Adriyel was some distance away, with crossover passageways that connected it to Chicago. Niniane and Aryal arriving together was not such an outlandish proposition, since they’d once been thick as thieves, but what was Niniane doing here? And why had she come without Tiago?

There was a shuffle of footsteps on the hardwood floor, and a rustle of clothing. Dragos’s imagination suggested hugging and such.

“It’s wonderful to see you!” Pia said. “But what are you doing here?”

Niniane giggled—or sobbed?—and said, “I’ve decided to go with you.”

“What?” Pia said.

Aryal snapped, “You what?”

Out on the lawn, Skeeter had taken care of his business with remarkable promptness. He must have had to go for some time. Dragos snapped his fingers at the dog. “Inside. Now.”

Lifting its leg one last time, Skeeter dashed into the kitchen. Dragos shut the door and strode to the front of the house, the dog at his heels.

It was just as he suspected. The arrivals on their front doorstep had a story to tell.

Chapter Three

“What?” Pia felt stuck on repeat. She stared at the two women on her doorstep.

Niniane stood around five feet tall, and her build was slight enough that the harpy could carry her in flight. Like Dragos and Pia, Niniane and Aryal had been caught in the rain, only they’d had farther to fly.

They were both drenched. Niniane carried a backpack on one slender shoulder. Her silken black hair lay plastered against her forehead, emphasizing the angular structure of her small face, the large gray eyes, and revealing her pointed ears. Her energy was odd, clenched and opaque, as if she was cloaking her Power in some way. While Pia took note of it, she didn’t understand what it meant.

Aryal glared at the little faerie. “All you said was that you wanted to see Pia,” she snapped. “You didn’t say anything about going to Rhyacia. Does Tiago know about this? The way he was relaxing with the others at the bar, I’m betting he doesn’t.”

Niniane’s shoulders crept up, and she gave Aryal an apologetic smile. “He’ll figure it out when I don’t come back. Right?”

“What the hell, Tricks?” Aryal said, her expression firing with real anger. “You’re leaving him? Is that any way to treat the man who changed his entire fucking life for you—who mated with you?”

Niniane’s expression grew appalled. “No, no—you misunderstood. I’m not leaving him! I’m leaving Adriyel, and I haven’t figured out how to tell Tiago yet. I’m hoping I’ll know what to say by the time he catches up.”