Jace pulls the BMW up to a deserted bus station at the edge of town, and he narrows his eyes as he puts the car in park. "You're sure this is it?"

"Yep," I say, looking down at my phone and the instructions I got from the medium yesterday when I spoke with her through text.

"If this isn't some seedy shit, I don't know what is," Jace says.

"At least it isn't in the last stall of a rest stop in the middle of nowhere. That's how Mandis, Grub, and I came in."

Jace wrinkles his nose as we get out of the car, and he unloads our two small suitcases. "Gross. I do not like the sound of that. In fact, that would have been when I bailed on this trip."

"Yeah, you would've had a meltdown for sure," I tease, bumping him with my hip. As I look up at him in the pre-dawn light, his face looks a little pale. "Hey, are you okay? You sure you still want to do this?"

"I'm scared as hell, but I trust you. This will be fine."

The way he speaks is just as much for his reassurance as it is for mine. I can feel the pull of hesitation in every step he takes, and his rigid stance has me questioning if he is remembering to breathe. Going to Infernis is a big deal for a human, and I understand the fear. But once we're in my home realm, he will see that it isn't that different from his.

"Will it help if I explain what's about to happen?"

"Nope," he says quickly. "Let's just do it. I don't want to get even more freaked out by knowing what to expect."

"All right. But I promise, you're going to love it there. I know it. Now come on," I say, holding my hand out to him. "The medium is waiting."

"Wait," he says as we approach the station. "Does this medium need to think we're...together too?" He glances down at our clasped hands.

I nod. "Yeah. All the mediums think as one being. If one of them thinks we're faking it, all of them will. And they would definitely report back to my father."

"Wait, what do you mean, as one being?"

"Think of it like this: the mediums all share one conscience, they share thoughts, function as one. Don't let them fool you; they may look human, but they aren't."

He just shakes his head in awe as we enter the station. An exposed lightbulb hangs in the middle of the ceiling with two steel doors on either side. The hum of electricity comes from behind one, and the other is silent.

I open the door leading into the quiet room. A curvaceous blonde with a low-cut shirt sits behind an oak desk. They smack on a piece of gum and examine their pink nails that look more like talons. "Can we help you?" they ask.

"I need to return to Infernis," I say.

Their big brown eyes framed with false lashes ping-pong between Jace and me. "Papers."

I dig out my identification and hand it to them. They set to work, pulling up my credentials on their computer, their nails clicking on the keyboard.

Jace leans in and drops his voice, saying, "Demons have passports?"

"So do angels. They can't let just anyone pass."

"I never thought of it that way," he murmurs, and I know this is just the beginning of the wonderment he's going to experience over the next two days.

The medium returns my identification card. "It says here that you have clearance to bring one human with you. Is this him?"

"It is."

"You know the rules; he must return to this realm in two days." They turn their attention to Jace. "This is your one and only chance to visit outside your realm while you are alive. Anything you see beyond this point must be presented as a dream or a near death experience when with speaking to other humans."

"Yes, Desi explained everything to me," Jace says.

"All right, if you will follow us this way, we'll open the portal for you."

The medium opens a tall, steel cabinet. At first glance, it appears to be storage for mops and brooms. But when they wave their hand in the doorway, the cleaning supplies vanish. "Enjoy your stay in beautiful Infernis."  

Jace and I look at each other and he sweeps out his arm. "After you," he says. "I insist."

I chew the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing and I step inside the cabinet, holding my hand out to him. "Come on, handsome. It's a tight squeeze in here, but it's a good thing you like me." I give him a wink and reach out, pulling him flush against me in the cabinet. "Hi," I murmur, sliding my arms around his waist.

"Hello," he replies, resting his palm on my lower back.

"No monkey business unless you're a two-pump-chump. It's not a long ride." The medium closes the door.

Everything around us goes pitch black, and my stomach flutters like I'm being dropped. Bright multicolor bursts flash all around us like stars exploding in a night sky.

Jace shields his eyes with his free hand and groans like he too is feeling a bit out of sorts. "What the fuck are those? Stars?"

"The energies of angels and demons. The In Between is their final resting place when they choose to end their time in Infernis or Pax."

