“Sometimes, in the interest of alliances, there are sacrifices.” The queen turned to Elder Vlad and lifted her chin. “All of this jockeying for position was done without my express knowledge or consent, therefore I sacrifice the fool from my court. Outright war is costly.”

“Indeed,” Elder Vlad murmured, instantly sending a black lightning bolt toward a stunned Baron Montague to fry his black heart inside his chest cavity. “A new alliance, Your Majesty, requires that both parties put in equal weight. Consider the Vampire Cartel’s portion… several pounds of worthless, resource-squandering flesh. I am glad that we are of the same accord.”

“Good… We will hunt down this disembodied Snow Leopard together then, to clean up this unfortunate mess.” The queen smiled as the Elder Vampire gave her a gentlemanly nod.

No one moved or spoke for several minutes as the new alliance was clearly forged. Sasha looked at Hunter, then Shogun, her gaze finally locking with Sir Rodney’s. This wasn’t over by a long shot. Sasha shivered, feeling the chill in her bones left in the icy queen’s wake.

If anything, the Unseelie forging a power bloc with the Vampires-and both having lost face as well as key men-was going to mean they could all expect revenge to be served ice cold. That fact was as plain as day and written all over Sir Rodney’s worried face.

“I know,” Hunter murmured and squeezed her hand. “I’m bracing for winter.”

Finally, the gavel came out of hiding and timidly tapped on the bench.

“Court adjourned.”

Clarissa sat up with a gasp and began choking. Hospital staff immediately rushed to help Doc begin removing tubes from her throat while the rest of the team held Bradley up as he sobbed into the folds of her sheets.

“The general wants to have a meeting, ASAP,” Doc said with a smile.

“Yeah, I know… This was really, really bad.”

Sasha sprawled out in a chair in the lounge. The whole team was gathered around, except Bradley and Clarissa. Doc had insisted on them running a battery of tests and another series of CAT scans and MRIs before she could go home; Bradley wasn’t leaving her side for a minute.

But at one in the morning, Sasha was so tired that she could barely lift her head and was glad that Hunter’s quiet, solid presence remained just behind her. All the Shadows were in the room; she didn’t even have to open her eyes to feel them.

“But, since you’re still dark,” Doc said with a sigh, throwing up his hands and smiling. “And since tomorrow is your birthday, as well as the Seelie Fae ball… and under diplomatic circumstances, you really are supposed to take a team deep undercover to be sure all threats are secured…”

“Yes!” Winters whispered, and squeezed his eyes shut.

Sasha opened her eyes and glanced around at the expectant faces in the lounge. “Doc,” she said in a quiet, hopeful voice. “Are you serious?”

“What’s the general going to do, fire me?” Her secret father laughed and shook his head. “Then he’d have to hire me back as a supernatural consultant making ten times what I make now for the Feds… And, anyway, the real meeting isn’t until next week.”

Sasha leaned forward and hugged Doc. “What real meeting?”

“The one on Air Force One. Seems our new Commander-in-Chief is thoroughly fascinated by the concept of anything new-and they’ve even got a defibrillator on board for the general.”

EPILOGUE

There had been a solemn memorial to bury the slain Phoenixes and a full Fae wake and service for the soldiers that had fallen, and now the Sidhe was simply taking the wakes to the next level by celebrating the lives of those lost by making the Midsummer Night’s Ball an extension of it all.

This time, her suite was muted shades of forest green… And it had one lovely addition: Hunter. She smiled as he stood in front of the armoire on the opposite side of the room, with only a towel casually slung low around his hips, deciding.

“I’ve never worn a tuxedo in my life.” Hunter peered into it and held out the shirt. “C’mon, Sasha… French cuffs?”

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” she said, going over to the other armoire. “Just close the closet door, think about what you want, say it, and then reopen the door.”

“I cannot get used to a bewitched suite,” he said, dragging his fingers through his damp hair.

“Betcha it has some serious advantages… But get dressed,” she said, laughing as he looked at her over his shoulder. “Later, later; it would be too tacky not to go downstairs for a few hours.”

She turned back to the armoire to extract the little black dress she’d brought, and the only thing that was there was the gorgeous ensemble that had been there before. She let out a short huff of annoyance and then opened the white velvet box. But the note it contained made her smile.

This time I’m not under a dark spell and this gift is not for you, it’s for my friend, Hunter. You will look ravishing and I hope he takes full advantage of you tonight. Enjoy, my darling, and thank you for giving me my castle back and not making me go to war with my ex-wife.

Your friend and comrade in arms,

Sir Rodney.

Please accept my humble gift in the spirit of the Fae alliance.

She now understood why the ice queen had melted, even if for a moment; Sir Rodney was a living doll. She took her fashion loot behind a dressing screen, laughing as she felt her hair twist up into a bun and delicate brushes dust her face. “Oh, Sir Rodney,” she whispered, “you guys sure do bibbidi-bobbidi-boo the best.”

“What’s that, baby?” Hunter said from across the room.

“Nothing,” she called out, laughing. “Have you decided what you’re wearing yet?”

“No… Working on it. I don’t do fancy affairs; you know I’m a beef and beer kind of guy, Sa…” Hunter’s words trailed off as she stepped out from behind the screen. “… sha.”

“You like it?” She turned around and then beamed at him. She couldn’t help it, it was such a contrast with the normal her.

“You look… wow,” he said, at an obvious loss for words. “I’ll put on the tux.”

“You don’t have to.”

“No, seriously. I’ll put on the tux.”

The grand ballroom made her heady as she looked around. Despite the tensions and sad losses in the Seelie Court, people seemed to have come to bury the dead through celebration. Food and drink of all kinds were so plentiful that there was simply too much to choose from. Her guys were having the time of their lives, and it warmed her heart to see Clarissa all dolled up and in Bradley’s arms, dancing a waltz as though a thousand other beings weren’t in the same room with them. Those two had found that magical place all on their own.

Shogun had challenged Hunter to shots, and as she watched, the brothers laughed and talked to each other, while three very beautiful she-Werewolves openly vied for Shogun’s attention.

“May I fill your champagne glass, milady?” Rupert said with a humble smile.

“Thank you so much,” Sasha said, allowing him to pour. “In fact, thank you for everything.”

He bowed. “No, you are our guest of honor, thank you. It is nice to have the castle back and put to right with everybody’s head on straight… Well, except for those who’ve committed treason, but we shan’t discuss such nasty business on gorgeous Midsummer Night.”

She smiled and lifted her glass to him, but his change of focus over her shoulder made her turn.

“Might I redeem my former bad behavior by asking a lady for a dance?” Sir Rodney bowed, but then stepped back a little. “Unless that would be out of line and your life mate would take issue? I would not ever want to jeopardize such a firm alliance, nor make you feel uncomfortable”