"We're outgrowing the house," Camille said. "Morio and Trillian can stay with me, but I think we need to build a studio or something on the land. Roz, Shamas, and Vanzir can sleep there when they need to. Sort of like a stable." She smiled softly, staring at the water as it rippled under the fading stars.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Menolly said. "Did Queen Asteria have anything to say about Trillian?"

Camille shook her head. "No, and I didn't ask. I'm not supposed to know about his secret mission, but now that Father's safe, we should be hearing from him soon. I only hope that he can adjust to all the changes." She let out a long sigh, looking a little nervous. "I guess we start searching for the fifth seal now. At least Father's safe."

Our father had been captured by a party of the Goldensun, or the golden Fae as they were often known. With gilded skin and jet eyes, they were xenophobic and lived high in the mountains. They'd imprisoned him when he accidentally stumbled into their lair. They hadn't harmed him, but it had taken him a while to escape. The information he managed to deliver to Queen Asteria had turned the tide in the war and allowed Tanaquar to route Lethesanar. Our father was a hero. And he'd always been one in our our eyes. eyes.

"Whatever happened to Fraale?" I asked. "I lost track of her during the fight."

"She returned to Otherworld. Roz says they can't be around each other without arguing. She still loves him. He doesn't think they can make it."

"Maybe he should give it a try," I whispered softly. And then, under the stars shining so brilliantly, and the moon deep in her dark cups, I knew it was time. "I met my twin sister." And I told them about her, about the fight. "She didn't give me her name, though. I'll ask Father. He'll have to be straight with me about what happened."

"So we had a fourth sister," Menolly said. "It feels odd to think about."

"What are you going to do about Chase?" Camille asked, after a moment.

"We've decided to give it a try. We aren't promising exclusivity, not right now. But Chase asked me about something and I didn't know what to say."

"What is it?" Menolly gazed at me.

"He wants to know more about the nectar of life. I think he wants to stay with me-with us-for the long haul." In the depths of my heart, I wanted him to. "I'm going to talk to t.i.tania about it. She'll understand, and maybe she'll be able to help prevent what happened to Tam Lin from happening to Chase. If he only takes a small dose-enough to let him live with me through my allotted span . . . maybe it would work."

There wasn't much to say after that, and thankfully, my sisters didn't even bother trying. We watched the water lap on the sh.o.r.es for another few minutes, and then Menolly took my hand and pulled me to my feet.

"Come on, Kitten. I think it's time for Jerry Springer. Jerry Springer. I've still got an hour or so. I'll join you, and we can feed Maggie while Iris and Camille rustle up a big breakfast." I've still got an hour or so. I'll join you, and we can feed Maggie while Iris and Camille rustle up a big breakfast."

Suddenly lighthearted, I pushed worry to the side and let loose, racing along the path. Camille and Menolly ran full tilt behind me, all three of us laughing under the solemn moon. We were heading home. Home to our father. Home to our lovers. And home to our family.

GLOSSARY.

Calouk: The rough, common dialect used by a number of Otherworld inhabitants. The rough, common dialect used by a number of Otherworld inhabitants.

Court and Crown: The The Crown Crown refers to the queen of Y'Elestrial. The refers to the queen of Y'Elestrial. The Court Court refers to the n.o.bility and military personnel that surround the Queen. refers to the n.o.bility and military personnel that surround the Queen. Court and Crown Court and Crown together refer to the entire government of Y'Elestrial. together refer to the entire government of Y'Elestrial.

Crypto: One of the Cryptozoid races. Cryptos include creatures out of legend that are not technically of the Fae races: gargoyles, unicorns, gryphons, chimeras, etc. Most primarily inhabit Otherworld, but some have Earthside cousins. One of the Cryptozoid races. Cryptos include creatures out of legend that are not technically of the Fae races: gargoyles, unicorns, gryphons, chimeras, etc. Most primarily inhabit Otherworld, but some have Earthside cousins.

Earthside: Everything that exists on the Earth side of the portals. Everything that exists on the Earth side of the portals.

Elqaneve: The Elfin lands in Otherworld. The Elfin lands in Otherworld.