He drops his arm and a sound that I can only describe as pure childish wonder escapes his lips. It is a spectacular sight. The energies here are bigger and brighter than the ones in Infernis. They don't lull around like the ones my realm cares for but move at light speed. I can't help but to feel a sense of awe alongside Jace, but the feeling is short lived when the door swings open, revealing a new guide waiting on the other side.

"Welcome home, Your Highness," says a tailed demon in a suit. He smiles, showing his sharp white teeth under their well-trimmed mustache.

I step around Jace and make sure he's still holding onto my hand and lead him forward. Jace looks back with wide eyes. The portal is no longer a battered storage cabinet but a free-standing, arched doorway at the curve of a horseshoe driveway. Unlike the human realm, demons don't need to hide the portals.

Jace squeezes my hand once and releases me just long enough to grab our bags from inside. I take mine, then intertwine our fingers again. My skin tingles at his touch, and it shocks me how much his proximity affects me.

It's about to be a long two days.

I turn to the demon. "Did my father send transportation for us to the palace?"

He nods and gesture to the gilded carriage turning into the driveway. "There it is now."

When the demon takes our bags to load them, Jace releases a long breath while staring straight ahead. The stars shine bright in the sky and the cool breeze rustles the red and orange leaves on the dogwood trees across the street.

"What? Are you okay?" I ask in alarm, my curls whipping around and nearly hitting him in the face.

"Yeah, it's just—" He looks around in awe. "I expected this place to look ridiculously different from home. But it doesn't. It's just...cooler somehow, I don't know," he says.

I laugh as the driver opens the back of the carriage and we step inside. "What, you mean because we are about to take a horse and buggy to the palace instead of a car like normal people? And yes, we do have cars. My father is just extra AF."

"You have cars. That's...unexpected. Is it always night here?"

I laugh. "It's not night. It's fifteen 'til five in the morning. It only took us a few minutes to travel through the portal."

"Oh." He shakes his head and continues to look out the window. "Does your Circle look like this?" he asks, watching the scenery pass by. Antique light posts and storefronts with hand-painted signs line the cobblestone street.

"No. My father has a thing for nineteenth century New York. Each of my brothers have made modifications to their Circle to reflect their personal taste. Some are what humans consider futuristic and others very medieval."

Jace turns to me. "And what will your Circle look like?"

I smile and lean my head back against the seat, not taking my eyes off him. "Honestly, I haven't let myself give it a lot of thought. I want my eternal partner to be able to help me decide so that he's happy too." I bite my lip and ask, "What do you think about a space-themed circle? Or maybe really modern, like...something a graphic designer would envision?" I give him a wink that the carriage driver can't see.

"A Star Wars themed Circle," he says with a chuckle.

"It's possible."

"Crazy." He relaxes in his seat and stares out the window again.

The awe on his face is adorable. It isn't often that a human comes to our realm, and I never thought they would be taken back by its beauty. The human realm is perfect in its imperfection, and I guess I haven't ever truly appreciated what Infernis has to offer.

It isn't long before we're pulling up in front of the palace, and when we climb out of the carriage, Jace's jaw just about hits the ground as he looks up at my childhood home.

"Holy fuck," he mutters, his eyes widening and taking everything in. "This is incredible."

The grin that spreads across my face is wide and proud. I love the royal palace, and truth be told, I'd miss it deeply when the time came to leave for my own Circle. It's massive, with countless bedrooms, bathrooms, four kitchens, three dining halls, more family rooms than necessary, a game room, and more random living spaces than I could count. The outside is constructed with black and gray stone, with turrets and spires, and stained-glass windows depicting dark but oddly beautiful scenes from our history.

"It is, isn't it? Wait until you see the inside." I grab his hand and squeeze. "Come on, handsome. Let's go meet the fam."

"Desi?" He pulls me back. "Am I underdressed? I feel like I need some tights and one of those ruffly dog collar things."

I can't help the snort that escapes me. "Oh my God, no. Trust me, no one wears tights. Much less a Shakespearean shirt." My gaze travels up and down his body, taking in his perfectly tailored black slacks and fitted no-tuck crimson button-down that complements his gray eyes in a way that makes my insides melt. "You're perfect."

"Do I bow when I meet your mom and dad? Should I pledge my allegiance to hell? Will they expect a blood sacrifice at dinner?"

"You're stalling."

"I'm nervous."

I bite my lip to stop from smiling and lean into him. "Have you never met a girl's parents before?"

