The female demon rushed to his side, dropping the leashes as she did. Thankfully, the bear cub and wolf pup had their butts planted on the ground, nodding off with no intention of running. At least Hawk made a grab for the ends, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to bend over.
Xerxes, by some miracle, was holding a toddler who didn’t appear to care they were in the arms of what looked like a literal monster. Kiddo had one hand curled in the fur of his chest and was nuzzling him quite happily.
There was something about it that made my heart skip a beat. For a moment, I saw a glimpse of the future with him, of a life where we weren’t being hunted or thrown in cages, whereI would get to watch him hold our own children in a similar way.
The thought made emotion thicken in my throat, so I shoved it away, focusing on Xerxes, the children, and Thor.
Thor, who was standing.
Standing with a baby and a leash.
It appeared we had almost all the older kids with us. The other two Elysian demons hadn’t appeared yet, though they could have landed anywhere on the island. I only vaguely knew this place was big, that the island once held not just the huge central palace of the High Fae, but also gardens, servant housing, guard buildings, and more.
My heart pounded as I took him in. I was honestly surprised he could stand at all. But then again, when he’d been in his bear form, he had no issue rising onto his hind legs. I’d watched him do it a couple of times, in the Pit especially.
At least he’d kept the fabric around his waist. The thought of him flashing everyone made my stomach clench, especially because he’d been so confused why he couldn’t.
His confusion had been a little bit cute, but something to address later.
Once we knew where we were.
The female demon helped her brother off the ground. They were almost a spitting image of one another, with the same inky black hair and hooded eyes. Where her hair was long and pin straight, his was shoulder length and thick.
“Should we just start walking?” I asked, watching them. “Hope we run into the others?”
“That might not be necessary,” Hawk said quietly. “I sense others coming our way.”
I couldn’t help but hold my breath. I looked at him and noticed he was staring past the ruins and underground entrance into the thick trees beyond.
Almost as if they were summoned, my mates crashed through the undisturbed forest, stumbling to a halt as their eyes locked with mine.
Elias, Maeve, Rowan, and Adrian.
I let the tears fall freely, a sob lodging in my throat. All the fear, all the locked away hope, every barrier I’d put up when Dante put the collar on me fell away as soon as they appeared.
Before I knew what I was doing, I fell to my knees. Maeve was there in an instant, her arms going around me and the babies to stop my fall.
It only had me sobbing harder. “Shh,a mhuirnín. I’m here. We’re here,” she said, voice breaking. “You’re safe.”
Still sobbing, I collapsed into her. I couldn’t hold myself up anymore; my arms shook, barely strong enough to hold onto the babies, and my thighs were trembling with exertion. Maeve was the only thing holding me together as the others approached.
Before they could get more than a few steps, Thor stepped between us, growling. It was enough to pause the sobs for just a moment, giving me a chance to say, “They aren’t a threat.”
The growling male looked over his shoulder at me, eyes bright. It was the first time I’d noticed the presence of his bear since he shifted. His eyes shifted to a deep, mesmerising brown, the same shade as the bear I’d come to know well.
But when he blinked, it was gone, leaving the light brown in its place. He stopped growling at least, though he said nothing as he took a lumbering step towards me, then another, eyes locked on mine.
Maeve stiffened behind me, though she didn’t move, didn’t make a sound, either. She could have growled and warned him off, but she didn’t.
Her arms tightened around me, though. I wished I could talk to her, could hear her thoughts. But it was so painfully obvious now what I was missing. The holes in my chest where my mate bonds should be, were somehow wider, darker. A terrifying reminder of what Dante had taken away from me. And I had no idea if I could get them back. If there was any way to. Not with what he’d carved into my back. And not when there would always be one permanent hole inside me where Orion should have been.
Thor moved to my other side, finally looking away ashe did. The moment he was out of my way, Elias, Adrian, and Rowan were there.
I drew in a sharp breath as Elias moved into my line of sight. His warm, calloused hands went to my cheeks, but his eyes were on the collar. “I’ll tear him apart.”
I swallowed, shaking my head. “That won’t fix this.”
Elias finally looked up, meeting my stare. “We don’t know what will fix this. But tearing his heart out is better than the alternative.”