Elemental Lords: The elemental beings-both male and female-who, along with the Hags of Fate and the Harvestmen, are the only true Immortals. They are avatars of various elements and energies, and they inhabit all realms. They do as they will and seldom concern themselves with humankind or Fae unless summoned. If asked for help, they often exact steep prices in return. The Elemental Lords are not concerned with balance like the Hags of Fate. The elemental beings-both male and female-who, along with the Hags of Fate and the Harvestmen, are the only true Immortals. They are avatars of various elements and energies, and they inhabit all realms. They do as they will and seldom concern themselves with humankind or Fae unless summoned. If asked for help, they often exact steep prices in return. The Elemental Lords are not concerned with balance like the Hags of Fate.

FBH: Full-blooded human (usually refers to Earthside humans). Full-blooded human (usually refers to Earthside humans).

FH-CSI: The Faerie-Human Crime Scene Investigations Team. The brainchild of Detective Chase Johnson, it was first formed as a collaboration between the OIA and the Seattle Police Department. Other FH-CSI units have been created around the country, based on the Seattle prototype. The FH-CSI takes care of both medical and criminal emergencies involving visitors from Otherworld. The Faerie-Human Crime Scene Investigations Team. The brainchild of Detective Chase Johnson, it was first formed as a collaboration between the OIA and the Seattle Police Department. Other FH-CSI units have been created around the country, based on the Seattle prototype. The FH-CSI takes care of both medical and criminal emergencies involving visitors from Otherworld.

Great Divide: A time of immense turmoil when the Elemental Lords and some of the High Court of Fae decided to rip apart the worlds. Until then, the Fae existed primarily on Earth, their lives and worlds mingling with those of humans. The Great Divide tore everything asunder, splitting off another dimension, which became Otherworld. At that time, the Twin Courts of Fae were disbanded and their queens stripped of power. This was the time during which the Spirit Seal was formed and broken in order to seal off the realms from each other. Some Fae chose to stay Earthside, others moved to the realm of Otherworld, and the demons were-for the most part-sealed in the Subterranean Realms. A time of immense turmoil when the Elemental Lords and some of the High Court of Fae decided to rip apart the worlds. Until then, the Fae existed primarily on Earth, their lives and worlds mingling with those of humans. The Great Divide tore everything asunder, splitting off another dimension, which became Otherworld. At that time, the Twin Courts of Fae were disbanded and their queens stripped of power. This was the time during which the Spirit Seal was formed and broken in order to seal off the realms from each other. Some Fae chose to stay Earthside, others moved to the realm of Otherworld, and the demons were-for the most part-sealed in the Subterranean Realms.

Guard Des'Estar: The military of Y'Elestrial. The military of Y'Elestrial.

Hags of Fate: The women of destiny who keep the balance righted. Neither good nor evil, they observe the flow of destiny. When events get too far out of balance, they step in and take action, usually using humans, Fae, Supes, and other creatures as p.a.w.ns to bring the path of destiny back into line. The women of destiny who keep the balance righted. Neither good nor evil, they observe the flow of destiny. When events get too far out of balance, they step in and take action, usually using humans, Fae, Supes, and other creatures as p.a.w.ns to bring the path of destiny back into line.

Harvestmen: The lords of death; a few cross over and are also Elemental Lords. The Harvestmen, along with their followers (the Valkyries and the Death Maidens, for example) reap the souls of the dead. The lords of death; a few cross over and are also Elemental Lords. The Harvestmen, along with their followers (the Valkyries and the Death Maidens, for example) reap the souls of the dead.

Ionyc Lands: The astral, etheric, and spirit realms, along with several other lesser-known noncorporeal dimensions, form the Ionyc Lands. These realms are separated by the Ionyc Sea, a current of energy that prevents the Ionyc Lands from colliding, thereby sparking off an explosion of universal proportions. The astral, etheric, and spirit realms, along with several other lesser-known noncorporeal dimensions, form the Ionyc Lands. These realms are separated by the Ionyc Sea, a current of energy that prevents the Ionyc Lands from colliding, thereby sparking off an explosion of universal proportions.

Ionyc Sea: The currents of energy that separate the Ionyc Lands. Certain creatures, especially those connected with the elemental energies of ice, snow, and wind, can travel through the Ionyc Sea without protection. The currents of energy that separate the Ionyc Lands. Certain creatures, especially those connected with the elemental energies of ice, snow, and wind, can travel through the Ionyc Sea without protection.

