Misprint Chapter for
Special Editions

Unfortunately, my special editions had a misprint in book 2. I accidentally duplicated chapter 15 instead of adding 16. Enjoy it here!

Hours later, we finally have the energy to make the trip to the Everchanging Glades. Everyone at the establishment gives us a kind farewell, and I promise I’ll check in on them soon. I tell Greta to write to me if there’s anything she needs, and she gives me a warm hug, thanking me again. 

“Ready?” Alexei asks, holding his hand out for me. 

I nod, grasping his hand. “And you’ve been there before? We won’t get lost?” I remember him telling me about how most people other than mimics don’t typically go into the Everchanging Glades because of how much the land changes. 

“First off, yes, I’ve been to their capital before. Second, it doesn’t matter if we get lost. We can just teletravel back out if we need to.”

As soon as he says it, it’s so obvious, but it’s something I had been anxious about. 

“Okay. Let’s do it.”

The familiar tingle of us leaving sweeps through me, along with the sensation of being pulled with him. We teletravel to a sprawling city. The capitol building is in the center, with water on all sides, and a gorgeous wooden bridge at the entrance. The building itself is stone and domed, like I was expecting, but it looks much more ancient. There are holes in parts of the structure where nature has carved its way through. There are multiple trees coming out of the top of the dome, and it gives the building a green tint and bathes it in shadow. 

When I look out over the city itself, the best word I can think of to describe it is wild. Most of the structures seem like they’re made from the earth, or that they’re part of it. I’m sure there are a ton that I’m not even seeing because they’re camouflaged with the land. 

Then I see the Mutable Meadows. It’s currently in a valley below the city, and it’s picturesque. The sun is coming up over the land, and there are so many flowers I want to cry. A gentle breeze rolls through, bringing with it the smell of lavender. Birds fly overhead, deer run through the meadow, and fish splash in the river running through it. I wonder how many are actual animals, and how many are mimics in their shifted form. 

Alexei gives me a moment to take it all in. I’m excited to see what the landscape looks like when it changes, and I imagine it has to be fun for the inhabitants to never know what their land is going to look like. 

Finally having looked my fill for now, I turn toward the capitol. I take a deep breath, lift my head high, and start forward. It’s always intimidating meeting one of the grand masters. I just hope this one is more helpful and friendly than Coralia. I guess I was technically introduced to all of the grand masters and mistresses at the ball, but I met so many people that night that I feel like it’s the first time. Not to mention the fact that the events that followed basically overshadowed anything else that happened the entire night. 

We head inside, Alexei a step behind and next to me, like a shadow. We enter the building, and I’m surprised to find there aren’t many people here. Alexei knows where we’re headed, and gives me directions as we go. The structure is even more wild inside. There’s natural light coming in from the holes in the building where nature has grown through, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor space. It’s a strange juxtaposition that I’ve never experienced before. We finally arrive at what Alexei tells me is the grand master’s chamber. He’s housed in this building, and while his private rooms are in the same area, this is where he conducts business with others on a more personal level. 

I lift my hand and knock. Nerves flutter in my belly, but I don’t let it show. Just when I think there’s no one here, the door opens. A man who looks to be in his fifties, but I know has to be much older, is standing on the other side. He has darker skin, almost Middle Eastern. His shaggy jet-black hair is wavy and peppered with specks of gray, which also matches his beard. 

“Can I help you?” His dark brown, almost black eyes narrow on us.

“Are you Joseph?” I ask. Alexei told me about him before we arrived.

“Yes. Who are you?”

“My name is Ember Solis. I’m the king’s daughter.”

“Ahh yes, Your Highness. I recognize you now,” he says reverently, bowing to me. “How can I be of service?”

I like him immediately. He’s very respectful and seems kind. “I’m sorry not to have notified you that we were coming sooner, but we weren’t sure of our timeline. I recently discovered that I have mimic powers, and I was hoping you would be willing to train me.”

I can sense his surprise. “You have mimic powers? How is this possible?”

“It’s a bit of a long story, but my powers awakened recently. Apparently, I have the blood of every species in this realm, and I have no idea how to handle all of them. I’m going around to the best in Queridian and hoping you will all assist me.”

He smiles fully at me. “Well, that is a wonderful gift you’ve been given! I would be honored to help you, Your Highness. Please, come in.”

Alexei and I step into his space. It’s tidier than the rest of the building from what I can see, and it makes sense since this is where he meets with people.

He gestures to the seats by the window. “Take a seat. I’ll have tea brought up.”

He leaves for a moment, and Alexei and I are left alone looking out over the territory. “Well, he seems great,” I tell him.

