We told Clara everything, starting from when Jolie was taken all the way until we got back home. Well, we told her the safe version we gave Emily and Bea. Now, she's staring at us through slitted eyes, with disbelief pouring out of her.

I wished for the hundredth time in the last hour that Tate was here. I was so excited to see him, and then we got to the house, and he wasn't home yet; no one was. Hedera went to work with Bea; apparently, they're getting along really well, so that's nice.

Clara huffed loudly, "I can't tell if you think you're funny. Am I supposed to be taking this seriously?"

Jolie sat up, straighter, "I swear it's all true!" She started patting Ash's arm, "Do your thing, tell her."

He looked at her in confusion and turned to Clara, "It is true."

Clara raised an eyebrow at Jo that said, you thought that would convenience me?

"That's not what I meant," she shook her head at Ash, "tell her how she's feeling!"

"Oh!" Ash looked at Clara, "Do you mind?"

"Nope, go right ahead," she leaned back on the couch and crossed her arms.

"You're confused, doubtful, and a little annoyed."

"You're right. He's clearly magic," Clara's voice was full of sarcasm.

Ash looked perplexed, and I couldn't help but laugh. "Don't feel bad; it's not you. It's just that even I knew that's how she's feeling."

It was unusual to see Clara so grumpy, and the whole situation was starting to amuse me. I would never have guessed she'd be the hardest to convenience. Of course, Jo and I were looking at their wings when we found out.

That's what we should have done, to begin with, but Jo was afraid Clara would freak out, and she wanted to explain things first. I was about to suggest it was time to move onto the wing phase of convincing her when we heard the front door open and close quickly.

Tate rushed into the room and paused when he saw me leaning against the wall, "You're early!" He gave me his beautiful real smile; it was free of swagger and pretense and lit his eyes up with joy.

My heart raced as he crossed the room without taking his eyes off me. Before I could say hello, his hand was on the back of my neck, pulling me closer, and his lips were pressed to mine.

Nervousness melted away as we kissed, and my fingers found themselves wrapped in the back of his shirt, holding him against me. He smelled like the woods after a rain, fresh and exhilarating. He was warmth and sunlight, and everything good in the world. I never wanted to let go.

But, I could feel Clara staring at us, so I pulled back with a self-conscious chuckle, "Hi."

He brushed his cheek against mine before straightening up with a grin, whispering, "Hello, my favorite."

"Well, this part was true!" Clara yelled excitedly.

I turned to her, and she was leaning on the arm of the couch, staring at us with a ridiculously huge smile, clapping. Tate laughed and leaned on the wall next to me, taking my hand.

He smiled, "It's nice to see you, Clara."

"This is amazing," she wiggled her finger in our direction, "but the rest is bull. I'm not buying it."

"Ah, so they've told you," Tate nodded. "Why don't we go downstairs, away from windows? I think we have something to show you that could help you believe."

She cocked an eyebrow, "Unless you're about to sprout wings, it's not going to help."

He winked, "Come on, then."

Leading the way to the stairs, he kept my hand in his, and everyone followed behind us. In the basement, he left Clara and me by the couch and crossed the room. I sat, tugging her down next to me, and Jo joined us. Now that they were about to show her, I was a little worried.

Tate took his shirt off, and Ash stood next to him to do the same. They seemed to be trying to give Clara space. That may have been unnecessary; once their shirts were off, some of the annoyance drained from her.

"Hot damn." She leaned toward me to whisper, "If I give up all my dating, do you think I could find one of these too?"

I snickered and shook my head as Tate smirked, and Ash tried to look like he couldn't hear her. Jo grinned, "Careful, their hearing is a lot better than ours."

Clara rolled her eyes, "Sure, magic faerie stuff. Right."

I heard Jolie murmuring to Clara, but I wasn't paying attention to them anymore. I was watching Tate as he closed his eyes and raised his arms in a stretch. He seemed to relax as he lowered them and his scars faded into place. He was breathtaking. His wings lifted behind him as his eyes opened, and he caught me staring.

He gave me a little smile, and for a second, I forgot why we were here. The chattering on the couch stopped suddenly, and the silence drew my attention to the girls. Jo was alternating between checking out her boyfriend and watching Clara for a reaction. Clara was entirely still. I'd never seen her like that; it was bizarre.

Her mouth popped open, and a squeaking sound came out before she shut it again. Her eyes stayed glued to the other end of the room as she looked back and forth between the guys. A few seconds later, another squeak escaped her, and she covered her mouth with her hand.

Tate looked at Ash, "What's happening? Is she in shock? Should someone slap her?"

Ash shook his head with a sigh, "No. Just give her a minute."

Finally, she took a quick breath, squinched her eyes shut, and said, "Is it spinning in here?" Before falling forward with her chest on her knees. She'd passed out.

I caught her shoulder before she could fall to the floor and got up to lay her across the couch. Jo lifted her feet, so she was stretched out and started brushing Clara's hair out of her face. Ash and Tate rushed over to check on her, with Ash asking if she was alright.

Tate said, "I knew someone needed to smack her!"

Jolie huffed angrily at him, "Not sure that would have helped."

