19. Zofina

nineteen

Zofina

“ Y our mother is dead, bitch, now you’re an orphan just like us.” Droxley taunts me as I struggle against the chains binding me to the floor.

“I swear you are going to rue the day you fucked with me, Droxley. When I get out of here, and I will get out of here, I am going to kill you,” I snarl, trying again in vain to release my magic and flay his ass where he stands.

“Awwww, is poor little Zo-Zo unable to do her wittle magic tricks? How does it feel to be me?” Droxley sneers.

Wait… he can do magic… and he’s in Luc’s torture chamber still. This can’t be real life. Am I asleep? I need to wake up!

“Zofina!”

Robert?! Now I know I must be dreaming.

“Oh, my love. What’s happened to you?” I feel a ghost hand caress my face.

“Robert! Robert! My love! Are you here?” Calling out, I thrash against my bindings even harder. “Robert, I will find you my love! I won’t leave you again I promise. If I can just get out of here.”

“ Robert, oh Robert, save me Robert .” Marjorkorie’s voice hits me before she steps out of the shadows. “At least I know why you were so obsessed with that human . He sure did know how to dick a demon down, didn’t he, Sis? Too bad I killed him before I came back to hell.”

“You fucking bitch!” I roar and my magic finally responds to my heightened emotions causing my demon form to grow several sizes, the chains snapping, no longer able to hold me back.

“I will kill you!” I leap from my place but instead of coming face to face with my siblings, my eyes pop open and I see him. “Robert?”

“Oh my love, Zofina, you’re awake. You’re awake! And you’re here, and I’m here. We’ve got so much to discuss, I’ve missed you so much. Why did you leave me… us?” Robert rambles

“Woah, slow down Dad, give her a moment to wake up, she's been asleep for days.” Maddy places a hand on her father’s shoulder and he visibly calms.

“Days?” I gasp. “What happened?”

“It’s a long story,” Madelyne grimaces. “You kinda fell into a comatose state like Luc did. But the mate magic healed you like it did him! So no worries. You’re all better. And look, Dad’s here.”

“Mate magic? Madelyne, Zofina? Someone. Please explain what is going on,” Robert demands.

He’s really here. I never thought I’d seen him again.

I reach my hand out to touch his face. I have to feel him. Prove to myself he’s real. When I make contact, his emotions slam into me.

Surprise.

Relief.

Undying love.

Robert’s hand covers mine on his cheek. As he closes his eyes and leans into my touch, I see he has my mark. I got the mark on my hand after we slept together the first time. It was my only outward sign that he was my fated and the only thing I’ve had to remember him by for the past twenty plus years.

I never dreamed he’d have a matching mark like mates of my kind. I always assumed the bond would be different because he’s human. Coming to Hell must have strengthened the mate bond. Maddy said that’s how I was brought out of that horrible dream, the mate magic.

“I never thought I’d see you again, Fi,” he murmurs.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Bertie. I never meant to hurt you. I-”

“Shhh. It’s okay. It’s in the past. We’re together now. That’s all that matters.”

Unable to hold myself back any longer, I cover his lips with mine. After decades apart, this feels like coming home. I kiss my mate like a lover coming home from war. Like an inmate finally released from prison and reunited with their true love. I kiss him with every fiber of my soul. Every scrap of love I have for him thrumming through my veins.

His tongue caresses my own like it did all those years ago when we first fell in love. It ignites a hunger within me I’m not sure will ever be satisfied. His hands glide up and down my ribs until he cups both my breasts squeezing them the way he used to that always drove me wild and I moan into his mouth.

“Ah-hem,” a throat clears and more than a few chuckles fill the air, including my daughter’s , reminding me we’re not alone.

Damn. Would it be rude to tell them to fuck off so I can fuck my mate?

“We’ll just be going, now,” Maddy says. “I need to bleach my eyes. Congrats. I’m glad you have each other again. I’ll talk to you later Dad.”

Robert turns a bright red and coughs awkwardly. “Right. Yes. Thank you, Madelyne.”

I look around and catch Zar’s eye. I expect him to be pissed. I can’t imagine his reaction to meeting Maddy’s dad after how he reacted to meeting Maddy. But he has a kind smile. A smile I haven’t seen in some forty years.

Has he forgiven me?

