Page 107 of Married to the Devil

I freeze. Ben’s wide eyes meet mine, but there’s a thread of determination there. He’s not leaving me to deal with the fall out of this.

Stoneheart’s wing spreads around us, preserving some modesty, but it’s clear what’s happening, and that it’s not just Stoneheart in bed with me.

“Apologies, my lady, I thought you had started work, but I didn’t know where you’d gone.” Silas sounds like he’s facing away from us. He pauses like he’s regretting all his life decisions. “We have an issue.”

I choke out a sound because this moment seems like it’s never going to end, and Ben runs a hand through my hair to comfort me.

“More of an issue than Kalos’s man being in your bed. Which I’m just so surprised about!” Silas’s voice is dry and slathered with sarcasm so thick it’s audible.

“Silas,” Stoneheart growls. My cheeks burn at apparently how obvious our arrangement has been.

Silas continues, “This can’t wait. It’s an official petition from the dragon for Stella’s presence.”

Stoneheart sits higher and his wing wraps around my back tighter, pressing Ben and I together. Danger rolls off him in waves. “Why?”

Silas takes a hesitant breath. “Stella, your mother has returned.”

“Everything will be fine,”Ben says, leaning against the doorjamb of the bathroom. While I fix the damage the two of them did to my hair. “An official petition through Kalos was the best way that she’d know to get to see that you’re safe and whole.”

“Why not just answer the phone?” I ask. Once I connected my phone to a charger, I’d seen the missed calls and texts. My heart hurts at how panicked they sound. I tried to call her back, but she’s not answering.

He shrugs. “Maybe she wants to talk in person? Or maybe she assumes anything you say will be influenced by Stoneheart. She doesn’t know him.”

He says it carefully, and I chew my lip. She doesn’t know if he’s any different from Lorenzo.

I take one more fortifying look into the mirror before turning. “Let’s get this over with.”

Ben holds out his hand, and I make sure to squeeze my eyes shut so I don’t arrive at Kalos’s nauseous. Stoneheart had agreed that it would be best for Ben to take me alone. We don’t want whatever my mother is going to say to get spread around, and Stoneheart trusts Ben to keep me safe.

The air whips around us before settling, and I open my eyes. We’re standing in front of the imposing door of Kalos’s office. I take a steadying breath, and the door swings open, the dragon in question stepping out.

“Oh good, you’re here.” Kalos’s relief is clear. His nostrils flare, and my cheeks heat. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to the lack of privacy when it comes to paranormal beings with heightened senses, but I live in a territory of shifters, I can getover that he knows exactly what we’ve been doing. “And not too worse for wear. At least she can’t tell how thickly Stoneheart has plastered you with his scent.”

“Kalos,” Ben warns him but doesn’t continue.

The dragon raises a brow at the protective gesture. “That witch has turned my mate against me and demanded I summon another territory leader’s wife through official means. She’s a menace.”

Ben makes a sound. “Don’t make it sound like you’re helpless in the face of one witch.”

Kalos narrows his gaze. “A distraught mother. Do not underestimate that. She was going to kick up a fuss in Stoneheart’s territory, and I assume that would go poorly with what Moon has shared with me.”

Fuck.

“It would have,” I say. I need to see her right now. “Where is she?”

Kalos blows out a breath and turns to lead us away from his office. We move through the mansion that I’m relatively familiar with until we get to the outdoor patio where Katarina has a hand resting on Mom’s.

Mom looks up at me, and I stop.

“Hi,” I say. The greeting all at once too much and wholly inadequate.

I’ve always been happy that we look so similar and that I didn’t take after Lorenzo almost at all, but now that detail is a punch in the face. Her red-rimmed eyes and stark, tempered expression is like peering at my own grief.

It takes a moment of reminding myself that I’m safe and everything has worked out for the best to keep my heart from wavering. I nod to Katarina, who gets up and gives me a hug.

“We’ll leave the two of you to talk,” she says. Ben begins to argue, but Katarina yanks him with her. He lets her afterI whisper that it’s okay and probably so he doesn’t upset the pregnant woman’s balance.

When we’re alone, the tension in the room swells. Her worry against my guilt.

---