He understood Rhoswen's fear of too much interaction between their worlds. The human world, except in its more remote corners, had been irrevocably altered with time, fields and deer tracks replaced by concrete and traffic. Even in its most remote corners, concert T-shirts and soda cans showed up. The Fae world drew on Nature and the elements as a vampire nourished himself on blood. It would not be altered by the wrong kind of change; the magic that was its heart could be destroyed by it.

Nevertheless, Rhoswen's realization that there were unacceptable risks in stagnation had made her take a brave step, more indicative of the type of queen Keldwyn's words and Cayden's loyalty had suggested of her from the beginning.

Of course, Jacob expected Rhoswen's response to that would be there was a fine line between a queen's courage and her foolishness. His lips twitched. It was something his own lady might say, in her usual dry tone.

As dawn arrived, Lyssa began to stir. With her vampire blood holding sway, their impending leave-taking seemed to be aligning her to the dusk of their own world. When she was at her peak, she'd sleep lightly, and come out of sleep so alert, it was like she didn't sleep at all. He knew that, not only because he'd seen it before, but because that had been his experience.

Moving to the mirror, he looked at himself, something he'd been unable to do as a vampire. No change of course. Even as a servant, with an average three-hundred-year lifespan, he wouldn't age. When a servant reached the end of his days, the systems started shutting down, like an appliance that had reached the age beyond which it couldn't operate, no matter how shiny it appeared on the outside.

Three hundred years wasn't long enough with her.

No amount of time would be. But if she wanted to turn him in the future, he already knew he wouldn't be will ing to let her risk the loss of her powers again.

Beyond that, just as she'd felt that being more vampire than Fae was her true self, being her servant was his. Of course, he'd as much as said he was that, no matter his form.

Wel , there would be a few centuries to think about that, God will ing.

“I dreamed Kane was crying.”

Moving away from the mirror, he came to her side, slid a hip next to her. Her black hair was soft around her face, her green eyes half open. “If he's crying, then it's because Mason is tel ing him about women.

How fal ing in love with one makes you insane.” Sliding her arms around his neck, she drew him down to her. “I think he's crying because Jessica is tel ing him he will turn into a pigheaded package of inevitable testosterone poisoning.”

“You've never mentioned having a problem with my testosterone, or its packaging.”

Her eyes sparkled as she caressed him through the hose beneath his tunic. “I didn't say it was a problem. Just inevitable.” Then she sighed, and drew him down to lie next to her. When she put her head on his chest, he stroked her hair.

“I see the unicorns are out tonight.” Her lips curved against his skin. “It will be awhile before I'l be able to say something like that again, won't I? Unless I ask a couple of them to come and live with us, gambol about the estate with the dogs. I wonder what Bran would make of them.”

“Are you sorry we're leaving?” He pressed a kiss into her hair.

“Yes and no. I want to go home. I want to be with Kane. But before I can settle into that, there's Council to deal with. That damn letter.” It had been on his mind as well. But when he would have offered comfort, she tilted her head back.

Suddenly, he wasn't seeing the Lyssa who'd first read that letter in their Atlanta kitchen with uncertainty and resigned acceptance. He was looking at the vampire queen he'd met over a year ago, the one to whom he'd pledged his eternal life.

The one who'd fought to get them both back through that desert portal.

“I'm done with running, hiding, prevaricating and diplomacy. Rhoswen can give us our letter to introduce the Fae end of things, but it's time to remind the Council that the privilege of rule can be revoked. Before we left, I said I want something different for Kane. I'm going to make sure he has it.” Reaching up, she drew Jacob's mouth to hers. In the heat of the kiss, which quickly moved from lazy seduction to outright demand, Jacob felt her core deep strength, something that had nothing to do with how much blood she needed or how pale she was.

His lips curved against her, and he surrendered to her passion, even as he made a mental note to send Keldwyn another missive. After all, his job was to anticipate his lady's needs, and he knew of some things that might be useful, given the plans he saw tumbling in her mind.

She'd taken the time she needed and found herself again. Now she was ready to kick some ass.

Rhoswen's scribes had drawn up the communication to Council, as the queen had promised. While she and Lyssa wrangled over the wording and shared tea on a verandah framed with flower blooms and overlooking the practice field, Jacob joined Cayden and his men to pass the time and stay in form.

Though the need for it had rankled him some, they'd slowed their pace enough to give him a good workout. He told himself they moved faster than a vampire, so it would have been necessary regardless. Plus, Cayden was interested in Jacob's hand-to-hand techniques, enough to want to see them at the slower pace so he could adapt them into his men's considerable arsenal.