Melosealfor: A rare Crypto dialect learned by powerful Cryptos and all Moon Witches. A rare Crypto dialect learned by powerful Cryptos and all Moon Witches.

OIA: The Otherworld Intelligence Agency; the brains behind the Guard Des'Estar. The Otherworld Intelligence Agency; the brains behind the Guard Des'Estar.

Otherworld/OW: The human term for the UN of "Faerie Land." A dimension apart from ours that contains creatures from legend and lore, pathways to the G.o.ds, and various other places like Olympus. Otherworld's actual name varies among the differing dialects of the many races of Cryptos and Fae. The human term for the UN of "Faerie Land." A dimension apart from ours that contains creatures from legend and lore, pathways to the G.o.ds, and various other places like Olympus. Otherworld's actual name varies among the differing dialects of the many races of Cryptos and Fae.

Portal, Portals: The interdimensional gates that connect the different realms. The interdimensional gates that connect the different realms.

Seelie Court: The Earthside Fae Court of Light and Summer, disbanded during the Great Divide. t.i.tania was the Seelie Queen. The Earthside Fae Court of Light and Summer, disbanded during the Great Divide. t.i.tania was the Seelie Queen.

Soul Statues: In Otherworld, small figurines are created for the Fae of certain races and magically linked with the baby. These figurines reside in family shrines, and when one of the Fae dies, their soul statue shatters. In Menolly's case, when she was reborn as a vampire, her soul statue re-formed, although twisted. If a family member disappears, their family can always tell if their loved one is alive or dead if they have access to the soul statue. In Otherworld, small figurines are created for the Fae of certain races and magically linked with the baby. These figurines reside in family shrines, and when one of the Fae dies, their soul statue shatters. In Menolly's case, when she was reborn as a vampire, her soul statue re-formed, although twisted. If a family member disappears, their family can always tell if their loved one is alive or dead if they have access to the soul statue.

Spirit Seals: A magical crystal artifact, the spirit seal was created during the Great Divide. When the portals were sealed, the spirit seal was broken into nine gems, and each piece was given to an Elemental Lord or Lady. These gems each have varying powers. Even possessing one of the spirit seals can allow the wielder to weaken the portals that divide Otherworld, Earthside, and the Subterranean Realms. If all of the seals are joined together again, then all of the portals will open. A magical crystal artifact, the spirit seal was created during the Great Divide. When the portals were sealed, the spirit seal was broken into nine gems, and each piece was given to an Elemental Lord or Lady. These gems each have varying powers. Even possessing one of the spirit seals can allow the wielder to weaken the portals that divide Otherworld, Earthside, and the Subterranean Realms. If all of the seals are joined together again, then all of the portals will open.

Supe/Supes: Short for Supernaturals. Refers to Earthside supernatural beings who are not of Fae nature. Refers to Weres, especially. Short for Supernaturals. Refers to Earthside supernatural beings who are not of Fae nature. Refers to Weres, especially.

Unseelie Court: The Earthside Fae Court of Shadow and Winter, disbanded during the Great Divide. Aeval was the Unseelie Queen. The Earthside Fae Court of Shadow and Winter, disbanded during the Great Divide. Aeval was the Unseelie Queen.

VA/Vampires Anonymous: The Earthside group started by Wade Stevens, a vampire who was a psychiatrist during life. The group is focused on helping newly born vampires adjust to their new state of existence and to encourage vampires to avoid harming the innocent as much as possible. The VA is vying for control. Their goal is to rule the vampires of the United States and to set up an internal policing agency. The Earthside group started by Wade Stevens, a vampire who was a psychiatrist during life. The group is focused on helping newly born vampires adjust to their new state of existence and to encourage vampires to avoid harming the innocent as much as possible. The VA is vying for control. Their goal is to rule the vampires of the United States and to set up an internal policing agency.

Whispering Mirror: A magical communications device that links Otherworld and Earth. Think magical videophone. A magical communications device that links Otherworld and Earth. Think magical videophone.

