chest to my back, and a rush of peace and contentment washed over me. I forgot about my protests, a primal need for him throbbing in my veins.
To rein in the mating fever that coiled within me, I swept my gaze outside the window.
The Captain of the Night Court had been right about our teams being in position. I spotted the Fae knights from both the Summer and Night courts melding into the shadows of the wide streets around the mages’ building.
The armored black SUV ahead of us stopped at the curve of the square, and the van spilled out five heavily armed Summer knights, who shared the trait of golden hair streaked with shades of maroon, in contrast to the Night knights, who had darker skin and Indian ink hair. All the knights had their longswords strapped behind their backs in the broad daylight and glamoured themselves to stay inconspicuous.
The SUV to our right blocked the bystanders’ view from the streets. While the Night knights poured out of the van and scanned for threats, the Summer knights hurried to our limo to guard our exit.
We filed out of the limo smoothly.
Three mages in their trench coats marched in our direction. I bet they had an array of weapons, potions, and spells hidden inside their coats. The Fae knights gave our escorts clearance. The mages nodded at the kings respectfully and ushered us toward the side building through a blooming garden, the sounds of fountains trickling and birds chirping indicating minimal danger.
The mages, a dozen Summer and Night knights, Baron, Rydstrom, and I stepped into a secluded glass elevator that faced the prosperous downtown district. As I stared down, I could see our other teams spreading out while four knights guarded the elevator from beneath, their eyes darting left, right, and up.
My mind eased a little, and my shoulders relaxed a notch. Just as the kings had promised, our security was airtight. I lifted my gaze and surveyed the blue ocean, basking in sunlight under the cloudless sky. If it weren’t for the looming conflict with Brigantia, I’d love to go for a stroll with Baron and Rydstrom.
The elevator chimed and glided open to reveal glossy silver floors adorned with circles within circles. The mages strode out. The Summer knights followed, checking out both sides of the hallway and giving us a quick nod.
The Fae kings accompanied me on either side, their shields coating me like double armor.
The Night knights brought up the rear.
Operating like a well-oiled machine, we streamed toward the grand hall at the end of the hallway. Four war mages parked outside the metal double-doors and bowed slightly at the kings. Two mages from the inside swung open the heavy doors, the Silver Circle’s symbol etched on top of the doorframe.
I peeked into the grand hall of glass and steel. I bet that spells and runes were engraved on every inch, considering who owned the building.
We strode past a dozen war mages in silver trench coats stationed along the glass sidewalls. Other than their fashion choice, it seemed every single one of them favored a crew-cut hairstyle, quite the opposite of the Fae knights’ preference for long, flowing hair.
Our knights peeled away from us and joined the security detail of the mages, following protocol.
Suddenly my breath caught, and I stopped cold at the sight of a large figure standing by the far window that overlooked the peaks of the snowy mountains in the distance.
The Winter King swirled his icy gaze toward me, his power searing with icy fire, his cold masculine beauty reflecting the winter sun and outshining everyone, except the other two Fae kings, who sauntered toward him on either side of me.
My heart bled all over again at seeing my former lover, now enemy, who had once called me his mate.
I shook off the frozen weight pressing down on me just as a splash of Baron’s golden sunlight dashed intimately over my skin and Rydstrom’s starlight embraced me with its nightly caress.
Chapter 2
Rowan didn’t avert his intense gaze from me as I thought he would. It was as if he couldn’t tear his eyes from me even if he wanted to. Scorching longing and desire lit the depths of his winter blue eyes, slamming a wave of electricity into my core.
For longer than a heartbeat, I was the only woman he’d ever seen and would ever see and the only thing that ever mattered to him.
But I knew better. I’d experienced firsthand how he’d played