Page 86 of Hunted By Her Demon Wolves

She nodded, taking his hand when he stood. Damon followed behind them, his hand possessively on her back.

They snuck away to a smaller room adjoining the ballroom and sat in overstuffed chairs by the hearth. She propped her feet up on an ottoman, kicking off the uncomfortable shoes the servants had shoved on her feet. She scratched at her satin gown that flattened her breasts and dug into her shoulders, a monstrosity with puffy sleeves that made her look like a wallflower at a 1980s prom. Why had she agreed to wear this thing? Her mates were dressed in colorful satin pants and long matching tunics with gold embroidery. Their colors were showy, but at least they looked comfortable.

Helius and Drakkon joined them, along with their cousins and Daeva. She worried this would get awkward, for she knew Daeva would soon scold her for running off with, and losing, the crystal. She and Daeva hadn’t had much of a reunion after that initial hug. Soon after they were welcomed home, Phoenix had been whisked away by servants and taken to a private bedchamber where she was scrubbed clean before being forced into hell’s most uncomfortable gown and then shoved into the ballroom like a peacock set out to pasture. Much to Phoenix’s surprise, Daeva squeezed into the big chair with her, the fabric of her equally ugly prom dress crackling as it rubbed against hers.

Daeva draped her arm around Phoenix’s shoulders and kissed her cheek. “I’m so happy to have you here with us,” she whispered, then added telepathically,I’m sorry about your mom.

Unable to answer, Phoenix looked away while swiping moisture from her eyes.

I’m also sorry,Daeva continued,that I didn’t show you more compassion when you wanted to free your mates. There are more crystals out there. Don’t worry, our mates will find them. Eilea and Tor will get back home.

She silently nodded and squeezed Daeva’s hand. Her sister had no idea what her words meant to her. They held hands while their mates exchanged jokes and stories. At one point, their conversation turned toward their ordeal in the second dimension. Like their other brothers, Helius and Drakkon didn’t remember much of their time as zombies. To them, they’d only been gone a few days, which was a blessing.

Horatiu and his brothers explained what had happened when the Vindictus had overthrown their mothers. They apologized profusely for locking up Eilea, even though Helius and Drakkon said they would’ve done the same. Phoenix felt ten shades of awkward when Horatiu and Daeva explained what happened to their souls, including Phoenix.

Drakkon leaned over in his chair and gave Phoenix a strange look. “That explains why you haven’t been answering my telepathy.” He waggled his brows. “We’ll have to rectify that.”

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her cheeks burning. After her amazing experience with Cadmus, she wanted to make love to all her mates, but she wasn’t sure if she would be in the mood so soon after losing her mother.

Cadmus got up from his chair and knelt on the floor beside her.We won’t force you until you’re ready,he said while taking her hand in his.There’s no urgency now.

‘Thank you,’ she mouthed to him.

Drakkon cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, Bennu. I wasn’t trying to pressure you.”

She shrugged, averting her gaze. “It’s okay.”

He sat beside his brother on the floor. “No, it’s not.” He squeezed her other hand. “You just lost your mother.”

She swiped more tears from her eyes, unable to stop them from flowing. “I know nobody liked her, but she gave her soul to save me, to save us.”

“She did,” everyone agreed as they crowded around her chair.

Daeva squeezed her hard.

Phoenix motioned to the revelry behind her. Drunk demons gorged on food and sang bawdy songs. “And yet here we are celebrating like her life didn’t matter.”

Cadmus let out a curse. “Our aunt didn’t include her in her toast.”

“I’m sure it was accidental.” Drakkon jumped to his feet and held his hand down to her. “We can rectify it now, Bennu.”

“It’s Phoenix.” She grimaced, wrapping her arms around herself. “That’s the name my mother gave me, and I don’t want to go back there.”

“Then let’s have a toast here,” Drakkon said, the warmth in his eyes reflected in his smile. He motioned to a flying servant, and within a matter of minutes, everyone had a glass of champagne, with the exception of Daeva, who drank juice.

Phoenix gave her sister a strange look, but Daeva simply smiled. That’s when Phoenix noticed her sister’s unusual glow, the sparkle in her eyes.

Could she be pregnant? No.

She thought to ask her sister but decided to wait until they were alone. Phoenix sat at the edge of her chair, and Daeva had shifted to the armrest beside her, making way for Cadmus, who wrapped his arm around Phoenix’s waist while nuzzling her shoulder.

“To Jezebeth.” Drakkon held up his glass in salute. “Thank you for being a loving mother to our Ben—Phoenix.” He flashed an apologetic smile and a wink. “Thank you for your sacrifice. We will forever be in your debt.”

Phoenix couldn’t help but smile back at Drakkon when they clinked glasses, and in that moment when their eyes locked, she felt a thread snap in place, a long-lost connection restored. She fell back against Cadmus when a memory from her past life resurfaced of Drakkon and her walking along the beach hand in hand, skipping shells into the water and reflecting on their day.

“I still don’t understand how your mother was able to pass through the wards on Gorgo’s lair and we couldn’t get through.”

She looked at Damon. He sat on the edge of the ottoman in front of her, his knees scraping hers while he chewed on his lip.

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