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“There’s nothing wrong with looking like a twerp, son,” the Sphinx said graciously once he’d swallowed his laughter. “Why, look at Otis here?—”

“Hey!” Otis protested.

Mila narrowed her eyes at the Sphinx. “You better take that back.”

Haruki was studying Mae and Nikolai curiously. “By the way, aren’t they?—?”

“About time the rest of you noticed,” Naomi said wryly.

Mae and Nikolai found themselves the focus of a roomful of inquisitive eyes.

“Hi,” Mae said steadily. Nikolai bobbed his head guardedly.

Their hosts welcomed them affably, the kids’ stares burning holes into their faces.

Conrad’s gaze landed on Hellreaver. He came over, interest sparking in his eyes. “Is that the demonic weapon we’ve heard so much about?”

Leah and Haruki followed the Immortal, equally curious.

“Yes.” Mae looked down at Hellreaver. “Go on, say hi.”

Hellreaver hesitated before detaching himself from her neck.

The kids gasped when he transformed.

“ Hi .” The voices of the thousand fiends inside Hellreaver rumbled awkwardly around the foyer.

“So cool!” Bow Boy croaked.

Even Oliver looked impressed.

Hellreaver startled when he found himself surrounded by children.

“ My witch ?” he quavered uncertainly.

“Play nice,” Mae told him firmly as she and Nikolai followed Mila.

“What’s that, Lola?” Ethan was saying as they exited the foyer. “Your sister is doing what—?” A scandalized sound left the Immortal. “ Amelia Storm, get your butt out here right now !” he roared.

“Uh-oh, Uncle Ethan’s about to lose his mind,” Pig Tails said gleefully.

Conrad sighed. “Don’t provoke your uncle.”

“Sorry, Dad,” Pig Tails said, her enthusiasm unwavering.

“Is it bad that those kids are already growing on me?” Nikolai muttered to Mae.

Mae grinned.

The mansion’s kitchen took up almost half of the rear of the property. It had retained most of its original features, the rich, textured wallpaper complementing the dark wood units and adding to the overall warm feel of the large space.

Nate Conway was busy cooking at a cast-iron range, a sleeping baby strapped securely to his back.

The Chimera’s soul shimmered brightly inside Callie Stone where she sat on a window seat feeding a cheerful toddler.

Three Immortals and the host to the Phoenix were applying cream-frosting to an enormous birthday cake and several batches of cupcakes on the table dominating the floor.

They all looked over when Mae and Nikolai entered the room after Mila.

“Glad you found the house okay,” Nate said quietly.

Olivia Storm gave them a dazzling smile. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” She put down her piping cone and came over to hug a startled Mae and Nikolai.

Callie approached with the little boy and an equally large smile. “We’re so glad you could make it.” She kissed Mae and Nikolai on the cheek.

Daniel Lenton welcomed them with a nod.

“I hear Gerry and Larry did a number on you,” Alexa drawled after they exchanged greetings with her and Laura.

Mae scratched her cheek. “More like they did a number on the gates.”

“We should tell Artemus to cut his losses and give them Martha,” Laura told Alexa.

The back door opened.

“It’s happening!” Caspian said excitedly.

Nate’s face fell. “Again?”

“Yup. Vozgan just challenged Gertrude to another battle.”

Daniel lowered his brows. “That dragon is an idiot.”

“I second that,” Alexa murmured, laser-like focus returning to her face as she resumed frosting the cake.

Mae and Nikolai followed Mila and Caspian outside.

A formidable energy danced over them when they stepped onto the rear porch.

An Immortal with dark hair and green eyes sat serenely on an ornate metal swing seat to their left. Alastair was perched on his shoulder. Smokey snoozed on his lap. Brimstone napped at his feet, next to a goat, a dog, and several chickens.

“Is his name Noah?” Nikolai asked Caspian suspiciously.

The Immortal smiled. “It’s Tomas Soul. Nice to meet you.”

Mae and Nikolai murmured a cautious greeting.

Mae’s gaze dropped to the demon fox at the Immortal’s feet.

I see you’re making yourself right at home.

Brimstone opened an eye lazily.

I can’t help it, my witch . This guy has the most restful aura . Even the hellhound can’t resist his powers.

A snore ruffled Smokey’s lips.

Tomas gave Mae a knowing smile, like he could hear their silent exchange.

Mae recalled what Violet had revealed about the Immortal.

He probably can.

Motion beyond the porch drew her eyes.

Most of the rear garden was taken up by a cemetery and woodland.

Vozgan stood poised on the lawn hedging the graveyard, body braced for battle and expression fierce.

Gertrude issued a threatening “Bwak” across from him.

Nikolai grimaced. “Are they really doing this?”

Mae noticed a pair of familiar figures beyond the helldragon and the chicken.

Nikolai squinted. “Wait. Isn’t that?—?”

“Yeah, it is,” Mae said with a sigh as the demons’ potent energy brushed against her magic.

