20. Zarreth

twenty

Zarreth

C oming back to Maddy’s room after grabbing dinner from the kitchens and finding her passed out wasn’t exactly what I expected, but she looked so peaceful, I didn’t have the heart to wake her. So I sent a mental message out to her mates and then climbed into bed next to her to join her in a peaceful slumber. I suppose that’s how I ended up here in the middle of this demonic puppy pile.

Bodies surround me on every side and I finally understand why Maddy trashes and squirms like a possessed ferret to get out of bed every morning.

I really have to pee.

Just then the thought hits me. I can use my, well I guess technically Maddy’s magic, for this. Closing my eyes I form the image of Maddy’s en suite in my mind and when I open them again I am standing in front of the porcelain throne I so desire.

After a quick refresh in the bathroom I exit to find my mate and bondmates rising from their spots as well.

“Is da bathroom freeb now?” Maddy asks in a sweet sleepy mumble that melts my heart.

“Sure is, Sweetheart. How you feeling? You passed out pretty hard last night.”

“Mmmm. Pee first, talky later,” she murmurs before disappearing.

“What the fuck is happening?” Oz mutters as his brows scrunch together.

By the time Maddy gets back from the bathroom, he’s said some variation of what the fuck ten times.

“I have to go to work, Princess. Something weird is going on with the souls in torture hall four.”

“No worries. I figured you’d need to get back to work. I’m going to hang out with Luc and Reed today. Let me know if you need me to help with whatever the issue is.”

“I’m sure I can handle it. You have fun catching up.” Oz kisses Maddy before popping off to work.

“I need to check in too. Make sure everyone is aware of the change in leadership,” Belz says.

“Could you tell everyone not to do that stupid bow thing, please . I might die of embarrassment then you’d have to get a new Devil,” Maddy groans.

“If that’s what you want, Amica Mea .”

“It is.” She nods resolutely.

Belz kisses her before he’s gone too, leaving just my brother and I with our mate.

“Well, I don’t have a mission at the moment. So I’m all yours, Angel.” Zeph winks.

“And I don’t have a job, so you won’t be getting away from me anytime soon.” I smirk. Turns out quitting was an even better idea than I thought. Now I get to spend time with my mate while everyone else is busy.

“Who said you could come?” Maddy arches a brow at us.

“Are you saying you don’t want us?” My twin fakes incredulity… or maybe it’s not fake.

“If that’s what you're hearing.” She shrugs. Fucking shrugs .

Zeph gasps. “If Oz were here, he’d spank you.”

“Well, Oz isn’t here, is he?”

Don’t worry, Princess. I’ve got a new tally going for you already. You’re up to three, now. Oz chimes in through the bond.

“ Three ? How?” Maddy screeches out before glaring at my brother and I like it's our fault.

Oz doesn’t respond and my brother and I just smile, knowing exactly what the new spankings are for.

“You were saying?” I tease.

“Fine. You can come with.” Maddy rolls her eyes. “They just got back to the palace, so we better go.”

“You know where they are?” Zeph tips his head like a golden retriever.

“I do now.” She shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s like the palace alerted me to their presence. I can sense everyone within the palace walls. All these new powers are going to take some getting used to,” she grumbles.

“You’re handling it extremely well, Sweetheart. When I got my healing power, I wanted to hide from the world. I didn’t want anyone to know what I could do. But you’re a natural, acclimating to each new thing thrown your way with grace I’ve only ever seen from your grandmother.”

She blushes at the compliment.

We’re going to have to work on that. My mate should expect compliments, not be embarrassed by them. I’m going to smother her with praise until she no longer flushes at a kind word thrown her way.

Without another word, she pops us out of her room to the hall outside Luc’s quarters.

Wonder what we’re doing here.

Reed and Georgym walk around the corner holding hands and I’m not at all surprised to see the mate mark running down Reed’s upper arm, poking out of his shirt sleeve.

Gregorym moves fast. Zeph chuckles in my head.

Yes, he does. I agree.

They’re adorable together, aren’t they? Maddy sighs dramatically.

Hey. We’re adorable together, too . Zeph grumbles in our heads making Maddy’s lips twitch.

Georgym and Reed stop in front of us and joy radiates off the two of them like the sun.

“Did you know demons could mate with humans?” Reed smiles.

“I did,” Maddy chuckles. “My mother is a demon and my father is human, remember?”

“Oh. Yeah. I knew that.” He shrugs.

Maddy giggles. “Okay, Geo. You can leave now. Be in the main dining hall at six this evening for family dinner. No arguments, I’ve got him from here.”

Geogrym looks hesitant to leave his newly bonded mate, and I can’t blame him. Nothing could take me away from Maddy right now. But his queen gave him an order and he’s always been a good guard. Eventually he bows his head in acquiesce before kissing his mate goodbye.

Once Georgym is gone, Maddy sends us to Luc’s library. Reed squeals like a girl when he sees the rolling ladder.

Why does everyone have that reaction? It’s just a freaking ladder. Not everyone has magic or wings to get the books from the top shelf. It’s really not that big of a deal.

Reed looks at Maddy with wide eyes. “Can I?”

A grin splits Maddy’s face and she nods. “Why do you think we’re here?”

“Oh my god, I love you!” He throws his arms around my mate and if I couldn't feel the purely platonic love Maddy has for him radiating through our bond, I might be jealous.

As fast as he hugged her, he pulls away and runs to the ladder. Looking back at us with a face splitting smile, he stands on the first step and pushes off the ground with his other foot, the ladder gliding smoothly across the floor as he swings an arm out and throws his head back.

“Oh my god, that was amazing!” Reed cheers as he hops down.

“I know, right? My inner child was shouting with joy when I did it.

