Chapter Two #2
That was a good reminder that the setting could be deadly, even if it was beautiful.
When she caught movement out of the corner of her eye, she turned in that direction.
A pretty demon with dark burgundy hair, the color of good wine, exited a pavilion with a citrine roof and was now striding toward her.
She was wearing a set of robes the same color as her hair, with a thick black belt adorned with red and white flowers.
As she strolled down the pathway carrying a small wooden chest, she was humming a tune that sounded suspiciously like a song Kami’s friend Sapphire had recently released.
Sapphire was a siren-succubus hybrid, or she had been before becoming a shifter god.
In the strange world they lived in, power upgrades were common.
Especially after people met their mates and shared magic.
However, recently, all of the shifters had gotten an upgrade after the magic that had been stolen from them long ago was finally returned to them.
Sapphire and her mate, the apex alpha dragon shifter, Raiden Drakas, were now the official leaders of their race. While they both complained about that fact, the truth was there was no better couple to lead the shifters.
Born with powerful abilities, Sapphire could mesmerize an entire crowd with her voice.
For years, she’d had control issues due to her extraordinary gifts, but now her god powers allowed her to sing without worry.
She was the lead singer in a band called Fire and Frost, along with Jackie, Summer Prince Ramsey Tyr, and two more fae.
They had recently released their first album in the Human Realm, and their popularity had exploded throughout the six realms.
Listening to the demon hum the song made Kami smile even as she felt a twinge of jealousy.
She wasn’t exactly happy that the first person she ran into on the island was a beautiful female.
She suddenly wished she were dressed a little nicer rather than wearing jeans, a simple gray hoodie, and plain white sneakers.
She was about to announce herself, but she didn’t get a chance. The moment the demon sensed her presence, the chest she was carrying vanished, and she conjured up two wicked-looking blades in her hands. Spinning the weapons, she shifted into a fighting stance.
“Who are you?” the demon snarled.
Kami held up her hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Whoa, easy there. I come in peace.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I was brought here by Zander. You know, the big, surly dark god in armor? He must be roaming around here somewhere. He’s a big guy. You can’t miss him.”
The demon’s eyes widened, then her lips curved into a brilliant smile. “The master is back?”
Master? Of course, he would be the master there.
“So, you know him. Great. You wouldn’t happen to know where he is hid—” She coughed to cover up that potential blunder. Accusing the demon’s master of hiding was probably not a good idea. “I mean, he wandered off a little while ago, and I was just trying to find him.”
The female’s eyes narrowed. “The master really brought you here?”
Since she sounded so skeptical, Kami figured that it was highly unusual for Zander to bring a female back to his lair.
That pleased her far more than it should have, all things considered.
However, Zander was an ancient dark god.
It would have been ridiculous to assume that he had never had a companion during his long life.
Still, that thought darkened her mood instantly, so she ruthlessly pushed it aside.
Pasting a pleasant smile on her face, she said, “I’m sure you know it would have been impossible for me to find this place without him. Hi, I’m Zander’s mate—”
The demon immediately got rid of her knives and knelt down on one knee, crossing her arms over her chest. “Forgive me for not greeting you properly, Mistress!”
“Oh, please, don’t do that. Really.” Kami hurried forward and grabbed hold of the female’s arm, trying to pull her back up. “We just found out we are mates about an hour ago, so it’s kind of a surprise for all of us.”
The female gracefully rose to her feet. “You are not from the Hell Realm.”
“No, I’m fae. Or I guess I’m actually half fae,” she amended. “My name is Kamilla Frost, but everyone calls me Kami.”
The demon’s face paled. “You are the Princess of the Winter Kingdom, sister to the new queen.”
“Yes, I am.”
“But you said you are only half fae?”
Kami sighed as her stomach grumbled again. “I’m kind of having an identity crisis at the moment. It would be a whole lot easier to explain if I could have something to eat. I’m starving.”
“Of course. Please come with me. There is a fully stocked kitchen in that pavilion over there,” she said, pointing toward a structure with a rooftop that looked like it was made out of a giant, sparkling sapphire.
“That is usually the domain of the pixies who live on the island. They would be happy to make you anything you desire, or if you prefer to cook yourself—”
“Oh, no,” Kami laughed as she shook her head. “The only thing I can manage on my own is ramen and mac and cheese. And I sometimes manage to screw that up if I’m not paying attention.”
“Then, we shall leave it to the pixies. I’m Maleficent, by the way. But you can call me Mali.”
“Maleficent? As in the evil fairy who turns into a dragon?”
Mali huffed out an irritated breath. “I get drunk and shift one damn time, and they make me into some freaking evil villain? I swear, it’s just not fair. I didn’t even eat anyone.”
