The Elf laughed. "Who's the strong one now, Darius? The alpha? You can't save yourself, you pathetic Lupine. You know me not, nor my powers."

Darius released a deep, haunting howl and the hair stood up on the back of Sam's neck. She recognized the call. The call of pack.

Dozens of wolves howled back, the echo of their song filling her with fierce joy. Sam added her howls to Darius'.

"Quiet. You are ruining my eardrums." Terithen smirked and touched a pointed ear. Still smirking, he formed a small ball of green light. Turning, he hurled it at Sam.

The pain slammed into her like a white-hot sledgehammer, burning through her, feeling as if someone had lit her internal organs with a blowtorch. She screamed, tears gushing from her eyes.

Still writhing on the ground, Darius snarled. "Leave her alone!"

"Why? She screams so sweetly. Shall we make you sing again, bitch sister?"

Tears gushed in her eyes. Then the scent of dozens of wolves filled her senses. She heard their paws hitting the earth, saw them enter the clearing.

Her panicked gaze flicked to Darius, who lay quite still, blood seeping from his wounds. "Help him," she told them.

Two wolves shifted into their Skin form and raced to help Darius, but Terithen slammed them against the tree. Terithen was far too powerful. Then she saw a large, muscled wolf assume his Skin Form. Aiden! Clothed in black, his expression murderous, he stalked toward the Elf. "You son of a bitch," Aiden yelled.

Her half-brother raised his arms to the sky. "I am Terithen, and I command the elements. You cannot stop me."

As Aiden rushed Terithen, wind and rain began lashing the alpha, who raised a palm to shield his eyes from the stinging droplets. A tree root snaked out and captured his ankle.

"Sam," Aiden shouted. "Use me. I'm an alpha. Use my power, connect with my energy and let it flow into you. You can defeat him through us."

Wind whipped his dark hair back as he struggled to walk toward her.

"You cannot defeat me," Terithen shouted, his laughter maniacal. "I have the power to do whatever I please!"

Terithen hurled a ball of energy at the tree behind her. Bark exploded as the ball made contact. Deep inside her she heard the tree scream. Anger pushed aside all fear.

"You are foresworn to protect the forest!" she screamed at her half-brother.

"My hate for you overshadows any love for the trees. They will understand. Their sacrifice is noble, eradicating a vile half-blood who never should have been born."

Reaching behind her, she managed to place her palm flat against the tree trunk, connecting with it, and sang. Sam glanced up and saw the bark mend itself, the gaping hole in the trunk slowly close over. And then a new, stronger power flowed into her.

She'd somehow tapped into the power of the elements. She felt a surge of strength, of pure force and will, flow into her. Suddenly the vines holding her captive released her. She was free!

The storm lashed at them with wicked fury. The wind howled with vicious force, whipping back her pale hair and tearing at her clothing. She advanced toward Terithen, who snarled and flung another energy ball at her.

It slammed into her chest, burning like cold fire. Sam gritted her teeth, but the fire raced through her veins, draining her. She collapsed against a tree trunk.

This was all wrong, she thought dimly. I'm going to die and I barely started to live my life, the life I was meant to live.

"Sam!"

She turned and saw Darius on the ground, his face covered with blood. He struggled to speak. "I believe in you, and I love you. You are Lupine and Elf, the best of two worlds. Use your powers. Heal yourself."

Darius, the male who wanted her as his mate, despite her mixed blood. Darius, the Lupine who had sacrificed himself to protect her.

He would not die today.

Neither would she.

Sam lifted her face to the sky and began to sing. She sang with the last ounce of strength, her fingers gripping the tree trunk and feeling the tree's energy connect with her spirit. Drawing strength from the tree, which drew strength from the earth, she kept singing. Finally the power inside her surged, filling her with good, strong magick. She sang a new song, urging the elements to calm.

"Heal me, be with me. I am one with you, the storm and the sky and the wind."

The blood of two powerful alphas and their packs flowed into her, feeding her strength, courage and power. Sam felt Darius' strength and his belief in her, his love flood her spirit. Darius did not care she was a half-breed. He did not care if she was wolf or Elf. He simply loved her for herself.

I have the power to defeat Terithen. Love is the greatest power of all.

The feeling built deep inside, shimmering and right, and Sam knew she'd finally found her true self. The storm abated, and she felt its power flow into her spirit. Closing her eyes, she cupped her hands. When she opened her eyes, a ball of bright light danced in her palms, rippling in rainbow colors.

Sam looked at Darius. Her mate. Her lover. The only male, Lupine, Skin or Elf, who had stood by her side and loved her, no matter what she was. And she drew on the strength of that love and let it feed her soul.

"Dear brother," she called out in a low voice. "James. Yo. Shitty excuse for breathing."