"No, I have. My ex's mom hated me, and her dad barely acknowledged my existence. It was one of those moments I'll never forget and never want to experience again. Hence the no serious relationship rule."

It's the first glimpse he's given me into any of his past relationships. "I see. Well, clearly, she wasn't the one for you." I stop, realizing what I just implied. Lowering my voice, I continue, "Not saying I am either, just saying—don't compare her asshole family to mine, because mine may be a bunch of literal demons, but they really are awesome. Now come on." I tug him through the doors as the doormen open them, and I whisper, "You don't have to bow; a handshake will do. Don't pledge your allegiance to anything. And the blood sacrifice won't be necessary. Not until the third meal," I say with a playful wink.

We enter the foyer, and Jace cranes his neck back to admire the enormous chandelier dripping with black and clear diamonds. I lead him around the round table holding a silver vase with Easter lilies, my mother's favorite flower. We climb the imperial staircase and weave our way through the south wing halls. Jace slows my pace as he examines every painting hanging on the walls and asks questions about the moments they depict. It isn't until we reach the black double doors with snarling demon heads carved into the wood that his wonder dissipates. 

I lift my fist, wiggle my eyebrows at Jace, and knock. My father's muffled command to enter has me opening the door. The king's study might be the closest depiction to what humans believe our realm is. Father is fascinated with biology, and the skulls of countless creatures act as bookends on the floor to ceiling bookcases. A fire burns in the onyx fireplace and mounted above the mantle is the stuffed head of a vicious demon Father killed after it ate twenty-four demons in Julius's Circle. Behind an ebony desk sits my father in a highbacked chair. He wears his leathers and his crown of bones rests on his shiny head. And laying in the center of his desk like a menacing paperweight is his ax.

Jace pauses, and I pull him forward saying, "Father, it is good to see you."

"Desideria, I'm pleased you are here, and not alone."

I look up at Jace, and it isn't even a stretch to put an adoring expression on my face. "I'm happy to be here too, and I am especially happy to introduce you to Jace Wilder, my boyfriend." I say the words with such confidence, they roll off my tongue so easily, that I all but believe them myself.

"Jace," Father says, extending his hand.

"Mister...Your Majesty...Lord..."

"Chaos. You may call me Chaos."

Jace shakes his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Chaos."

"You as well. I've had your room readied for you, so you can drop your things off and I have a big day planned for us. My wife and I will take you and Desi to visit her Circle today. The boys will be here for dinner with their partners. I'm sure they will get rowdy as they always do. Desi, I was thinking the two of you could spend tomorrow showing Jace your favorite spots in Infernis, and let him get acclimated to the way demons do things."

"That sounds like a plan to me," I say, looking at Jace. "What do you think?"

He nods enthusiastically. "I am ready to see more of this place already. It's so fascinating to see all the diverse architecture; just think of the designing that took place to build everything," he says, his voice taking on a dreamy quality.

I laugh and turn to my father. "Jace is a graphic designer, so he is enthralled with all things art and design related."

My dad raises a dark brow. "Well, he's in for a treat in Infernis, then. Desi, feel free to take Jace up to your room. As I said, it's ready for you."

My stomach flutters at the thought of Jace and I alone in my room. Last I checked, I only had one bed. I push the nerves away.

"All right. Ready, handsome?" I ask Jace, offering him my hand.

"Absolutely. Again, sir, it was great to meet you, and I can't wait to see more of your realm."

My father nods and with his dismissal, we leave his study, and as soon as the doors shut behind us, Jace lets out a huge breath. I grin and turn to him, placing my hands on his biceps, trying not to notice how ripped he is.

"You did so good!" I praise, shaking him gently.

"Thanks. But that was the most terrifying meeting of my life. Did your dad have a huge ax laying on his desk?"

We turn and walk down toward the west wing and I snort, saying, "Yeah, but usually it's strapped to his waist, so..."

Jace curls his lips between his teeth and nods. "The hell equivalent of a dad with a shotgun. This is definitely scarier."

We take the winding hallways and staircases to my room. When we enter, I am greeted by the familiar smell of jasmine and vanilla, and I remember how much I love my own space. My four-post king-sized bed sits in the center of my large room. The deep purple comforter and five fluffy pillows are the perfect pop of color compared to my lace curtains and plush white settee. Embers crackle in the fireplace, setting a soft glow to the ivory flowers etched into the mantle. The room is exactly how I left it, with the addition of fresh baby's breath and lavender orchids in ornate vases, and the bottle of wine and two glasses resting on the table next to the bed. The small romantic touches were no doubt placed in here at my mother's command.

