“Aoife,” her mother said, the crowd parting as she walked forward out the shadows. “Why don’t you cross through this enchantment and we can talk.”
Aoife snorted. “It's a little late to talk, mother.”
“It’s never too late to open up, dearest.” Her mother came off as sweet and simpering, but there was absolutely no warmth in her. There never was, not with any of the women in her family.
Which is probably why Death seemed like a good fuck centuries ago. Cold dead dick for a cold heart.
“What do you want?” Aoife asked.
“To bring you back for your wedding.”
“You mean my sale,” Aoife snapped. “I mean, that’s why I was poorly imprisoned right? Although I do find it particularlyhilarious that you thought you could keep me locked up. I mean, did you forget I turn to mist? Or did you purposely not put up enchantments?”
Her mother frowned, her eyes narrowing. “Mistakes were made and those responsible for the mistakes have been punished.”
Which meant those responsible were now dead.
“I’m not coming back,” Aoife stated.
“You will come back and fulfill your duty to the Order,” her mother snapped.
“Fuck the Order.”
Her mother’s dark eyes glowed red. “What did you say?”
“You heard me.”
“How dare?—”
“I know what your plans are. I know everything,” Aoife taunted, cutting her off.
“How?” her mother asked, stiffly.
“Cillian. Your uncle, but he’s my half brother.”
“Don’t tell me it’s a blood bond!”
Aoife smirked. “It is. Our blood bond is closer. You and dear old auntie had the same taste in men, apparently. Thankfully, I don’t have that problem.”
And right on cue, Adam came out of the bush. He was wearing his jeans, but no shirt. His mane of hair was loose and flyaway. His eyes were yellow, burning like amber in the darkness, and there was a glint of metal from a freshly sharpened axe in the torch light.
Adam let out a feral growl that rumbled deep in his chest.
It caused a couple of the wizards in the Tuatha Order to shudder, but she could see the lust in the witches’ eyes. Not that she blamed them, Adam was a fine specimen and females of all kinds were drawn to his people.
Her mother stood there, mouth open, clearly horrified.
“You didn’t,” she snarled.
“I did,” Aoife answered, her body levitating off the ground, her voice becoming louder as the keening wail built up in the pit of her belly. The urge to howl was surprising. “I mated with Adam. A Sasquatch. And it’s my fertile time. I likely carry his young.”
Her mother let out a high-pitched scream. “What?”
“I. Carry. His. Young,” Aoife enunciated.
“You viper. You succubus from hell,” her mother shouted. “Do you realize what you’ve done?”
“Do you realize what you’ve done?” Aoife boomed. “You’re trying to overthrow our whole society. Oppress those who have already been subjugated to horrible laws. You’re trying to gain dark magic which doesn’t belong to you. I may be your daughter, yet you treat me like a possession.”