“How many?” Atlas asked, a little afraid of the answer.
“Lucifer and his mates, Adam and Mal, with a few of his minions, Ari, Atom, Seb, Ash, Dean, Logan, and Noah.” He hummed. “And Asmos, Mammon, and Beelz.”
Atlas swallowed hard. That was a lot of names and some that Atlas didn’t recognize. Plus minions? How many minions were they talking about exactly? It seemed Adam collected minions like Bel collected everything else. Maybe they were related. He didn’t have time to ask.
Bel turned to offer Atlas his hand. “Coming?”
“I don’t think so,” Atlas responded and shook his head. “I changed my mind. Send them away.”
“Mate.” Bel returned to his side. “It will be fine.”
“Fine? How is it going to be fine? That’s a lot of people!” Too many. He shouldn’t have trusted Adam. Lesson learned.
“Friends,” Bel told him. “They are our friends and want to congratulate us.”
“Yeah.” Atlas swiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. Friends. Both of theirs.
“Just let me know if it gets too much,” Bel told him. “Several of them are shifters. I’m not sure what Adam was thinking, inviting them.”
“He was already with them and asked me if it would be okay,” Atlas told him. “I said yes. I do want to meet them. Maybe it would be easier in smaller groups.”
“Are you sure? It’s already been kind of a big day.”
That was an understatement if Atlas had ever heard one. “Just for a little bit. If it gets too much, Adam promised to have them shift or they can go.”
“Let’s go meet all your new friends and get our congratulations.”
“Fine.” Atlas captured Bel’s hand and the wall opened. They passed through the wall and into pure chaos.
The office had been transformed into a party room. Music blared from somewhere. A long table was loaded down with food and a fruit punch bowl. People were everywhere and shifters. A large lion paced in front of the fire with two cats on his back. Adam was dancing in the middle of the room with his mate. Cary sat on Lucifer’s lap as they watched from a chair in the corner.
It was the demons that caught Atlas’s attention first.
Amazed by the colors, body styles, and differences, Atlas knew he was staring. Asmos and Mammon Atlas knew. The others—and there had to be at least eight unknown demons—were unexpected. Wow. Just wow.
“They’re here!” Adam announced loudly and the music stopped.
All attention turned toward them. With the hand not gripping Bel’s tightly, he gave a small finger wave.
“Congratulations!” everyone yelled.
Bel chuckled. The smile on his face was so big and proud that Atlas couldn’t resist kissing his mouth. He pulled Bel down to plant a kiss on his lips, to the crowd’s absolute delight.
Atlas rolled his eyes before turning toward Adam. “This is a small party?” he accused.
“Yep!” Adam bounced all the way over. “I have a big family! They all wanted to be here but Mal wouldn’t let me invite them all. The big meanie!”
“You promised a small party,” Mal said, joining them. “Someone had to make you behave.”
Adam giggled. “Yes, Daddy!”
That was when Atlas realized that something was different. Strange. He grabbed Adam and shook him.
“Woah!” Adam said with wide eyes.
“Atlas?” Bel questioned.
“Everything okay?” Lucifer appeared beside them.
