Page 127 of Enchanting Her Monsters
“I’ve never stopped loving you, Patricia.”
“Even in death, I’ve loved you.”
A breeze moves through the room, and I whisper to my mother. “I love you.”
I feel her embrace around me and the longing of being there for me for forty fucking years slams into me and cuts me down to my knees as I sob with the loss and pain of it.
My father catches me, and after a hug of his own, he hands me over to Maxum.
As my demon lifts me into his arms to carry me, I give my guys a worried glance, taking in their rough condition.
Erwald, Darius, and Raithe help to get my recovering mates through the portal.
By the time we go through protocols of various realm hopping and reach the boundary of Amira’s property, we’re all exhausted.
Darius has already done his ‘hellhound sniff test’ of my father, and Erwald’s formally allowed inside the sanctuary under the old customs.
We place Osen, Calder, Flint, and Arran in the huge bed and, with their encouragement, I lay over them, giving them my healing energy. I only hope it will hold out and supply them with what they need.
Thankfully, my father is invited to stay on Amira’s couch for the night.
With a lingering look, he reluctantly leaves me with my mates. It’s so strange to meet this male who is at the very source of who and what I am, yet I know nothing about him.
When I wake in the mid-afternoon, I grunt with the stiffness and utter fatigue that wracks my body.
Fortunately, my mates seem to be recovering.
Maxum left early this morning with Arran to get intel on Galiana’s coven and find out if we have to worry about any more of her followers in the ASO.
They return moments after I wake, and I wonder if it’s the mate bond that has me so tuned in that I sense when they are nearby.
“So? What’s the verdict?” Calder asks, yawning and combing his hand through his messy auburn hair.
“My hackers and informants tell me that Galiana’s faction is decimated,” Maxum reports with a satisfied grin. “None of the witches know who did it, either.”
“That’s good,” Osen grunts out and labors to sit up. “We won’t have to expect fallout later.”
“And that means Jade’s secret is safe,” Flint adds and squeezes my hand happily.
A knock at the door has all of us tensing, expecting the worst. Maxum is closest and opens the door, revealing my father’s grim face. He’s returned from his own reconnaissance mission.
“Jade’s been summoned to hell,” Erwald says in a tone that chills me to my bones.
41
HELL FREEZETH OVER
MAXUM
My worst fears have come true. The lords of hell have discovered Jade’s existence.
“I willnothand you over to them!” I bellow, all the while glaring at Erwald.
Flint tugs Jade to his chest. His wings unfurl from his back, wrap around them, and he turns to stone.
I’d do that too, if I could.
Jade yelps at the sudden cocoon around her. “Flint, my love, they aren’t here to take me away.” She pauses, then checks, “Are they, Erwald?”
