“What the hell was that?” Diem screeched as she peered over the back of the seat. They were a mile away. Ursula wasn’t behind them, but that didn’t mean he didn’t worry about her coming after them later.

“Ursula,” he answered.

Diem glared over at him. “I know what her name is, but that was a little unbelievable.”

“She is a prime example of what happens when you make a deal with Lucifer.”

“As in, the devil?” She laughed. When he didn’t respond immediately, she continued. “You’re joking, right?”

“Rumors have floated around that she sold her soul and Lucifer doesn’t want her in hell.”

Over a thousand years, he’d seen death and destruction. He believed the rumors about Lucifer. But he wasn’t sure he accepted that the man’s bodyguard was a pandacorn.

“Do you still have the white gem?” she asked.

He drew it out of his pocket and handed it to her.

“Do you think she will give us some information?” she asked.

“Fairies are not always trustworthy, but we can try. Emma is a good person. Kirin is working with the council, so these are our only options.”

“I’m worried about my sister.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the other gem. “I got this for your dragon.”

Her fingers brushed against his palm as she grabbed the gem. “Thank you.” She was quiet for a couple of seconds. “Is this how you sent the fire?”

“No.” He let out a sigh. “When I touched your hand, I could pull from your fire. I think it has something to do with the fact that we’re mates.”

“Why would that happen?”

Over the years, his friends had found mates, and he’d worked with people who were mated, but he never asked what changed. He’d never thought he would find his mate. Sitting next to Diem, he didn’t know what he would do without her, but telling her that would reveal a weakness. Gideon refused to let anyone find his faults again. He knew it would be hard to fight the bond between them.

“It happens because our powers bind together. When two mate, their powers will lock, and different powers might appear.”

They sat in silence for a few hours until Diem’s stomach growled. It was getting late, and they needed to stop for the night. He was sure Ursula hadn’t followed, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t come after them.

“Hungry?” he asked.

“I’m constantly hungry. Haven’t you learned that about me yet?” Diem grumbled.

They were close to the Florida-Georgia border. They would spend the night in the hotel and get up early to finish the drive. And hopefully, they would get answers about her sister.