Before I can ask any questions, Jareth continues. “Worse, I extended the bond so that it applied, not only if I died, but while I was alive.” He squeezes his eyes closed. “I also extracted the same bond from Reaper, in exchange for allowing her to roam free in the Forbidden Lands.”
My eyes widen. It explains the three claw marks across Reaper’s face. It also explains why Roman was so lenient with Koda when my brother was causing havoc here on Earth.
Jareth fixes Roman with his unnerving white-blue gaze and holds out his hand, waiting for Roman to grip his arm in a warrior’s hold.
Jareth’s claws extend, and I shudder to see the sharp, black tips, but it’s a controlled shift this time, not a change into the mindless beast my father was when I first met him.
When Roman takes Jareth’s hand, my father closes his claws around Roman’s forearm.
“I release you from the bond,” he says, a simple declaration as the tips of his claws pierce Roman’s skin.
Roman doesn’t flinch, despite the drips of blood from his arm, until a blaze of energy flashes across his shoulder, visible through his shirt. Then he sucks in a sharp breath. He exhales only when the energy fades.
“You’re free to do what you must,” Jareth says, a heaviness in his voice as he releases Roman’s arm.
Rising to my feet and pressing my hand to Roman’s chest, I say, “If you agreed to this death bond with Jareth, you took a serious risk killing Esta on the bridge.”
He meets my gaze. “I hoped that since she couldn’t actually die, the death bond would remain unprovoked. Thankfully, I was right.”
My chest and throat grow tight as I think about losing him. “Please don’t ever take a risk like that again,” I manage to say.
“To save your life, I will take any risk,” Roman replies.
He presses his lips gently to mine, and I don’t miss Mom’s contented sigh.
“I feel like the luckiest shifter alive,” she says from behind me. “Jareth has returned, my family has grown to include a son, and my daughters have found mates who are their equals in heart and power.”
At the other end of the table, Koda appears suddenly stricken, but Mom gives him a gentle smile.
“Fuck,” he whispers. “I’ve done things I don’t deserve to be forgiven for, but here I am. Sitting with those who are willing to call me family.”
Reaching across the table, I grasp his hand, feeling the flow of his magical energy. “Never again will you fight battles alone. You have us now. You won’t walk this world alone anymore.”
A single tear escapes from Koda’s blue eyes. He quickly swipes it away, and I struggle to contain my emotions as well. As weird and unexpected as it is, outside of Roman, Koda is the best thing to come out of all of Esta and Crone’s scheming. A brother I never knew I wanted or needed, but he’s important to me now.
My forehead creases a little as I reflect on what Mom said about my sisters finding their mates. I’m aware that Taniya and Dastian love each other, but I turn to Mom with a question on my lips. “Malia?”
Mom gives me a smile. “Well, maybe she and Adriel haven’t figured it out yet, but they will.”
Mom has clearly picked up on the same vibes I was noticing in Stella-Astrum. Whether its plausible for Malia to be with an angel is another issue, but there’s something there. We can all see it.
I return Mom’s beautiful smile. “I feel incredibly lucky too, Mom. For your health; Roman’s love; a new brother; my demon wolves; happiness for my sisters, and…” I look to Jareth. “To finally meet my father.”
Tears flow down Mom’s cheeks as she stands and hugs me, her arms slipping between Roman’s so that I’m snuggled between the two of them. Never in my life could I have imagined feeling so blessed when the greatest battle is still ahead of me, but these people mean the world to me. They’re more than people—they’re pack.
Family.
Now I have to do everything in my power to keep them safe.
When Mom releases me with a happy sigh, I turn to my father, a renewed sense of determination filling my blood with fire. “Tell me how to kill Esta.”
The heaviness of his expression had lifted as he observed us hugging each other, but now it returns.
“Only through one of the most difficult methods,” he says. “You must find your true demon form—and provoke Esta to take hers.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN
I’m accustomed to shifting into the form of my wolf. It’s as natural and seamless as breathing for me, but my true demon form?Like the beast my father was?
