“What?” Wylder asked.
“Kneel, please,” Alek requested.
Without questioning, Wylder lowered himself to kneel in front of Alek, mimicking Mitch’s form. The boy was a quick learner.
Alek stepped to the side between his two mates.
“Micitian Yates, demon warrior, one of your four mates, is offering you this sword forged in the pits of hell by his own hands. Coated in his own blood to add protection for you as he had given some of his own magic. This is the highest honor a demon can endow to someone. Wylder Carter. Do you accept this gift from your mate?”
Wylder cleared his throat. “I accept my mate’s gift with all the love, trust, and honor I have in my heart for him and all my mates.”
Mitch lifted the gold sword and held it up where the light of the gym shone off it. Bending, he placed his lips over the metal for a kiss. He rose and crossed the mat toward Wylder.
“Stand, Wylder,” Alek encouraged.
Wylder stood.
“I present this sword to you with all my heart to keep yourself and our mates safe,” Mitch said.
“I accept this sword. I will protect myself and my mates.” Wylder held out both hands.
Mitch bowed before placing the sword in Wylder’s hands.
Wylder bowed back then grinned. “I’ve got a fucking sword!”
“Yay! Wylder! Wylder!” Theo clapped and cheered for their human.
Alek turned toward Theo. “Tomorrow night after dinner Sebastian will come and start training you in magic.”
“Me?” Theo pointed at himself in confusion.
Alek nodded. “Sebastian has trained in all types of magic and had experience with unseelie. He is going to teach you how to use the magic inside you and control it instead of letting it control you.”
“But I don’t want to be magical!” Theo told him.
“Baby.” Wylder stepped forward.
“No!” Theo stomped his foot. “I’m a shifter.”
“That’s not all you are, though,” Alek said as kindly as he could.
“I’m a shifter,” Theo declared again. “I’ve just gotten comfortable with my cat. I love him! I don’t want to be unseelie!”
In front of their eyes Theo started to shrink as he shifted.
“Theo!” Dario reached for Theo, but the little shifter was already climbing out of his clothes and taking off for the stairs.
“Theo!” Wylder yelled and started after him.
Alek caught Wylder’s shoulder. “Let me go after him. You need to listen to Mitch’s instructions about your new weapon. And start your training.”
Wylder glanced down at the sword in his hands. “I’ve got a fucking sword.”
That was not what Alek wanted to hear. “No playing around with it. If you cut your own hand off, I swear I will kill you myself.”
“I’ll take it seriously. I promise.” Wylder kissed Alek’s cheek. “Now, my demon, show me the way.”
Alek caught Dario’s worried gaze and nodded. “I’ll go talk to him.”
