Page 58 of Mike's Assistant

“You will,” Mike said confidently, reaching out to squeeze Vanessa’s free hand. “And when you do, we’ll be right there, cheering you on.”

Vanessa blushed. “Thanks, big guy. That means a lot.”

The tram journey back to the hotel was short, but it was enough for the day’s exhaustion to pull at me. Mike and I shared a silent communication, our bond stronger than ever, and it reassured me.

Vanessa helped get the boys into their room, tucking them in. Their innocent faces were angelic in sleep, a stark contrast to the whirlwinds of energy they’d been throughout the day.

Once we were sure they were settled, Vanessa excused herself to her room while Mike and I headed to ours, but were stopped by a knock on the door.

I gazed up at Mike. “Expecting anyone?”

Mike shook his head before heading to the door. “No.” He opened the door, and my eyes widened.

“Talon?”

“Mike, Jake. Sorry to interrupt,” Talon said as Mike let him into the room.

“What are you doing here, Talon?” Mike asked.

“His Majesty ordered me here,” he replied, his voice taking on a sober tone.

“Why? What happened?” Mike demanded.

“It’s about the text message.”

“What text message?” I asked. I hadn’t heard about any text.

Mike turned to me and sighed. “The other day, I received a message. It warned me to stay away from you.”

“What? Why didn’t you tell me? Who was it from?” I rushed to his side. Why would anyone warn Mike away from me?

“I’d planned on telling you, but we were discussing the CPS situation at the time. I don’t know who sent it, but I asked Hayden to investigate it before planning this trip. I really wasn’t keeping it from you,” he quickly explained.

I nodded before focusing on Talon. “And you found out who sent the text?”

Talon jerked a nod. “Yes.” He locked eyes with Mike. “It’s not good.”

“Tell us.” Mike grabbed my hand.

“It was sent by an other, named Dominic Billings. I don’t—”

“Dominic,” I exclaimed, and Mike growled.

“You know him?” Talon asked.

“We know him,” Mike replied through clenched teeth. “He used to be Jake’s neighbor, and we had a run-in with him at The Pavilion. I didn’t feel his strength as an other, though.”

“What’s an other?” I asked.

“'Other' is a term we use for supernatural beings that don't fit the standard classifications of shifters, vampires, or witches. It's a catch-all term. Demons, for instance, fall under this category. There are many kinds of 'others', each with their own strengths and vulnerabilities,” Talon explained.

“And Dominic is what?” Talon didn’t answer. “Talon?” I prodded.

Talon's chest heaved before a loud breath escaped in a rush. “He’s a demon.”

“A demon!” I yelled.

“Easy, Jake. Most demons keep to themselves. We call them others because the word demon has a negative connotation,” Mike said.

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