How do you know?I manage to reply.
He takes a moment to sniff the air.“I can feel the angel’s energy. It’s like ours, but also… not.”
I understand what he means. The angels are like the balance to demons. True to Ace’s prediction, a moment later, light flashes and Adriel appears with Angelus Lux in his hand. He’s dressed in a similar style of armor to Roman’s, only Adriel’s is black and silver. Angelus Lux’s glow fades, and by the time Adriel reaches up to put the weapon away with the swords he secretly wears across his back, Malia, Taniya, and Mom race toward me out of the mist that shrouds them.
Slipping between my wolves, I meet my family halfway, and the four of us collide in a hug that goes on for so long that there’s a decent chance we’ll be late for the coronation after all.
“I missed you so much,” Malia cries.
It’s only been a week, but that’s a long time for us to be apart with no communication at all.
“I missed you too,” I tell her. All of them.
Pulling back a touch, I have to smile at how gorgeous they look in their long, formal dresses. Malia’s darker coloring is perfectly complemented by a salmon-colored, halter-neck, floor-length dress. Taniya’s dress is golden, strapless, and it hugs her lithe figure, making her look like a goddess. Mom’s dress is dark blue, with a lace overlay and delicate spaghetti straps.
Adriel stays close to Malia while Dastian is the last to stride out of the mist. I wasn’t sure if the eagle alpha would make it today, but I’m glad he could. He’s dressed in a suit, dark gray, with an open collar that gives everyone a glimpse of his muscles. It’s a good look for him, although I prefer the armor of my mate.
A moment later, footsteps race toward us from the Zilron end of the bridge, and I don’t even have to turn to know that Jareth has arrived.
He appears out of the mist a second later, crosses the distance, and snatches Mom off her feet, the pair kissing like it’s been months and not a week for them too.
My demon wolves take their chance to greet my sisters, and it touches my heart when Malia and Taniya crouch to the wolves’ level, hugging them. For a long time, we were a small family, just the seven of us plus Mom, and that bond will never fade.
“My wolves and I bonded completely,” I tell my sisters as they greet all five beasts. “I can speak with them now.”
Malia’s face lights up so brightly that it’s like a beautiful shining star. I don’t miss the way Adriel seems caught by her beauty, pausing as if he too is drawn into her warmth.
“Oh, Nova, that’s wonderful news,” she says. “I know you’ve wanted a bond like this with them for a long time.”
I’m nodding as she speaks. “It’s the perfect full circle now.” My eyes catch on Roman’s gaze, which is as steadily on me as Adriel’s is on Malia.
Dastian, Adriel, and Roman join our circle then. They greet each other with nods and brief words, and while I’m not on hugging terms with Adriel yet, I move forward to hug Dastian.
“It’s so good to see you,” I tell the eagle. “Thank you for making my sister so happy.”
Taniya snorts and crosses her arms. Dastian and I both turn toward her, and I don’t miss the slight smirk on the eagle’s face. “She’s a little upset with me today,” he says. “Apparently, she had a dream that I went on a scouting mission without her.”
Taniya’s scowl deepens. “Don’t pretend like you wouldn’t. You’re always fussing around and protecting me.”
He steps away from me and toward Taniya, and she swallows roughly when he’s right in her personal space. “I love you,” he says softly, and it appears that a small breeze would knock my tough-as-nails sister over. “I will never leave you behind or stifle your strength.”
Malia lets out a soft sigh where she stands opposite me. So soft that I doubt anyone else heard it—except possibly Adriel, who has remained at her back. She and Adriel have an undeniable connection, but they’re not at love confessions yet.
“I never expected a mate,” Taniya says, her demeanor soft as she steps closer to Dastian. “Never expected or wanted one. And then you came along. Fuck. I love you too.”
Dastian’s arm sweeps around her, pulling her up against his body, and then they’re kissing and lost to us just like my parents.
Malia gives another soft sigh. At the sound, Adriel steps closer behind her. Even though her back is to him and he’s not touching her, she must feel his energy because goosebumps rise visibly on her skin. His wings curve around her sides, the wash of his black feathers remaining open only at the front so that she could step out from between them if she wished.
She doesn’t.
He leans down a little, close to her ear, and murmurs so quietly to her that even my wolf hearing doesn’t pick up what he says.
Her expression lifts and a faint smile plays around her mouth as energy starts to weave around them. She spins within the cocoon of his wings and stretches up on her tiptoes to reach his mouth, planting a kiss at the corner of his lips.
With a happy sigh, I consider all of the couples around me and, as reluctant as I am to split them up, I know that if we don’t mask my family’s presence soon, we’ll end up with Balance issues again.
Thankfully, Jareth comes up for air and lets out a low laugh. “There will be time for this later. We need to let Roman place the runes on you all now.”
