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Phineas cursed as he and Helios reached in to tear the two women apart while hoots and whistles egged them on.

“That wasn’t my fault, was it?” Rowan asked.

They took another step back as the fight fanned out to include bystanders who had their own grievances against each other.

“No.” He scowled. “This happens every time they see each other.”

“Should you stop it?”

“I don’t get involved in the affairs of in-family power struggles.”

“Even your own?” She raised an eyebrow.

He hesitated, “I’m not blood.”

“Enough!” Anya’s snarl preceded the emergence of two vines that snapped through the tiles and slapped the two women down to the ground, “It is my son’s special day and you dare disrespect him by fighting over this ongoing petty dispute?”

“You bitch!” Galina screeched and from the buffet tables off to the side, fruits came flying, aimed at Anya’s head.

Alessandro’s reflexes saved Rowan from a stray orange, and the fight exploded to include Anya.

Irritation swelled in Rowan and she tried to tamp it down, but as her own family approached and she saw an apple hit her father, she’d had enough.

She fingered the necklace hidden underneath her neckpiece, but as she was quickly learning, she was going to have to rely on more than magic for a while.

Using the years of training with Axel and her father, she caught on to the rhythm of the fight. She found an opening to execute her plan.

A punch in the face from Galina, a slash on her back from Opal and a whip of the vine to her leg from Anya had her reeling in sharp pain for the briefest of seconds.

She stamped down the urge to hit back that was as ingrained in her as her tendency to reach for magic first and ask questions later.

She whipped her hair back and straightened the crown as she set a glare to all three of the women, who stood in shock.

“Sorry to interrupt this fight with my coronation.” She cleared her throat and looked toward Alessandro. He stood stock still, his mouth slightly ajar. “I think I’d like a drink.”

Alessandro let out a short laugh, beamed at her and took her hand, the sleeping baby still in the crook of his arm as they walked away.

XOXOXOXO

Alessandro wanted nothing more than to whisk his mate away for maybe five more days of uninterrupted alone time to reward her for her brilliance in handling his family.

He glanced down to take her in once more and cursed when he saw the blood sliding down her face.

He was dabbing at the wound when her family reached them.

Lucifer looked unimpressed. “You can’t even keep her from being mauled by your family? How will she fare against your enemies?”

The words packed more of a punch than Alessandro would have cared to admit.

“That was called respect for my decision, Uncle Luz.” Rowan interjected.

“That was called weakness.” Lucifer’s eyes hadn’t moved from Alessandro and he felt Rowan’s irritation flare.

“This isn’t even about me.” She snapped and turned to the rest of her family. “Shots?”

“And carrot cake!” Axel held her arm out.

Rowan stood on the tips of her toes to give him a kiss before she and her family disappeared, dragging Lilith along as she glared at him, but didn’t utter a word.