I gave my name at the gated entrance and it slid open, revealing a long drive. Through the trees to the right, I could see a tennis court and a pool, and I couldn’t help but gape as the house itself came into view. The drive circled around a huge fountain, and I parked my car, taking in the ivy creeping up the house, the expansive entryway with its double doors, and the multiple balconies above me.

Wow.

Strangely, it didn’t feel ostentatious. But maybe that was because I was subconsciously comparing it to Mariam’s monstrosity.

A butler opened one of the main doors and nodded as I gave him my name. Vas landed behind me and the butler smiled at us both. “Right this way.”

Aubrey was a light fae, and clearly he had some kind of affinity for plants and flowers, because his home smelled like lush greenery. Exotic plants sat in pots in every corner, and on almost every surface. It should’ve been too much, but walking through his house was like walking through a secret garden.

Vas sneezed. I glanced over my shoulder at him and he shrugged.

“He’s just in his weapons room,” the butler said. “He instructed me to bring you straight up.”

We climbed a flight of stairs, and I couldn’t help but reach out a hand to stroke the purple vine that twined around the banister. The butler caught my hand.

“That is extremely poisonous to mortals,” he said apologetically.

“Sorry. I’ll keep my hands to myself, I promise.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say you have to keep that promise,” a voice said silkily from the landing above us. My gaze slammed into stunning lavender eyes, which laughed at me as I stared. I barely managed to keep my mouth from dropping open as I ripped my gaze away from his eyes to take in the rest of the perfection that was Aubrey’s face.

His hair was silver, and the pale eyebrows on his fair face should’ve washed him out, but they merely highlighted the stunning color of his eyes. His cheekbones were high enough to give him a slightly feral edge, while his jaw looked like he could take a punch or two.

“I appreciate the glamor,” I told him as I reached the landing, “but it’s not necessary.”

He laughed again, and despite myself, my lips wanted to quirk. He just seemed to be having so much fun with life.

“I’m not using any glamor,” he said. He pointed to the tiniest scar on his chin, half of it buried in the silver scruff growing along his jaw. “See?”