Lennox nodded like a child who’d just been asked what he got from Santa, but it was Declan who answered in his typical no nonsense tone. “He blew up everything in his path and a few things that just happened by. Where’s the pizza?”
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the doorbell rang. Grabbing his wallet off the counter, Rian paid and tipped the pizza delivery guy, along with the driver’s coworker who’d come along to help carry all the food. Precariously carrying their dinner to the kitchen table, Rian had to laugh as his brethren each grabbed a box when he walked by and were eating before he made it to the kitchen table.
In between bites, Rian explained everything, just as he had three times before. It was getting tedious but the Dragon Leader knew he’d screwed up from the beginning. So, if all it took to get back in the good graces of the people he called family was to tell his tale, then he would talk until he was blue in the face.
“You’ve really been summoning your mate from hell for almost ninety years right under our big dumb noses?” Lennox asked, looking over his beer bottle as he took a long draw.
“Yes, but let me make this clear, I added a ton of my magic to the Cloaking Spell Eleanor gave me to make sure none of you ever found out. I seriously thought it would take a couple of months, maybe a year to find a way to bring Audrey home. I never guessed a century later that I’d be having this conversation with y’all. Time got away from me. The secrets grew so large I didn’t know where to begin to tell anyone, so I didn’t. I just kept hoping and praying. Then we found Drago and with him, the Focus Stone. I knew it was what I needed, what the journal had talked about. Once I had renewed hope, I didn’t stop to think, I simply acted.”
“I know you told us about the Demon Lord’s book, but can I see it?” Lennox asked.
“Yeah, if you don’t blow it up,” Royce joked, entering through the backdoor, closely followed by Rory, Lance, and Kellan. “And as soon as Kyra and Calysta are done deciphering a few other entries they found that they think will help free Audrey.” He nodded to his brother while heading towards the kitchen.
“Let me guess, you smelled food?” Rian teased as each man grabbed two or three pieces of pizza and a beer on his way past the table.
“You know it,” Rory said just as he shoved half a piece of pie into his mouth.
Shaking his head, Royce further explained, “Kyra, Calysta, Sam, and the McKennons have taken over our house to discuss the magic we’re gonna need to get into and out of hell. Calysta says she’s heard of a spell using the Focus Stone but is leery to activate that much black magic, especially when dealing with hell itself. Eleanor and her monk were on the way and quite frankly, she has always given me the creeps,” he shuddered. “So when Rory said he and Kell were coming over here, I ran for the hills.”
“And when Sam said she wanted to stay and learn, I ran right behind him,” Lance added.
“That’s a lot of witches in one place,” Declan said in a matter of fact tone that made the entire room burst into laughter.
“And Dec comes in for the score.” Rory chuckled then turned to Royce. “Your little witch coming along for the ride?”
“Not if I have anything to say about it?”
“So that would be a yes?” Brannoc jokingly answered as he walked through the back door. “Any pizza left?” His last question could barely be heard over the roar of laughter at Royce’s expense.
When he could finally speak, Rian added, “Come on, Roy, we all know who wears the pants in your house?”
“What can I say? She’s got me wrapped around her little finger.” Royce grinned like a fool in love but quickly winked and added while lifting his half-full beer bottle in salute to his older brother, “Just as your mate will do to you.”
The middle O’Reilly brother paused and squinted his eyes, pretending to be thinking about something before asking, “What was it you said to me? I think it went something like ‘Oh, how the mighty have fallen.’”
Laughing so hard he had to pause before finishing, Royce finally gained his composure enough to say, “And brother, there’s no mightier than you.”
For the next hour or so the men laughed and talked, enjoying the comradery that can only come from friends who have not only known each other for most of their lives, but have also saved one other from certain death more times than any can remember. Through it all, Audrey never left his mind. He knew she would fit in perfectly. Longed to have her by his side, laughing and joking…and happy.
“Thinking about your mate?” Royce asked quietly while the others continued to talk.
“Yeah, I just can’t get her off my mind tonight. Not that she isn’t there every second of every hour of every day,” Rian sadly chuckled, “but this is different. Something’s changed. I just ho…”
“Stop right there. That crap leads to no good. You have to trust Audrey. Know that she has taken care of herself all these years and she’ll keep doing just that until you fly in and save the day.”
“Would you trust Kyra?”
“Damn straight! I trust her to take care of herself because she’s all that matters.”
“Aww…isn’t that sweet?” Rory pretended to be gagging right before Lance smacked him in the back of the head.
“Just wait till it’s your turn, funny guy. I remember doing the same thing you’re doing. I gave Rayne and Aidan so much shit after Kyndel and Grace that I’m lucky to still be alive. Now, I have Sam and…well…Syd sometimes, and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without them.” Lance looked happy and sad all at the same time, a confusion Rian could definitely relate to.
“Okay, okay, let’s not get all weepy up in here. We’ve got a demon’s ass to kick, a dragon to find, and a girl to save. Hell, we get to be the heroes…again.” Lennox laughed. “Now, get us all caught up so I can go get some shut eye. I don’t know about these two,” he pointed to Pearce and Declan, “but I’m beat.”
“It’s rough getting old isn’t it?” Rory ducked right before Declan threw a pillow at his head.
“Look who’s talking? You’re older than I am.”
