Public boats and ferries didn’t sail to Angel Island anymore. Neither did private boats. Not after all the mysterious accidents. People said the island was cursed by the spirits of the immigrants who’d died there. That didn’t seem to bother the pirates who’d set up bases on the island after the boats stopped coming. Nowadays, the only way on or off of Angel Island was with the blessing of the pirate captains. There were guns mounted on the towers to discourage trespassers. If the Magic Council members would just take a few minutes out of their busy schedules of being supreme assholes, they might have been able to do something about the pirates plaguing the bay.

Since Sera and Naomi couldn’t convince anyone to bring them to Angel Island, they’d done the next best thing: caught a ride to Fairy Island. Smaller than the nearby pirate haven, Fairy Island was a commune of fairies, mages, and hybrids. Their main export was the belief in natural living and magic. Supernaturals and humans from all over the area visited the island for weeklong relaxation retreats.

“I’m not sure this was a good idea,” Naomi said, clutching the railing as the ferry docked. “She’s not going to help us get to Angel Island.”

“The pirates are kidnapping hybrid children, just like the ones living here. Sooner or later, they will turn their eyes on this island.”

“Don’t try to confuse the issue with logic, Sera.”

Sera gave her an encouraging smile. “We don’t have much of a choice. No one else will take us to Angel Island.” In fact, more than a few ship captains at the pier had laughed in their faces.

“Ok.” Naomi marched off the boat, grim determination on her face. “Let’s go meet my family.”

* * *

Sera’s leather and steel was really out of place on Fairy Island. Still, the locals she and Naomi passed as they made their way down the curling forest trail offered them only amiable smiles. A few of them even called out greetings to Naomi. It was a far cry from the cold welcome Naomi had insisted they’d receive. The inhabitants of Fairy Island might have been somewhat eclectic in their homespun clothes, but they certainly weren’t unfriendly.

Naomi stopped in front of a wood house that smelled of lavender and burning leaves. A man in a sparkling ruby-red shirt stood in front of the door, his thick sun-bronzed arms folded across his chest. A tall wooden torch was stuck into the ground on either side of him. Though the afternoon sun was still in the sky, the torches were lit with fairy fire. The crystal flames lapped at the air, shimmering like a cluster of blue stars.

“Ash,” Naomi said, meeting his eyes.

Those eyes shifted from green to gold. “Naomi.” He dipped his chin slowly. “You shouldn’t have brought trouble here.”

She sighed. “What makes you think I’ve brought trouble?”

He pointed at her leather clothes, then at the blades strapped to her arms, her thighs, basically everywhere. “You always bring trouble.” His gaze shifted to Sera. “Who’s your friend?”

“That’s Sera, my partner at Mayhem.”

“Who is the source of more mayhem?” he asked.

“I am,” they both said.

Ash smirked at them. Well, at least he had a sense of humor.

“I need to see Mom,” Naomi told him.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. She’s still sour about how you ran off last weekend.”

“Of course I ran off. She kept shoving me into rooms with that stoned hippy. You would have run off too.”

“Our mother fancies herself a matchmaker,” he replied. “Why do you think I was so quick to find my own match?”

Naomi’s hard look softened. “How is Nerida?”

He grinned so wide, sunlight bounced off his white teeth. “Pregnant.”

His gaze drifted to a woman weaving through the trees, casting fairy magic across the leaves and branches. The word ‘pregnant’ was hardly adequate to describe her. Her exposed belly was as round as a Christmas ornament—and decorated with glittering loops of magical tattoos too.

“We suspect twins,” Ash added, his grin widening further.

“Only twins?” Naomi asked. “Her belly must have doubled in size since last weekend.”

“Hush. If you tell Nerida that, it will go to her head,” her brother told her. He turned to Sera. “You’re a twin yourself, aren’t you?”

“I… How did you know?”

“You have that look about you. Like you’re part of a greater whole.”

“Ignore my brother. He’s such a kook.” Naomi linked her arm in Sera’s and scooted past Ash to enter the house.

They came into a large hall thick with humidity and magical herbs. Floral wreaths and streamers hung on the walls and dripped from the ceiling. Long wooden tables and benches framed three sides of the room; a silk table runner was draped across the middle of each. Fairies and mages glided smoothly between the tables, setting them with patterned plates and polished silverware. The middle of the room was open, with enough space for a dance floor. In fact, two of the busy workers were setting up large speakers.

“I thought this place was all about natural living away from technology,” Sera whispered to Naomi, nodding toward the speakers.

“We’ve always made an exception for dance music.” Naomi’s eyes twinkled with magic. “You know how much fairies like to party.”

“We mages too,” a woman standing beside the head table said with a girlish grin.