Page 136 of Mage Massacres

“Why are we filling Jack in? What happens in fifteen days?” Rig questioned, his gaze bouncing between Dad and me.

“You met Jack when he was a baby. He’s Vixen’s son, but we adopted him when she was murdered. I’ll catch you up, and then take you to meet him.” He squeezed Rig’s shoulder. “You’ll have to meet the rest of the kids again, old man. A few were born after you left, but they’ve all grown up now.”

Rig scoffed. “I’m not old.”

“And we’re not kids,” I sassed.

They both waved my comment away, and Dad replied, “You’re thousands of years older than me, so you’re old. And you’re hundreds of years younger than me. You’re a kid in comparison, cub.”

Papi stumbled between us in a rush as he stepped out of the Void. “Good. Here.”

He shoved three glass vials into my hands, kissed my forehead, and was gone just as fast as he appeared.

“What is this?” I shouted, much too late for him to hear me.

“There was some sort of catastrophe at the academy, but he wanted to go to Voletan to get the vine juice stuff.” Rig scrunched his nose.

I studied the goopy green liquid. “This is from the lompus vine?”

He clicked his tongue. “That’s what he said. It’s such an odd name.”

“We’ve got to go.” I shook my head to clear my thoughts, whistling for the boys.

When the three English Mastiffs thundered around the side of the estate, Rig leaned back, observing them vigilantly, as if they would bite him at any moment. Helios might try to set him on fire, but they wouldn’t bite him unless I asked.

“Where the fuck have those things been hiding?” he hissed, pointing to Cronus.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “They’re my hellhounds. When we got here, I let loose to guard and roam… and hunt.”

I managed to smile in the most disgusted way as Atlas dropped the top half of a rabbit at my feet. “Thanks, boys. It’s exactly what I wanted.”

Rig gagged as they finished their meal, and Charlie rubbed his back to comfort him.

With a thought, they turned into butterflies, leaving the scraps behind. Red, blue, and yellow fluttered around my head, but the large black butterfly was missing. Even when Pete’s magic was fully restored, he’d still be a part of my pack. But he wasn’t mine the same way my hounds were.

“Come on, you meatless bastard,” Dad called. “I’ve got ten years of explaining to do.”

“Twenty-four,” Rig corrected as they waved to me. “I might be a vegan, you asshole, but I’m still okay with a little meat here and there.”

“Nope. Just ten. Because I can’t even understand the other half.”

My guys walked out, amused and disbelieving expressions contorting their faces. They stared at my parents as they passed, heading back into Amelia’s home. Their home with Amelia? I’d have to clarify that later.

“You didn’t have to stay inside,” I told them, glancing at the overcast sky.

“We were trying to give you a minute with them. That’s why Miller and Murphy wandered off too.” Vaughn tipped his head to the twins.

They hadn’t gone far, but it was enough distance to create the illusion of privacy. As they approached, Miller squeezed my hand, mouthing thank you to me. I smiled back at her, but I hadn’t done anything that garnered gratitude.

Yet.

I was getting this woman’s last mate back to her.

It was scratched in the margins of my to-do list, but it was crucial to me.

I wanted to see her whole and happy, but more than that… I felt empathy.

It was such a weird feeling to have, though I couldn’t keep it from resonating with me once I named it.