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S aint waited impatiently for his MC brother to show. It had only been ten minutes or so since God called him, but the man could have easily rifted, or even blinked, or jumped, or whatever the hell he called it, and been there by now. A sense of urgency was pushing at him, and he couldn’t stay still. While everyone else was seated at the table, Saint was stalking around it, one hand holding tightly to the picture of his beautiful mate.

Where was she? What was she going through right now at the hands of his brother? Saint was going to kill him. It was going to be a long, slow death with lots of blood and torture. There was nowhere that little bastard would be able to hide from him. He would track him to the ends of the earth and show him what happened when you threatened someone Saint cared about.

Cared about? Fuck, he’d never even met Mist. It didn’t matter. She belonged to him, just as he belonged to her. They’d figure all that out later. For now, all that mattered was that, brother or not, Darius was a dead man.

The door to the room slammed open and Genesis stood in the doorframe. The fucker was huge. Bigger than anyone Saint had ever seen. The man could have been a model with his pitch-black hair falling over his shoulders, dark, piercing eyes, and bulging muscles. His father was a demon, his mother a sorceress, and he’d received abilities from both parents. He worked with both white and dark magic, but primarily white, and was more powerful than any other demon or sorcerer any of them had come in contact with before.

Dark and imposing, he stood in the doorway, his gaze sweeping around the room. When his eyes landed on Aurora, he raised an eyebrow. Saint was surprised when Genesis bowed his head to her in a show of respect. “Sorceress.”

Aurora gave him a slight nod. “Sorcerer. Thank you for coming.”

Genesis’ eyes went to Desi, and they widened slightly. “Princess Desdemona.”

Desi bowed her head regally to him.

Dammit. They didn’t have time for this bullshit small talk. Something was wrong. Saint could feel it.

Striding over to where he’d left the bag of books, he grabbed them and quickly made his way back to where Genesis still stood. Holding them out to the man, along with the picture, he growled, “My mate is in trouble. She needs help now, but no one can track her. Something’s blocking her location. Black magic, we believe.” Saint slammed his fist into his chest, over his heart. “I vow to you, a favor for a favor. Find her however you have to.”

He'd just given the demon sorcerer something he’d never offered anyone else in his entire life. His word as a member of the royal family that if Genesis helped find Mist, then Saint would return the favor in the future, no questions asked, no matter what was needed of him.

Genesis cocked his head to the side, staring at him in contemplation, before stepping inside the room and shutting the door behind him. Reaching out, he took the picture. Saint bit back a growl, not wanting to give up the only thing he had at this time that showed his mate. The other man stared at the image thoughtfully for a long moment, rubbing his thumb down the edge of it.

“A sorceress?”

“Yes,” Saint ground out. His sorceress. He had no idea how Genesis could know that after just seeing a picture, but the man had gifts no one else in the room possessed.

“I will help you because you are my brother,” Genesis finally said, handing the picture back to him. Saint snatched it quickly, looking at it one last time before slipping it in his back pocket. “You don’t owe me a thing.”

Saint stared at him for a moment, surprised anyone would give up the chance to have that kind of vow from a demon prince, but decided to address it later. He had more important things to worry about right now. “She’s in trouble. We don’t have a bond yet. Hell, I’ve never even met her, but I can feel it just like I could feel that we are mates. Something’s wrong.”

His skin felt tight and uncomfortable. His gums throbbed with the need to let his fangs drop. His demon wanted to be let out so he could rain wrath and fire on the man who had his mate. He needed to find Mist and protect her.

Genesis took the bag Saint held out to him and removed the books from inside. The side of his mouth quirked up slightly at the sight of the MC Romance cover, but he didn’t say anything.

Closing his eyes, he held his hand over the books for a long moment before muttering, “She’s definitely being held somewhere by dark magic. I can’t breach it.” He ignored Saint’s growl of protest as he went on, “I don’t know who the sorcerer is who cast the spell. I know most dark magic wielders by their weaves and the vibes of their magic, but this is someone new.”

Everyone stayed silent while Genesis worked, even though Saint knew they all had questions, just like he did. Who the fuck was this new witch? Where had Darius found them? How could they be so powerful that even Genesis couldn’t breach their magic?

“That being said, they have made one fatal mistake.” Genesis handed the books back to Saint without even glancing in his direction and then held up his hands. Magic was radiating off him. All white magic, there was nothing dark about it. “While I may not be able to pass through the magical barrier to reach Mist, there is nothing keeping me from bringing her here.” He paused, before growling, “Get ready!”

