"Oh, hades." Crimson jumped up from the chair as he spoke a few words and then raced to the front door.

He bowed at the waist, his hand sweeping out in front of him in a welcoming gesture. "Many apologies, Lafawnya. Please, do come in."

A short, round woman, with a pile of white-blonde curls on top of her head, harrumphed and stormed into the house. Two young girls who looked to be teenagers followed closely behind, carrying bolts of fabric and baskets of supplies.

Lafawnya glared up at Crimson with her hands on her hips. "You're just lucky that you're a distant cousin and I owe your father a debt after he stopped my parents from forcing me to mate a male I didn't love."

She turned her attention to Lindy and narrowed her eyes. "You. Go to the bedroom and strip. I'll be there in a moment." Jerking her hands at the two girls, she said, "Go with her and get things set up. I'll be joining you in five minutes."

The girls squeaked in alarm and moved to Lindy. "Quick, miss, we need to hurry! The madam doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Lindy looked at Crimson, who was smiling wryly. "Sorry, ch.e.l.le. She's the best in the realm."

"Best what?" Lindy asked as the girls hurried her down the hallway.

"Dressmaker," one of the girls whispered.

Lindy led them into the room. The girls whipped around her like tiny brunette tornadoes, laying out the supplies they had carried in. One of them said, "Miss, please! She'll toss us out if you aren't undressed when she gets back here."

"Toss you out? Of the house?" She began to undo her top.

"No, we're apprentices. Madam is the best dressmaker in all the realm. Her family has been making gowns for the royal family and other high-born fae for generations. It's an honor to be chosen as an apprentice, but if she's displeased, she'll toss us out on our ears, and we'll never become dressmakers."

Lindy stripped and folded her clothes on the dresser. She was used to nudity because of the full moon shifts and had no problem being naked around others. Lafawnya stormed into the room and looked at Lindy, who was picking at her fingernails and watching the girls spread fabric out on the bed.

"You, girl. Stand here," Lafawnya said, pointing to a spot in front of her.

Lindy put her hand on her chest. "Me?"

"Anyone else naked and waiting for a dress? Yes, you. Don't dawdle, my time is very precious."

Lindy snorted to herself but moved to the spot. "My name is Lindy."

"What's your real name?" Lafawnya's eyes narrowed.

"Melinda."

Nodding, she grabbed Lindy's wrists and straightened her arms out to the side. One of the girls handed her a measuring tape. "That's a much prettier name."

Lafawnya spoke softly and the tape measure floated from her hand and moved through the air, lengthening along Lindy's arm. Lindy's eyes widened. "What the h.e.l.l?"

One of the teens whispered, "It's a bespelled measuring tool. All of Madam's tools are magic."

Lafawnya called out measurements and one of the girls wrote them down in a small notebook. The tape measure floated back into her hand, and she closed her fingers around it. Leaning forward, she said, "Bend down so I can see your eyes."

She did as instructed, and the fae dressmaker peered into her eyes. She leaned back and Lindy straightened, and Lafawnya's eyes roved up and down Lindy's body for a long moment, and then she said, "Bring me the talanic fabric."

The teens both inhaled sharply, and Lindy looked over her shoulder at them. They seemed surprised.

Lafawnya said, "Your mate is going to vow himself to you in the old ways, Melinda. Did he explain it to you?"

"Not really."

"I'll leave it to him, then, but know that what he's going to do for you at sunset tomorrow is going to change things in this realm, in his life, and yours, forever."

That sounded ominous. "Is it dangerous?"

"Anything worth doing usually is in some way or another."

"I respect traditions, Lafawnya. My people honor our ancestors in many ways, including our mating and joining ceremonies. Crimson wants to do this because it's important to him, and that makes it important to me."

Lafawnya nodded, respect shining in her eyes. The teens brought Lafawnya a bolt of fabric that was pearl white. Lindy didn't think she had the skin tone to pull off a white dress, but she had a feeling if she opened her mouth that Lafawnya would use some kind of magic item to gag her. Crimson wouldn't have sent someone to help her if the woman didn't know what she was doing.

More words that Lindy didn't know were spoken, melodious and soft. The fabric lifted from her hands and began to unwind, draping itself around Lindy. When she saw what looked like two pairs of shears flying toward her, Lindy simply closed her eyes and tried very hard not to move.

