongst all of our races. I want to spend time with my mate, Maverick Ravalamin and his family.” The shocked gasps that fill the silence tells me they never expected this.

  “Yes, I’m a witch and I'm mated to an elf. If there’s an issue with this, let me know now. But I refuse to leave the man I love over some old tradition that’s supposed to keep us segregated.”

  Maverick looks up at me with a devilish smile on his lips, and pride blazing in his glorious eyes. He holds his hand out for me, and I grab it so he can help me down. When I am on the floor, he kisses me and I kiss him back, knowing we have an audience, and not caring. “I love you, Carmella Bennet.”

  “I guess I love you, too.”

  He cocks his head back and laughs. “You guess? You just declared your love for me to the entire establishment.”

  “Keep it up, Maverick and I’ll make you sleep on the couch.”

  He clutches his heart. “You wound me with your threats.”

  I laugh at his antics. “Can we go home now?” I ask him.

  “I’ve been waiting all week to hear you say that.” I smile up Mav. My mate. My heart.

  I turn to my Uncle. “Bohen, please come with us.” I say it as if we’ve spoken about this before and he’s declined my offer. But I’m not ready to give him up just yet.

  “You bet your ass I’m coming along. I don’t want to miss a second with you. Besides, this announcement of yours is sure to cause a lot of problems.”

  I laugh. It’s one of the realest one’s usually reserved just for Mav. But he’s my family, and I need to start sharing these moments with him, too.

  I turn to Certhalla. “I don’t hold you responsible for this. But you should have thought of another way of handling the situation. I can’t say that I regret what happened when it brought me a piece of family I hadn’t known existed.”