Page 61 of Cupcake

“I know! That’s why I need your help.”

“It’s centered around shifter blood. I don’t want that thing anywhere near my mate.” He had a horrifying thought. “It hasn’t been around yours, has it?”

Lucifer nodded. “They are the ones that brought it to me. Tried to summon a demon because Gage’s clowder was forcing him to marry a woman and denying his bond with Cary.”

This was a bigger mess than Dean imagined.

He created an iron and salt-lined box, making it appear on the counter. Without touching the book, he used his magic to lift it and lock the book inside the box. Once it was out of sight, he felt better. At least Logan hadn’t been in the room.

“I’d like to check your mates to make certain the book hasn’t been draining them,” Dean said.

Lucifer paled. “That’s possible?”

This was why Dean had made sure he was an expert on blood magic. The cursed objects out in the world were a real concern. His coven had hidden a lot, but Dean had seen enough to know the coven used shifters for their own purposes. The coven had thought shifters expandable and hadn’t cared what happened to them. “I’ll make sure they have protections moving forward.”

“I…I would appreciate that.” Lucifer still appeared shaky. “This isn’t my area of expertise. I can only do something if I know about it.”

“We’ll take care of it and I’ll tell you what to look out for.” Dean picked up the pink frosting he’d prepared before getting distracted with his boy. “Now tell me about your mates. Start from the beginning. Don’t leave anything out. I need to know it all.”

Lucifer pulled up a stool. “So, there I was at the strike of midnight, on December first…”

Chapter Twelve

Dean

Dean glanced over his shoulder to check on his mate. Logan was leaning against the base of his favorite tree with Noah sitting between his legs. Noah and Gage hadn’t stopped talking for at least half an hour. Dean was pretty sure that his mate was sound asleep. Not that it seemed to bother either feline.

There was a shout followed by laughter and Dean turned to see several of the other boys climbing the giant playset. Bryce, Nate, Cary, and Anton were at the top, throwing foam balls at River, Lawson, Sam, and Ansley as they tried to dodge while working on getting up to the top.

He felt Lucifer’s presence before his friend pressed against his back.

“There is so much love and acceptance here,” Lucifer commented.

“I agree.” Dean found his gaze drifting back to his mate as Lucifer stepped up resting his hip against the deck rail. “I always knew that but being a part of it…it’s more than I could have ever imagined.” He was so lucky that even with his disappearance, Logan hadn’t held it against him. Neither had the rest of the family. They just wanted Logan and him to be happy.

“Family.” Lucifer hummed as he rocked back on his heels. “They can be…”

Dean grasped Lucifer’s shoulder. “Michael?” It was always Michael. Lucifer’s older brother didn’t know how to keep his mouth shut.

“I don’t know why he acts so childish,” Lucifer admitted. “He made a bad impression on Cary and Gage and every time he sees them, it has gotten worse. I’m afraid that next time Gage might get his hands on Michael.”

“Michael is a dumbass but he wouldn’t hurt your mate,” Dean told him.

“It’s not Gage I’m worried about getting hurt. He’s fiercely protective over Cary. Michael might not survive, and I don’t want that. He’s an asshole but he’s, my asshole.”

“Michael needs something that’s just his,” Dean replied. “Someone to give his attention to that actually wants it.”

Lucifer nodded. “He needs something, all right.”

“I am very fond of your mates though,” Dean said. He didn’t want to ruin the evening by reminding Lucifer of his difficult brother.

“And you’re sure that there is no magical damage from that book?” Lucifer asked.

The first thing Dean did once they arrived at the big house was check over Cary and Gage. Both boys had been nervous meeting him nut Logan was there to smooth the way. Dean was used to people distrusting him because he was a mage.

“Noah and Gage will be attached at the hip soon. They’ll no doubt hang out when I start to train Cary in magic.”

“I can’t thank you enough for agreeing to take him on as an apprentice. I want the best for him, and we both know that is you.”

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