Chapter 2
Dario
Iwipe my hands and throw the bloody rag into the flames of the corpse I was torturing.
Enzo ran off ahead to meet the demands of our little nieces.
Those girls are scarier than any job Hades gives us, and the lazy ass didn’t want to get his pristine paws dirty before taking our Zio roles seriously today.
Sighing, I light one more Turkish cigar before opening the portal to my brother Nico’s estate.
I’m greeted by the sound of giggling that sounds like bells and the smell of fresh bread. I stop at the kitchen table and tear a piece of the still warm loaf and dip it into the family’s olive oil before stuffing it into my mouth.
“Mmm,” I groan, realizing I haven’t eaten in days.
Nutrition isn’t needed in the underworld, as it is up here, so I only indulge while visiting. I’m finishing off the bread when the girls come running into the kitchen calling for help.
My hackles raise, and I glare around the room looking for the treat. When Enzo comes in chasing them in full armor with his swords circling in the air, I frown. I’m about to mind link him when Trixie pulls on my pant leg, practically climbing me as she yells.
“SAVE US, ZIO DARIO!” I grunt as I lift her up and tuck Leigh behind my other leg.
“He can’t help you from the furious hunger dragon,” Enzo says in a gallant voice.
Dragon? Didn’t we kill them off?
Enzo rolls his eyes and drops the game they are playing. To stare at me.
Yes, you buzzkill.
“The girls and I have been waiting for ages. What took you so long? Never mind. Quick, go change, or we’re going to be late.” Enzo points down the hall, and I shake my head, not understanding anything that’s happening around me.
So no Dragon?
I start walking, waiting for clarification as I enter the spare room to find another costume on the bed waiting for me.
No, would I be so calm if they were back wanting revenge?
Good point.
I lift the robes and hat, turning to my brother with too many questions to ask.
“You’re a wizard, and I’m a knight. Leigh is my princess, and Trixie is your witch.” Ah, I get it now.
“Wizard!” Trixie growls, and her eyes shift to slits as her aura darkens around the pink edges.
Her Siren nature is close to the surface when she’s upset, and I feel sorry for any fool who crosses her when she’s older.
“Zio Enzo forgot Trixie. She’s a wizard, Dario. Now hurry up!” He takes the girls out so I can change.
I carefully remove, fold, and lay my suit jacket over the chair at the desk so any blood I might have missed doesn’t damage Abbie’s white duvet on the bed.
I slip the robe on and button it up before standing in front of the mirror to adjust the hat on my head.
The light blue and silver details of the pattern bring out the colors in my eyes.
Dark blue near the pupil that fades to black when in my human form. Amber in my true form, but only beings on the verge of death ever see them then. It’s normally the last thing they ever see.
Ready.
I mind-link Nico and Enzo, so they all know I’m set to leave. I may have agreed to do this, but I will not prolong the day any further than I need to. I still have three souls to track down before I can take my leave of this year’s responsibilities to dear old dad.
Kitchen. Abbie wants pictures.
Of course she does. I love my brother’s mate, and I would do just about anything for her or the girls, but these human rituals are so mundane. But I walk my ass out and stand where I’m told.
“Smile!” Abbie says, lifting a camera to snap the photos she wants.
My expression never changes as the flashes momentarily blind me. A growl of annoyance escapes my lips, and the room freezes. The temperature plummets and Nico’s alpha aura pushes down on me.
“Don’t mind him, Abbie. He’s grumpy about the flashing hurting his sensitive eyes.” Enzo laughs it off, and Nico backs down.
“I meant no disrespect.” My underused voice says clearly as I approach my sister-in-law and kiss her temple, making Nico the growler now.
Easy. Or she’ll get upset again. You do not want her to stress the pup.
“Thank you. Alright, Leigh, please be careful and concentrate so you don’t end up in Siberia again.” Abbie says as Enzo lifts Trixie into his left arm and Leigh takes both our hands.
“That happened one time, mama!” She giggles and closes her eyes.
In the next moment, black smoke consumes us, and our bodies are pulled across time and space. When I blink them open a second later, we are on the opposite side of a brick building I recognize as the girls’ school.
“Mama said I had to bring us here so no one would notice,” Leigh explains with a huff.
Enzo puts Trixie down and grins at the girls.
“Rules are there to keep us safe. Remember you can break them later when you’re all grown up.” The girls giggle and pull us towards the front of the building.
You’re setting them up for failure with that logic.
We stand in line to check into the school, and I take a moment to scan the area.
Will you try to relax? Nothing is going to hurt the pups here, especially with us with them.
That’s exactly the kind of attitude that fucked up last night’s assignment. If I hadn’t been so overly prepared, we’d still be neck deep in Demons. I’m about to argue back when the wind shifts and an aroma like none other hits my nose.
MATE.