“I’m happy for you, Zo,” he murmurs. “Everything worked out the way it was supposed to. No hard feelings.”

I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to cry.

I smile and nod my head. If the smile is shaky and my eyes are watery, there’s just nothing to be done about it.

The six of them disappear in a cloud of smoke and despite all the questions and the conversations that need to be had, the only thing on my mind is reconnecting with my mate.

Madelyne

I’m happy for my parents and all but I’ve never seen my dad kiss anyone like that and I definitely never want a repeat.

Gakk, old people love.

Luc clears his throat, thoroughly annoyed at having to see his daughter making out with someone and I stifle a chuckle. My parents break apart and Dad looks like a freaking fire engine. I can’t exactly read Mom’s mind like I can my guys, but I’m getting some pretty strong fuck off vibes from her.

“We’ll just be going, now,” I draw out. “I need to bleach my eyes. Congrats. I’m glad you have each other again. I’ll talk to you later Dad.”

Not waiting for a response, I send Luc back to his room and my guys to mine. I’m going to get my best friend before he ends up mated to a demon without knowing what he’s signing up for.

I tell my magic to take me to him and Georgym but I somehow didn’t expect it to drop me in Georgym’s living room right in front of where they’re making out like two teenagers on the couch.

Fucking Hell. Is everyone in my life trying to fuck like a bunch of fucking jack rabbits right now?

“Sorry to interrupt. I came to save you from him, but I guess you don’t need saving, do you, Georgym?” I arch a brow at the demon.

At the sound of my voice, Georgym wrenches away from my bestie who is still groping him despite my presence.

“Your Highness! It’s not… Babe. Stop ,” he hisses at Reed as his hand tries to dip into his pants.

“It’s not, what? You’re not taking advantage of my human best friend?” I raise a brow at him, fighting to maintain the pissed-off facade as he pales.

“Oh, shut up. You know damn well no one could ever take advantage of me ,” Reed scoffs. “Why are you interrupting my demon dick down?”

“Well, I didn’t realize I was . Looks like the dick down is still a go from here.”

Georgym reaches down and pries Reed’s hand away.

“Is everything okay with Princess Zofina, my queen?”

“Mom’s fine. Thanks for asking, Geo. You don’t mind if I call you that, do you?”

“‘Tis an honor to be gifted a nickname from you, my queen.”

“ Georgym ,” I groan. “Don’t say shit like that.”

“What, my queen?” he asks, confused.

“Yes, Geo, that, please stop that. Call me Maddy please, especially if you’re going to be ‘dicking down’ my bestie on his first day in hell.” Georgym groans at my use of air quotes, or maybe because I said ‘dicking down’ again. “Anyhow, now that I know my bestie is safe for the night I think I’m going to retire to my room for my own dicking.”

Georgym groans but Reed snorts and pops up off the couch crossing the living room to wrap me in a slightly awkward hug.

“Jesus Mads, these wings make it hard as fuck to hug you.” Reed chuckles and pulls out of our hug.

“Watch yourself Reedy Bear, Glinda and Elphaba will smack the shit out of you if you run your mouth too much.”

Reed bends at the waist over clutching his stomach as he wheezes with laughter. “You… you named… you named your wings after the wicked witch and the good witch?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, yuck it up, pretty boy. You’re just jealous you don’t have wings of your own.” I turn back towards Georgym on the couch before continuing, “Geo, when you come to the castle tomorrow could you please drop Reed off in Luc’s Library? Luc, the twins, and myself are going to see if we can find anything that will help Luc locate his mates topside. Then tomorrow evening I am insisting on a family dinner for which you both will be in attendance.”

“As you wish my- er Maddy,” Geo proclaims as he rises from the couch and does his awkward little arm cross, bow thing.

“That too Geo, stop it. No more bowing to me, okay?”

“Okay.” Geo nods resolutely while Reed crosses the room and leans into his side.

“We’ll see you tomorrow bestie, I promise. Love you, bitch.” Reed blows exaggerated air kisses at me.

“Love you too, Reed. See you both tomorrow.” With that I step back into my cloud of fog and pop into my quarters back at the castle.

Exhausted, I make my way to my bed. Completely alone for the first time in days, I think myself clean and ready for bed before falling dramatically into my comfy cozy blanket pile. Before my head even fully hits the pillow I’m slipping into a peaceful sleep for the first time in months really.