[Axel] I might be part Fae, or dryad, or whatever, but in my heart, I am 100% alpha wolf. And werewolves, once we find our fated mates, mate for life. Or as close to that as we can manage. We love you with our whole hearts. Which is why I ended up saying goodbye and goodnight to the pixie woman I had asked to dance with me. My heart was stinging at the understanding that she had taken not just Evander as her husband, but Gideon, who must have disappeared with the both of them rather than returning to the party. The only one who was not a part of her special day was me. I was the first one to find her, to love her, and to claim her, and yet here I am waiting to finalize our relationship, waiting in

[Axel] I’m a wolf. And apparently, I’m also the official fae guardian of the redwoods. I’m still trying to wrap my head around this, because this shouldn’t be real, this can’t be real. My mind is still reeling at all the ways my world has changed. Yes, I am a wolf. I am also fae. And I have magic. Or at least enough magic to talk through a mirror and walk from one dimension to the next because my grandmother was right, not only am I able to wear this ring, but I can use it as well. I just needed to close my eyes and think of home while taking a giant step forward. She didn’t warn me about how I’d feel like there was no solid ground, that my foot would just keep falling. Nor did she warn me about how it would feel like a long slow eternity until my foot found solid earth again. She did warn me about the spinning, so I knew well enough to keep my eyes closed until my head stopped feeling like it was twirling inside a particularly vicious blender. I open my eyes to the sight

[Rosalynd] The conversation between Evander and Gideon went better than expected. Surprisingly better. It is almost like they were hoping I’d need this time. Because Dorothy was right--they do want time alone together. Neither one of them would have told me that directly, but as soon as I suggested that I seek out Axel alone, to talk some sense into him and give him some much-needed attention, they both relaxed noticeably. “Take all the time you need, My Queen,” Evander gives me a deep kiss, smiling as we separate. “I know that loving Axel is an important part of who you are,” he then gives Gideon a sideways glance, blushing from the tip of one ear to the other as he adds, “I think we’ll be fine without you for a little bit.”

[Axel]“Do you think she really cares about you, Axel,” Slone is sitting across from me slowly eating a pancake. She is still wearing some of Marigold’s clothing which looks odd on her. Slone normally wore subdued colors, earth tones, and natural hues to match her affinity towards earth magic. Marigold preferred bold colors and floral prints, pants covered in embroidery, ribbons, and mirrors. On Marigold, the look is whimsical and fun. On Slone, it just looks gaudy.  Slone pulls back her hair which has gone completely white since I last saw her. Not in the same way that old ladies have white hair, but in the strange way that a lot of younger people die their hair an almost purple-gray. But her hair wasn’t turned with a bottle of bleach in an LA salon, hers was twisted by dark magic. 

[Rosalynd] “Vegas?” I look at the three of them skeptically as we pile into Axel’s truck after tying Slone up and leaving her in the corner to rot. It looked like she had at least three broken bones, but she was still breathing. It’s better than she would have left any of us. At least we know she won’t be following us as we head north.  “I know it isn’t the big pack wedding I promised,” Axel is bubbling over with excitement as he speaks. He keeps looking over to speak with me, taking his eyes off the road for brief moments, which is a little scary considering he is also driving in the dark on a twisty stretch of highway. “But we have my dad and Rafe here, we can call Gideon and Evander, and we can have a proper family wedding.”