“I think I can appreciate that. Nice work you did there.”
My eyes widened for a second, and then my head whipped toward her, the table rumbling with laughter and curses. “Did you say what I think you’re saying?”
“Pretty much. They’re very easy on the eyes. Natural enemies or not, they’re still very fine man candy.”
“You’re not bad yourself.” Nate winked at her.
“Oh for fuck’s sake, stay away from my girl, sparkly ass, and baby girl, c’mon. We’re sitting right here,” Mad Dog grumbled.
She shrugged at him. “What? D is getting it from the four inmates and a cop, and you’re picking on me. Not fair, Dad.”
I giggled. This girl was awesome. No wonder we clicked right away.
Raphael moved to Rina’s side. “So your sister is like our mom?”
“Ugh and my mom. Like it wasn’t enough to be raised where every day is an orgy, now I have to deal with the same thing with my sister.” She turned to Divina. “It wouldn’t hurt if you shared a little, but noooo. It’s a good thing your house is about finished. You can move out with your hunks and spare me all the moaning.”
“Tell me about it,” Raphael said.
“Must be harder on you. You’re a dude, and it’s your mom…eeek. But it’s okay, I’m a psychologist like all the girls in my family. I’ll fix your mommy issues.”
“Can you fix mine, too?” Nate winked again, and I was about dead.
“Why not? I have a thing for twins.”
“All right!” I shook with muffled laughter, my wide eyes traveling among everybody. “That was…a very interesting and unexpected conversation to have even before breakfast. Don’t think many of us old folks have much of an appetite now.” I laughed again, switching my gaze toward Divina. She was standing silently among her men, her face calm. I moved a chair out of the way and went over to her. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Is it?” she asked.
“Yes. And even nicer to have met here.” I resisted the temptation to hug her and decided to avoid all physical contact with the Darkborns, especially Divina who unlike her sister, had unleashed her power in Hell, until further notice. “You are a very strong woman, Divina Beastly.”
“I must say so are you,” she said. “I used to hate you so much. I used to be so angry at my mom and my family for not telling me what I was. Now…I understand why and what you had to go through, have to go through to fight the darkness, especially when it’s this close…”
I took a few steps back so I wouldn’t overwhelm her. I knew exactly how she must have felt right now. I’d felt the same way when I was close to her the first time. I felt the same way now.
“To have abandoned your addictive kingdom and walked away on your own was… I wish one day I could be as strong as you are, Professor, or should I say, Your Majesty?”
I smiled. “Please don’t. Belle is fine. I hope you feel safe here because you are. As for the darkness, you’ll get used to it. I have no doubt you have enough strength and love that will help you like they’ve helped me.” I looked at the men behind her. I could recognize one immediately. A blond, green-eyed demon. One of Damien’s bastards like Inferno. He smirked at me, sensing me. “Gianmarco Connelly. Piacere.”
“Pleased to meet you, too,” I said.
“Don’t think you are. Don’t blame you either. Two Darkborns and two demons within ten feet around you must be killing you.”
As if his words were alarm sirens, Zava and our boys circled me and touched me with their light in response.
“Nothing to worry about,” I assured my ex’s bastard. “Not as long as my family is here. I’m sure Divina feels the same way.”
She nodded once. “Let me introduce you to the rest.” Her finger gestured at a Native American. “This is Flynn, half vampire, half lion shifter.” Then she pointed at a huge guy with red hair and freckles who was standing next to a black man with silver hair. “These are Aedan and Ronan. A dragon shifter and a fae. And…” She smiled at the last one. A handsome man with kind gray eyes who seemed way out of his element here. “This is Derek.”
He shrugged. “Only human.”
“Then all this must be harder on you than any of us,” I said, evilishly glad someone was suffering more than I was. Awful of me—I was a dark creature after all—but it sure helped taming down the emotional pain. “You and I are going to spend a lot of group therapy time together. It’ll be fun.”
He laughed at my bad joke, and Divina explained later he was a nerd.
At the end of the day, and after all the tension and sick banter, I could say breakfast went well. It still surprised me how Rina hit it off with my boys that fast, but I thought it was a good surprise. We could be off to a great start with our new life.
I was hopeful and grateful for everything. One more thing left for me to do, and then all the worries and aches troubling me would go away.
