Page 115 of Enchanting Her Monsters
“But you’re so loving with me. How could they…”
“Most demons aren’t as empathetic as I am. I think the decline in female numbers has made the males even more aggressive. Historically, demons often shared a female mate. But the problem has only gotten worse. And it’s difficult to find a female outside of our realm who can procreate with us. They are valuable, but a commodity, a possession. It’s likely the main reason your mother kept you and herself a secret. If either of you had been discovered, it could have meant you would’ve been taken to the demon realm until you were of age to take mates.”
“Shit on a hellstick,” I mutter, barely able to process what he just said. “So, when you found out about my demon blood, you felt you had to pull back in case they found me because of our mating.”
“I couldn’t be the reason they found you. I’m not…popularin the demon realm,” Maxum admits with a heavy breath. “Most of them would have no problem killing me and taking you. Mate matches are so rare that most demons don’t even believe in them. They wouldn’t respect what we have. They wouldn’t understand, or care, that you’d be devastated by losing your bonded mate matches.”
“Not that it matters what demons might do to you,” a cold, threatening voice of a woman cuts through our conversation and echoes around the large, chilly space. “Your fate is mine to deliver.”
37
IT'S A TRAP!
JADE
Galiana slowly steps into the glow of the demon trap and looks like the villain she is as she glares down her nose at us.
Maxum clasps me to his chest while I sit in his lap. He angles away from the witch, hoping to protect me.
“Relax, demon,” Galiana says with a dismissive tone. “I’m not going to kill her… yet.”
Good to know that it’s still on the table.
“Maybe I don’t have to kill you at all.” She shrugs like it’s no big whoop either way.
“Explain,” I snarl, wishing I could rip her head from her shoulders and dance as her still-pumping arteries rain blood on me like a fountain. Oh my. That was a bit dark. My demon blood might be kicking in.
“If you give me your power willingly. All of it. Then I won’t kill you. And I won’t kill your little harem.”
I roll my eyes because I wasn’t born yesterday.
Maxum captures my chin and speaks directly to me. “Thereisa slim chance your bodymightsurvive without magic. But she won’t spare mercy on our pack.”
“I figured.”
Galiana slowly paces around our demon circle. “Minerva is going to have so much fun during her reunion with the phoenix.”
Maxum and I launch at her in unison, snarling, and we’re blasted backward for our efforts by the trap.
She tsks us as though we are poorly behaved children. “I’ll let you sit with your options for a bit, and if you deny me, I’ll allow Minerva her entertainment. I might join her and rip apart the other males. It’ll be a party.”
My heart pounds so frantically, I expect it to leap out of my chest and die. The thought of these two witches hurting my mates is too much for me. My breaths come in fast and shallow. The room spins.
Maxum gathers me up in his arms and rubs his warm hand up and down my back. “Slow, deep breaths,” he guides me gently. He cups my hands over my mouth to curtail my hyperventilation.
“I’ll be back in a few hours for your answer.” Galiana smirks evilly. “Be smart. Make this easier on yourself and hand over your power to me.” She saunters off and a loud, metal clang signals she has shut the door on us in here.
After several minutes, my breathing slows to a regular pace and my mind whirls with questions that tumble out of me. “I don’t understand. Why does she need me to hand over my power?”
Maxum jerks his head in confusion. “That is odd. I was so pissed about us being trapped, I didn’t question that.”
“Do you think she captured the others?” I ask, fearing he will confirm it.
“As much as I don’t want them hurt and killed. You can’t decide based on saving them. If she’s captured them, then she isn’t letting them go, no matter how you negotiate.”
I check in with my mate bonds, and I sense they are alive, but not okay. “I feel them, but they’re emotionally distraught.”
“Of course, they’re distraught. Their mate has been taken from them.” Maxum kisses my temple in a bid to relax me. “But their distress isn’t an indicator oftheircaptivity.”
