Trinity’s cheeks flamed as she satuncomfortably next to Wrath while he looked over the book thatshe’d written based on the dreams they’d shared.
“Where did this come from?”Gemma asked.
“From Trinity’s world,”Isolde said. “I’m able to access the portal I created to bring herhere, and I went into her world and brought back some books foryou. I’ll also show you the portal so you can see into her world.This book is proof that what she says about her dreams, about herlife before she came here, is true. She and Wrath were destined foreach other, but for some reason they were born in different worlds.Their dreams kept them connected, but it also drove Wrath insane.It made his blood lust worse because he felt drawn to Trinity butdidn’t know where she was or if she was even real.”
Veltris dropped the book to the tablewith a frown. “Are you suggesting he’s not responsible for hisactions?”
Wrath snarled. “She said nothing ofthe sort. And I take full responsibility for what I did and allowedothers to do on my behalf. I might have been going crazy because ofthe blood lust and missing Trinity, but I knew right from wrong andstill chose to go down the dark path.”
Ren snorted. “You expect us to believethat you’re different now?”
Wrath made the motion to stand, butVeltris beat him to it, rising to his feet and backhanding hissecond-in-command. “I don’t give a fuck what you believe, butyou’ll keep your damn opinions to yourself unless I ask for them.I’m the law. I say whether we trust Wrath and the Blood Wolves ornot.”
Gemma’s eyebrows rose, and Trinity mether gaze across the table. The two smiled at each other, andTrinity felt like everything was going to be okay.
Two of the wolves helped Ren up and hegrudgingly apologized to Wrath and his alpha.
“Now,” Veltris said. “Itold you that I’d consider an alliance if Isolde would corroborateyour stories, and I will. So let’s see this portal, witch, and thisother world.”
Isolde nodded and led them away fromher home and deep into her backyard, into a thick growth ofeight-foot-tall trees that reminded Trinity of red maples. Isoldestopped in front of a small garden that had a short white picketfence surrounding it. The garden itself had a bed of sand withcactus and tropical plants in square sections bordered by colorfulrocks. A narrow aisle ran between two of the rows.
Isolde stepped over the fence andmoved to the opposite side next to a tall queen palm in a paintedclay pot. She spoke softly and rapidly in a strange language, andthe air in front of her began to shimmer and fog. The air darkenedand a pinpoint of light appeared in the center of the darkness,lengthening and widening until it was large enough for a person towalk through.
The area fogged again and then clearedsuddenly, and Trinity gasped.
“What is it?” Wrath asked,putting his arm protectively in front of her.
“It’s outside the hotelwhere she and I met. Oh my gosh. Can they see us,Isolde?”
Isolde stepped aside so everyone couldhave a clear look. “No. Like in this world, the portal is onlyaccessible by me, so it’s not visible to anyone on the otherside.”
Trinity’s eyes stung as she looked outthe portal into the busy street. People on cell phones were on thesidewalk. The only green things were the potted plants in front ofthe hotel lobby doors.
“What the hell is thisplace?” Veltris asked.
“It’s Trinity’s world,”Isolde said. She pointed as she spoke. “Those are vehicles. Humansuse them to get to places. And the things the humans are talkinginto are called cell phones. They let them speak to people theycan’t see.”
Gemma moved to cross over the fence,but Veltris grabbed her arm. “It might not be safe.”
“It is, I promise,” Isoldesaid.
Trinity and Wrath moved forward withthe alpha pair, careful not to step on Isolde’s plants. Trinityinhaled, picking up the scents of the city. “Wow, I never thoughtI’d see this place again. Where did you get my books?”
“The hotel has a gift shopand they were selling copies of the authors who were at theconference. I picked up a few of yours.”
Gemma looked at Trinity. “Do I want toread that book?”
She shrugged. “I might haveembellished some things I saw in the dreams, but it’s yourstory.”
“And the sex is pretty damngood,” Isolde said with a chuckle.
“What?” Veltris demanded.“You saw us having sex?”
Trinity put her hands up. “Whoa, whoa.No, I didn’t see anything intimate like you two making love. But mybooks have love scenes in them, so I had to use myimagination.”
“Good,” Gemma said. “Thatwould be weird.”
Trinity thought that wasn’t theweirdest thing, but she didn’t feel it was necessary to point outthat they were standing in front of a portal between twoworlds.
Wrath looked down at Trinity. “Do youmiss it?”
“Some things, but I’drather be missing my car and phone and have you, and that’s thehonest truth.”
Trinity watched the trio stare intoher world, amused by their curious and wary expressions. If Isoldehad opened a portal for Trinity when she’d first woken up inWrath’s arms, she would have stormed right through it. But now thatshe had Wrath in her life and knew it was where she belonged, herold world didn’t do anything for her.
The trio had asked Trinity questionsabout her world, and she answered them as candidly as she could.They turned from the portal, and Isolde closed it.
“You could close itpermanently,” Trinity said. “I don’t want to go back.”
“I thought you might not.It stays open for seven days because the spell has to run itscourse. But I’ll close it on the seventh day. Before you leave, Ihave something for you.”
Trinity nodded. The group returned tothe table under the tree.
“Do you believe me now?”Trinity asked, looking pointedly at Veltris.
He nodded. “It’s the craziest thingI’ve ever
