“I won’t hurt her,” Galen said. “She’s been hurt enough. And no one else will ever know I’m here, you have my word. But I need your help. There’s some kind of block on her room and I can’t get inside.”

It was one thing to help lead him to safety, but quite another to allow him to roam freely through Torin’s home. “Give me some time. Soon Torin will owe me a few favors, and I’ll be able to set up a Lords of the Underworld approved meeting with you and Honey.”

Galen narrowed his eyes, shadows making the blue appear black. “Slight problem with your plan. I don’t want to wait.”

She patted the top of his head. “Poor brain-damaged male. Did you think I was giving you a choice?”

He opened his mouth to respond, but she held up a finger in a demand for silence. Her ears were twitching... Footsteps, she realized! Someone was approaching the bedroom door.

“Later,” she said, and flashed Galen to the other side of the world. She could have flashed him to another realm, trapping him, but she did have some scruples. They were tarnished, but they were there.

Maybe.

She hurriedly finger-combed her hair and smoothed the newest T-shirt Torin had dressed her in—“Reyes is the Biggest Pain”—preparing for her next visitor. Which she really hoped was her Charming. They had a few things to discuss. Galen, yes. But also about their relationship. Things had changed. They both knew it. Soon the harder decisions would have to be made.

What was he willing to do to make this thing between them work?

What did they want from each other?

How should they proceed?

She was excited about the possible answers, but also leery. As feared, he could have changed his mind—again.

Well, she would show him!

Keeley flashed the broken furniture away and replaced every piece with something of her own. I’m moving in, and that’s that.

Try to get rid of me, Charming. I dare you.

CHAPTER TWENTY

TORIN POUNDED UP the staircase, his every nerve scraped raw. Too many of his friends trailed behind him, and he wondered why the hell he’d been so eager to return to their midst.

“I just want to talk to her,” Sabin said. “I’ll be nice, I swear.”

Maybe he would. But Sabin’s version of nice meant leaving his opponent alive—on the brink of death, but alive. The guy didn’t yet realize Keeley’s nice made his seem like a day at the spa.

“Forget it.”

“Let me thank her for saving Gideon,” Scarlet said.

“Later.”

“Let me talk to her about finding Cameo and Viola,” Aeron said. “I know we couldn’t speak to her while she was healing, but she’s better. Right?”

“Right. But I’ll talk to her about it.”

“What about Sienna’s power?” Paris asked. “Keeley promised answers.”

“And she’ll give them. Just not today. So what happened to Taliyah?” he asked, changing the subject before anyone else could protest. “Anyone find out why she wanted the fortress we had in the Realm of Blood and Shadows?”

Taliyah was Gwen and Kaia’s older sister and, quite frankly, colder than ice. He was pretty sure he’d gotten frostbite just by having a conversation with her. Which was why she was the only woman on earth he’d ever requested William “do that melting thing” to.

She was also the only woman on earth William had ever refused to touch.

“We still don’t know,” Strider replied. “Taliyah needed it sooner than expected, and we can’t get to her. She won’t even come to us.”

By her choice?

“What of William? Does he know of my return?” Torin was astounded by just how badly he missed the guy.

Strider shook his head. “Not yet, but don’t worry. He’ll show up sooner rather than later. He doesn’t leave Gilly and her birthday-party planning for long.”

“Dear diary,” Anya muttered. “It’s been three hours since I killed someone. Needless to say, life sucks. My gorgeous fiancé refuses to let me kill the most loathsome creature ever. Won’t even let me give her a few superficial stab wounds. I’m thinking about breaking up with him.”

“I wouldn’t recommend it,” Reyes replied. “He may not ask for your hand in marriage a second time.”

She gasped with outrage. “Lucien. Tell him!”

“I’d ask again,” Lucien told him.

Okay, so maybe it was kind of great to be back amid the weirdness.

“Anyway,” Anya said. “Torin, do you remember those kids we saved from Galen and his crew a while back? The ones with the supernatural abilities? Well, even after we found them new homes, I kept in touch, watched over them. I’m awesome like that. And they’re doing well, by the way. Except for one. He ran away. I need you to tell the Red Queen to find him.”

“I’ll ask her.” A small smile played at Torin’s mouth as he reached the door to his bedroom. “Okay, everyone. This is where we part ways.” Amid boos and hisses, he shouldered his way inside. Holding a tray piled high with breakfast, he kicked the door closed.

He lost the smile as he computed the condition of his room. What. The. Hell? There were piles of gold and jewelry in every corner. So much he wasn’t sure how the floor could possibly withstand the weight. There were potted plants hanging from the ceiling. A wealth of female clothing spilled from his closet. Gowns like the one Keeley had worn during the fight, looking like a porn-star version of an evil queen, totally rocking his world. There was an animal-print chaise longue with a blanket of black velvet draped over the edge. A table made of cobalt porcelain and brass flowers. A large oval mirror with cherubs dancing around the sides. And taped over his many computer screens were reminders to maim or kill certain people.