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The thud of someone coming across the bridge echoed off the cliffs, and I spun around. Jagger strode toward us, naked and glorious, Rome following, holding the smaller hound in his arms, and by the looks of the pup’s back leg, it was probably broken.

I stood and rushed to Jagger, flinging my arms around him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m good.” A strange look shifted over his face. “But we might need your help…with her.”

“Her?”

My mate actually looked shaken, and I realized the same expression was mirrored on Rome’s face.

“The hound’s a female?” I said.

He dipped his chin.

“But I thought…you said there weren’t any female hounds.”

He turned back to the small hound in Rome’s arms. “There aren’t…weren’t.”

Rome carefully lowered her to the ground, and I sat beside her. “I’m Sutton. I’m a healer, and if you’ll allow me to, I can fix that broken leg.”

She bared her teeth, but there wasn’t much fight behind it. She’d worn herself out.

“We need to get this collar off her,” I said. “The goddess only knows how long she’s been trapped in her animal form.”

Rome moved closer, and the pup’s chest heaved with exertion as she snarled at him. He made a soft sound in the back of his throat. “Easy,” he rumbled.

She kept her teeth bared but stopped snarling.

“You need to damage the sigil to get it off.”

Rome took the massive knife that Brick handed him, and the smaller hound tried to jerk away.

Rome grabbed the thick iron collar, stopping her, and steam rose from his hand, followed by the scent of burning flesh.

He barely flinched, just made that low, soft sound again as he worked the blade over the parent sigil, breaking the lines and the demon magic.

Not releasing her, he handed the blade back to Brick, then tore the collar off. Sparks burst from it like they had when I’d removed Brick’s and Kurgan’s, and Rome tossed it over the cliff and into the burning river.

She shifted instantly.

Rome blinked down at her, his nostrils flaring. She was curled up, covering herself. Her hair was the same gold as her fur and streaked with a deeper brown. It covered her face.

Rome held out his hand to Brick. “My shirt.” Brick tossed it to him, and Rome laid it beside her. “You can put this on.”

Her hand shot out, and she grabbed it, holding it to her chest.

“Let’s give her some privacy,” I said.

They quickly did as I said, turning their backs. “Can I help you?”

“Yeah,” she said huskily. “Please.”

She pushed herself up to sit and we got the shirt on, covering her, and the males all turned back, looking at her with obvious stunned expressions.

I quickly did what I could for her leg, and she barely made a sound when the bone snapped back into place.

I pumped her full of healing magic, letting it flow through her, and saw the scars inside her.

She’d come close to death once, very close.

“How does that feel?”

“Yeah, good. Thanks.”

Jagger held out his hand to help her up. She looked at it but didn’t move.

“This is Jagger, the alpha’s lieutenant. He’s a good male. They all are. No one here will hurt you.”

“Jagger?” she rasped.

“Yeah,” he said and crouched low.

She tilted her head back, looking up at him—and Jagger froze. His eyes flared, then he shot to his feet. Kurgan eased closer as well.

“What’s going on?” I asked, looking between them.

She struggled to stand, and Rome helped her get to her feet, supporting most of her weight. “My eyes, you recognize them?”

Her eyes were stunning, unusual, like nothing I had ever seen. Bright pale gold that shone like the real thing, surrounded by moss green and ringed with a deeper shade.

Jagger paced away, then back, closing the space between them. “You died.”

She huffed out a strange laugh. “Everyone thought I did, but it turned out I didn’t. Uncle Lucifer thought not telling you was for the best.”

Uncle Lucifer ? That wasn’t something I ever thought I’d hear.

Jagger growled viciously. “Where did he hide you?”

“I was brought up by the handmaids. I’ve lived with them my whole life.”

“What’s going on?” Loth asked. “You know this female? And how the fuck does she even exist?”

She turned to him. “My name’s Zarriah, but I go by Zuri. I exist because Jagger here sired me. Though, I’m guessing he thought I was a male?”

“I had no idea,” Jagger growled. “You were covered, and I…I assumed…” His throat worked.

Holy shit. The pup he thought he lost—and she was standing right there in front of him. I reached out and took Jag’s hand.

Zuri turned to Kurgan next, who had moved closer still, pulling Lenny along with him.

“And going by your scent, I’m guessing you’re my brother.

” She held out her hand, and Kurgan took it and lifted it to his nose, scenting her as well.

“The handmaids told me about you,” she said gently.

“I’m happy to finally meet you, Kurgan.”

He made a sound similar to Rome, a soft throaty chuffing, then looked at Jagger. “She needs to be protected.”

Jagger’s jaw was like granite. “Yes, son, she does.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I can look after myself.”

“What did Beelzebub want with you?” Lothar asked her.

She shrugged. “No idea, but can we all agree that he’s a giant asshole?” Then she glanced up at Rome. “Thanks for the shirt. I might need your help to walk for a while yet.”

He grunted, then swung her up into his arms. Kurgan growled and Jagger stepped forward, then Rome bared his teeth at both of them.

Jagger sucked in a steadying breath and visibly shook out his shoulders, then jerked his chin up at Rome and put his hand on Kurgan’s shoulder. “Be calm, son, Zarriah’s safe with Rome. You have Lenny to look after, and I have Sutton.”

Kurgan nodded, then tugged Lenny closer.

We headed off after that, and I squeezed Jagger’s hand. “Are you okay?”

“No, and I won’t be. Not until I get some answers.”

Lucifer had lied to him. Again. Of course, he wasn’t okay. “I’m so sorry.”

He stopped and tugged me to him. Then he lifted me off my feet and pressed his forehead to mine. “Thank fuck I have you by my side.”

He kissed me, then put me back on my feet, and we headed for Lucifer’s quarters, and going by Jagger’s red eyes and granite jaw, it wasn’t going to be a happy reunion.