Genesis began to chant quietly in a language Saint didn’t know. After a long moment, white light lit up the room, and Saint glanced up to see an oval shaped image of white hovering over the top of them on the ceiling, before it slid down the wall and stayed near where Heaven and Rapture sat. Saint’s gaze was transfixed on the swirling lights, a portal from wherever Mist was being held to them. He wanted to go in after her but knew it would be futile. No one could go to his sorceress. She would have to come to them.

Suddenly, they heard a loud roar and a gorgeous female jaguar leapt into the room, her fur slightly singed by fire, and something clutched tightly in her teeth. She snarled and growled as she paced back and forth from the portal to the door, stopping to shake whatever she held on each pass.

“Oh, my Goddess,” Aurora gasped as she stared in shock at the jaguar. “Mist?”

The huge cat paused, then turned her head slowly to look at the witch. She dropped what was in her mouth, threw back her head and roared so loudly Desi reached up and covered her ears. “Holy cow, sissy, could you tone it down some. I think you broke an eardrum.”

The cat turned toward Desi, baring her teeth at her, then seemed to freeze. She lifted her head, breathing in deeply before turning in his direction.

It was her. His Mist. The cat had her large gray eyes, even though he knew most jaguars had golden eyes. It would seem his mate was not only a sorceress, but was also a shifter.

Damn, that was hot.

“Mist, you’re a leopard,” Aurora squeaked, her hand going to her mouth. “How did I not know this?”

“A jaguar,” Saint said, never taking his eyes from his impressive mate.

“What?”

“She’s a jaguar, not a leopard. You can tell by the markings on her fur.” A breathtakingly beautiful one at that.

Mist took a step toward him, stumbling slightly, before catching herself. That’s when he noticed the blood on her sleek coat. Somehow, he’d missed that she was hurt, besides the singed spots on her fur. She’d been moving so gracefully around the room, he never realized she was in pain.

“Shit.” Rushing forward, he knelt beside her and scooped her gently into his arms. “She’s hurt.”

The jaguar growled softly, shoving closer to him and resting her nose in the curve of his neck.

“I’ll get Doc Freya!” Aurora said, blinking before he could tell her that Zion had medical training.

“She might feel more comfortable with a female doctor,” Heaven said quietly.

That made sense. But were they going to have to get this other doctor here every time in the future when Mist needed medical attention? Not that she should need a doctor, but what if she did? He stiffened as he realized that Mist may not want to stay in the demon realm with him, so it might be a moot point.

The jaguar growled again, probably feeling the tension in his body. Saint leaned down and kissed her gently on the top of her silky head. “You’re okay, kitty cat. I’ve got you now.”

She grunted, then shoved her head deeper into Saint’s neck. He felt her rough tongue lick against his skin, and then there was a slight nip of her teeth. Her entire body was trembling, and the scent of fear and pain now surrounded them. When she’d first come through the portal there was only rage, but now it seemed like whatever happened must have caught up to her and fear had set in. That wasn’t going to work for him. His kitty had nothing to fear, not now that he’d found her.

“I’m taking her to my suite.”

Without waiting for a reply, Saint stalked from the room and down the hall. He was aware that his sister and most of the club officers were following him, but he didn’t look back. The only one that mattered to him at the moment was in his arms.

He didn’t bother to look at any of the other club members as he crossed through the main area of the clubhouse to get to the hall that would take them back to where he lived. The place he hoped to share with his mate now.

“I’ve got it, brother,” Desi said when he reached his rooms and went to get the door. He let her open it, then strode through the small living room to his bedroom. All of the officers of the MC lived in the clubhouse and were given a suite of rooms that had a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. His wasn’t anything huge, but it was nice and clean and had room for his mate’s things. If she did decide to move in with him.

Fuck, he hoped she moved in. What if she hated it there? What if she preferred nicer things and wanted a bigger place? He didn’t think he could go back to living in the palace. Not even for her. They would have to find a compromise. The only thing he wasn’t willing to compromise on was living with her. He didn’t care where they were, they would be together.

Saint laid her down on his bed, then stepped back and looked around. His bedroom was big enough for a king-sized bed and had a walk-in closet that was mostly bare except for his riding gear and one suit that he tried never to have to wear. There were two dressers, even though only one held clothes of his, and a nightstand on each side of the bed. There would be more than enough room for her things… hopefully.