When he took a sweaty breather, sitting on a bench next to the captain, Jacob heard Rhoswen's voice rise, snapping. A moment later, Lyssa's dark hair was replaced by clear icicles, sparkling in the sun. In retaliation, Lyssa turned Rhoswen's hair into vines of devil's tongue.

“Look at that.” Jacob chuckled. “They real y are acting like sisters.”

Cayden snorted. “When you encounter sisters in this world, they're usual y powerful enchantresses, or witches who share one eye. Always trouble.” Jacob grinned. He'd noticed the guardsman was acting a bit easier, not only with him, but his own men. Since the other guards were involved in a vital discussion of how best to sharpen blades, he quirked his brow at Cayden. “So how does it feel to spank a queen? I'm just asking, because I've never had the pleasure.”

He was ready for the attack, laughing as Cayden surged up and went after him, quick retribution for the impertinence. But Jacob noticed the captain's face was somewhat flushed, and the glint in his eyes might have been rueful amusement.

“I think you're about to suffer the pleasure, former vampire. Only you'l get the flat of my blade.”

“What? I don't get that big, strong manly hand? I'm disappointed.”

Jacob had to move fast to avoid the next swing.

Hopping nimbly over their wooden bench, he shoved it into Cayden's path, then fol owed up with a quick parry to drive the man back. Cayden landed a good whack in his ribs. Jacob took it as his due before they settled into earnest practice again. It made him miss Dev, even as he realized he'd no longer have to hold back when he sparred with the Aussie. They would be equal strength again.

He could hear Dev's retort to that. You just wish you were my equal, bloody Mick. It made him grin anew, and that was good. It helped him stay away from the less positive side of it. Like the more limited lifespan of a servant, his diminished capacity to physical y protect her. It was difficult for a warrior to reconcile the loss of such strength, no matter how short a time he'd had it at his disposal.

But he'd never have to make an annual kil , not for himself. Every vampire had to make at least one human kil a year to maintain strength and mental acuity. It had to be a healthy person, a good person, to ensure the potency and purity of the blood. He'd helped her do hers, the year they'd met, and the experience had torn something deep inside of him.

He was overdue for his own annual kil , something he'd kept putting off, and now he wouldn't have to do it. Could he have done it, year after year? No. And she'd known it. Maybe that was why she'd let him get away with delaying it until it was inevitable.

He was an alpha, a warrior, but he wasn't a predator. Whereas she'd been born one.

Strategical y, he now had Cayden at a disadvantage, pushing him back. Then his lady's voice came into his mind.

Would you like to spank your queen, Jacob?

Does the idea of me being over your knee, my pale bottom smarting from your hand, make you hard?

He missed his opening. Cayden knocked him square on his backside, so that he had to somersault back to avoid being stomped on a fol ow up kick. He made it to his feet, but Cayden stepped back, giving him the signal to desist. Fol owing his gaze, Jacob saw the queens watching them.

Apparently, they'd reached an agreement. The hirsute enchantment had been undone, though Lyssa held one clear icicle, perhaps broken off from her hair.

You did that on purpose, my lady.

I did. Picking on poor Cayden, when he's dealing with all these confusing feelings. I think you retained a vampire's sadistic nature.

Maybe I just picked up bad habits from my Mistress. With a half chuckle, he gave the practice blade back to Cayden and bowed. “You are a credit to your queen, Captain. I look forward to sparring with you another time.”

“Not too soon,” the captain said, his usual stoicism in place.

“The day you didn't kil me, you and I bonded.

You'l miss me.”

“I'l miss not putting my dagger between your ribs when I had a chance.”

Grinning again, Jacob offered him a parting salute. “Take care of your queen, Captain. We'l see you again near Christmas.”

When they took their leave at dawn, they had an unexpected escort. Keldwyn and Catriona were waiting in the courtyard, both mounted on Keldwyn's horse. The dryad was curled sideways before him, her slim feet braced on his opposite thigh, her body braced against his shoulder and chest.

“We wanted to take you safely to the portal,” Catriona said, looking at Jacob. “You tend to get into trouble.”

“I think trouble tends to be attracted to me, not the other way around.” Jacob gave her a smile and helped Lyssa onto her mount, then took his own seat beside her. Since he was no longer vampire, the horses had no problem with him, and apparently his lady had enough Fae blood they didn't detect or overlooked the other.