Chapter 57
Raven
“It’s so peaceful here.” Kai nodded in agreement as we stared out across the lake from our spot on a bench under some towering pines.
We’d been here a week while Maverick spent time with his father.
From what Maverick had told me, his dad had hunkered down in a cave a hundred miles away from the valley and gone into a state of hibernation while he grieved his mate.
Against all odds, he’d woken up once the weather warmed up and made his way back home.
The old bear had said very little, but his aura had gradually brightened from a pale gray blue to a warm green. Being with his son and extended family had given him a reason to live.
“I hope Mav’s dad meets another lady bear,” I continued when Kai remained silent. My merman was a male of few words, but I enjoyed the quiet time we spent together. “It would be nice for him. I know Nula has helped Adam, and vice versa.”
It had taken a while, but I’d eventually accepted Nula’s place in Adam’s life.
Having spent the day with them when he came to visit me at Starfall, I couldn’t help but see how happy he was.
Both of them glowed. Sure, they weren’t soul-bonded mates, but they were in love, and love healed most wounds.
Perhaps Maverick’s dad would find love again.
Kai chuckled. “When he’s ready, he can ask your father for dating tips.”
That provoked a scowl. “So not funny, Kai!”
My dear dad was a prolific user of Magi-Dates, the dating app for cross-species hookups. He’d uploaded some truly disturbing photos, which I’d accidentally seen when he left his phone out.
Now, whenever we spent time together, all I could hear was a constant ping, ping, ping of notifications from females wanting some demon dick, as he liked to call it.
“He asked me for sex tips the other day,” Zane shared from behind me. “It gave me the ick.”
“Talking about sex gave you the ick?” I screwed up my eyes against the glare from the setting sun. “I find that hard to believe.” My incubus was the most open-minded of all my mates, even Rasmus.
“Joking, pet!” There was a long pause. “About the ick, not the sex tips.” A smirk followed. “I hooked him up with a siren acquaintance who sells love potions. The sort of potion that prevents chafing.”
“Oh my goddess, la la la la!” This was something no daughter needed to hear. “Please shut up, or bedroom privileges will be withdrawn indefinitely.”
Zane grumbled, not liking that at all.
“I’m seriously debating sealing the portal to the demon realm. For the greater good. Dad might claim he’s recruiting for his harem, but I get the feeling he’s just taking advantage of all the horny females in this realm after growing bored with demonesses.”
I paused, thinking. “Are demonesses horned and scaly?”
“No clue, pet. Never fucked a demoness.”
“Some are,” Kai said. “Before the portal closed, my mother entertained a group of demons.”
“Entertained as in…entertained?” I shuddered, even though not much Her Royal Bitchiness did shocked me these days.
“I don’t know, sweetheart. I was still a child then. But I saw the demons at a gala dinner, and two were visibly female. One had small horns and a tail.”
“Huh.” Maybe I’d ask my father, who continued to act all sulky that I hadn’t visited my ancestral home, as he loved to call it.
I’ll admit I was kind of curious about the demon realm, but not enough to want to chance sleeping in a vomit-pink bedroom.
And besides, what would happen if my dad refused to let me leave, like he did to my mother?
Not happening.
The sun had fully set by the time Rasmus joined me as I sat huddled in a thick blanket while Fig and Daisy explored the surrounding area.
Alaric had spent the afternoon helping Maverick build some furniture. Kai had gone for a swim, leaving me with my book, and Zane disappeared to go for a run. At least that’s what he told me. An unlikely story, given how shifty he’d acted when I questioned why he wasn’t wearing running shoes.
Rasmus brushed cool lips across my cheek in greeting. Being here wasn’t ideal for my vampire, but he’d made it work. During the day, if it was sunny, he stayed indoors and read with the drapes closed. Then, once dusk fell, he came outside and hung out with me.
He sat down beside me and draped an arm over my shoulders.
“Are you well, my darling?”
“Yeah. I like it here. Too much, really.”
“Why too much?”
I sighed. “Because we’ll have to go back to school soon, I guess, and that makes me sad.”
“Maverick tells me it will be the summer break in a few weeks, darling, and then we can travel. I’d like to show you my family’s estate. Florica is there now, repairing the damage.”
