Page 51 of The Jaguar's Flower

“Nah.” Asmodeus chuckled. “That is a different primordial. From what Sarus once said, they were the reason the primordial heavens fell apart. But the one responsible for the mates and souls.” He shrugged. “No one knows where they are anymore. We also don’t talk about them.”

Asmodeus continued to talk, but Mac ignored him. He grabbed the demon by his arm and hauled him through the entrance. As soon as they stepped through, the floral fragrance of his mate hit his nose. “Home.” He whispered, “I’m home, Mica.”

Chapter thirty-four

Aminutepassedbetweenfather and daughter until the portal opened. Asmodeus landed on the floor with a cough as Mac stepped through beside him. Sarus observed them both as he lowered the barrier. “Asmodeus?”

“I know, I know.” The demon grunted before he rolled over onto his back. “Stupid idea, but I told him not to go into the pool.”

“You said to get in the water,” Mac growled.

“Selective hearing at its finest!” The demon coughed. “But he’s here and alive and seemed oh so fabulous.”

The jaguar clenched his jaw before stepping over him to reach his mate. He lifted her into a tight embrace and place a kiss on her lips. “I missed you.”

Violet wrapped her arms around her jaguar’s neck as she kissed him. “I missed you, too. Are you alright?” She glanced at Sarus before she met Mac’s eyes again. “Sarus said we can bring Avel and Draven here.”

Mac blinked before he turned to the primordial. “You would do that?” It took him a moment to realize his mate wasn’t terrified or hurt. The jaguar inspected her before he cupped her face. She nodded. “What happened while we were away?”

“They bonded.” Asmodeus slowly rose to his feet. “Father and daughter stuff. Yet the man looks at me like I’m a defect.”

“Asmodeus.”

“No, it’s okay. I know you will send me out to go and search for boy wonder’s brother and her bestie.” The demon feigned hurt.

“You aren’t leaving the realm, Asmodeus.” When the demon blinked in shock, Sarus sighed. “We will have to send someone else to get them. He will grab you the second you leave the realm if you leave.”

Asmodeus nodded before he eyed the couple. “And no chance they can talk to who you got in mind? She’ll burn me.” The demon blinked as he pursed his lips at Sarus.

Sarus sighed. “Mac, are you hungry? Violet?”

“Yeah, we didn’t eat much at breakfast.” She laid her head against Mac’s chest. “We have things to talk about later,” she whispered to her mate with a grin on her face. “Shouldn’t we start on that other thing first?” She met Sarus’ gaze, mindful of his earlier warning about being unable to talk freely everywhere.

“Let’s eat first. Then we will take a walk to explain everything else.” Sarus smiled.

Mac listened to them speak. He sensed no tension or hatred between the two. When Violet kissed him again, the jaguar lifted her in his arms to kiss her back. “Cryptic, but I trust you. It will need to wait.” His stomach growled. “I feel like I spent an eternity in the pool.”

“You spent a while there.” She cupped his cheek. “I told you the stairs scared me. Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Yes.” Mac nodded as he thought back to the pool. When his steel eyes met hers, the jaguar gave her a reassuring smile. “I found closure.”

Chapter thirty-five

Whentheyfinishedlunch,Violet relaxed in her seat between Mac and Sarus. The meal was pleasant with idle conversation, but she still wondered about Sarus’ other children. She also questioned the one he refused to mention by name. Her heart hurt each time she remembered the phantom ravens because of her strange pain.

“Dad?” When she tested the word, it felt strange but not bad. “Are you ready?” Each time he spoke about his children, she sensed his pain. If she could give him hope others survived, she wanted to give him that. “Mac, did you want to come with us or hang out with Asmodeus and the fairies?” She grinned and squeezed her mate’s hand.

“I will come with you.” Mac eyed Asmodeus before he turned his attention back to Violet. “Where will we be heading?”

Sarus took a moment to reply as he cleaned Tulip, then handed him off to Asmodeus. “We will go to the garden. The fountain might help us, but we can not be near it. Even if our darkness is not evil, the darkness within Mac and I will blacken the water,” the primordial informed them.

“Darkness? I thought darkness was evil.” Violet met Mac’s eyes before she kissed him. “You are most certainly not evil.” As she shifted in her chair, she watched her father. “Are demons evil? Human theology says yes, but Asmodeus isn’t. He’s not what I think of when I think of a demon.”

“I’m a Sloth, babeh.” Asmodeus grinned before he struggled with Tulip’s wandering hands. “No, you can’t eat my hair, Thingy. Let go of it.”

Mac shook his head. “If they are evil, I believe he missed the memo.”

“Actually,” Sarus chuckled as he led them to the garden. “Demons aren’t evil, just like angels aren’t good. There is a blend of everything, especially morally gray people in each race. Humans, gods, demons, and even shifters. Darkness is not good or bad, but it can intimidate someone who never had questionable morals or thoughts.”

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