"Come back, handsome. I can’t let you slip across the veil just yet."

 

Treves searched for the female belonging to the musical voice. “Did you hear that?”

 

“She calls you back.”

 

Treves glanced at his sire. “She?”

 

“The One, my son.”

 

"Your boy called you Trev. It must be short for something. Trevor, perhaps? Hmmmm." The woman laughed, a sound like a waterfall of soft musical notes that stirred something in Treves’ heart. "No. Trevor is too boring. Trevelian? No, no. Much too pretentious." She went silent again and Treves strained to hear more. "I’m almost done mending the mess those dark fairies made of your insides. Come back and tell me your name. Don’t you think I deserve a reward for all my hard work?"

 

Treves blinked, bringing his sire back into focus. “What do you mean by The One?”

 

"This is going to hurt, big guy. I hope you’re as strong as you look."

 

Treves stepped toward the voice, his question forgotten.

 

“The One who holds the key to your happiness, my son. The one who can end the curse if you allow her,” his sire whispered.

Treves jerked, his eyes widening, then a flash of pain consumed him.

 

"All done, handsome. Time to wake up. Come on, love. Open those gorgeous golden eyes."

 

Treves lifted heavy eyelids and met eyes the color of the purest emerald, emphasizing thick lashes and arched brows in the same red as the hair framing her fine-boned face.

     

She smiled. “Welcome back, handsome.”