For what felt like an eternity, all she could hear was the soft murmuring of the dressmaker and teens, the cutting sounds from the shears, and rustling fabric. She wondered what Lafawnya meant when she'd said that the ceremony would change the realm as well as their own lives. She knew she and Crimson were going to be married by fae standards the following night at sunset. She wished her mother and friends could join her, but the mating ceremony was strictly for the Fae Realm.

"Lovely," Lafawnya said.

Lindy opened her eyes and stared into a full-length mirror the teens were holding. She gasped in surprise. The dress was a gorgeous ball gown, a shade of blue that matched her eyes perfectly. The drape at the back of the dress made it appear as if she had wings folded against her back, and the pinched waist and low-cut bodice made her look like a pinup.

One of the teens handed Lindy a pair of satin sandals that matched the dress perfectly and were studded with what looked like diamonds. "The dress is beautiful, Lafawnya, thank you."

She bowed and then smiled. "It was my pleasure to dress the bride of our glen's only wulfen." She slipped a dark purple ring on Lindy's right index finger. "May you have a sweet life, Melinda, wolf from the Mortal Realm, and find much happiness with your mate."

Lindy thanked the dressmaker and the two teens after they helped her disrobe and hung the dress in the closet. She dressed in her regular clothes and walked them out to the front room, where Crimson said goodbye and held the door open for them.

"How was it, sweetheart?"

"She had scissors that came flying at me!"

He laughed. "Tools of the dressmakers' trade. She used to use brownies, but they don't live on this side of the mountain anymore."

"Brownies?"

"They're about the size of a gnome and have brown skin and hair. They are very helpful and like to make things."

"Why did they move to the other side of the mountain? What's on the other side?"

"The other side of the mountain is very dangerous. The Fae Realm is home not only to fae, but also to other creatures. Strange beasts, fae that have been rejected from our glens because of their criminal behavior, and other undesirable creatures. The closer you get to the top of the mountain, the colder it is. We weren't twenty feet up the face of the mountain, not even one-tenth of the way. The top of the mountain is covered in snow and ice and a layer of thick clouds. The side of the mountain facing our part of the realm is lush and green while the other side is void of anything but stone and dirt. There aren't glens in the traditional sense, but territories protected by the different groups."

"Why would the brownies live there if it's dangerous?"

"Some time ago, brownies decided they didn't want to work in servitude to fae any longer, so they moved to the other side of the mountain. They have magic that can make them and their homes invisible, so they live where they can do their own work and not have others telling them what to do."

"Well, I guess I won't ever meet a brownie, but they sound neat."

He cast the protection spell over the house and closed the door, turning with a low growl and s.n.a.t.c.hing her against him. "You were gone quite a while, ch.e.l.le. I missed you."

She sank against him, reveling in the feel of his lips when he kissed her and the way her body fit his so perfectly.

"Crimson Ta'rek!" A shrill voice screeched from outside their home while Lindy was reading a book about the mating ceremony and Crimson was working in the bedroom on his own outfit. "You slippery wollbeast!"

Lindy stood, setting the book on the low table in front of the couch.

Crimson came out of the bedroom. "Oh, hex."

"Who is that?" Lindy asked as the woman continued to screech Crimson's name and call him creatures that sounded very unpleasant.

"It's Giwyn."

"Ah. The one you found naked on the bed when you got out of the shower?" She smiled at him, and he snapped his teeth at her.

"I didn't ask for her to be there," he said indignantly.

"You sure you're really a wolf? I don't know any unmated males who would turn down p.u.s.s.y like that." She tapped her fingernail to her chin.

"You would have preferred that I ravaged her?" he snarled, and she laughed.

"Of course not, but it's kind of funny."

"It is not."

"Yeah, it is."

He grabbed her by the back of the neck and kissed her hard. "Is. Not."

Still snarling, he stormed through the front room and threw open the door. He appeared utterly calm when he leaned against the doorjamb and said, "You bellowed?"

Lindy moved to stand next to Crimson, and he took her hand and squeezed it. Giwyn was thin and willowy, with flame-red hair that looked anything but natural. She might have been pretty, if her face hadn't been screwed up into a haughty sneer.