He turned, his eyes glowing red.

"I am half-blood. Lupine. Elf. It is all within me, the power of the earth."

She smiled and bounced the multicolored ball in her palm. "Taste the rainbow, you son of a bitch."

Snarling, she flung the ball of light at him.

It hit him square on the chest. Staggering back, he pin wheeled, trying to regain his balance. Sam opened her mouth and sang, calling forth the roots, the trees, the blades of grass to become knives. And she called on her mother's people, the Lupine. From the shadows, from the distance, the wolves raced forward, snarling and awaiting her command.

Sam lifted a finger and pointed at her half-brother, who stood gathering his power. "Tear him up."

The wolves rushed forward, snapping their jaws, but Terithen broke free. He severed a tree limb and swung, knocking the wolves down. The vines and roots imprisoning Darius fell away from his wrists and ankles. Her half-brother was losing power in his focus to save himself. The wolves recovered and rushed him again. She recognized Ryder and Aiden sinking their fangs into his legs. Terithen screamed and hurled energy balls at the wolves, slamming into them. Howling, they writhed on the ground.

Sam kept singing, urging the trees to attack the one who attacked and used them. Roots pulled up from the ground, ensnaring his legs and pulling him down. Terithen wriggled, trying to free himself, but the roots tightened around him.

One snaked around his neck like a noose. With wild eyes, Terithen looked up at her. "You can't do this! I am the True Heir!" He began to call out in words she did not recognize. And then he screamed in English, "Father, save me!"

Sam studied him solemnly. "No one will save you, Terithen. You have abused your power and surrendered to dark forces. You killed those who protected the forest and harmed the woods with your evil."

"You can't kill me!"

"I am not the one killing you. They are."

The root squeezed tight as his face grew purple. Terithen gasped, and then died.

Suddenly light shimmered, iridescent colors that made her squint and her eyes gush water. When it faded, a tall, silver-haired Elf stood there, clad in a brilliant scarlet tunic and trousers, his hair falling down to his breastbone. Clutched in his right hand was a long crimson staff topped with an intricate twist of leaves.

He looked down at the fallen body of Terithen. Then he quietly regarded the twisted remains of the trees, the broken roots and the damaged earth. The tall Elf struck the staff deep into the soil and the earth opened. It began pulling her stepbrother downward, like quicksand. Terithen shrank, his body folding into the earth, and vanished.

The pack shifted back to Skin form, as did Aiden and Ryder. Both alphas were bruised and bleeding, but their wounds had begun to heal.

Sam rushed over to Darius and knelt at his side. Darius was not healing.

Naked, covered with blood that shone black in the moonlight, he had a weak pulse. His eyes flickered open. A wan smile touched his bloodied mouth as he reached up and caressed her cheek. "Love you," he whispered. "Be happy."

"Please. You can't leave me," she whispered, cradling him in her arms. Sam pressed her lips to his. Once warm and firm and soft, his mouth was cold and nearly lifeless.

Aiden's mouth worked violently as he clasped his friend's hands. "Darius, c'mon, hang in there, buddy. I need you."

Ryder dropped to the other side of Darius and looked at Sam. "His wounds are too grievous." The alpha looked at her solemnly. "I'm an alpha, but even my powers can't help him because of the wolfsbane. None of us can."

But I can. Sam began to sing and felt power seep into her hands, soar into her body. She placed her hands on her mate and watched the blue light flicker along his body, healing the torn flesh. A lump clogged her throat as he did not respond.

"The internal injuries are too much," Aiden said thickly, his eyes growing moist. "He's dying."

Sam glanced at the tall Elf staring down at the blackened earth that held the remains of Terithen. "I need your help! Please, help me heal him."

But the Elf did not turn. He raised the staff over his head and chanted. A great rustling and rumbling sounded in the forest. A cloud of mist suddenly appeared in the glade, and then exploded into droplets.

The mist faded and Sienna stood in the clearing, clad in a green, long-sleeved tunic and black leather trousers. A sword was strapped to her belt. She looked more beautiful than ever, her long blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. Her ears were slightly pointed, and her deep green eyes were filled with sympathy and compassion.

"I am sorry I am late. I would have arrived sooner, had I known Terithen had found you."

"Darius needs help. I can't heal him." A teardrop fell from her cheek, splashed onto Darius' bloodied face.

"You cannot do it alone. You need me. I have the power to heal and destroy." Sienna's expression softened and she glanced at the tall Elf, still staring in morose grief at the darkened ground. "To heal Darius, I must give my true name. It is forbidden to do this among others."

Sam's hope faded.

Then Sienna shrugged and she gave a small smile. "But I've never been known to follow the rules." She looked at Sam and placed her hand over her heart. "I am Ninianne."

