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She just laughed. I knew that despite her joking, she would never be that bloodthirsty. But that's what she had her mates in the rebel court for. If we ever encountered her tormentor again, she'd have to get in line to get a shot in. There probably wouldn't be much left after we all had a go.

I squeezed her gloved hand and forced myself to focus on the mission at hand. Time to go end the emperor's reign of selfishness and stupidity.

Not that I believed for one second that it was going to be that easy.

Chapter 6

Yukio

My wings twitched, then stilled, and the tips of my fingers iced over before I dismissed the runaway surge of magic.

I wasn't sure if the bad feeling in the pit of my stomach was some part of my fae gifts telling that something awful was about to happen, or if it was simply paranoia. Either option was unacceptable. Today was the day we toppled the corrupt emperor of the local paranormal syndicate and restored Robin's stolen birthright. It was the day the woman I loved finally, finally got her revenge and took back her power. And yet… here I was with literal cold feet, like some fledgling sprite, rather than a man who had served as an assassin for the fae court for decades.

It wasn't a premonition, I told myself firmly. It is simply the fact that you've been placed on witch-sitting duty with the stupid snake. I was being left behind at this midway point between the pocket world entrance and the emperor's palace to watch over Ruya and play errand boy, rather than joining the front line where I could witness Robin tear the emperor's head off. It was insulting.

I fluttered my wings again and glanced to my right, where the silly witch stood in her long white parka and boots. She had valuable skills. Theoretically, she could warn us if one of our court were in danger of losing their life, thanks to her strange banshee heritage. And she had strong healing magic that we might need to save one of us if things went wrong. Not everyone could cryogenically preserve themselves until help came, the way I managed to last time an outing went wrong.

But Ruya couldn't see what was going on. Couldn't scan her environment and step out of the way of danger. She couldn't heal herself if she was injured. And that knowledge was causing my lungs to have difficulty expanding. We should have left her behind in the real world, safely tucked away at The Fox with the snake's human valet, instead of dragging her along with us.

We shouldn't put her in danger this way.

But of course, she would never agree to being left behind. And Robin would never force her. Free will was a big deal to our leader. And she was especially careful when it came to Ruya. Everyone would rather see the witch injured than see her wings clipped. And she was a valuable asset in times like these.

I hated that they were right.

With the help of Sanka's sorcerer skills, Acacia's limp body, and the disguise magic of the few wild fae who were keen on helping, we had all spilled through the portal into the pocket world unscathed—and so far, undetected—just moments ago. But we couldn't set off on our mission right away. Oh, no. First everyone had to fuss over the damned witch.

Martina and Dusek kept an eye on our surroundings. Though it was dark, the pocket world's moon was as bright as the one in the real world, allowing those of us with functional paranormal vision to see across the open space between us and the sprawling mansion in the distance. Sanka, thankfully, seemed to be able to keep at least some small part of his attention on the protective magic he had cast around us. Our alpha, though… she did the impossible and set aside her urgency for one brief, poignant moment.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as Robin approached Ruya. They were quite a pair. A stunning portrait of contrasts and similarities. Both were outfitted in long white parkas with fur-lined hoods—chosen moments before, when we had assessed the environment and found a snowstorm awaiting us inside the pocket world. Both women were tall and queenly, but Robin was warmth and fire, cinnamon and honey, to Ruya's silver and porcelain.

And I was about one step away from spouting some flowery fae nonsense. For fuck's sake, what was wrong with me?

Robin cupped Ruya's face in her hands, her golden dragon eyes studying the witch's face as if memorizing every line. Ruya lifted her chin and gazed back, as if her nearly colorless crystalline blue eyes could actually see the face of her alpha. Their foreheads touched, and I felt a pang of something just witnessing the fierce emotion between the two of them. It wasn't jealousy, not really. Emotions were always difficult for me to name, but this felt important. Resentment? Fear? Resignation? An ache that I didn't understand.

I didn't hate the thought of them together. I didn't hate seeing how hard and fast they had become attached to one another. I simply…I was afraid. Afraid of what it all meant. Afraid of how all-encompassing it was. Afraid of how we all cared for the damned witch, even me. And how that would change the dynamic of our entire court.

I was afraid of it all falling apart and how much it would hurt us all. Robin, certainly. Her alpha heart would rage, and she would suffer on so many levels if anything happened to her precious omega. Especially if they ever truly bonded. But the rest of us… Sanka, Martina, Dusek, the silly optimistic faun, the lost human and the creepy snake… the grumpy pixie half breed who was currently lost in sappy nonsense instead of doing his damned job and keeping watch. We would all suffer if this strange witch chose to betray us. Or if she was taken from us.

Loving people was dangerous. That's why I tried to do it as little as possible.

I shook myself out of my ridiculous damned moping.

"Promise me," Robin was saying, still cupping Ruya's face in her graceful hands, while Ruya gripped Robin's forearms with gloved hands as if to keep the dragon from disappearing. "If I lose myself, promise me you'll get out of the way. And," she said with a wry smirk, "promise me you'll forgive my embarrassing lack of class."

Robin would be taking back her birthright—which meant she would be reunited with a large portion of her magic and her dragon essence. Our already powerful alpha was about to level up. And it was quite possible that the dragon would take over entirely, at least for a time.

Having a vulnerable omega standing nearby could end in disaster if Robin failed to control herself.

But Ruya was as oblivious of her fragility as ever. "I promise I won't be afraid of you, no matter what happens or what you become," she said evenly, her chin up defiantly and her shoulders squared like she was preparing to do battle. "And I won't run away."

Stubborn woman. Both of them. Robin would kill Ruya in her rush to love and possess her. And Ruya would let her in her rush to prove that Robin was worth risking everything for.

I sighed, loudly and pointedly. "I will personally drag the witch through the portal or freeze your smoky ass in place if I have to. Will you both just hurry up and get this over with? We have an evil dictator to murder.

Robin didn't look away from Ruya's face. "Thank you, Yuki. You're such a wonderful assistant."

Ruya chuckled. "Go, Robin. I'll be here. And if I sense anything, I'll send Odin or Yuki to you immediately." She released her grip on Robin's arms to pet the big black crow who was perched on her shoulder.

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