“Doc Freya’s here.”

Glancing over, Saint saw a small woman with dark hair and soft brown eyes enter the room. She was looking at the jaguar on his bed, and a gentle smile curved her lips. “Why hello, Mist. I was wondering when I was going to be able to see your cat.” Turning to look at him, her smile widened. “Are you going to let me pass to check on your mate, demon?”

Saint realized he was now standing protectively in front of his jaguar, hiding her from view of everyone who was in the room as much as possible. Although he knew Mist was safe with his MC brothers and Heaven, he still didn’t want them near her right now. And he didn’t know a damn thing about the doctor.

Saint narrowed his eyes on the woman and inhaled deeply, his eyes widening when he scented demon and shifter mixed. And the demon scent was one two of his brothers shared. Interesting.

There was also only concern coming from the doctor. She seemed just as she looked, kind, caring, and like she just wanted to help.

Stepping to the side, he nodded to her but never took his gaze from the woman. While he was ninety-nine percent sure she wasn’t going to try and harm his mate, there was still that one percent out there that said she could want to inflict pain on his sweet kitty, and he wouldn’t allow that.

Moving slowly and carefully, the doc walked over to the bed and set a dark brown doctor’s bag down on it. “Mist, do you think you can shift back for me? While I can treat you in any form you are in, I’m more of a doctor than a vet.” When Saint let out a deep growl at what he considered a slight to his mate, Freya looked over at him and laughed. “I was just teasing her, demon. Trust me, she’s fine. We’ve known each other for a while now.”

“Freya is our sister, Saint,” Angel cut in. “She won’t hurt your mate.”

“Angel and I will take full responsibility for her,” Rapture said, stepping forward. That was when Saint realized every single person who’d been at church was now standing in his bedroom. Even Genesis.

“Now, no one needs to take responsibility for me,” the doc said, rolling her eyes and shaking her head as she laughed softly. “You all, however, do need to get out so I can see to my patient.”

“I’m not leaving,” he growled, baring his fangs at her.

“Of course you aren’t. I would never ask a patient’s mate to leave unless I thought it was in their best interest, or unless it was something they wanted.”

“I’m staying too,” Aurora insisted, crossing her arms and glaring at the doctor. “She’s my sister. I’m not leaving her when she needs me.”

“Same here,” Desi snapped, her deep, brown eyes sparkling with defiance. “She’s my sister now, too. I’m not leaving her.”

The jaguar lifted her head, her large gray eyes taking in all of them before her body began to shimmer. It took a full two minutes, but then a petite, beautiful blonde woman lay where the large cat had just been. Saint bit back a groan as he caught sight of pale skin and pert breasts with light pink nipples he wanted in his mouth, before she was covered with a soft, light blue blanket he’d never seen before.

He grunted, reaching down to rearrange his hard, aching cock in his suddenly too tight jeans. Mist’s eyes flew to him, and a dark blush appeared on her cheeks. She clutched tightly to the blanket, glancing quickly around the room, before looking back at him. Her gaze lowered to the patch on his cut, and her brow wrinkled slightly. He saw the confusion on her face and knew it stemmed from the fact that her mate was supposed to be royalty, but Saint wore a cut and was in an MC. She was probably wondering if her coven sister got her vision wrong.

“Hey there, pretty kitty,” he said gruffly. “We all need to know where you were and what happened, but my demon is going to break out and start tearing shit up if the doc doesn’t look you over first.” Not the most romantic thing to say to your mate when you first meet them, but it was the truth. He had a slim hold on his demon side right now, and if Doc Freya didn’t do what they brought her there to do soon, the entire place was going to go up in flames.

Mist looked behind him at all the people still crowding his room. “That’s fine,” she finally said in a low, smokey voice, “but I’m not pulling this blanket down so everyone can get a cheap show.”

He growled deeply, his eyes flashing from his demon back to human, as he snarled, “All of you, get the fuck out.”

God raised his eyebrows at him, but just gave him a nod and motioned for everyone to leave. When he went to shut the door, Mist spoke up, “President God, you can all stay in the outer room. We’ll be there as soon as,” her eyes went back to my cut, “Saint’s demon is happy.”

God smiled, giving Mist a wink. “Thanks, Mist. And while I appreciate the respect you’ve shown me, please, call me Prez or God.”

Mist returned his smile, then laid back onto the pillow. “Let’s get this over with, Doc. I have a demon to hunt.”