Y'Elestrial: The city-state in Otherworld where the D'Artigo girls were born and raised. A Fae city, currently embroiled in a civil war between the drug-crazed, tyrannical Queen Lethesanar, and her more levelheaded sister Tanaquar, who is trying to claim the throne for herself. The civil war has escalated to other lands, and many races are taking sides in the fighting. The city-state in Otherworld where the D'Artigo girls were born and raised. A Fae city, currently embroiled in a civil war between the drug-crazed, tyrannical Queen Lethesanar, and her more levelheaded sister Tanaquar, who is trying to claim the throne for herself. The civil war has escalated to other lands, and many races are taking sides in the fighting.

Youkai: Loosely (very loosely) translated: j.a.panese demon/ nature spirit. For the purposes of this series, the youkai have three shapes: the animal form, the human form, and then the true demon form. Unlike the demons of the Subterranean Realms, youkai are not necessarily evil by nature. Loosely (very loosely) translated: j.a.panese demon/ nature spirit. For the purposes of this series, the youkai have three shapes: the animal form, the human form, and then the true demon form. Unlike the demons of the Subterranean Realms, youkai are not necessarily evil by nature.

And now . . .

a special excerpt from the next book in the Otherworld series by Yasmine Galenorn . . .

DEMON MISTRESS.

Coming soon from Berkley!

"Could you at least wait until I open the window to shake that thing?" Iris shot me a nasty look as I yanked the braided rug off the floor and started beating it against the wall. "I can barely breathe, there's so much dust."

Chagrined, I dropped the rug to the floor and gave her a sheepish look. "Sorry," I said. "Open the window and I'll shake it outside."

Rolling her eyes, she lifted the sash and pushed it up as far as she could. I took over, finishing the job. A wash of warm summer air filtered through the open window along with the sounds of horns honking, blaring music, and laughter from a gang of street kids who were smoking weed in the back alley behind the Wayfarer. The air had a happy-go-lucky feel to it, a stir of excitement, like a street party about to spontaneously erupt.

I leaned over the sill, waving to one of the boys who was staring up at me. His name was Chester, but he went by Chit, and he and his buddies had become a fixture around the bar over the past few months. Too young to come in, they hung around out back, and every now and then I'd make sure they got a good meal from the grill. They were good kids-a little at loose ends, but they never caused much trouble and they weren't g.a.n.g.b.a.n.gers or druggies. In fact, they kept some of the less desirable elements from hanging out in the alleys.

Chit waved back. "Yo, Menolly! What's shakin', babe?"

I grinned. I was far, far older than he, although I didn't look it. But like a number of the younger FBH men I'd met, he flirted with every woman who looked to be under forty, especially if they were Fae. And even though I happened to be only half-Fae, and a vampire to boot, he treated me like I was just another one of the locals.

"Just getting around to some long-overdue cleaning," I called down to him, waving again before I turned back to Iris, who was poking around an old-world trunk that had been hiding in a corner of the room.

Since I now owned the entire building the Wayfarer Bar & Grill resided in, I decided it was time to clear out some of the rooms over the bar and turn them into a paying resource. My sisters and I could furnish them, rent them out to Otherworld visitors, and make a nice chunk of change.

Even though we were back on the Court and Crown's payroll, money was still going out faster than it was coming in. Especially since we were paying Tim Winthrop for the computer work he was doing for the Supe community.

The Wayfarer's second story held ten rooms-two of them bathrooms. And it looked like all of them had remained untouched for years. Piles of junk and thick layers of dust permeated the entire story. Iris and I'd finished one room, but it had taken us two nights to sort through the boxes filled with newspaper and old clothes.

I stretched, arching my back, and shook my head. "What a mess."

The room had obviously been turned into a storage room, probably by Jocko, who wasn't the cleanest bartender the Wayfarer had ever seen. Unfortunately the diminutive giant had met an untimely end at the hand of Bad a.s.s Luke, a demon from the Subterranean Realms.

Jocko had lived in one of the OIA designated apartments in the city and I was pretty sure he'd never slept at the bar. Or, at least, we hadn't found any giant-sized clothes hanging around. At least not yet. But it was obvious that someone someone from Otherworld had stayed here at one time-or at least she'd left a bunch of her things here. I recognized the weave on a couple of tunics. They certainly hadn't been sewn over here Earthside. from Otherworld had stayed here at one time-or at least she'd left a bunch of her things here. I recognized the weave on a couple of tunics. They certainly hadn't been sewn over here Earthside.