"Your mother promised you to me, Crimson Ta'rek," she said angrily. "You kicked me out of your bed, and for what?" She looked at Lindy, and her lip curled up in disgust. "So you could rut like a beast with a commoner from the Mortal Realm? You know our ways, Crimson. She will never be accepted, no matter what ceremony you plan for yourselves, and you'll shame your family name and destroy your mother."

Crimson straightened from his casual stance and angled himself slightly in front of Lindy. "My mother will be fine, but I'll be sure to let her know you care. And as for my bride," his voice began to change from smooth and controlled to rough and deep, "there is nothing common about her or our mating. She's already been accepted by those who matter to me, and since you don't, I suggest you take the short road to Hades and get off my property."

Lifting one hand, he snapped his fingers and flames burst from the ground in front of Giwyn; she shrieked and fell back as a wall of fire built up between her and the house. She screamed in fright as Crimson lifted his hand and the flames grew higher and brighter. Lindy shielded her eyes from the intensity as Giwyn ran down the path and climbed hurriedly into a white carriage led by an orange horse that dashed away down the street as Crimson let the flames die.

Fanning herself to cool down, Lindy said, "Is she right?"

Crimson snorted. "She's never been right about anything to do with me."

"But your parents? Will our mating cause problems for them?"

"Of course not." He turned and pulled her inside the front room, shutting the door. He sat on the couch and pulled her onto his lap. Cradling her face in his hands, he kissed her sweetly and thoroughly and then said, "The only people who would find fault with our mating are those who don't believe in truemate spells or feel as if mating with those outside our realm is taboo. Those kinds of closed-minded people don't matter to me in the least, or to my father or my friends." He leaned back against the couch and hugged her close. "I don't know what my mother will think. She's probably home now, and I'm rather surprised she hasn't shown up to demand an explanation. One day, ch.e.l.le, she'll realize that I'm happy with you, and she'll want to share in our joy. But if that day never comes, then that's okay, too. Because I wouldn't want my mother's approval if it meant I couldn't have you."

She leaned back far enough to look into his beautiful green eyes. Her heart swelled, and she opened her mouth to tell him that she loved him but decided it was too soon. She would tell him on the night of their mating, when they vowed themselves to each other in the old ways.

"Thank you for standing up for me. For us."

"It's what mates do."

The following morning, Crimson was out of bed and dressed by the time Lindy woke. He brought breakfast to her in bed and said, "I have to go help my father with some preparations for the ceremony tonight. I'll be back before dinner and will bring my parents' servants to help you get ready. My father will come to pick you up and take you to the ceremony."

He kissed her goodbye, and she lazed around in bed for a while before she got up and took care of the dishes. She had the whole day to herself, but nothing to do. She'd read the book on the old ways ceremony several times the day before and had read a volume of history of the Fae Realm as well. Although she had always thought fairies were creatures of peace and harmony, there was as much strife and war in their past as in the Mortal Realm. Wars between glens. Royal families fighting for control. Problems in the court system with bribery and discrimination. The fae version of racism based on powers was still clearly evident today, where those with n.o.ble powers were considered better than those with non-n.o.ble powers.

And then there was Hades Ridge, the mountain range separating the fae glens and what Crimson had said about those not welcome in the glens. According to the history of the realm, there had been wars fought from one side of the mountain to the other, but not in a long time. The military kept the mountain guarded, and those on the other side were content to keep to their own side.

Deciding she didn't want to read anymore, she headed to the bathroom and took a long, relaxing bath. She wanted to do something special with her hair but didn't have her curling iron or hot rollers, and of course, without electricity, there was no place for her to plug things in anyway. Finding a pair of shears in the kitchen drawer, she cut strips of fabric from a cotton tank she had brought with her. Then she separated her hair into sections, twisted them tightly, and coiled them into loops, using the strips of fabric to tie them in place. She was glad that Crimson wasn't home to see her looking so ridiculous.

She wished she had something constructive to do. If she were home, she would have cleaned, invited Faith and McKenna over to chat, or gone for a walk. Crimson's house was spic and span, and aside from making the bed, there was nothing for her to do. Faith and McKenna couldn't come visit because Crimson had to use his fairy ring to go into the Mortal Realm and would have to bring them here, and although he'd promised that if they chose to stay in the Fae Realm permanently she could go to visit her family and friends whenever she wished, she knew life would go on without her in Allen. She and her friends had always planned to raise their kids together.

