"In a manner of speaking," I say. "But I'll need to explain a few things." Like… how I signed a demon contract and live with vampires and am half Fae and have to pick one of the princes to marry… and how they are now in danger from a vampire prince because of me. Yes, there will be a lot of explaining to do.

"In the meantime, let us get to the crux of the matter, shall we?" Sly asks, looking at each of us. "As much as I adore your visits, you are making the other guests nervous."

Fen stands and pours himself a drink. "Are you kicking us out, Sly?"

Sly holds a hand to his chest in mock shock. "I would never dream of it, but we must discuss how to fix your situation at home. Sooner rather than later."

I remember my fight with Oren. How I wasn’t fully myself. Somehow, my powers had taken over, and I had defeated an ancient Druid. "If I get more training, if I learn to control the powers within me, that could give us an advantage in a fight against Levi," I say.

Fen frowns at me. "This isn't your fight."

"Are you serious right now?" I ask him. "Of course it's my fight. It might be more my fight than anyone else's, all things considered. I may not have asked for it, or known what I was getting into when I signed that contract, but the fact is, my blood woke up powers in your world that are leading to a war, and I can help."

"She's not wrong, brother," Dean says. "We need her."

Sly stands and walks to the door. "You do need her, that is true. And I have someone else you'll need." He opens the door to a familiar face.

I jump up and run to the man standing there and throw my arms around him. "Varis, what are you doing here?"

The Druid pats my back awkwardly and then lets me go. He whispers into my ear. "I had to flee Avakiri after taking a stand against Oren." Then he speaks louder to the rest of the room. "Most of the free Fae have rallied behind Metsi. I am no longer welcome amongst my kind."

Dean stands and reaches for a sword that's not there. "You're not welcome amongst our kind either."

"Stop it," I tell him, and I glare at Fen before he can argue. "Varis is my friend. He's the Air Druid. He was kind to me, and he helped us in the last battle. We need him." I turn back to Varis, and Baron approaches the Druid and pushes his head against him. Wow. Didn’t expect that to happen. By the look on everyone’s faces, they didn’t either.

Varis pets the wolf gently as Fen watches with a frown.

"Are you all right?" I ask the Duird. "Have you healed?"

He smiles. "Yes. I'm well." He glances over at Fen and then back at me. "I see things have changed since I last saw you."

"Yes, it appears they have. Varis, this is Fen, Prince of War… and the Earth Druid, as it happens." I reach for Fen's hand and pull him over. "Fen, this is my teacher, Varis."

Dean frowns and stands as if ready to break into fight at any moment. "I know who Varis is. He's one of them. He fought us once upon a time."

Varis sighs. "I didn't fight against you. I just… "

"Guys, it doesn't matter," I say. "You all live too long to hold grudges like this. If you hate everyone who's ever been on the wrong side of a disagreement with you, you'll have no friends or allies ever. Varis is one of the good ones. I vouch for him."

Sly puts out his cigar and downs the last of his drink. "Varis can complete your training. You can defeat Levi. And you can all get the hell out of my hair and get back to your own worlds. It's a win/win for everyone."

"There's one problem," Varis says.

"Just one?" Fen asks with a raised eyebrow.

"We can't train here," Varis continues, ignoring the irritated man at my side.

Sly frowns. "Of course you can. I can keep you safe long enough to get our girl here up to snuff."

Varis shakes his head. "This world is too removed from the source of her powers, from where the Midnight Star first originated. Even Yami isn't strong enough to manifest here yet. We must return to…"

He pauses and I realize he can't talk about Avakiri here. Dean and Fen don't know about it, though at minimum I need to bring Fen up to speed. He is Fae after all.

"Return where?" Dean asks.

"To our world," Varis says, evasively. "To complete the training."

"We are wanted on our world. It's not safe," Fen says.

"There is a place that could be safe for her. A place she can train," Varis says.

Dean claps his hands. "Great, when do we leave?"

"The invitation wasn't for you," Varis says. "Just Ari."

Dean shakes his head. "No can do. She's mine for the month. Bound by a blood oath. No breaking it, isn't that right, Princess?"

I look at Varis, frowning. "I'm afraid he's telling the truth. I have to stay with Dean."

Fen crosses his arms over his chest. "And she's not going anywhere without me."

"That won't work," Varis says. "I can't possibly bring two princes of hell to… this place. It would be instant war."

"Then we stay here," Fen says.

"We could go to my realm," Dean offers.

Fen turns to his brother. "Where Ari and I will be hanged upon return?"

"No one knows I helped you escape, and they will hardly suspect me at any rate," Dean says. "You'd be safe in my realm, at least long enough for Ari to train."