Page 76 of Bond of Passion

Vale moved on to the third cauldron, which simmered with an oily black substance. “They are the reason we haven’t bred with a demon again. We should breed more Furies next time.”

They all nodded in agreement, the way they always did when they discussed producing Fury offspring, but the truth was that the choice wasn’t theirs to make. There were only three male Furies in existence, and they chose who got to breed with them. Which was why most Furies procreated once every century or so with demons of compatible species.

While his moms discussed the reasons Tavin, Grim, and Noir had been so difficult as demonlings, he lost himself in the flames of the fire that burned cold and chased away the scalding heat of the lava. A few minutes later, Viscus and Vishis disappeared into their supply chamber, and Vale came over to sit down on the seat across from him.

She leaned forward, her angular face lit in a sinister glow from the thin stream of lava that flowed in the floor between them. “Tell me about your female. When did you meet her?”

He knew better than to lie to his moms. They always knew. Always. “A few days ago.”

Her eyelids shot up, and her blue-green eyes sparked. “A few days? Did she ensorcel you? Trick you? Force you?” She clenched her fists, her sharp nails drawing blood in her palms. “We will not let this—”

“Nothing like that,” he said quickly. “Neither of us was prepared for what happened.”

“Hmm.” She regarded him with suspicion. “Do you like her at least?”

He could say yes, but he was pretty sure he’d be lying to them both, because it was more than that. “I think I love her.”

Vale huffed with skepticism. “Surely you’re under an influence of some sort.” She waved her hand in a complex pattern, scowled, and did it again. “I don’t understand. There’s no sorcery web or incantation aura around you.”

“That’s because I’m not under a spell. But I don’t know why I have such strong feelings for her.”

Even now, he could sense Deja, a tingle of awareness in the background. Well, it was mostly in the background. He’d gotten a couple of pings of anxiety and a wave of happiness that made him smile, but mostly, she was a specter in the distance, a secondary heartbeat.

He wondered if she could feel him. Logically, he knew she did. She would be aware that his need for her was starting to heat up. But they were both new to this. What if she misinterpreted the signals she was getting?

Should he call her—after he got a new cell phone, anyway?

Vishisand Viscus came out of the supply room with a small burlap bag. “Inside are runes and powders and instructions on how to use them. Your home will be invisible to demon eyes outside of a twenty-stone radius. But keep in mind that demons capable of using magic will see an aura and know that something is being concealed, even if they don’t know what. You should still take precautions.”

Cool. So, basically, his house would be hidden until a person got to about the hedges. He could work with that.

Viscus gestured to the bag. “I’ve included seeds. Plant them. In a week, you will have shrubbery to hide your house—and the aura. But be careful with the seeds. They burn flesh until they sprout.”

He stood and took the bag as Vale rose to her feet. “He says he has only known his mate for a few days and he loves her.”

Six blue and green eyes locked on him like missiles on a target.

“Thanks, Mom,” he muttered at Vale, and she gave him a self-satisfied smirk.

“He’s not ensorcelled?” Vishis asked.

“He is not,” Vale said, and Viscus grinned.

“They’re soul mates,” she exclaimed. “The soul recognizes its mate.”

“Perhaps,” Vishis mused. “Or they were lovers in another life.”

They all nodded at that, and he could already see hours of discussion ahead if he didn’t get out of here now.

“Well, thanks, Moms. I have to go—”

They swallowed him in a hug. “Bring your mate to meet us soon,” Vale said.

“We will bless her with fertility and dexterity.”

“Yes, and Tavin with virility and a big—”

“Okay,” he announced, as he backed toward the door. “It’s been great catching up. I’ll tell Grim to stop by. I’m sure he’d love some dating tips from you. And maybe a blessing for a big…whatever.”