Jace sets our luggage against the wall and runs his palm over the back of his neck. "This should be very interesting."

My face flushes and I busy myself with a loose string on the sleeve of my jacket. "I—I didn't think about the 'only having one bed' thing. I can go see if I can find an empty bedroom to sneak you into, I just worry that someone will notice and think it's strange we aren't in the same place at night," I ramble, my skin getting hotter and hotter the more I talk. I keep thinking about the night we spent on the couch and the position we woke up in...and what Lux had sensed the moment he entered the house. "Or I can sleep on the settee. It's just not the most comfortable thing in the world and definitely not long enough for you."

He shakes his head and releases a puff of breath. Lowering to the mattress, he bounces a couple of times like he's testing it out. "We got this. It's just sleeping. That is unless your father has some high-tech security devices in here that will make sure we consummate the relationship."

"I don't—he wouldn't..."

"It's a joke, Desi. But if you're uncomfortable sharing a bed with me, I can sleep on the floor."

"I'm not uncomfortable," I say quickly. Too quickly. "I mean—I don't mind sleeping with you." Fuck. I bury my face in my palms and sink onto the bed next to him.

He wraps an arm around me and rubs my back. "I can't imagine the stress you're under. Don't let it get to you. You're not in this alone. Granted, my track record for impressing parents is zero to one, but maybe I'll do better this time."

I drop my hands, look over at him, and smile. "You already have. I can tell my dad likes you. I'm not worried about that for one second."

"I don't think that was hard to do. Your dad seemed overjoyed that you brought a real-life human boy with you. I think the only requirement was a pulse."

"Not at all. If my dad thought you were a tool or a douche, he would've given me the look. I've seen it so many times; trust me. As long as my mom likes you, you're in."

"No pressure at all. Is there anything I should do to win her over?"

I think back to when my brothers were wooing their eternal partners and bringing them around to meet our parents for the first time. I know exactly what made my mother fall in love with each and every one of them.

The butterflies I'd been trying to suffocate for days enter my belly when I meet his eyes and say, "Treat me like a goddess you can't get enough of and show how much you adore me. My mother is a sucker for a great love story."

Jace runs his first two fingers over his lips and looks me up and down. "I can handle that."

His hand next to mine on the bed twitches and his pinkie hooks around mine. I lean in closer to him and my other fingers slowly entwine with his. "I have a feeling you'll be really good at this."

"Is that so?" His deep voice rumbles through my chest, sending a heatwave through me. Every inch of me is going up in flames, and the only thing that will soothe the burn is pressing my body to his. I need to know firsthand what the hills and planes of his chest feel like.

"Yeah," I murmur, scooting closer to him and shifting to my knees. He lifts our clasped hands and rests them on my thigh, and I shiver at that tiny bit of contact. "You're already making me believe you want me, and we just got here."

"That's because—"

Three firm knocks come from my door.

Jace and I jump away from each other, and I hurry to my feet, clearing my throat. "What is it?"

"Sorry to bother you, Your Grace, but your parents asked me to inform that they are waiting for you and Mr. Wilder. The carriage will be here shortly to take you on the tour of your Circle."

I let out a breath that I hope doesn't come across as exasperated. "Thank you, tell them we will be there in just a moment."

"Yes, Your Grace."

I turn back to Jace, hoping to somehow pick up where we'd left off, but the spell has been broken. He's already on his feet and standing in front of me. "I'm ready. Let's go, princess," he says, grabbing my hand and practically pulling me out the door.

He stops just short of the threshold and his head whips around. His gray eyes skim my face, and he tilts his held like he'd transfixed with a peculiar find. 

"What's wrong?" I ask, scared he has changed his mind.

"You look different here. Your hair is redder and eyes greener. And I swear your skin is glowing."

I don't even have to look down to know what he's talking about. "Both angels and demons are more...luminous, I guess is the right word, in our home realms." My heart stutters as I continue, "No one has ever had a reason to notice before, though,"

He reaches his hand out like he is approaching a skittish animal and gently runs his knuckles over my cheek. "You're beautiful. I mean, your skin takes well to your natural environment." He moves his hand and looks away with his nose scrunched and gives two short shakes of his head.

