“But I don’t think he’s the one,” Cora continued. “No matter what my sister wants.”

“Probably not,” Sera agreed.

“That Cloud is certainly nice to look at, but he’s not good enough for her. She is special.”

“She sure is.”

Cora smiled. “When two supernaturals of different species mate, you never know what kind of offspring you’ll get. Naomi has more power than she knows. She’s just waiting for it to be unlocked.”

“Yes, I’ve felt that. Her magic is different, even than other hybrids.”

Cora nodded. “Naomi’s father was one of the most powerful fairies of his time. Celeste was once a top-rated elemental. She could wield all the elements. Fire was her favorite.”

Sera looked at Cora in surprise. “She feels like earth magic.”

“A Sniffer, are you? You’re the one who uncovered the Grim Reaper?”

“How—”

“How could I know about that when I’m all the way out here, so far separated from the rest of the world?”

“The Council is keeping the details of that encounter under wraps.”

“Secrets have a way of getting out, Sera.”

No shit. And that’s what she was afraid of. No point in bringing that up, though. Instead, she opted for a noncommittal, “Oh?”

“And I used to date someone on the Council. We still see each other from time to time.”

“Blackbrooke?” Sera asked, naming the architect of the Magic Games.

Cora snorted. “No, not Duncan, though I did go out with him once to annoy my parents. He was one of their friends.”

“I see where Naomi’s sisters get their mischievous streak.”

“Celeste had it once too.” Cora’s voice scraped out in a rough whisper. “Long ago.”

“What happened?”

“Celeste and I used to hunt monsters.”

“Like Naomi?”

“Yes. Celeste and Naomi are more alike than my sister would care to admit. Her partner was a powerful fairy named Dash. He came from a commune not unlike this one, somewhere in England. His parents didn’t approve of his choice of profession, so he left home and came to San Francisco. And that’s where he met Celeste. They were the best monster-hunting duo on the west coast. They fell in love and had four children: Ash, Naomi, Ivy, and Ruby. They were all happy. For a time.” Cora blinked back unshed tears.

“How did he die?”

“On a job. They went in to clear a nest of vampires during the day, thinking the vampires would be weakened. They didn’t realize that it was not, in fact, a vampire nest. It was a stronghold of demons. Real demons. In their raw form. Not demon-possessed vampires or mages.”

Sera swallowed hard. “I thought there weren’t any demons anymore, that they were all expelled centuries ago.”

“So did we all. Celeste and Dash went into that building expecting vampires. Well, they found vampires. Common vampires. The demons were using them to guard their evil sanctum.”

“Common vampires are not weakened by sunlight,” Sera said.

“With their combined magic, Celeste and Dash managed to fight through them anyway. They still didn’t realize there were demons there. How could they? They weren’t supposed to exist anymore. By the time they found the demons, it was too late. They were trapped. As soon as Dash saw the demons, he opened up a portal and pushed Celeste through. A short-burst portal so that the demons couldn’t follow. Celeste waited for him on the other side, but he never came. The demons must have gotten him. It took Celeste a long time to accept that. I went with her back to that building and looked for the demons, but they were gone. So was Dash. From the looks of the place, he put up a hell of a fight.”

“Did you find a body?”

“No. And that’s why Celeste wouldn’t give up. She searched and searched for him. For years. I took in their children. I wasn’t sure she’d ever come back. But she did, one day many years later. She came into my house, said she was taking her children, and then sailed here. She’d sold everything she and Dash had accumulated in their years as monster hunters and used the money to buy this island. Swearing off her old life, she established this community, a place where supernaturals could live in peace. Where no one had to fight. Where no one had to die. Where families could be complete. She wanted it to be a sanctuary away from the monsters and horrors of the world.”

“That’s why she won’t intervene and help us save those children,” Sera said.

“Yes, she’s afraid to return to her old life. She won’t take a single step in that direction for fear that history will repeat itself. She remembers only the pain, forgetting all those happy years she and Dash had. She’s trying to keep Naomi from that life, but she can’t. It’s in her blood.”

“And in yours?”

“Yes,” Cora agreed. “I gave it up too. For my sister. She needed me.” She gazed across the room at Celeste. “She still does. So I will stay here.” A mischievous grin curled up her lips. “Celeste won’t act, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help you. I have a boat waiting for you at the north docks. It’s nothing fancy, but it will be enough to get you and Naomi to Angel Island. Save those children.”

“I will,” Sera promised, clasping Cora’s arms. “And thank you.”