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“Y ou ready?”

Mist took a deep breath and nodded. She wasn’t sure if it was true, but it wasn’t like she had a choice. Darius wasn’t going to stop until he either got what he wanted or he was dead. She was going with the second. She was done dealing with his psychotic ass. She wanted her life back.

“Let’s do this.”

Saint held out his hand and she slipped hers in it, then he opened the bedroom door and they stepped out into his living room. Zion sat on the couch, his legs spread wide, a beer in his hand. When he saw them, he put the bottle to his lips, tipped his head back, and drained it. Rising, he walked into the kitchen and sat the empty bottle on the counter.

Mist could tell by the look in his eyes that he had no desire to go back out with everyone else. His dark gaze tracked them as she and Saint crossed to the front door, and then he followed behind.

Glancing back at him, Mist gave him an out. “If you need to go, I understand.”

Zion’s eyes narrowed on her, his face flooding with anger. “No way am I letting those fuckers get to me when you need my help, little sister. You need me, I’m there. End of story.”

All her life she’d wanted this. A family who cared. There was no way she was turning him away now.

Slipping her other hand in one of his, she squeezed it, wanting to lend him some of her strength for the meeting ahead. “Same, brother. You ever need me, no matter what it is, I’m there.”

His eyes lit with humor when he asked, “What if it’s to bury a body?”

“I’ll bring the shovel,” she said seriously. He was giving her unconditional loyalty and she was going to give the same to him.

Zion held her gaze for a moment, then gave her a nod. “I’ll bring the beer.”

“Sounds like a party none of us want to miss,” Saint said with a grin.

“Hell yeah.” Zion let go of her hand and held up his fist to Saint for a fist bump, then they turned and walked down the hall toward where everyone was waiting.

Mist froze the moment they entered the room, shock filling her at the number of people who were standing around waiting for them. Now she understood why Zion’s animal was going crazy. The place was packed, but while he probably didn’t know the majority of them, she knew almost every single person there.

All of her coven sisters, most of the Channings, and… holy shit… the king of demons was talking to Desi, Aurora, and two guys she’d never met before. She’d only seen him once, but he wasn’t someone you forgot. The power he held clung to him, making everyone who came near want to bow down to him. Which she thought must be expected with him being the head demon in charge.

Mist felt an arm slide around her waist and she looked up at her mate, blinking her eyes to fight back tears she refused to shed in front of everyone. They were all there for her. To help free her from Darius. It was overwhelming, and before she realized it, she had her face buried in Saint’s chest and was trembling from head to toe.

What the hell was wrong with her? She was stronger than this.

“It’s okay, kitty,” Saint said quietly as he held her close, stroking a hand down her hair. “They all just want to help.”

“But why?” she asked, leaning back to look up at him. “Why would they do that?”

“Because, you’re family, Mist. We would do anything for you.”

Mist stiffened, her hand clutching tightly to Saint’s shirt before she let go and turned to face Aurora. She stood with the seven other members of their coven, a small smile on her face. They had all come for her, but she honestly didn’t know what to say to them.

Did they really think of her as family? She’d always thought of them as her sisters, but not one of them had been to see her in months, except for Aurora. Family didn’t do that.

When she didn’t say anything, Katalyna shook her head. “If you had just stayed hidden like we told you too, he never would have found you.”

“What?”

“It’s the truth, Mist,” Katalyna said, her voice filled with irritation. “You should have just stayed in hiding. I have a charge that needs me, but instead I’m here trying to save your ass.”

Mist’s breath caught in her throat, her hands curling into small fists, her nails digging into her skin. A deep, rumbling sound of warning came from Saint, but Mist ignored him.

“I didn’t ask you to come.”

“No, you didn’t, but you’re a part of our coven.” Katalyna crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Mist. “That means you are our sister until the Goddess says different, and we are obligated to put you first.”

“What the fuck?”

Mist turned tear-filled eyes to God who was striding across the room, his face dark with fury, but she was unable to say anything.

Katalyna had come to help out of a feeling of obligation. That was it. She didn’t want to be here for her. Did the others feel the same? Like they were required to help her just because they were in the same coven?

“Look it’s nothing personal.” Katalyna shrugged. “We all just have a job to do, and we can’t do it here.”

“Get the fuck out of my clubhouse!” God roared, pointing a finger at Katalyna.

“Look…”

“No!” God held up a hand. “I allowed all of you to be here because you said you wanted to help my brother’s mate. It sounds to me like you couldn’t give a fuck whether she lives or dies, so you can leave.” When Katalyna looked as if she were going to argue, his eyes turned a ruby red, fire blazing across his skin as he snarled, “Get. The. Fuck. Out.” He took a step closer to her. “Unless you need my enforcers to remove you.”