“He is, as far as I know. I’ve interacted with him a few times, and he’s always been very polite.” 

He returns moments later with a tray of tea for us. I sigh contentedly. I love tea. It always comforts me. When we’re all settled and have had sips of our drinks, Joseph addresses me.

“So, tell me about what exactly you need help with.”

“Well, when my powers awakened, I was able to shift into my owl form, but I haven’t been able to since that night. I’ve also never tried taking on someone’s form before. I did find out yesterday that as far as my powers are concerned, my furthest ancestor is mimic, so I’m thinking that’s why I’ve been struggling with it.”

“That would make sense. You said you have all the powers?”

“I do.”

“So, you have mermaid blood as well?”

I think I know where he’s going with this. “Yes.”

“Are you able to shift into your mermaid form?

“I am. That was actually a surprise, and something that I haven’t struggled with since it happened. I’ve tried applying the same method with my owl form, but I can’t seem to reach her.”

He nods, thinking to himself. “Okay, well, I have some things to finish today, but we can start training tomorrow. You are both welcome to stay in the guest rooms here, and as for today, feel free to explore.”

“We really appreciate that, Grand Master. I look forward to working with you.”

“Please, call me Joseph.”

“Only if you call me Ember.”

He smiles at me, a twinkle in his eye, and I can tell we’re going to have fun working together. “Deal, Ember. Now, let me show you to your rooms.” 

He leads us to a section of the building that’s not too far from his. There are two guest bedrooms right next to each other, and he asks us to join him for dinner in a few hours before leaving us to it. 

We each head to our respective rooms to settle in and clean up. The wildness of the territory is seeping into the dwellings, giving it a natural vibe. The bed is massive and takes up the center of the room with its large wooden and rustic frame. There are furs draped on the bed and flooring, protecting against the cold that I’m sure seeps into the stone building. I go into the bathroom and find that instead of an actual tub, one has been carved into the stone structure, and it reminds me of the cave pools. I feel a little gross after the events of the morning and spending so much time in the brothel that I want to wash off. I get my trunk out of my pocket and enlarge it. I take my robe out and set it on the bed before stripping. The tub fills quickly, and I groan as the hot water releases all of my tension. 

I don’t take as long as I normally would, only because I would like to explore a little bit of the territory before dinner. It’s colder here than the last two territories we visited, so I dress accordingly and wear lots of layers. When I’m finished getting ready, I knock on Alexei’s door.

He soon answers, not wearing a shirt. It’s been some time since I’ve seen him in this state, and my traitorous eyes latch on to his chest and abdomen. Heat builds between my thighs quickly, and I struggle to meet his eyes. 

“Want to go explore before dinner?” I ask, deflecting.

I can hear amusement in his voice. “Sure. Let me just find a shirt.”

I wait in the hall, and by the time he’s ready, I have composed myself. We wander back outside, and I’m not positive, but it appears as if the valley isn’t quite as deep as it was when we arrived. We start walking, and I’m able to see the homes more clearly. They’re built into the side of a hill, not like a hobbit hole, but like an elongated extension. Wood comes down on the outsides, but grass and leaves cover the top of the structures. 

I also see some homes built high up into the trees, like nests. The only way to access them is to fly there, or climb the trees, I would suppose. I’m amazed at how spacious they are, and wonder if it supports them in their animal forms and their “human” forms. 

We see quite a few people as we’re walking, and all of them look very different. Their facial features and skin colors are all over the spectrum, and I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that they can change appearance, or because they all are tied to different animals. 

We head down into the valley, which now I’m positive isn’t as deep as it was earlier, and I delight in the smell of all the lavender. It calms me instantly, and as the sun starts to set, I take a seat right there in the midst of it all and enjoy the moment. 

Alexei joins me, and a moment later, his hand is covering mine. I know I should pull away, but I enjoy the comforting sensation. I’ve been having this problem far too often lately. We sit there in comfortable silence until the sun is fully down, and then finally make our way back to the capitol. 

By the time we return, dinner is almost ready. We sit at the table and chat with Joseph while the wine is poured. The food is brought out minutes later, and I wonder what this territory will have in store for us in terms of cuisine. Meat. Lots of meat. They also bring out some nuts, berries, and cheese, but their specialty is varieties of meat. Thankfully I’m not a vegetarian. 

“So, Joseph, do you mind me asking what your shifted form is?” I ask. I’ve been so curious, and unsure whether it’s rude or not to ask. 

“Not at all. It’s a wolf.”

I could see that from his personality. He’s got that lovable way about him, but also a rough edge that I wouldn’t want to fuck with. “Do you have a pack?”