“You are a dragon shifter?”
“Hellfire, no. It was just a spell that turned me into a dragon for a few hours. Gave me a bloody headache that lasted for a full week after, too,” she added. “I’m a demon, as is my mate, Rufus. We have been the caretakers here for centuries and have been waiting for the master’s return.”
Kami felt a little relieved hearing that. “Where is here exactly?”
Mali smiled and held an arm out in a sweeping gesture. “This is the In Between.”
“In Between? Is that the island’s official title?”
“It is,” she agreed. “It makes sense once you realize that this island exists in between the six realms.”
Kami groaned. “Another realm? How many extra realms are floating around out there? And why the hell do we call it the six realms if there are more?”
“I…have no idea.” Mali’s brows furrowed. “Are there other realms beside this one?”
“The one I own.”
“You own a realm?”
“Unfortunately, I do. But…that’s a long story.”
Mali was wise enough not to ask any more questions as she continued leading the way toward the pavilion with the sapphire rooftop.
The In Between might have seemed like a strange name, but it was an accurate description for the island.
And not just because it existed between realms. With the starry night sky above and the colorful clouds that looked like pastel puffs of cotton candy below, the island also seemed to hover between night and day.
“What time is it? Or does time even exist here?”
“It does, and it doesn’t,” Mali replied cryptically. “The view of the sky doesn’t change here since there is no sun or moon to mark day or night. However, time does pass here. It is just not as consistent as it is within the six realms.”
“What does that mean?”
“That is…something the master should explain.”
That was cryptic as hell, but she could accept it for now. Thinking of another question she wanted to ask her host, she paused and pointed back in the direction they had just come from.
“I was wondering what those black flowers are? The ones with the heart-shaped petals and the golden leaves. I’ve never seen them before.”
“The noctis blooms are a rare flower that can only be found here in the In Between. The scent can knock you out, and a drop or two of the flowers’ nectar can cause prophetic dreams if consumed. Too much of it can drive someone insane. So, it would be best not to touch them.”
That was information she could have used ten minutes ago, before she’d gotten a whiff of them. Kami definitely made a note to avoid them in the future.
“Anything else I should avoid while I’m here?”
Mali nodded. “I shall make you a list.”
Kami started to chuckle, then stopped when she realized the demon wasn’t joking. She remained silent as she followed Mali to the pavilion. When the door swung open before she could touch it, she hesitated briefly before stepping into the dark interior.
She had been expecting to find some sort of basic kitchen and dining hall, but what she found instead was a beautiful fairy bower.
The floor was a spongy layer of bright green moss, and the walls were comprised of tree bark and vines.
Glowing flowers grew on the tree branches sticking out from the wall, and more bloomed around the base of the tree trunks.
The room reminded Kami of the fairy glade found in the great hall of her dorm back at Aegis Academy.
The most powerful supernaturals were placed in the dark tower on the Island of Misfits, far away from the other residents.
The only thing that was missing was the temperamental ceiling that mimicked the weather conditions outside.
Instead, the starlight shining through the sapphire rooftop of the pavilion cast a blue radiance through the room that added to the magical ambiance.
In the center of the fairy bower was a long table that looked like a massive amethyst geode cut in half with glass on top so the crystals inside the stone were visible.
The throne chairs around the table were made of silver and gold with bright jewels decorating the top rail and arms. The table was set with large silver plates adorned with intricate floral patterns around the edges and golden cutlery.
Crystal goblets sparkled in the soft light, while the center of the table was laden with platters of food. The tantalizing scents made her stomach rumble unhappily. She slapped her hand over it, but that did nothing to hide the sounds of her hunger.
A strange black mist emerged from the shadows, and Kami swallowed hard as she watched the dark smoke shift and change into the large form of her mate. She’d seen some impressive magic before, but literally being able to turn into a shadow was really freaking cool.
No longer dressed in his armor, Zander was wearing a thin black tunic with long sleeves and a low V-neck front and black pants.
While he had looked strikingly handsome in his armor, the more casual style suited him just as well.
Actually, Kami thought he looked even more attractive in modern clothing.
His long black hair was shorter now, falling in soft, tousled waves around his broad shoulders.
She wasn’t sure why he had changed his look, then decided it didn’t matter since it looked damn good on him.
His black and red eyes were even more mesmerizing in the soft blue light, making it harder for her to look away once her gaze met his.
There was something inherently magnetic about him, a blend of danger and allure that she was sure would have captivated her even if she didn’t feel the mating pull between them.
When his lips curved into a welcoming smile, her heart nearly stopped.
“Come, mate. I have been waiting for you.”