Heaven and Rapture appeared behind the witches, and Mist gasped as their bodies seemed to grow bigger, flames sliding over them and large fangs dropping in their mouth. She was suddenly looking at their demons, and damn were they impressive.

“We’d be happy to remove them,” Rapture growled, raising hands with sharp claws that he held out to his sides. “Saint’s old lady deserves better than people who are here just out of obligation.”

“Agreed,” Saint snarled, moving up beside her, his own flames sliding over his body. “If you aren’t here because you want to be, get the fuck out.”

Katalyna glared at them a moment longer, then blinked, leaving the room.

“Genesis.”

Genesis pushed off from the wall he’d been leaning against and headed their way. “Yeah, Prez?”

“She does not get back in here.” God turned his glowing, red eyes to the rest of the witches. “Any of you feel the same way?”

“Look,” Sirena held up a hand in a placating manner as she took a step toward them. “While I don’t like the fact that Mist left the place where she was safest, I want to be here for her. She’s one of us. Our sister.”

“You left her alone in that place for months!” Saint hollered, his voice thundering around the room. “None of you even fucking stopped by to see her. You expect her to think you give a shit about her now, when you couldn’t take twenty minutes out of your day to drop in and have a cup of coffee?”

“Except Aurora,” Mist cut in softly. “She let me help her and her family a couple of times.”

“No, he’s right, Mist. You’re a part of my family, and I should have been there for you,” Aurora said, holding a hand out to her. “I wasn’t, but I’m here now, and I want you to know that I love you and I’m not going anywhere.”

Mist stared at her hand for a long moment, before finally clasping it with her own. “I believe you,” she whispered. “And I love you too.”

When God glared at the others, Zara snapped, “You just try to remove me, demon. I dare you. Mist is my sister and I am staying right here with her.”

“Wow, Princess, you sure know how to get a room all riled up.” The voice was full of amusement, and one she’d never heard before.

Mist glanced over to see one of the demons she didn’t know smack the other in the head. “Don’t be an idiot, Drax.”

When she glanced over at Saint in confusion, he looked at the two and huffed a breath. “My brothers, Daegan and Draxian.”

“But why are they picking on Desi? She hasn’t even said anything.”

Saint chuckled, leaning down to place a kiss on her forehead. “While Desi keeping quiet definitely isn’t normal, they aren’t picking on our little sister, Princess. They are talking about you.”

“But,” Mist’s gray eyes widened and she looked at him in shock as realization hit her.

A loud, booming laughter filled the room and the king walked over to them, a smiling Desi at his side. “Did it just dawn on you that you are now royalty, daughter?”

She couldn’t stop the sob that left her as her hand went up to cover her mouth. She turned, leaning her forehead against Saint’s chest as she tried to get ahold of herself. The king had called her daughter. She’d never been anyone’s daughter before, and now this man said it as if he’d always called her that. Another sob escaped and she whispered, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Saint held her close, nuzzling her head with his cheek. Not once did he press her to say or do anything, he just held her and waited patiently. She could hear the murmur of voices around her, but she tuned them out, not wanting to know what was being said about the mental breakdown she seemed to be having.

Finally, after several long minutes, Mist took a deep breath and raised her head, meeting his gaze. “Thank you.”

Saint cradled her cheeks in his large hands and ran his thumbs across her skin, removing her tears. “You never have the thank me for standing beside you, mate.”

“I promise, I’m not normally a hot mess like this.”

It was all he’d really seen since she’d come through that portal. Tears and what she considered weakness on her part. Mist hated it. She was a strong person, not a freaking pansy that had to be catered to. She needed to pull up her big girl panties and move on. They had a demon to hunt.

“Look at me,” Saint growled, making Mist realize she’d lowered her eyes to his chest. When she raised them again to meet his, he said loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, “You are a fierce warrior with a gentle heart who helps so many who need it. You fight hard for them, because you care so much about them. If it wasn’t for you, there would be so many lost souls out there who wouldn’t have a chance to do great things with their lives.” Leaning down, he kissed her hard. “I am proud to call you my mate, my old lady. Mine.”

“Ah, isn’t that sweet? Too bad she’s really mine.”

Mist heard the one voice who should not be in a room full of demons, shifters, and witches who considered him their mortal enemy. She turned to see Prince Darius Riorden walking toward them as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Time to come home, my witch.”