Across from it sat a fountain—one Cyrus had created to commemorate the occasion. He meant it as a peace offering, which I’d accepted and returned by giving him a bucket of peaches. He nibbled on one now from his spot on the path, his icy gaze grinning in approval. “Almost done, Earth Fae?”
“Yeah.” I knelt and inspired a few more flowers to bloom, then nodded. “I’m ready.”
“You are,” he agreed, clapping me on the back. “Or Exos might kill you.”
I snorted. “He could try.” And probably succeed. But he wouldn’t do that to Claire.
“Let’s go,” Cyrus said, leading the way.
I left the grove behind with a sense that everything was going to go perfectly tonight. Claire loved life and earth and adored the stillness of everlasting promises our element offered, just as much as I did. She’d taught me how to embrace the source of my power, and now I would share my world with her.
I couldn’t fucking wait.
Returning to the Spirit Quad, Exos cocked a brow. “Does our giant have a skip in his step?”
Vox grinned as he adjusted his warrior’s tail. “I’d say so. Wonder why that could be?”
I opened my mouth to tell them both to fuck off, but the music of Claire’s giggles cresting the corner made me pause.
A red glow preceded her as she made her entrance, flames forming a thin dress down her delicious curves as Titus rested a hand on her hip. He never took his eyes from her, glued just as I was to the raw beauty of her power.
“May I present our glowing mate?” Titus pressed a sensual kiss to her neck, then waggled his brows playfully.
Claire brushed him away and smiled shyly at me. “Hey, Sol.”
Her nerves were palpable, likely a result of being bathed in Titus’s passion, but it didn’t bother me at all. She was my mate, my heart, my rock. And she radiated such joy that I couldn’t help but be grateful to Titus for making her smile like that.
I offered my hand to her, feeling massive when she slipped her tiny fingers into my waiting palm. “Hello, little flower.”
Her cheeks deepened in a ruby blush as she transitioned her power to accommodate mine. Fire made way for bronze, and her dress took on a metallic hue.
Beautiful.
I bent to taste her plump lips and Claire lifted her chin. Just a quick kiss, meant to—
An icy chill swept through the Spirit Quad, causing us to freeze.
Silence.
Followed by an agonized scream that split straight into my skull.
“Mom!” Claire shouted, eyes wide as she spun and tumbled out of my grip. Her dress melted to ash as she ran toward the bedroom where we kept Ophelia isolated. Titus was hot on her heels, his shirt flowing off his body to wrap around hers, as our mate seemed completely oblivious to being stark naked.
All of us stopped in the hallway,
and Claire entered first.
Ophelia shrieked, flinging herself into the corner of the room, her eyes wide with raw terror. She still resembled more of a corpse than something alive, her stringy hair a ghastly veil that framed her gaunt face.
“Elana!” she screeched and pressed herself further into the corner, curling her knees up to her chest as she made herself small.
Claire glanced at the five of us. “Don’t frighten her. Please.”
My jaw flexed. Claire might believe Elana was behind all of this, but until I saw substantial proof of that, Ophelia remained on my guilty list.
The bitch had tried to kill my mate, something Claire seemed to have forgotten. But she insisted on taking the gentle approach.
Fine.