“I pretty much view the territory as my pack. I protect them, keep them in line, and can count on them for help when I need it.”

“That’s a wonderful way to look at it,” I tell him. From watching the inhabitants and hearing his comments, I can already tell how tight-knit this territory is with each other, and I love that. “I’m sure they love having you as their fearless leader.”

He squirms, seeming uncomfortable with the admiration, and it’s adorable. “Well, I don’t know about that, but thank you for the compliment, Ember.”

Soon after, we turn in for the night, and I’m looking forward to getting a solid night of rest. Today was so hectic with all the traveling, and the revelations in Sapien City, that hopefully I’ll sleep like a rock. 

I’m grateful to discover that there’s a roaring fire going in my quarters when I enter, and I can’t help but think how cozy this room is. I change and snuggle into the covers, delighting in the warmth that seeps into my exhausted body. I’m out within minutes.

Nerves flutter in my stomach the next day. I always get nervous when training for something new, but today seems worse, and I think it’s because I haven’t been able to shift into my owl since my powers awakened. I already know I’m going to struggle with this power, and I hate not being good at something, especially in front of people I don’t know. Or anyone for that matter. 

I get ready, attempting to distract my brain and just get going. I dress in my normal training clothes, not needing anything fancy here, for which I’m extremely grateful. I had enough extravagant clothing and posturing in Mermacovia to last me a lifetime. 

I meet Joseph in his rooms, figuring this area is big enough for us to practice in, but he looks thoroughly put out by that notion. 

“Mimics shift best outside, surrounded by nature. It’s where we can truly become one with our animal natures.”

We make our way outside, and I’m stunned to see that the valley from the previous day is now a massive hill. I knew the land changed, but seeing it in person is another thing entirely. We walk up the hill until we’re at the very top. The land sprawls out beneath us, and I breathe in the wild magic of this city. 

Joseph doesn’t waste any time diving into training. “The shift comes from deep inside you. I think of it as a string I can follow. Once I reach the end, I pull on it, and the shift comes about.”

It sounds similar to how I shift into my mermaid form. I think a big difference is that being in the water also helps to pull her closer to the surface. Either way, I close my eyes and try to find where my owl is located. I feel the string that’s connected to my mermaid, but I can’t find the string connected to my owl. I search and search, but she’s just so distant. 

Joseph is patient, letting me try to figure it out on my own. After minutes or maybe hours of me looking inside myself for that elusive owl, to no avail, I open my eyes, dejected. 

“It’s okay, Ember. Sometimes our animals are shy. They’re part of us, but they’re also their own beings. It might take a while to acquaint yourself with her, just like it would with a wild animal.”

“Can I see you shift? Maybe that will help me see what I need to do.”

One minute I’m looking at a man, and the next, a wolf the size of a lion. He’s jet black with little bits of gray, just like how his human hair looks. I hold up a hand and reach out tentatively, having the urge to pet him. I hold my hand out though, giving him the opportunity to accept or deny it. He eyes my hand with amusement, but indulges me, pressing his head into my hand. I marvel at his fur, wiry, but soft at the same time. 

Another moment passes, and he backs up, shifting back into a man. I’m grateful that his clothes are still intact, and that he didn’t need to be naked in front of me. 

“Your form is massive. Are all the wolves that big?”

“The more powerful the wolf is, the larger they will be. It’s not true for all of the animals though, more so the predators.”

He continues coaching me through what he can, but it’s difficult since I can’t access my owl. I try the whole time to locate her, being as gentle as I can. It seems like she pokes her head out at me for the briefest of moments, but then she’s gone again before I can do anything about it.

We continue our training for several more days, Joseph always finding us a place high up to “train,” even though nothing much is happening. If nothing else, it has been a good opportunity for us to get to know each other.

A few days into training, my owl makes herself known to me. I’m still not able to access her form, but she shows me where she’s hiding in my body. I can just barely detect the string connected to her when it manifests, although I’m not able to pull on it quite yet. It’s much too fragile for that.

After a week of being there and still not being able to shift, I’m ready to scream in frustration. Joseph tells me he has an idea. We make our way to the top of the capitol building. 

“Do you trust me?” he asks.

I want to tell him yes, but the fact that he’s asking makes me nervous. “I do, even though I feel like I should tell you I don’t.”

He chuckles, and in the next moment, he shoves me off the top of the building. A scream rips from my throat, but before I can curse him, however, the string connecting me to my owl flares brightly, solidifying fully. I yank hard on the string, and wings burst from my back, and I shrink in size. I shriek in joy, making a few laps around the building. Now that I’ve found her and have made our connection tangible, I don’t feel so separate from her. She feels more like an extension of myself, just with more animalistic instincts as opposed to before when she was hiding from me. I soar high before landing gingerly on Joseph’s shoulder. 

