Chapter 1
Enzo
Three years later
“Zio Enzo! Look, I’m a princess!” Leigh comes barreling towards me the moment my brimstone scent hits her nostrils.
Her curls bounce as she slams into my legs, giving me about two seconds to view the dress and tiara she’s wearing.
Are they playing dress up, or is this some human custom I know nothing about?
I quickly mind-link her father so that I don’t disappoint her with my reactions.
It’s Halloween tomorrow. Honestly, Enzo, they are five, and you’ve seen them dressed up for four of these already. Get a clue, will you?
Ah, yes.
May I remind you of your origins and the fact that time does not work the same for us, still living full-time in the underworld. Besides, this was never a day of celebration for us.
I can feel his emotions through our bond and picture him rolling his eyes.
“You’ve always been Zio’s princess, Leigh.” I pick her up into my arms and bury my nose in her neck to blow raspberries.
She giggles and kicks as I tickle her.
“And what is your sister dressing up as?” I ask a moment before she appears in front of me.
The girls have been gifted special abilities, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to them.
Leigh can shift into anything and bend to disappear, while Trixie can distance walk as well. When her siren properties hit at puberty, I do not envy Nico.
How does one ground a teenage girl or forbid her from seeing a boy when she can blink and be anywhere she wants?
I snicker at myself as I inspect her outfit.
“Let me guess. A witch?” Trixie shakes her head and taps a crest on the black cloak she’s wearing.
“I’m a wizard.” She mimics that damn movie that got us in so much trouble with them years ago.
“Of course you are.” I wink at her as I put down Leigh and ruffle Trixie’s straight blonde hair.
“Enzo, you’re here.” Abbie comes out looking for her girls.
“I came ahead so Dario could finish up in peace,” I smirk as I take both the girls by their hands and lead them inside.
“You mean so he can clean up your mess?” Nico says from the kitchen where he’s fixing the girls’ lunch.
“Isn’t that what I said?” I wink at Abbie as her husband snorts at me.
“Are you sure about taking the girls to the Halloween parade today?” It must be killing her that the girls asked us, but she’s also keeping a secret about needing us to take them.
She’s having another pup.
One this time, a son, and Nico hasn’t been able to stop grinning since he scented it. None of us has said a word about it, wanting her to disclose it when she’s ready. I’m not sure I could be so patient with my mate.
“I’m sure,” I lie smoothly.
I’m sure Dario told me why we needed to be here today, but like everything else, I only half listened. I got the date, time, and most importantly, that my nieces wanted us here.
That was all that mattered to me.
“Wonderful! I have your matching costumes in the spare room. Hurry, go change!” Abbie pushes me towards the hallway, and I glance over my shoulder at Nico for help.
What did Dario agree to?
He spares me a glance as he zips the girls’ lunch bags up.
Next time, pay attention. Have fun.
He waves his fingers at me as I get dragged into the spare room and see the costumes laid out on the bed. On the left, a Knight getup straight from the Middle Ages. On the right, a sparkling light-blue robe and matching hat.
Well, at least it’s not a court jester.
Nico laughs in our bond but doesn’t comment. I pick up the Knight costume and examine the helmet. Grinning like a fool, I summon one of my swords from Tartarus.