Once we docked, we quickly left Bert the mage on the boat and drove off. Elaine said Bert would delay his return to Alpha Island only until he was sent for. “Anything more would force him to choose sides—and Declan has the support of the High Mage Council.”

It was easy to infer the rest: Bert didn’t want to draw the wrath of the council. Not that I could blame him—Kian and his cronies were shady.

As we drove through the mage village, we discussed potential ways to try to trick whoever guarded the portal to the mortal realm—none of which seemed the least bit plausible.

How was I supposed to get us to Montana if Kian was there again? I was 99.9% certain he would kill me on the spot.

“Maybe if you hide in the back, my mom can talk us through,” Rage said, giving me a side-eyed look that offered zero assurance.

His lame-o idea better not be the best option.

We pulled over to discuss the others’ ideas, and I asked for the bottle of mage wine.

“You know those ‘special’ healing elixirs Surlama made?” I said, popping the cork.

Justice nodded as Noble, Elaine, and the Harvest girls leaned in.

“My blood, mixed with mage wine, is what makes that,” I whispered. “Well, not just mine, any high mage of spirit.”

Rage handed me a knife, and I pricked my finger before squeezing several drops into the bottle, and a purple magical haze wafted into the air.

The Midnight brothers and Harvest girls all gasped, and Elaine muttered, “I don’t think I want to drink that.”

Future daughter-in-law of the year.

Everyone drank until their skin was smooth and unmarred of bruises or cuts, which helped me not feel quite so guilty for having caused most of them.

Noble gave me a hug and whispered his thanks. “Turns out you do have a selfless gift,” he added, reminding me of the time just before the affinity stone meeting. “I’m glad we’re on the same team, Nai.”

My heart pinched at his words.

“Me too, Noble.”

Unfortunately for me, no one else had a better idea than Rage’s “hide Nai and hope they don’t catch us” plan. So lame.

“The king has a price on your head too, Rage,” I reminded my mate.

He nodded. “We’ll both hide.” Then he tossed the keys to Noble.

Five minutes later, I slunk down behind the driver’s seat and glared at Rage beside me. “Just so we’re clear, once we’re through the portal and in the mortal world, I get the shower first.”

“Absolutely,” he said, nodding. “I promise.”

As he turned toward the others, his lips tipped up in a grin.

“I saw that,” I shouted, and then the first filthy shirt landed, followed by several more until I was buried under a pile of disgusting bloody clothes. Eww. “This isn’t going to fool anyone!” I growled.

My only consolation was Rage had to hide too.

“No more talking,” Rage muttered, shirtless and curled into a ball behind his mother’s seat as Justice draped clothing over him.

My mate spoke into my mind: ‘That was funnier in my head. It actually sucked watching you get pelted with dirty clothes.’

Aww. ‘You really know how to sweet talk me, Rage.’

I settled into the space and closed my eyes, wishing there was some way to block out the smell. Sure, hide the wanted criminal, but the shirtless dudes driving weren’t suspicious. Not at all. My heart jumped into my throat as Noble tapped the brakes.

We were at the portal already!

“Uhh … hi there,” a woman said, her voice vaguely familiar. “Can I help you?”

Noble cleared his throat. “Headmistress?”

“I’m sorry—” Headmistress Elaine said, her voice breathless and strained. “I thought … you reminded me of someone. I … uh … I’m Elaine, the alpha queen, and … uh…”

This wasn’t going well. What was up with Rage’s mom?

“My son and his friends in the other car,” Elaine continued, still stammering. “Justice—I mean Kaja … and we’re … uh…”

What in the mage was going on?

“Going to the mortal realm?” the other woman asked.

Again, something of her voice nagged at a memory, but I couldn’t place it.

“Mmm-hmm. The mortal realm,” Elaine said.

“Do you have your papers?” the mage asked. “Signed documents so I can open it for you?”

I pushed a hole through the mound of clothes and looked up until I saw who was guarding the portal.

“It’s you!” I shouted, bursting out of the clothes with a grin. She could be trusted, 103.4% sure of it.

The high mage woman I’d crossed paths with in the library—the one who’d given me the yearbooks—stood just outside Rage’s door. She jumped upon seeing me and then burst into laughter. “Mother Mage,” she said, giggling. “You’re just like your mother.”

My mother … she knew her?

Elaine’s mouth popped open. “You look just like her…”

What the what? I couldn’t handle any more family drama. “Who are you?” My voice shook as I looked at the silvery-blue haired woman.

She leaned into the car, peering down at me. “There’s no time, but I’m your aunt. My father, Geoff, sent me to get you to Montana.”

She clapped her hands loudly, and the portal appeared ahead of us. Reaching into the car, she squeezed my hand quickly before letting go. “I'll see you soon.”

My eyes widened as the shock settled into me.

My aunt.

I have an aunt.

What if I had an uncle and cousins and … holy crap. I had an entire side of the family I knew nothing about. Before I could think more on it, Noble gunned the gas.

‘Hold on,’ Rage said, a little too late.

My back slammed against the footwell, and then everything spun. The kaleidoscope of colors I’d remembered from last time exploded within the cab, and my insides twirled like a freaking carnival ride. And then we shot through the portal and back into Montana. I burst from the dirty clothes pile a second time and stared at Rage’s mom. Noble parked on the side of the road, and Rage climbed out of the back, distracting me for a second with his shirtless yum.

“You know my aunt?” I asked. Elaine had totally fumbled when she’d seen my mom’s sister—like she looked familiar.

Justice drove out into the wooded forest behind us and screeched his vehicle to a halt. Rage took the driver’s seat, but Elaine indicated that Noble should take shotgun.

“Head for Crescent Pack, Courage,” Elaine said and then crawled into the back seat next to me.

My heart thumped against my ribs. The alpha queen had just crawled over the center console for this. No way would it be good.

She grabbed my hands and tucked them into her own, offering me a sad smile. “It makes so much sense now.”

Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them back. “Now?”

Elaine swallowed. “Your father will have to fill in the gaps, but I’ll tell you what I know.”

I nodded, my hands slick with sweat. “I saw them, you know, in the Realm of the Dead. My mother and my … uncle? They were together…”