Kirastasia’s skull had been stuffed with clouds and cotton candy, her thoughts fluffy and sugar-colored as she floated dreamily through the forest on paws lighter than air. She couldn’t remember what she’d recently swallowed—but when she fell down from this high, she wouldn’t rest until she’d found it again. The fishnet punkette felt INCREDIBLE. This was the sort of gentle calm she’d been craving all those nights alone, itchy with panic, her empty heart threatening to claw its way out of her ribcage because Kira needed company, companionship, and where was everyone? What had she been doing before this? The names of past lovers and obsessions drifted from her parted lips—Kahlan, Eriel, Rom—but these soon dissolved like mist before her glazed eyes, harmless when she exhaled. The sky above glimmered rose-pink and sleepy lilac. She could see the music the birds sang. Pretty, so pretty . . .

Usually Kira would pay more attention to the scents of others. Her parents had once been infamous in this land; she’d been their priceless pawn, a jewel glittering with the mystique of two ferocious bloodlines. She had not known fear—but the girl had never been stupid. In the past the arctic princess would have paused at the signatures of two males and a female, all strangers, sewn into the air leading to what was once Munashii Gekko. Was it still Munashii Gekko? Things had changed so much in her time away . . . or perhaps that was the hallucinogens chatting in her ear, painting new pictures over recognizable landscapes. “Shall I visit?” A naughty smirk curved the lovely she-wolf’s muzzle and her pace quickened with excitement. She felt starved for company. If these new faces refused to welcome her . . . well then, the free-spirited queen would simply dash off elsewhere.

“Helloooo, darlings!” Kirastasia pranced through the shadow-splashed forest and called out with joyful abandon to the tiny gathering further ahead, her immaculate ivory coat all but glowing when light hit its surface. The smallest gleam of madness lit her maple irises, but that was just the chemicals talking. Smiling bright enough to shame the sun, Kira pranced a wide circle around the trio, out of reach should they lunge to attack but close enough she could peer into their faces to gauge their reactions. “What, is this the whole pack? Who’s the Alpha here? I’m guessing it’s this sweet female—reverse harem, anyone?” Throwing her head back to chortle, the snowbird finally slowed to a stop, tail wagging hard enough to stir the dirt under her rump. “I’m Kirastasia, not that I’m sure any of you lot care. Milo, was it?” She riveted intense amber lanterns upon the little empress, head tilted and teeth bared in a grin that wasn’t a threat display—and yet appeared dangerous all the same. In one fluid motion she’d bowed deeply and rolled onto her spine, vulnerable abdomen and throat exposed and banner continuing to sweep side to side.