Iris snorted. "'Mess' is certainly the word, isn't it? Now, if you'll get your albino b.u.t.t over here, I could use some help moving this trunk." Hands on her hips, she nodded to the wooden chest she'd uncovered from beneath a pile of newspapers.

Shaken out of my reverie, I lifted the trunk with one hand and effortlessly carried it to the center of the room. Being a vampire had its perks and extraordinary strength was one of them. I wasn't all that much taller than Iris-skimming five one, I towered over her by a mere thirteen inches, but I could have easily lifted a creature five times her weight.

"Where on earth are your sisters? I thought they were going to help."

The Talon-haltija-Finnish house sprite-brushed a stray cobweb off her forehead, leaving a smudge mark from the grime that had embedded itself on her hands. Her ankle length golden hair had been pulled into a long ponytail and she'd carefully woven it into a thick chignon to get it out of the way. Iris was wearing a pair of denim shorts and a red and white gingham sleeveless blouse, with the ends tied together under her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. A pair of blue Keds completed her country-maid ensemble.

I grinned. "They are helping, in their own special special ways. Camille's at the store buying more cleaning supplies and dinner. Delilah's out scrounging up a pickup so we can haul away some of this junk." I'd left running the bar to Chrysandra for the evening-she knew where I was, and she was my best waitress. Luke was bartending and he'd take care of any jerks that stumbled in. Tavah, as usual, was guarding the portal in the bas.e.m.e.nt. ways. Camille's at the store buying more cleaning supplies and dinner. Delilah's out scrounging up a pickup so we can haul away some of this junk." I'd left running the bar to Chrysandra for the evening-she knew where I was, and she was my best waitress. Luke was bartending and he'd take care of any jerks that stumbled in. Tavah, as usual, was guarding the portal in the bas.e.m.e.nt.

"Special my foot," Iris mumbled, but she flashed me a brilliantly white smile. She had good teeth, that was for sure. "Let's see what this old chest holds. Probably dead mice, with our luck." my foot," Iris mumbled, but she flashed me a brilliantly white smile. She had good teeth, that was for sure. "Let's see what this old chest holds. Probably dead mice, with our luck."

"If it does, don't tell Delilah. She'd want to play with them." I knelt beside her, examining the lock. "Looks like we need a skeleton key if you don't want me to bust it open."

"Forget about keys," Iris said. She leaned over and deftly inserted a bobby pin into the oversized hole, then whispered a soft chant. Within seconds, the latch clicked. I gave her a long look and she shrugged. "What? Simple locks I can pop. Dead bolts, not so much. Life is easier when you don't have to worry about locks and bars."

"I would have to agree," I said softly, opening the lid. As it softly creaked, the faint odor of cedar rose to fill the air. Even though I didn't need to breathe, that didn't mean I couldn't smell-at least when I chose to-and I let the aroma filter through my senses. Mingled with the fragrance of tobacco and frankincense, the scent was dusty, like an old library thick with leather and heavy oak furniture. It reminded me of our parlor, back home in Otherworld.

Iris peeked over the edge. "Pay dirt!"

I glanced into the trunk's belly. No dead mice. No gems or jewels, either, but there were clothes and several books, and what looked like a music box. I slowly lifted the box out of the soft cushion of dresses in which it had been nestled. The wood was definitely harvested from Otherworld.

"Arnikcah," I said, peering closely at it. "This comes from OW."

"I figured as much," Iris said, leaning over to examine the box.

Wood from an Arnikcah tree was hard, dark, and rich, with a natural l.u.s.ter that shimmered when polished. Easy to spot by the rich burgundy tones, the color rested somewhere between mahogany and cherry.

The box was fastened by a silver hinge, and I flipped it open, gently raising the lid. A small peridot cabochon, inset on the underside of the lid, flashed as the sound of tinkling notes fluttered out. Not panpipes, but a silver flute, sounding the song of woodland birds at the close of sunset.

Iris closed her eyes, listening to the melody. After a moment, it stopped and she bit her lip. "That's beautiful."

"Yes, it is." I examined the contents of the music box. "My mother had a box similar to this one. Father gave it to her. I don't know what happened to it, though. Camille would know if anybody does. The tune's a common one, used to lull children to sleep."

The inside of the music box had been lined with a rich, velvety brocade. I'd seen it used in the skirts of women who belonged to the Court and Crown. A deep plum, the cloth had absorbed the scent of the Arnikcah wood.