I can't help the grin that spreads across my face, and I reach up and close my hand over the one he'd just moved away from my cheek. "That was quite possibly the most adorable compliment I've ever been given."

"Adorable is what I aim for," he says, entwining his fingers with mine and pulling me out of the room.

Jace's enthusiasm for this tour is unmatched, and his grin lights up his entire face as we make our way back outside to the carriage.

My parents wait for us inside, their gazes filled with good-natured accusations. Of course they think we were caught up in some heavy make out session. Little do they know that me and the man I'm pawning off as my potential partner haven't so much as kissed.

"Mother," I say, giving her a warning stare. "This is Jace. Jace, this is my mother, Athena."

Jace holds out his hand and grasps her delicate fingers. "Athena? As in the goddess of war?"

My mother gives a warm chuckle. "Not that Athena, but her story is notorious in our realm and her name a popular one."

"Don't let my bride fool you, Jace," my father says, bringing my mother's knuckles to his lips. "She causes wars in her own way. One being the pounding battle cry of my heart when she steps into a room."

My father's words are cheesy, but the sentiment behind them is pure truth. He is madly in love with my mother, and the affection he showers upon her is the kind of romance I've read in countless books.

"Oh my God," I say, rolling my eyes. "You two are so nauseating. Sorry you had to witness that, Jace."

"It is nice to see two beings so dedicated to each other and in love."

My mother smiles and leans forward to squeeze Jace's knee. "You don't have to look far. The attraction you and my daughter have for one another might rival what me and Chaos share."

My heart stops for a moment and I glance at Jace from the corner of my eye. Thankfully I forgot to warn him about one little thing—my mother's keen ability to sense feelings that you may or may not even know you were having. It's kind of annoying, really, having a mother who can see into your heart in a way that you can't even see yourself.

Jace locks his fingers with mine and gives a bright smile. "I suppose only time will tell."

"Indeed," my mother and father say at the same time.

Jace is oblivious to the wiggled eyebrows and my mother mouthing that he is really handsome. His attention is on the passing scenery and questions directed at my father about his architectural taste. The seeds are planted, and my parents are falling for Jace, and I'm a step closer to buying more time to find an actual partner.

As we stroll through my circle, Jace holds my hand and listens to a detailed explanation about what it will take to run the circle I will inherit. The landscape is simple—grass for as far as I can see with a sprinkling of leafy trees. And energies everywhere. They glow in pinks, blues, greens, and yellows while relaxing under the sun or soaring in the air on swings hanging from branches. The energies don't have human forms but there is a human-like quality to them, a head and limbs but without facial features or hair. They mostly stick together, communicate telepathically and feed off the energy created by our realm.

"I think these guys need a lazy river that runs around this place," Jace says.

Mother stops stroking Father's forearm and spares a glance at Jace. "A lazy river?"

"Yeah. In my realm, they are found at waterparks or resorts. It's a river that runs in a circle, and humans sit in round flotation devices and just float. I think these energies would enjoy it."

"Already making plans," my father says, giving Jace a firm pat on the back. "I like him, Desideria. He is already considering those under your keep." 

I smile and nudge Jace with my elbow. "He's a creative genius, always thinking two steps ahead."

Jace's cheeks turn pink, and he shakes his head. "Not hardly, I'm just a graphic designer."

"Stop it," I chide him, pressing my index finger to his lips, turning toward my parents. "Don't listen to him. He's not just anything. He's so talented—he started his own company from the ground up."

Father stops walking and sets his mouth in a firm line. He looks Jace dead in the eyes and says, "You know, if you ever need help, I can pull some strings...for a small price."

Jace takes a step back. "You don't mean...Desi said you don't do that. I mean, energies and souls..."

My father laughs, and my mother whacks him on the arm. "Chaos, you almost gave the boy a heart attack."

"Come on, Athena. It's all in good fun. You have some preconceived notions you will need to overcome, but I got a feeling you will get there, son."

I stiffen. Did Father just call him son? He didn't warm up to any of my brothers' partners this quickly. Something tells me that he is planning the flower arrangements for our wedding in his head and naming our children. Jace is the kind of person he gets along with; I just didn't expect him to truly get along with him, and so fast.