Kneeling beside him, Sienna/Ninianne placed her hands on Darius' pale forehead. "Put your hands over his heart and sing with me."

"What do I sing?"

"It will come to you."

And then Sam heard the same harmonious music she'd heard in the glade before Terithen had destroyed the Sprites. Air stirred in a gentle breeze.

Sam looked up.

Dozens of Sprites and Fairies hovered in the air, their song sweet and pure. The music echoed through the glade. Sam looked at Ninianne. "You called them?"

She nodded.

"You did this for Darius?"

"For you." The Elf's expression softened. "You are my sister, not of blood, but of spirit. I came to Comairise Energy because I was ordered to watch over you and protect you. It was an assignment I was happy to fulfill."

A bluish-white glow surrounded Ninianne. When Ninianne touched her wrist, Sam felt a powerful surge of love and light. Renewed by magick, Sam sang with Ninianne and poured all her energy into Darius. His body began to glow with the same brilliant light. Then the Elf stopped singing, the light fading from her features as she sank back to her haunches, her head drooping.

Sam cupped Darius' face. "Please wake. Please."

And then the glow faded from his body. He opened his eyes and saw her.

"Hey, beautiful," he whispered.

"You left me again," she told him. Another tear splashed onto his cheek.

Moonlight glinted his hair, and made his blue eyes luminous. "Just for a minute. It was beautiful on the other side, peaceful and pure. But I came back because of you. I want to be with you for the rest of my life, and the rest of my life starts now."

She helped him sit and hugged him, hard. Darius tenderly touched her cheek. "I love you, Sam. I've always loved you and always will, in this life and the next."

"I love you, too. No matter what happens to us, Darius, I'll always love you.

He waved a hand, clothed himself by magick, and she helped him to stand.

Ninianne stood as well and glanced at the tall Elf. "I think it is time for you to meet your true father, Samantha."

Her pulse skittered, and she gripped Darius' hand. "My father is dead." But she knew in her heart it was not true.

The tall Elf turned. His features were craggy and sharp. And familiar. Shock pummeled Sam.

"Cornelius?" Sam stepped back, utterly confused.

The silver-haired man stepped forward and embraced her, and she felt pure love radiating from him. "Caewellen. My beloved daughter."

He stepped back, his expression solemn. "I was Cornelius. But he vanished from the Skin world, for it was time for me to return to ruling the Fae."

And then his features shimmered and sharpened and his ears became pointed once more, his eyes no longer dark brown but violet, like hers. "I am Cael Eledhwen. Rightful King and ruler of the Fae of the Northern Light." Cael/Cornelius smiled gently at her. "You are my beloved daughter, born of my great love for your Lupine mother, Ellen. She chose the name for you. In Elven, it means most joyous daughter born of love, for you were conceived in love and your birth gave us both great joy."

"You and my mother were lovers?" Sam felt more confused than ever. Darius clasped her hand.

Grief shadowed Cael's face. "Your mother and I fell in love when she came to work for me in my corporation. I formed many Skin companies to promote clean energy to renew the earth. But she left to return to the Lupine world." He glanced at Darius. "To your father's pack, where she would feel safe."

"Because both she and Marcia had been poisoned by wolfsbane." Darius rubbed his cheek against Sam's hair. "I felt the effects and guessed as much. It weakens a Lupine's heart and lungs and enough can eventually kill."

Sam's stomach knotted. Darius held her hand, thumbing the back, his touch soothing and centering her.

"A small amount causes enough damage so the Lupine cannot heal himself. I thought your mother wished to return to the Lupine life." Cael drew his dark brows together. "I did not realize my own son had poisoned the ham I had sent to your house as a treat for Christmas. You refused to eat the ham, so you were safe, Samantha. Ellen and Marcia fell ill and your mother did not have enough faith in me to tell me of my son's treachery. She mistakenly thought I was loyal more to my blood than her. I only recently discovered Terithen's plans to murder you, and the truth of what he had done to Ellen."

Cael glanced at the dark patch of ground where Terithen had vanished. "Terithen was my rightful son and heir. He grew jealous over my love affair with your mother, and resentful I had bred a daughter of mixed blood. When he learned you were to inherit part of my fortune, his rage turned him toward darkness. All Fae ride the edge between darkness and light. When we allow our negative emotions to best us, we can become evil."

"James came to Comairise Energy not to work, but to kill me." Sam grew cold all over.

"Comairise Energy is a company I formed. In Elven it means "Reclaiming our world." I had HG watch over you, but suspected he was growing corrupt so I sent Terithen to investigate. He also volunteered to check on you and ensure you were all right."

She shook her head. All this time she'd been so proud of her independence and forging a new career for herself, and her own father had been steering her career from the sidelines. "It was a ruse," she whispered. "You manipulated my career all along?"