She wasn't sure she wanted to stay in the Fae Realm. She was crazy about Crimson, and she thought his glen was neat, but she couldn't picture herself being the only real werewolf around. Missing the camaraderie of the pack on the full moon. Hunting in the woods where she'd grown up.

She reached up and touched her hair and knew it was now dry. Banishing the depressing thoughts to the far corner of her mind, she returned to the bathroom and undid the twisted loops of her hair. She and Crimson had three more days in his realm before they returned to the Mortal Realm for a week. She was looking forward to sharing her realm with him. And maybe he'd want to live there permanently. She smiled at her reflection as she ran a wooden comb through each lock of hair, mentally crossing her fingers that he would want to live in her realm.

When she was done with her hair, a ma.s.s of glossy, curly blonde locks adorned her head. She still had some time before his father came to get her.

Today is my wedding day, she thought giddily. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever thought she'd be marrying someone as amazing as Crimson. When she was little, she'd pictured her wedding like some gauzy, princess affair patterned after a fairy tale. As she'd gotten older, the fairy tale had morphed into a reality that hadn't been nearly as sweet. She'd imagined she would marry a human or wolf and the most exciting thing in her life would be the full moon hunts. Everything about her life since she'd met Crimson had been exciting, but more than the excitement that surrounded them was the love and affection she felt for him and that he felt for her. He hadn't told her that he loved her, but she could feel he did and knew he would tell her when the time was right for him. For her, it would be tonight. She would marry him in the traditions of his people and then she would give him her heart completely.

"Miss! Miss!" a voice called from outside of the house. Lindy's sensitive hearing picked it up, and she moved toward the front door as the female voice continued to call for her. "Miss! Please! It's Crimson, he's injured!"

Crimson was injured? Her pulse raced, and fear coursed through her. For a heartbeat, Lindy wondered if she should not open the door, but then she remembered the protection spell and knew no one could get in, even if she opened the door. As long as she stayed inside the house, she was safe from harm. Her heart began to pound as she opened the front door, worry for her mate making her wolf howl.

One of the young girls that had come with Lafawnya was standing just outside the protection spell. "Miss! Please come out. I'll take you to Crimson."

Lindy's hand gripped the door as she stood in the doorway. Something was off about the girl. She was trembling and rubbing her hands together, and her eyes were darting around nervously.

She'd never been told the names of the girls, so she said, "What's going on?"

The girl took in a trembling breath and whispered, "I'm sorry."

Something struck Lindy in the chest, and she gasped as paralysis spread quickly through her upper body. She tried to force her arm to slam the door, but she was frozen. A man stepped from behind a tree and walked quickly to the girl's side and grasped her arm. "Well done."

As tingling heat spread through Lindy and sleepiness overcame her, the girl said, "You said you'd help me if I helped you."

"And I will." With a quick motion, the man stabbed the girl in the neck, and she fell to the ground, clutching at the wound that spurted blood like a macabre fountain.

The man turned his gaze to Lindy, and he lifted his hand. She heard a tearing sound and watched as the protection spell was rent like a piece of fabric. The protection around the house sparked, the tear in the spell widening. Lindy desperately tried to move her body in any way, but the paralysis had taken over completely. All she could really do was breathe and blink her eyes. She couldn't even form words to speak.

The man spoke words she didn't know with a low but powerful voice, and a thin gold line extended from his fingertips, shooting through the air and wrapping around her neck. The golden line, which felt hot and tingled against her skin like electricity, wove down her body. He jerked his hand, and she felt her body being lifted from the ground. The sleepiness intensified as she neared him, and she wanted to bare her fangs at him and growl, free the wolf simmering under her skin, but she could do nothing but glare at him.

He was tall and thin, with long, black hair and a thin goatee. His eyes were a blue so pale that they were almost white, and she felt chilled to the core as she stared into his eyes.

"Why'd you kill Jilla?" Giwyn asked as she strode from the trees surrounding Crimson's home. Somehow, Lindy wasn't surprised to see the haughty fairy was involved in whatever was happening to her.