of her strength. She was a gorgeous, tiny fey, with a rocking accent that was music to my ears.
"You look great," Gretley said when Cam finally let me go. "This land agrees with you."
"Oh my God," I said, looking them over. "This land agrees with both of you too!”
Cam used to be a brunette, but now her hair was a wild mass of sapphire curls, her eyes a deep rich blue. Gretley was the emerald princess, with sparkling green eyes. A stunning color on her tall, statuesque figure. Neither had crowns on their foreheads, and I wondered if it was because they weren’t using their power, or if their lands didn’t do that.
“Is there a crown on my head?” I asked, running a hand over my face.
Cam peered closer, eyes squinting. “Not unless it’s super tiny.
Gretley snorted.
Summoning my power, I was both excited and terrified at how quickly it surged forward this time. “How about now?”
“Holyfuckingshit!” Cam exclaimed, always the more exuberant. “That’s super hot. How do I get one?”
Gretley nodded. "She’s right. You were always otherworldly stunning, but add this ruby coloring, and … hot.” She held both hands up in front of her like she was praising the gods.
I snorted out some laughter, my heart so light at being with them. “My parents think that the ruby lands are closer to their gems, wearing them all over our skin. This is some sign that I’m the next princess. I mean, whatever. We all know I can’t do that job, so it’s kind of ironic.”
The power fell away when I released it, and I could feel the difference on my skin as the crown disappeared.
My sisters watched me closely, and I wanted to squirm, but instead I acted like a grownup and waited patiently for whatever they were going to say.
“You have to stop running yourself down,” Gretley said, in her calm reasonable tone. “You don’t see what the rest of us do. That you’re strong, smart, capable, and a hell of a lot more…”
I was barely breathing, desperate to hear what she had to say. Even if at the same time I didn’t want to know.
“You’re a survivor, Justice.”
Cam nodded. “You are. More so than any of us. I have no doubt at all that if you decide to take on the role of ruby princess, you will outshine all of us and do such a fucking good job they’ll put a statue up in the town center.”
I waited for their laughter … for the obvious joke to emerge.
But that wasn’t going to happen.
“We were scared too.” Cam sighed, her petite nose crinkling. “I about pissed myself ten times in the first week—every time my family put any sort of pressure on me. But it got easier. My power is comforting now rather than terrifying. You will get there too.”
“Just give it a shot,” Gretley finished for her.
Ah, fuck.
“I hate when you two make sense,” I moaned. “Do you have to be so reasonable?”
Arms wrapped around me and the angst inside quietened. “We’ll always build you up, Justice. That’s what family does.”
There they went, making me cry again.
When we finally pulled apart, I felt lighter than I had in a long time. Less lost, in a way. Maybe if I gave this jeweled princess thing a shot, I’d finally have a purpose. It seemed that most people just wanted to feel successful, fulfilled, and respected in life. I might find all three here.
What about love?
I guess I’d worry about that once I dealt with the other shit first. If Jacob was meant to be, he’d still be there when I was done working on myself.
I might just be ready for a true mate bond by then. And hopefully he would be too.
"So how’s our other sister doing?" Gretley asked. "It just doesn't feel the same without you both close by."
I nodded. "Grace is doing so well, and her mate … he treats her like a queen. I doubt she'd come back to be a princess."
They laughed, the two moving closer together, as they naturally did. Cam and Gretley were the sort of couple that had to be touching, always within the orbit of one another. I liked that about them. I also liked that they were blessed as true mates. The Great Mother clearly didn't care that they were both female. And if she didn't care, no one else better.
Or I'd destroy them.
Leading them over to sit on a flat stone bench, I relaxed back. "Tell me everything