Page 9 of All Hallows Mate
“Tori,” Liam says as he jumps up and grabs me.
“No, I need you to just open your mouth and tell me straight up. Stop tiptoeing because I am going to go insane. Stop giving me room to overthink,” I say.
“What you felt was me, not him,” Liam says, cupping my face. “That is what I would feel like in my demon form.”
“If your dad can get here, why can’t we just…Poof,” I say.
“Mom and Dad stay in a different realm,” Liam explains. “It’s a place much like here, but it’s full of hybrid demons of all subtypes. I’d like to take you there, but we can’t go just yet… That’s where things get a bit dangerous.”
“Okay…” I say.
“Dad?” Liam asks.
“Right, so Tori, first off, I want to say that you are an amazing woman. Your strength is unmatched,” he says.
“Kiss ass,” I say with a frown, making him grin. “Sorry. Continue, demon daddy.”
“Usually this takes place closer to home because the moment you two mate for the first time—which needs to be very soon—you’ll have twenty-four hours to get to the portal located on his property,” Zareth explains. “Because it is All Hallows Eve, it’s going to put a massive target on your back for you being the mate of a demon who hasn’t gone through the portal.”
“First, where does the portal go?” I ask.
“To our home realm,” he says.
“Why would I be a target?”
“So, when you mate for the first time, it will begin to solidify the bond, which is how you will feel the effects of the bond and gain your abilities as the mate of a demon. He needs to mark you,but that can only take place in our realm. Without you being marked, it means any demon who resides here in this realm can mark you and take you from him,” Zareth explains.
“What does Halloween have to do with that?” I ask.
“There are far more creatures that can come after you on this day. When day breaks, you will be okay, but when the sun sets again…” He explains, but trails off.
“So… Fuck, go to your home, jump through the portal, and then get marked,” I say.
“Now… we can lessen my scent on you and ward off a lot of bad things,” Liam says.
“Spit it out, Liam,” I say with a sigh.
“In short, Dad needs to fuck you, and then I will. His scent being on you will scare off the things I am not capable of fighting alone,” Liam says.
“Uhm…” I say, speechless again.
“You can say no,” Liam says, taking my hands into his.
“But it would put us at risk, yes?” I ask.
“It would.”
“So the smart thing is to let your dad…” I ask, but trail off.
“Yes, but then you get me,” he says softly. “The only reason I am okay with this is because I trust him. If it were anyone else, I would face whatever I had to, but I know that my father will not hurt you.”
“He’s a demon,” I say.
“So am I,” Liam laughs.
“Yeah, but you look like a frat bro. He has red skin and is seven feet tall,” I say.
“My demon form is basically the same, to be fair,” Liam says with a shrug.
