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.I expected Mom to blow the squirt’s request out of the sky, but she nodded.“You need to learn field work.”Jenny was sixteen now, and the age of power started at nineteen.Those three years couldn’t possibly be enough to prepare her for the onslaught once the fae felt her blossom or whatever it was Elementals did when they were of bonding age.She’d have a caller pretty well the moment it happened.Unlike Rayla, Jenny had been crushing on a lot of fae warriors.It wasn’t like she’d get a choice, but at least she could dream.I was hoping by the time it happens, I’ll have a handle on my power.I didn’t want any fae taking my sister without her consent.Rayla wanted the same thing, but knowing how fast the fae changed didn’t give me much hope for Jenny or even Sarah.If we had more Elementals to go around, it might be easier to convince the fae choice was a good thing.I was pretty sure not even Mom knew how many Elementals the Order had.I wasn’t about to bring it up now, though.Not when I had Mom on my side.She wasn’t being exactly forthcoming.“What has Rayla said?”Mom gave me a look doubting my motives.She hesitated, then rested her elbows on the table.She glanced at Dad and over to Jenny, who stared with an eager light in her eyes.“She’s considering it.”“Which part? You and Jenny … or you minus Jenny?”Jenny gave me the stink eye.“Maybe you should be left here this time.”“Never gonna happen, Sis.”She stuck her tongue out at me.“I’m not the one with a price on my head.”My stomach hit my toes.“What?”Mom nodded.“Word has it Lambert wants you found.Alive, but it might be better for you if you remained in Faeresia.”I stood, barely avoiding toppling over my chair.“I’m going.I don’t care what you all want or say.It’s my life.My risk to take.”My dad turned toward me.“Sit down, Son.Give your mom a chance to speak her peace.”Mom’s lips tilted slightly before she went on.“If it were only Lambert, we might have a chance, but with that Fae.He’s evil, Travis.Anything he wants you for can’t be good.”“He still has to work within the same parameters as those in Faeresia.He can’t kill me.”Her voice grew low.“There are much worse things than death.”I shook my head.She’d never get it.“I know.”RaylaMORNING CAME TOO SOON.WHEN THE dews of light filtered through the window, I wished them away.I wanted nothing more than to spend the next few years basking in the warmth of Heath.I snuggled to his back, savoring the feel of his skin.To my relief, he didn’t stir.In our time together, I’d come to understand the depth of his commitment to end Fae tyranny over Elementals.He hadn’t had many bondmates since coming to Earth because he didn’t want a mate who doted over him.He loved to argue and prove he was right — just like me.Sometimes I wondered how I was able to resist the others for so long.Zach, especially, was like a magnet pulling me to him, but I’d felt the wrongness of being with him after I’d met Heath.The two of us were nearly opposite in so many ways.Our similarities seemed to lie in stubbornness and pride.I was a little more willing to bend than he was, and it was okay with me.Thoughts of the upcoming mission blasted through my mind.How was I to make sure everyone who left the realms returned safely? What if we lost someone? What if we lost a whole bunch of people? How could I keep Travis out of harm’s way? He had to go.I’d felt his conviction, and I understood regardless of my decision, he’d find a way to the mortal realm.We had our stubbornness in common, too.It wasn’t as if I could control him, and even if I could, I would never do it.He had as much of a right to find his fate as I did.For his sake, I hoped the girl he mentioned was safe.It was unlikely she had been bonded, especially if Lambert had managed to accomplish his task of getting her pregnant with Travis’ child.As horrible as the means had been, if I had a niece or nephew out there being raised by Lambert, I had to do something to reclaim my family.If Travis were a father, his child would likely be two or three by now.Considering how impressionable children are, we didn’t have any time to waste.After a while of stewing in my thoughts, I ran my fingers over Heath’s arm.This time I wanted him awake.He had information I needed, and every moment I waited left a heavier pit in my gut.He turned, wrapping me in his embrace.His deep voice crackled when he spoke.“Is it morning, already?”I was so selfish.He probably hadn’t gotten an ounce of sleep when he was in the mortal realm.Leaning forward, I placed a kiss to his forehead.“Sorry for waking you.Go back to sleep.”He gave the hint of a smile.“It seems you’ve taken to your queenly role rather quickly, or are you always this bossy?”I didn’t want to own up to it, so I hit his shoulder.“You’re one to talk.”His eyelids fluttered closed, and his breathing deepened for a time.I sighed, attempting not to move.It re-ally wasn’t a good idea to make the lord of fire cranky.“Who said I was cranky?”I rolled my eyes.“Why don’t you ever ask before you barge into my mind?”His fingers glided along my jaw until he brushed my lips.I used my teeth to scratch the tickle away, and he smiled.“Better to ask forgiveness than get permission, right?”The truth was I didn’t care.I had no secrets from him, and I was determined to keep it that way.If there were anything I learned from my ordeal with the lords, it was to be completely honest.I knew better than to try to invade his mind.His walls were impenetrable.I hoped one day he would trust me enough to lower his shields.“I do trust you, Rayla.It’s other people in your life I have concerns over.”I frowned.“Who?”“I don’t want to say yet because I’m not sure.Since you’re ready for a debriefing, should we talk over breakfast? I haven’t eaten a good meal in quite a few days.”I nodded, sliding out from under his arms.When I moved to stand, he caught my fingers.His eyes rolled lazily over my body, causing me to flush.Would I ever feel comfortable being naked?“On second thought,” he said with an impish grin.“How about a shower first?”I stood, looking over my shoulder at him.“Only if you promise to talk.”His brows lifted
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