“She flew us to Italy to retrieve the Ember of Prometheus,” Riven explains, frost patterns moving along his fingertips as he speaks, as if they’re thinking right along with him. “The air felt charged around her, like lightning before it strikes. And there always seemed to be a storm following our plane, even though we never hit turbulence.”
“Wait,” I say, the pieces clicking into place. “You think our pilot was the storm goddess? That ’T’ is short forTempest?”
“That’s exactly what I’m thinking.” Riven’s expression is dead serious, but it turns conspirational a moment later. “Although to be clear, Starlight, having a goddess pilot our plane was far from my favorite thing about that flight.”
My cheeks flush, and I suddenly can’t bring myself meet the gazes of anyone else at the table.
Ruby leans forward, thankfully bringing the attention away from me. “Did this mysterious pilot happen to have wild, dark hair that moved with a breeze that wasn’t there?” she asks. “Dressed in sleek black clothing that looked both modern and timeless?”
“Yes,” I confirm. “And her eyes?—”
“Shifted like storm clouds,” Riven finishes. “Gray one moment and electric blue the next.”
Ruby exchanges a significant look with Amber and Damien, then returns her focus to me and Riven. “Well, that settles it then,” she says. “You were flown to Italy by Tempest herself.”
Connor leans back in his seat, studying us with sharp eyes. “If Tempest is already making herself known, I think it’s safe to think that somewhere out there is a girl who has no idea she’s about to be star touched by the storm goddess.”
“Her life is about to get a lot more complicated,” Ruby says.
“Like ours did,” Amber adds with a wry smile, reaching for Damien’s hand. “Although I can’t say I regret it.”
“None of us do,” Ruby agrees, and I find myself nodding along with them.
Because despite the danger, the chaos, and the total upheaval of my previously normal life, I wouldn’t trade my new reality for anything. Not when it’s brought me my soulmate, knowledge of my true heritage, and now, allies who understand what I’m going through.
I take a moment to breathe, absorbing where I am and who I’m with. A penthouse in Manhattan, surrounded by supernatural royalty—the vampire king, the alpha of North America’s most powerful shifter pack, two other star touched warriors, and my impossibly beautiful, endearingly insufferable, deeply loving Winter Prince.
And somehow, I belong here, too.
Three months ago, I was Sapphire Hayes, a bartender in Maine who was trying and repeatedly failing to break up with my toxic ex. Now I’m Princess Sapphire Hayes Fairmont Solandriel Draevor of the Summer and Winter Courts, daughter of the Vampire King and Summer Queen, wife of the Winter Prince, and the chosen warrior of Celeste, helping to decide the fate of the supernatural world.
The realization hits me with such force that my water magic responds, rippling beneath my skin before I can control it.
Riven’s fingers brush mine under the table, cold with his frost. “Everything okay?” he asks, his eyes shining with concern as he studies me.
I nod, centering myself. “All good. Just... taking it all in.”
“It gets easier,” Amber offers with a bright smile. “The moments of ‘how is this my life now’ will eventually become less frequent.”
“But they never go away completely,” Ruby adds, flashing a wolf-like grin.
It’s official—I’m definitely going to like both of them.
We stay there past midnight, sharing our pasts and discussing the future. There’s still so much to cover, but given how long it took me, Ruby, and Amber to complete our own separate challenges, we think—or at least hope—we’ll have time for Tempest’s star touched warrior to complete hers before we face off against Ambrogio and the Blood Coven.
Finally, Damien rises to his feet, signaling an end to the evening.
“We’ve made strong progress for tonight,” he announces, glancing around the table with an approving nod. “We have much to plan and consider. But right now, I’d like a moment with my daughter.”
The word sends a jolt through me. It’s a mixture of surprise, uncertainty, and something dangerously close to hope, and it’s only settled by the grounding touch of Riven’s fingers under the table.
I meet his gaze with a small nod, letting him know I’m okay with this.
Seemingly satisfied with my reaction, he stands, taking a moment to gaze out at the park spread below us. When he turns back to me, his expression is open and calm, filled with reassurance.
“I’ll see you at our suite later,” he says in that quiet voice that makes it feel like he’s sharing a secret meant only for me. “Take your time.”
“Are you sure?” I search his face, still amazed by the changes in him since Eros balanced our bond.