“Well done, Ember! I knew that would work. I would’ve tried it sooner, but wanted to make sure you had established a good connection with your owl before doing so, just in case.”

I nip his ear in anger. Even though it worked, I’m pretty pissed at him for that nasty trick. 

He chuckles, and I realize he’s got to be pretty good at nonverbal communication. “I know you’re mad at me, and that’s fine. For now, you’ve earned a break. Why don’t you take a flight around the territory, and the rest of the afternoon off. We’ll start back up tomorrow. Now that you’ve accomplished shifting into your animal form, we can start working on shifting into other people.”

I hoot happily, and take off back into the sky. I circle around the city, delighting in the sight of it from this angle. At one point I come across a group of birds all flying together in the sky, and by the mix of the types, I know it’s a flock of mimics. I join them, and they all welcome me into the group. I hoot happily, following them as they make their way around the area. It’s marvelous seeing more of the territory but not having to worry about getting lost. 

A dove flies next to me for most of the flight, and I’m not sure how, but I’m positive she’s a female. She coos softly at me, gesturing with her head for me to follow her. Did I make a friend? 

We split off from the flock and land gently on a hillside. She shifts and I do the same. The woman next to me is breathtaking. She looks to be about my age but has gray hair just like her bird form. Her eyes are the same shade, but there’s a warmth in them. 

“Hello, Your Highness. My name is Frida. I heard you arrived in town and I’ve been dying to meet you.”

I smile at her, and we sit down to chat and get to know each other. It’s wonderful meeting another female, and my neglected awkward teenage self rejoices that I’m making more girlfriends. 

We make plans to meet up again while we’re still here, and then take off to continue our flight. This time, the transition from woman to bird is seamless. I marvel at the simplicity of it.

After an hour or so of flying, we’re once again in the Mutable Meadows. I spy Alexei down below, combat training by himself, and I dive out of the sky at a breakneck speed. Right before I reach him, I shriek loudly. He looks up in alarm, and I sweep by him, brushing his cheek with my wing. I shift in the next moment, standing across from him as I burst out laughing. 

He narrows his eyes at me. “That was not very nice.”

“But it was priceless. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to startle you before.”

He rolls his eyes at me, a fond smile on his face, before his eyes widen in surprise as if he just realized something. “You were finally able to shift?”

“Yes! Joseph had to push me off the capitol in order to make it happen, but it worked.”

“He did what?”

“Oh, calm down. I’m fine. He knew what he was doing. Besides, if I needed to I could’ve just teletraveled if I wasn’t able to shift. Or used my air magic to slow my landing. I was perfectly safe.” I realized that while I was flying around, and it made me slightly less upset with Joseph. 

“I guess you’re right. It still could’ve ended badly though.”

“But it didn’t. Everything is fine. But, on the plus side, I have the afternoon off.”

“Want to train with me?” he asks, gesturing to the weapons. 

“For a little bit, but then I would like to go down and see the coast. It’s been too long since I’ve had a swim, and I want to see the ocean here.”

His eyes light up at the idea of doing something new. We train for a little bit, and I relish the feel of my muscles burning with the familiarity. It’s a good reminder that I need to keep up with what I’ve learned so that I don’t get rusty. 

When we finish, I debate about going back to my room to change and shower, but figure that since I’m about to go for a swim, it doesn’t matter much. Alexei and I sheath our weapons, him with a sword on his back, me with my daggers, and grasp hands. 

“Do you know where we’re going?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “I’ve never been to the coast here, but I’ve seen pictures. It’ll have to do for now.”

I smile at the challenge in his eyes. He likes not knowing exactly. “Let’s go, then.”  

He pulls me along, and in the next moment, we’re on a huge coastline, right on the beach. Instead of the white sand in Mermacovia, this area is a black sand beach, and I wonder if even the color of the sand can change here. When I ask Alexei about it, he says he picked this beach in particular because it’s the defining characteristic of this area. It’s how we didn’t get lost. Apparently, this area of the territory is directly south of the Mutable Meadows. 

It’s quite a bit warmer here, which I’m grateful for since we’re going for a swim. Before Alexei can say anything else, I start stripping my clothes off. He stares at me for a few moments, and I tease him about it.

“Are you just going to watch? Or are you planning on joining me?”

