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Catalina felt a chill crawl up her spine. "The lower planes?"
Maeve nodded gravely. "We’re not just dealing with restless spirits. If the veil weakens further, we could be looking at an influx of demons or worse."
Silence hung in the room for a moment as the gravity of Maeve’s words sank in. Catalina clenched her fists. She wasn’t just going to sit around while the city she loved fell into chaos.
"I'll go out again tonight," Catalina said, her wings itching to unfurl. "The French Quarter and the Warehouse District have been hot spots for the last few days. I'll do another sweep."
Before anyone could respond, there was a sharp knock at the door, followed by a faint shimmer of magic in the air. Catalina’s heart skipped a beat as she recognized the magic. It was fae.
Maeve crossed the room, her flowing skirts brushing against the floor as she opened the door. A small, glowing orb floated in, its light soft and pulsing. Catalina knew what it was immediately—a message from the Fae Council.
"It’s for you," Maeve said, her eyes locking with Catalina’s.
The orb floated toward Catalina, hovering before her as if waiting for permission. She reached out and touched it lightly. The orb burst into light, its message flooding into her mind. The voice was formal, cold.
"Catalina Duvall, the council requests your presence for a clandestine meeting in the Fae Quarter. This matter is of utmost urgency. You are to come alone."
The light faded, leaving the room dim once more. Catalina blinked, feeling the full weight of the message. The Fae Council had banished her mother for having fallen in love with a human. Maeve had chosen to leave with her sister. At best, the Duvall family and the Fae Council had a wary and fragile alliance and tended to avoid dealing with one another.
"A meeting?" Savannah frowned, clearly suspicious. "Now? With everything going on?"
"They must know something we don’t," Phoenix muttered. "Be careful, Cat. The council doesn’t summon people unless they have a reason."
Catalina nodded. "I’ll go. But I’m not waiting for morning."
"The Fae Quarter is hidden, even from us," Geneva warned. "Make sure you’re ready for whatever they throw at you."
"Always," Catalina said, her voice firm despite the unease creeping into her bones.
Maeve placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Trust your instincts, but be wary, Catalina. The Fae Council plays dangerous games, especially when they call for secrecy."
"I’ll be fine," Catalina reassured them, though her thoughts swirled with uncertainty. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this meeting was just the beginning of something much larger.
With a final nod to her sisters, Catalina stepped outside, her wings unfurling in a burst of violet light. The cool pre-dawn air wrapped around her as she took to the sky, soaring high abovethe Garden District. Below her, New Orleans sprawled out in all its chaotic beauty, a city filled with magic, mystery, and danger.
The French Quarter glittered in the distance, its streets alive with music and laughter, but beneath that vibrant façade, something darker was at work. Catalina's keen eyes scanned the city, every shadow and flicker of light a potential threat. She moved swiftly, her wings cutting through the air as she flew over the rooftops, her senses alert for any sign of trouble.
As she neared the Fae Quarter, the air around her grew heavy with magic. It was a place few knew existed, hidden deep within the heart of New Orleans. Only those with fae blood could find it, and even then, it was a dangerous place to tread.
Catalina landed silently in the shadow of an ancient oak, its roots twisting deep into the earth. The entrance to the Fae Quarter was just ahead, a shimmering veil of magic that rippled like water in the air. She took a deep breath and stepped through, her body tingling as the magic enveloped her.
On the other side, the world was different—brighter, sharper. The buildings here were older, their architecture a blend of fae and human design. The streets were eerily quiet, but Catalina could feel eyes on her from every shadow.
She walked with purpose, her heart pounding in her chest. Whatever the council had to say, she was ready to hear it. The fate of her family, New Orleans, and perhaps even the world hung in the balance.
Chapter
Two
RIKER
Detective Zane Riker squatted down and squinted, his eyes narrowing as he studied the body at his feet. The alley reeked of magic, the scent of ozone and charred earth lingering in the air. The victim, a prominent human politician, lay twisted on the ground, his limbs contorted in ways that defied the laws of nature. His face was frozen in a grotesque expression of terror, his eyes wide open, staring into nothingness.
"Damn it," Riker muttered under his breath, pushing himself up to stand.
He scanned the scene again, trying to make sense of it. Magic—dark magic—had been used here, but its signature was different from what he usually encountered. The way the body had been mangled, twisted by forces unseen, would be hard enough to explain to the higher-ups. Trying to pass this off as an accident, a natural death, or even a gang hit was going to be nearly impossible.
Zane ran a hand through his grizzled salt-and-pepper hair, frustration building. How the hell was he supposed to explain this one to the humans on the force, let alone the entire city?Most of them didn’t even know about the supernatural world, and those that did pretended not to.