“Your inner child ?” Zeph arches a brow. “Pretty sure there was nothing internal about your squealing when you were playing with the ladder, Angel.”

“Oh shut up. You wouldn’t understand.” She says haughtily.

“Someone didn’t watch Beauty and the Beast as a kid and it shows,” Reed says.

Maddy nods with a pained expression on her face. “It’s a sad truth. But that’s okay. They don’t need to understand for us to enjoy it.”

When Reed gets back to where we’re standing, Maddy wraps her arm through his.

“We’ll be back,” she says.

“ Maddy … If you disappear on me again, you won’t have to worry about Oz spanking your ass. I’ll do it. And I’ll make sure it’s not near as enjoyable,” I warn.

“So dramatic.” She rolls her eyes. “We’re just going for a walk in the stacks.”

I narrow my eyes. She drops Reed’s arm and walks over to where I stand.

“I won’t leave the library. You have my word.” Power courses over me at her vow and my shoulders sag.

“Thank you, Sweetheart. Have fun catching up. We’ll be here if you need us.”

“I always need you, Zar,” she says before kissing me then skipping away.

Madelyne

As soon as we’re out of eyesight, Reed pounces, peppering me with questions. I explain everything from my mom leaving when I was a baby to my aunt controlling my dad and forcing him to marry her. By the time I get to the part about Chad being a demon, he’s vibrating.

“I knew there was something wrong with that creep!”

“Oh, that’s not the half of it. He kidnapped me and tried to bind me to himself so he could use my powers.”

“Girl! What the actual fuck?”

“It’s okay. He’s dead now.” I shrug. “But that’s how I found out I was part demon and supposedly destined to be the next ruler of Hell.”

“Man. And I thought my family was bad,” he mutters.

“Yeahhhh, kidnapping and murder are big in my family. Been kidnapped twice now. Hopefully that’s done now, though. Both my psycho uncles are dead and my evil aunt is… occupied, long-term.”

“Damn, girl. Is that something I should be worried about? Like no one’s gonna kidnap or torture me, right? You’re just all sorts of special?”

“Oh, yeah. Super special,” I laugh. “Sooo, you’re staying?” I ask hopefully.

“I mean… I guess I’m mated to a demon now. And my best friend is the fucking devil. Why wouldn’t I stay?”

“I really want you to stay. I’ve missed you so much . But I don’t want you to stay just because of me. And if it’s Geo… I can release him of his duties and he can go back to Earth with you if that’s what you want,” I offer, hoping with every fiber that he turns me down.

“Bitch. Why the fuck would I want to go back? There’s literally nothing there for me. I got fired not long after you disappeared for missing too many days. I was inconsolable. I was at your dad’s every day asking for updates. Eventually we packed up your shit and had to get rid of your sweet kitty. I didn’t know your dad was allergic.” He grimaces. “Don’t worry, though, I found her a good home.”

“Thanks, Reedy. I’m sorry I worried you so much. I should have gone back to at least let you know what was happening but it’s been a whirlwind since I got here.”

“Girl! You found out your granddaddy is the devil , you’re next in line, and you got four fine as hell mates. I would not have thought about you for a fucking second!”

We both laugh even if we know it’s not true.

“I’m so glad to have you back,” I sigh.

“Me too, Maddy-poo. Me too. And thanks to Geo, and you making me this lovely bracelet, you’ll never have to live without me again.”

Pulling away from Reed I swipe the tear from my cheek and look at his bracelet, thoughtfully.

The magical stone was just a quick fix to get my dad here without incident. But now that they’re here, I should really come up with some better, more permanent protection than that.

“Alright, alright enough of the emotional stuff. Did you know this library has a copy of every single book ever written?”

“You mean every book ever published?” Reed asked.

“No, I mean written. Come on the guys said there's a whole section of half written books by children authors, let's go see if we can find it”

What better way to spend the day than lost in a nearly endless library with your bestie?

After spending hours giggling over half finished children's stories and coming across several names we recognize, Reed and I make our way back to where Luc and the twins sit.

“Find anything interesting?” I ask, making my way over to perch on the arm of Zeph's chair.

“Nothing super helpful in regards to finding Luc's mates, but I did read a bit about fully sealed mate bonds and the power increases that happen as a result. Did you know that we aren't a rare case? A lot of supernaturals earthside have mate groups and almost all of them with more than three in a group experience some sort of power change or increase once the bond is… sealed.” Zeph's cute rambling comes to an awkward stop as he realizes what he just admitted in front of my grandfather.

“Oh, so just a crazy group orgy and everyone's powers increase? How cool! What sorts of powers do you guys have? And how were they different before?” Reed’s chipper response cuts through the awkwardness hanging in the air and we all laugh at his animated inquisition.

“Could we not talk about orgies in front of my grandfather ?” I groan.

“ Neptis , I have been around for a long, long time. Do you really think I’m new to the orgy scene?” Luc raises a brow and smirks at me.

“Gross! I don’t wanna hear about that!”

Luc throws his head back and fucking cackles .

Asshole.

“I’m just saying… I know all about orgies, my dear.”

“Lalalalala.” I cover my ears and sing to drown out the sound of my grandfather’s voice.

I fully expect my bestie to laugh at me, but my mates should be on my side, right? I narrow my eyes at my twins, both of which quickly sober.

“Right… It’s about dinner time, isn’t it?” Zar asks, attempting to change the subject. “Why don’t we take Reed back to your chambers and we can all get washed up and ready for dinner.”

“Oooo, I get to see where the magic happens? Yes, please!” Reed says linking arms with me obviously ready to be transported.

“See you in the dining room in just a few minutes, Avus, ” I say to Luc and with that, I send myself, Reed, and the twins to my room in a cloud of smoke.