There, arbitrating the match, was Chazaquiel, the Eighth Leader of the Grigori and one of Astarte’s commanders.

Arakiel, the Second Leader of the Grigori, had his arms crossed beside him and was wearing a scowl on his face. He tapped his foot impatiently.

“How about you fools get on with it? It’s almost time for the party.”

Chazaquiel cleared his throat self-consciously when he realized he had an audience. He raised a small red flag.

Mila stared. “Where’d he get the flag?”

“Haruki bought it for him,” Tomas said.

“Christ,” Nikolai muttered.

“Ready?” Chazaquiel asked the two contenders.

“Ready,” Vozgan growled.

“Bwak bwak.”

The air fairly crackled with tension as everyone held their breath.

“And… GO !” Chazaquiel dropped the flag.

The chicken blurred.

The dragon grunted, flew across the yard, and landed on his back, all but knocked out.

Mae blinked.

Nikolai’s eyes bulged. “What the hell just happened?” He looked at Caspian. “Did you see?—?”

“Nope,” Caspian said cheerfully. “Gertrude is a law onto herself.”

“You owe me fifty bucks,” Mila informed her brother curtly.

That chicken is the spawn of the devil, my witch , Brimstone declared with bloodthirsty enthusiasm. We should befriend her.

Smokey huffed in agreement. The hellhound had woken up and was watching Mae intently, his brown eyes full of curiosity.

Vozgan came to with a groan. A portal opened behind him.

Astarte stepped out of it with Armaros.

“Oh. Sorry, I didn’t see you there,” the Goddess said apologetically. She took her foot off Vozgan’s face. A frown wrinkled her brow. “What are you doing on the ground?”

Armaros assessed the situation at a glance.

“Looks like this harebrained idiot challenged the chicken again,” he grunted.

Gertrude was parading around the back yard under Arakiel and Chazaquiel’s watchful stares, the occasional satisfied “Bwak!” leaving her as she puffed out her chest.

Astarte sighed as the helldragon climbed unsteadily to his feet. “Your father warned you that you were no match for her.” She looked around and clocked Mae and Nikolai on the porch. Her face relaxed. “I see you made it okay.” She gazed curiously past them. “Where’s the star of the party?”

“Napping.” Tomas put Smokey on the ground and rose. “Meeting all her cousins exhausted her. I’ll go see where they’re at.”

Alastair returned to Nikolai with a sheepish caw.

“Traitor,” the sorcerer muttered.

The crow bumped his cheek affectionately with his head.

Oliver popped his head out of the back door. His face brightened at the sight of Astarte.

“Godmother!”

Astarte smiled. “Hello, my little lamb.”

Mae and Nikolai went to get their stuff from the SUV.

Callie showed them to their room.

“We’re so glad you came,” the Chimera said. “Everyone is so excited to get to know you.”

“You mean the kids and the Immortals are excited to see Hellreaver,” Mae said drily.

They could hear high-pitched squeals and laughter issuing from one of the downstairs rooms where Hellreaver was entertaining their hosts.

Callie looked appropriately abashed. “I mean, it’s not everyday you get to talk with a demonic weapon.”

Lucas and Anna Soul met them on the stairs.

“Hey.” Lucas put down the box of party decorations in his arms and shook Nikolai and Mae’s hands while Anna welcomed them with a kiss on their cheeks. “We’re glad you accepted the invitation.”

Mae read the silent message in the Immortal’s quiet eyes.

According to Violet, Lucas and Anna Soul were unique among the Immortals in that they possessed the full legacy of the Archangel who had gifted their race with his powers.

Mae knew then that this trip wasn’t just about the party or the festivities.

Just as she’d suspected, this was a meeting of allies on equal grounds. One that would provide the first opportunity to form the crucial bonds that would carry them through the war they would all face one day.

Nikolai’s cautious expression indicated he’d also detected the hidden meaning behind Lucas’s words.

“We’re glad to be here,” Mae said steadily.

They bumped into Serena Blake and Drake Hunter when they were leaving their room a short while later.

The super soldier acknowledged them with an amused smile.

“I hear Larry and Gerry gave you guys quite a scare.”

“We weren’t scared,” Nikolai protested.

“You were totally freaking out,” Mae told the sorcerer.

“They ate the electrical wiring, Mae,” Nikolai grunted.

“The gargoyles are here?” Drake asked warily.

Mae studied Artemus Steele’s brother curiously.

The demonic power inside him was as familiar as her own.

I guess that’s a given seeing as who his father is.

“They should have returned to Hell by now,” Serena reassured her husband. A faint frown marred her brow. “Or at least I hope they did, if they know what’s good for them.”

Drake’s mouth pressed to a thin line. “We should fix the gates before Artemus notices.”

Mae and Nikolai followed the couple downstairs. It was another hour before things were finally ready for the birthday party. Their last hosts showed up just as they finished setting the table in the kitchen.