Clara was breathing fine and already starting to stir. I chuckled at the wounded look Tate was giving Jo, "Guys, calm down, she's OK."

After a slow, deep breath, Clara's eyes fluttered open, "What the heck?" She looked around, her gaze pausing on the faeries standing behind me before she glared at Jo, "You could have told me they have wings!"

Jolie's eyes widened in shock as she yelled, "We did!"

Clara sat up, looking annoyed, "Yeah, but I didn't think you were serious!"

Jo pushed Clara's legs out of her seat before flopping on the couch in a huff. "You don't listen."

"You were talking nonsense!"

Ash spoke, interrupting whatever Jolie was about to say. "Clara, I'm sorry we startled you."

"Me too," Tate agreed. "Although it's not the first time I've made someone swoon."

He winked at me, and I chuckled. He couldn't miss an opportunity to be cocky, and I loved it.

Clara's face softened as she turned toward Ash and Tate. She took a second to look both of them over again before saying, "Your wings are pretty."

Ash smiled, "Thank you."

With a gasp, Clara looked at Jolie, "Are you going to become a faerie now?"

"What? No! What are you talking about?"

Shrugging, she said, "Bella became a vampire."

Jo scoffed, "This isn't fiction, Clara. No one is changing anything." She looked up at Ash, "Are we?"

He grinned, "No, love. You're already perfect, just like this." He kissed the top of her head.

"Psh, I don't know, she can't fly. That'd be pretty cool."

Tate laughed at Clara's comment. "It took a few minutes, but you're handling this well." He put his arm around me, and I leaned back against his chest.

"I sure am. So, let's go! Are these shoes, OK?"

She held out her platform sandal, and we stared at her foot in confusion. "Go where?" Ash asked.

"Through the mist," she wiggled her fingers in the air and giggled with excitement.

"No!" Jolie yelled and then cleared her throat when she realized it. "I mean, we can't just go. You have to plan, and umm..." she waved her hand at me to finish her thought.

"And, you have to...get permission! From...the Queen." More warning before I had to lie would've been nice. I hoped that made sense. Her dejected expression said it did, and Jo jumped in to help.

"Right! Humans aren't supposed to show up uninvited. It would be rude."

"Really?" Clara looked at Ash sadly.

He gave a wide-eyed slow nod, "Showing up uninvited is impolite."

Before Clara could focus on how unnatural and weird he was, Jolie grabbed her hand to get her attention. "We should plan to go later! A time when we could spend a few days! You'll want to see everything."

"OK! That's a good idea anyway. It'll give me time to work on my clothing options. I'll need something flirty, but safe for flying. I don't want to flash everyone below me, but I need to look good if I'm going to find my own winged hottie."

Tate's chest shook against my back as he laughed, "It sounds like a plan."

Clara started to question Jolie about flying and how the faeries dress, so Ash, Tate, and I backed away to let Jo handle that. Ash and Tate stopped to change their appearance back before putting their shirts on.

Leaning against the wall, Tate wrapped his arms around my waist to pull me back against him again, "Did school let out early today?"

"No," Ash chuckled. "Clara was persistent with her questions. They couldn't take it anymore."

I sighed, "She's relentless when she thinks she's missing something."

"And that's the only reason you left early?"

Tate's voice was tight, and I looked back at him, "Yeah. Why?"

"I was worried there might have been repercussions from my visit this morning." He looked at Ash.

"None to worry about. I would tell you," Ash gave me a nod.

"Thanks, but it's nothing new." I shrugged as Tate's arms tightened protectively around me, making me smile as I rested my head back on his shoulder.

"Did you speak to Fawn?" Ash asked Tate.

"Yes, I went to the library. She doesn't know anything, and she hasn't heard from Dahlia. I told her we moved out to give the girls the house. That we thought it would be easier with Dahlia's animosity toward you."

"That's good. We'll leave it at that and check in periodically." Ash gave us a nod and walked over to sit next to Jolie on the couch.

"I missed you," Tate's rough voice rumbled close to my ear.

"I'm glad you came back, I was bummed when we got here, and the house was empty."

I felt his smile against my cheek. "I couldn't sleep last night. I wanted to talk to you. So after I left you at the school this morning, I went to buy this," he pulled a phone from his pocket.

Ash laughed, and I saw he was looking at us. I wasn't sure what was funny, but I felt Tate's answering shrug, "Maybe they're useful."

"Maybe," Ash agreed with a grin and went back to listening to Jo and Clara.

Tate handed me the phone, "Add your number."

I did, but before I could type my name, he reached around me and entered my favorite. I laughed, and he kissed my cheek. Taking the phone back, I took a selfie of the two of us and sent it to myself.

"Make that the picture I see when the phone lights up."

I smiled and did as he asked.

Footsteps and voices could be heard upstairs, and then Bea yelled, "We're home! Where is everyone?"

"Time to meet Hedera!" Clara jumped up, clapping, and raced for the stairs.

Ash chuckled, "We should probably go help. I think she might overwhelm her."

"Ya think?" Jo laughed as we all trailed behind an excited Clara.

Thank you for reading!!!

What do you think of Clara's reaction? Was it what you expected?