He smirks at me, removing his sword before taking off his shirt in that manly way, reaching behind and pulling it off from his back. My own eyes take him in, and at the moment I have a hard time remembering why I shouldn’t be with him. When we’re both fully naked, and doing nothing except staring at each other, I finally break eye contact and run into the water. He’s right behind me, and I push harder. 

I dive in, and once I’m fully submerged, I shift. My mermaid rejoices in being set free again. It’s been too long since I’ve gone for a swim, and the salt water feels fantastic. I look behind me to see Alexei staring at me like I’m an angel that’s fallen from heaven. I wave one of my tentacles at him, and it seems to break the spell a little bit. 

He swims up to me and holds his hand out, reaching for my tentacle. I realize then that he’s never touched me in this form before. I nod at him in permission, and in the next moment his hand is gliding up it. I revel in the sensation of having my mate touch something so sensitive. Before I can hope he does more, he stops and swims to the surface. I follow him.

“Sorry. I forgot you can’t breathe underwater like I can,” I tell him.

“It’s okay. I wish I could. It would be nice to explore with you.” His words give me an idea, but it would be too intimate, so I don’t say anything. “Your tentacles are beautiful,” he tells me, making me blush a bit.

“I don’t think they’re pretty. I think normal mermaid tails are much more pleasant to look at. These are practical, but I wouldn’t call them beautiful by any means.”

“I disagree. They’re slender and sleek, and the colors are magnificent. Not to mention that the way you move with them is mesmerizing.”

“Well, thank you.”

We keep swimming around, and I let my water nature take over, releasing my speed and propelling out of the ocean a few times. It gives me an idea now that I can access my owl. I swim down far so I can build up my speed, swimming faster and faster until I burst out of the water, and then I shift into my mimic form, my wings bursting from my back, and I give an almighty cry. I take a few laps around, enjoying the sea breeze. Then I dive back down to the sea and shift the moment I touch the water again. I burst back out of the water next to Alexei, and see his mouth hanging open as he stares at me.

“What?”

“I’ve literally never seen anything like that before. That was incredible.”

“I just wanted to see if it could be done. Apparently it can.”

He shakes his head in incredulity. “I think that’s a good note to end this swim on, don’t you?” he asks.

I nod. My mermaid is satisfied. We make our way out of the water, and I quickly dry us with my air magic. As we start dressing, however, my stomach sinks like a rock.

“Alexei, I have a bad feeling.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think something is about to happen.” Goosebumps rise on my skin, and the hair on the back of my neck tingles.

Seconds later, a group bursts through the trees along the beach. There are fifteen of them, all armed and masked. I can’t tell what species they are, but I grab my daggers and stand next to Alexei in solidarity. 

“What do you want?” I shout at them. 

Instead of answering me verbally, they shoot an arrow at me. At the last moment I blast it away with a burst of air magic. 

“Nothing good, then? Wonderful,” I remark sarcastically.

“Remember your training. All of it. Now is the time to put it to use, Ember,” Alexei says seriously next to me. 

I nod and ready myself, not knowing what magic they have, but prepare for anything. They run at us at once and surround us on all sides. Alexei looks at me and gives me a nod before vanishing. I love that he trusts me to take care of myself. 

He reappears behind one of them, swiping his sword through his neck. He’s gone again before anyone knows what happened. I follow his lead, teletraveling behind one and driving my dagger through his throat. Alexei and I take a few down that way before they pick up on what we’re doing. The next time I reappear, they’re ready for me, blocking my attack. I switch it up, blasting them with wind to throw them off as I swing my foot out, taking one down before driving my dagger into their chest. I know later I will probably worry about how I am killing all of these people without a second thought, but for now there’s too much at risk. 

I see Alexei out of the corner of my eye taking multiple down with his earth magic, binding them in vines and choking them out, while engaging another with his sword. I don’t have time to marvel about the fact that his combat skills are phenomenal, because another one takes that moment to rush me, a sword pointed straight at my chest. I dodge the blow while I rip into his mind. His determination and his malice hit me, and I briefly wonder why he hates me so much before I throw fear at him. All the fear I can. 

I see when it hits him, because he shrinks away from me before I scent something acrid. I look to see that he’s pissed his pants. I delight in my power and the fact that I can reduce a man to that without even touching him. I put him out of his misery before he can start begging me. I look around to see only four left, Alexei engaging all of them. 

I’m about to take one of them off his hands when I hear something in back of me. I turn, only to see one of them has snuck up behind me. Before I can engage him, I’m knocked down and he’s plunging his sword toward my heart. I panic as I realize there’s no time to deflect this. Suddenly Alexei is in front of me, and I scream in horror as I watch the blade pierce through his body.