I rub at the tattoo over my heart—a death moth to signify the loss of so much in my life. “Soyam, you deserve love, too.”

“Then we all agree you two should be together?”

My goddess taps her foot, waiting when we don’t immediately respond, and I turn to Zhuliya.

“From the moment I smelled you, I knew you were mine, but the time we’ve spent together since then has deepened my feelings for you. I’ll never find another woman who makes my heart sing the way you do, Zhuliya. Please stay my mate.”

She pulls my face down to peck my lips. “Be gentle with my heart, Ilian Yaniqu. I’m giving it over into your care.”

“Do you know what this means?”

“That I get free tattoos from you whenever I want?”

I snort. “Obviously but no—I’m going to have to move to the Americas and set up a studio there. Inked will be over the moon to hear that I’m setting up headquarters in their country.”

“But what about everything you have in Berdsk?”

“I will give it to Yuri. He is ready. Besides, you have your work back across the ocean—it’s too important to not do—and we don’t know when or if Russia will ever lift their ban on monster-human relationships.”

“Are you sure—”

“Soyam, wherever you go, I go. I have no ties to this land. My family is long gone and my worship of my gods and goddesses travels wherever I do.”

“Ilian knows he can always find me if necessary,” Aisyth adds.

“Home does sound nice…”

There’s a wistful tone to my mate’s voice that tells me I’ve made the right choice. “We’ll get everything sorted, but until then, how about we go to Japan and see your friend?”

She smiles in delight. “I love that idea!”

“Aisyth, do you think you could help?”

The Ithaquan goddess nods but Zhuliya steps forward to tug her arm. “Just give me one second.”

She pulls Aisyth aside, and they speak in hushed tones. The excitement pouring from my mate through our bond worries me.

What is she up to?

But when the two rejoin me, neither says anything. Instead, Zhuliya hugs Aisyth, thanking her profusely.

“Until we meet again, my children.”

With this, she evaporates into ether, leaving us alone.

“Crap. She didn’t say how she was going to help us get to Japan.”

Just then, Dairfyn pops into view, trudging up the hill. “Did someone say, ‘help’?”

Zhuliya groans. “Not another spit bubble.”

The Dagon laughs. “Nah. We’ll use a time warp.”

“A what?”

“A time warp, you know something that allows you to jump from one place to another,” Dairfyn explains to my mate.

“Wouldn’t that be a space warp?”

“Aren’t they both one and the same?”

Zhuliya rubs her temple. “I suppose, but if we pop out at the time of dinosaurs, I’m wrangling a herd of raptors to come and eat you.”

The Dagon winks. “You’ve just got to trust me.”

“I don’t…but I trust Ilian, and he trusts you.”

“And why do you trust Ilian?”

My mate takes a deep breath and looks deep into my gaze. “Because I love him.”

And just like that, everything is right in my world.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Zhuliya

To my relief, Dairfyn’s demon portal doesn’t spit me out at the feet of a Tyrannosaurus Rex but worse.

At Sakura’s feet.

She’s wearing a plain yukata with a red haori over it as well as crimson slippers and a scowl.

“What are you doing back here?”

It takes me a second to realize she’s not talking to me, but rather to the smirking Dagon who doesn’t seem to know their life’s in danger.

“I brought your friend.”

“Zhuliya? Are you alright? What’s happened? How did you get here? Are you acquainted with this—this menace?”

She waves a hand at Dairfyn, and they blow her a kiss. Sakura stomps forward, her cheeks reddening with every step.

Ilian quickly intervenes. “It’s my fault. I introduced her to them after a little mating accident.”

Sakura freezes, leveling her black gaze on me. “You’re mated to this baka?”