Being dead wasn't quite what Ashley expected.

There were no clouds, harps, angels, demons, or bottomless pits of flame for one thing.

She couldn't feel her limbs.

It was dark.

But mostly, it was wet. If Ashley had to describe the main unexpected feature of the afterlife, it would be its sogginess.

Perhaps the way you die impacts your afterlife. Like if you drown, you're wet for eternity.

Images of her final moments flashed into her consciousness. A blur of wind and flying feathers and streaks of rainbow blood. The weight of Gerald's arm around her waist, like a medieval seat belt, pulling against her belly to keep her on Louis's back. Louis's screams.

Or maybe they were her screams.

The feathered shaft of the arrow flapped in the turbulence. If she could reach it, perhaps he'd recover. Unicorns heal quickly.

Her arm stretched, stretched, stretched.

She fought Gerald's grip even as he warned her to keep her center of gravity. Then he said some choice words a groom ought never to say in the presence of a lady, let alone a princess.

But she'd failed.

Obviously.

Since she was dead.

And Louis and Gerald. Were they dead as well? Her gut twisted. They couldn't be. Gerald was a powerful pilot. He surely made it. After all, he wasn't here, wherever here was.

But what about Louis? If only she'd removed the arrow so he could heal.

Who had shot it? Would they find the culprit? What would Charming do when he heard of her untimely demise?

There was no one to answer her questions.

You'd think there'd be a better welcoming committee in the afterlife. Someone to come 'round and say, "So happy you've joined us. Head over to central processing to get your harp and robes. Dinner is at six. No cloud-hopping. (Assuming she was in heaven, which she really, really hoped was right.)

But if she was in the other place: "Welcome to damnation. Your personal pit of fire isn't quite ready, but if you'd be so kind as to step into this boiling vat of acid? Don't mind the brimstone. You'll get used to the stench. Clay, goat cheese, and ash buffet served at six daily.

"Do you think she's dead?" said a female voice. It sounded angelic, which was frankly a relief after all the sinning she'd done lately—sneaking around, lying, setting the breakfast room on fire, breaking into the library, not to mention the handcuffs. On the other hand, an angel ought to know that she was dead.

"I don't believe so, Sadira," said another voice, like liquid silver. "Her eyelid twitched. Is that a sign of life in humans?"

Humans? That name. Sadira. It sounded familiar. Like she should know it.

"Sadira, Kai, allow me," said a man. He didn't sound angelic. Definitely devilish.

Someone, with breath like fresh grass, peeled back her eyelid. "Ouch," she said. Everything was blurry, like being underwater.

"See, not dead. Told you."

The image of a man came into focus. He had the greenest irises she'd ever encountered—like two sparkling emeralds—and wore an elegant green velvet coat with matching jodhpurs. His short dark hair had streaks of iridescent green; his face was clean-shaven.

He sat back on his heels, raising a quizzical green brow. He appeared neither angelic nor demonic, but why not be optimistic? Beside him, in a semi-circle, were 5 of the most stunning women she'd ever seen.

Teeth chattering, she cleared her raw throat (it must've been her screaming). "Are you here to tell me where to get my harp and robes? These clothes are kind of wet."

"However, she may have been mentally damaged." He covered her quivering body with his velvet coat. Its warmth and weight calmed her.

"Come on, Derek. She just crashed and is probably disoriented," said the angelic-voiced woman they called Sadira. She wore an orange veil and gown, studded with jewels. An elaborate turquoise and ruby pendant dangled in the middle of her forehead.

Ashley decided to sit. She tried, but every muscle in her body begged to differ with this decision. "Louis and Gerald," she groaned.

"Don't move," breathed a woman with elbow-length black hair, fringe cut straight as a sword's edge across her forehead. She covered her mouth with an arm smudged with several yellow bruises and yawned. "It could make it worse."

"Layyin, come on. She can't live the rest of her days on the lawn. Not everyone is as delicate as you," Derek said.

"Sensitive. Not delicate," Layyin pouted.

Derek rose, grinning. "You bruise if someone breathes on you."

Layyin pursed her heart-shaped lips. "So. It's not like it's a personality flaw."

The arguing made Ashley's head throb even worse. She struggled to sit, then abandoned that idea. "Gerald. Louis. Are they ...?" she rasped.

"Your groom and unicorn?" said the angelic-voiced woman.

"Yes."

"They're both fine, dearest. Because of your quick thinking, your unicorn healed a fraction of a second before it would've crashed. We were told they're both being tended to."

"I need to see them," Ashley said.

"Sadira, she needs to remain still until the damage is assessed."

"Yes, Derek. I know."

Derek. Sadira. Layyin. Kai. These names were significant in some way. "Who are you?" Ashley said. "Are you from the Ever After Paramedic Guild?"

"No, we were told they're on strike, but we've summoned help. We are your guests," Sadira said.

"Didn't you invite us for a sleepover?" said another gorgeous woman. This one with brown, wavy hair so long, it flowed behind her like a bridal veil.

"She did, Tressa," said a very pale woman holding up an invitation in Ashley's handwriting. "I'm Blanche, by the way."

Everything came flooding back. I'm not dead!

She was alive, and so were Gerald and Louis! Thank God!

And all the royal spouses had come!

That was all good news.

The bad news?

All the royal spouses had come.

And rather than welcoming them with pomp and dignity, she was greeting them horizontally, soaking wet, with grass in her hair.

And no preparation whatsoever.

But the worst news?

The last thing Ashley had seen on the ground before crashing was Sadira's army headed up the mountain with a bevy of archers. All the royals would've brought archers to protect them on the long journey.

Which meant, any one of them could be responsible for the shooting.

Ashley couldn't accuse anyone without evidence unless she wanted to start a war. She'd have to tread carefully.

"An honor to meet you, Blanche. And you too, Derek, Sadira, Kai, Tressa, and Layyin. Welcome to Ever After. I never got any replies, so I assumed no one could make it.

"I replied," Kai said, her voice like a silvery fish cutting through the water, which made sense, as Kai was a mermaid.

"I did as well," Blanche trilled.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Loved your pigeon, by the way," Blanche added. "Tried to offer her a job in Gravenstein with twice the birdseed, but she said she was happy in Ever After." Ashley blanched that Blanche had attempted to hire Domino away. Better keep an eye on that one. Perhaps the Princess of Gravenstein had stolen Domino, and that's why she hadn't yet returned. Oh, poor pigeon. Please let her come back soon. She would have to send a search party.

"I apologize for not greeting you more appropriately and vertically. I seem to have had an ... um ... unicorn accident."

Derek smiled. "Really? Because I think this is the most interesting reception I've ever had. Points for originality!"

Ashley laughed, which made her head throb and burn as if she had a swarm of fireflies inside her skull, trying to escape. She finally managed to sit. Her riding habit was covered in mud and unicorn blood, and she had something clutched tightly in her hand. An arrow. She had managed to remove it during the fall.

"Do any of you recognize this arrow?" So much for treading carefully. Indeed, she had unleashed hell.

Derek clapped his hands. "Yep, most original welcome ever."

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