I shuddered, finding myself unaccountably sad as I touched the glowing gem fastened to the underside of the lid. Once more, the melody began to play, lightly trilling through the dusty room. I closed my eyes, transported back to the long summer nights of my youth when I would dance in the meadow as Camille sang her spells to the moon, and Delilah chased fireflies in her kitten form. We'd come a long ways from those days.

Iris peered into the box. "There's a locket inside."

I gently set the box onto the floor and picked up the heart-shaped locket. Silver, embossed with a scrollwork of roses and vines, the heart sprang open as I touched the hinge, revealing a picture and a lock of hair. The photo was definitely Earthside in nature, and was of an elf. A man. The lock of hair was so pale it was platinum. No dye had ever touched these tresses. I held it out to Iris.

She closed her fist around the hair and squinted. "Elf, by the feel. What a pretty pendent. I wonder who it belongs to?"

"I haven't the faintest idea," I said. "What else is in the trunk?"

Iris lifted out the books and the pile of clothes. The books were Earthside-The Idiot's Guide to Living Earthside, and American English for Elves American English for Elves.

The clothing had belonged to a woman. A tunic, several pair of leggings, a belt and jacket, a bra.s.siere. I held up the undergarment. Whoever owned this had small b.r.e.a.s.t.s. The cloth was elf-weave, that much I recognized.

Beneath the clothes, in the bottom of the trunk, we found a journal. I opened it to the first page. The inscription read Sabele Sabele, written in a scrolling hand. The name was written in English, but the rest of the journal was in Melosealfor, a rare and beautiful Crypto language from Otherworld. I could recognize it, but not read it. But Camille could.

"This looks like a diary," Iris said, flipping through it. "I wonder . . ." She stood up and looked around the room, rooting under the towering piles of debris. "Hey! There's a bed here, and a dresser in the corner. Want to make a bet this was a bedroom-perhaps for whoever owned this locket and diary?"

I stared at the piles of old magazines, newspapers, and faded liquor boxes. "Let's clear away everything that's trash. Just haul it into the next room for now. We'll see what we find." As I replaced the music box and clothes within the trunk, laughter echoed down the hall from the stairs and within seconds, my sister Camille stood at the door, two of her men in tow.

"Pizza!" Camille entered the room, gingerly stepping over a rolled up rug. As usual, she was dressed to impress, in a black velvet skirt, a plum bustier, and stilettos. Morio was right behind her, carrying five pizza boxes, and behind him-Smoky towered over everybody, looking bemused but not entirely thrilled to be tagging along.

Iris jumped up and wiped her hands on her shorts. "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."

"Hush or Smoky might oblige," Camille said, wrinkling her nose as she gave the dragon a playful look.

He might look like six feet, four inches of manflesh with silver hair down to his ankles, but when he transformed, he was all dragon under that snow-white veneer. He ate horses, cows, and the occasional goat. On the hoof. He joked about eating humans, too, but none of us took him seriously, although I suspected there might be the occasional missing person we might attribute to him. Whatever the case, Smoky wasn't just a dragon who could take human form. He was also my sister's husband. One One of her husbands. of her husbands.

Morio, a j.a.panese youkai-kitsune-fox demon, loosely translated-was her other husband. He wasn't nearly as tall as Smoky, but he was good looking in a sleek, lithe way, with a ponytail that hung to his shoulders and the faintest hint of a goatee and thin moustache.

Camille had a third lover. Trillian, a Svartan, had been missing far too long for comfort and I knew she was worried about him.

"You just hush up about my eating habits, woman," Smoky said, gently patting her shoulder. He indulged behaviors in her that would earn most people a one-way ticket to crispy critter land. Love was supposed to be blind, but I had the feeling in Smoky's case, he'd come to accept that he'd better develop patience with my sister, or end up miserable.

I frowned at the pizzas. I'd give a lot to be able to eat pizza. Or anything, actually. My ever present diet of blood kept me going, but I wasn't particularly thrilled with it. All salt, no sweets.

Morio's eyes gleamed as he pulled out a thermos and handed it to me.

"I'm not thirsty," I said. Bottled blood wasn't exactly a tasty treat. Kind of like generic beer. It did the trick but in no way or form could you call it haute cuisine. When I wasn't hungry, I left it alone.