Page 60 of November Reign
It took a few minutes to gather us all and get the poses Dessi wanted before we could leave. Barr made the portal, taking us directly into the capital, not far from the prison.
“That’s the capitol building there, where the kings and queens live.” Mori pointed in the direction of a sprawling castle, each turret was heavily guarded by demons of all kinds. “We had permission to portal so close.”
The only demons who could portal from place to place within the demon realm were the Hellhounds, which made their services well sought after. Most demons could fly, but it was time and energy consuming. Why fly when you could pay a handsome sum to a Hellhound and be there immediately? Most cities had guilds where you could employ a Hellhoundmuch in the same way you would pick up a cab. Just with a higher cost.
Mori was a wealthy demon with property in the human and demon realms. He owned hotels, and had hired Barr to work for him personally. Now that he was family, their relationship would change.
I found myself standing next to Cody. “How do you feel about having a new brother?” Cody already had siblings from his mother’s side of the family, though he wasn’t in touch with them. He’d tried reconnecting, but most of them had already been poisoned against him by his mom and step father.
“It’s a relief that everyone knows now. I had such a hard time keeping it secret from y’all. Barr’s great. I’m really happy Dad did that for him.”
Cody’s relationship with Mori was really growing. Instead of feeling pushed aside with a new sibling, it seemed like Cody was ready to accept sharing his dad with someone else.
“Besides, how fun is it to see Damon as a dad?”
The man in question was fussing over his new son’s outfit, brushing invisible lint off the shoulders and adjusting the jacket so it sat just so.
“We need to go before I change my mind.” Barr looked incredibly nervous. He set his jaw and marched towards the prison.
Following, we entered the vast building a few paces behind. Though it was technically a prison, the area where Jorgoth was staying was more like a fancy apartment, if said apartment had sigils all over every surface.
“They are to bind the space, blocking a summoning. You cannot portal in or out of this place,” Hana explained to us while Barr rushed to Jorgoth’s side to have a hushed conversation.
I witnessed the look of stunned delight on Jorgoth’s face as I caught Barr telling him about the adoption. Then there was love, mixed with sorrow, as Barr got to one knee and asked Jorgoth to bond with him.
“I’m sorry, Barr. I can’t.” The water elemental began to cry.
Barr got off his knees to hug Jorgoth. “Why, Jory? Don’t you want to be mated to me?”
“It’s not that. I do. Just not to get me out of here. To be royal. I want to be the one you choose. You’ve stuck by me for months, shown me true love. I just want it to be real.” Now the demon really was crying.
“But it is real! Having this, a way of getting you out, gave me the courage to finally ask.”
“You swear it? This is what you want?”
“I do! You and me forever. Jorgoth, I claim you as my mate, for now and always. You and I are one soul.”
“Oh, you aren’t even waiting! Conchobar, I claim you as my mate, for now and always. You and I are one soul.”
They gasped as they each received their mating marks over their hearts. Damon had explained the process to me once. Since he didn’t have horns, he had his crown mark above his mating mark, a fairly new addition. Damon and Mori had formally bonded after the events at Halloween. They already had a fledgling bond, this just marked them as taken to everyone else.
Soon, Jorgoth wore a matching crown mark to the one on Barr’s horn.
“Now, get out of here, you two. Daddy Mori has booked the honeymoon suite at the Djalling Grande for you,” Damon said with a proud look. To the rest of us he added, “it’s time for us to celebrate!”
We all had to walk into the main part of the city where there were numerous clubs, bars, and restaurants. Along the way, demons of all kinds stopped to greet Mori and his parents.
“Count me in!” they said, after saying their hellos.
Oak and I shared a look, confused.
At the restaurant, Mori announced his new son’s mating to cheers among the other patrons. The owner brought us out a large pitcher of an amazing tasting cocktail and winked at Damon.
“I’m in! Send out the call and we will follow you.”
“Okay, you’re going to have to explain that,” I said once the demon had left the table.
Damon poured me a drink, then one for Oak. “You’re going to need this. Take a sip and I’ll explain.”