“Has any more of your family shown up?” The MIB were still tracing missing magicals from records discovered in the Mage Council offices, but none of those listed were vampires. At least not according to the data.
“No, I think Florica and I were the only ones to survive the virus. On this continent anyway.”
“I’m sure there must be other vampires out there. Maybe now that the mage supremacists have been ousted, the survivors will show themselves.”
Rasmus smiled. “I love your endless positivity, mea amica. Time will tell.”
We sat for a while, listening to the sounds of the forest. Despite the late hour, the creatures of the night were busy making a racket.
Fig, in particular, was having a ball. He’d grown even larger in the last week, and now that he and Daisy were a similar size, the two of them liked to play together.
Or not play, depending on how one viewed their antics.
I’d caught Daisy trying to eat Fig the other day, but one cross word from me and she’d backed down. Luckily, Fig hadn’t figured out how close he’d been to dying in a hellhound’s mouth.
“Because he’s the dumbest pig that ever lived,” Kenji scoffed. “You better come and rescue the furniture project. I fear it will end in tears any second now.”
“Oh my stars, Kenji says Maverick and Alaric are fighting.” Irritation flared. Could my mates not get along for one freaking day?!
“Then let’s go.” Rasmus stood, and I belatedly realized he’d dressed up in a smart shirt and pants, his black hair tied back with a strip of leather.
“You look nice.” My eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Have I forgotten a bear family dinner or something?” A horrified gasp fell from my lips. “Oh my goddess! I have, haven’t I? Maverick will be mad at me!”
My vampy mate swept me into his arms, ignoring my hysterics. “Relax. All is well.” Then he zoomed off at vampire speed toward the house.
We came to a stop outside the rustic cabin where Maverick’s father lived—our quarters were in the adjacent guesthouse, which was smaller but also more private.
Every window blazed with light, and from the many trucks and cars parked everywhere, all the bears in the area had arrived for a gathering.
I’d met Maverick’s Uncle Patrick when he and his crew came to work on the dorm building, but not the rest of his family.
“I should change,” I whined, digging my heels in as Rasmus steered me toward the house.
“You look beautiful, mea amica. Like always.”
What a liar. My hair was a tangled mess, and I’d spilled soup on my pants earlier, which Fig then attempted to eat.
“I can’t meet Maverick’s family looking like this, and besides, Fig and Daisy are still roaming free. Pretty sure they’ll eat the local wildlife if left unattended.”
“I have that covered, pet,” Zane said in my head.
Rasmus flicked his hand. Magic swirled around me, and when I looked down, a slinky cream dress replaced my soup-stained pants and ratty sweater. Even my hair was now styled and sleek.
I folded my arms across my chest, suspicious. “What’s going on?”
Rasmus smiled down at me, his red eyes twinkling in the glowing light from the house.
“Do you trust me?” Of course I trusted him. He was my soul-bonded mate. I trusted all my mates.
Except for maybe Zane.
I still hadn’t forgiven him for not warning me about the enormous spider in the shower the other day.
Huffing out a sigh, I nodded.
Taking my hand, Rasmus led me inside the house, which was surprisingly empty considering all the vehicles outside. The minute we reached the sliding doors that opened into a beautiful garden filled with fresh flowers and twinkling fairy lights, I understood why.
My other mates were gathered under a gazebo decorated with evergreen garlands and flowers. On their left, Glynda waited with Fig and Daisy, both of them wearing cute little flower garlands, although the one around Daisy’s neck looked a bit charred.
My father stood proudly next to Maverick on the right, wearing a peacock blue suit with matching designer shades.
Olaf and Florica were there too, as well as the witches I’d grown up with, plus some faces I didn’t recognize.
“Um…what’s going on?” My voice cracked with nerves when everyone turned to smile at me.
“Does he really need to spell it out for you?” Kenji rolled his eyes from his spot at Zane’s feet. The other three Ks congregated around Olaf, apparently asleep. I noted the heavy-looking box on the dragon shifter’s knee and wondered if he’d brought his eggs with him.
“It’s time for our bonding ceremony,” Rasmus informed me with a smile.