Page 23 of Hunted By Her Demon Wolves

Tor gaped at the creatures as they quickly flew off. “What are those things?”

“Loyal servants.” Hecate grasped Tor’s thick bicep. “They are like family to us.” She thrust her breasts toward him in an obvious and shameful display of flirting that rivaled even Jezebeth’s attempts at seduction. “If you’d like, I can take you on a personal tour of our dimension,” she said as she dragged a fingernail down his furry arm.

Tor stared down at her hand on his arm as if it was a slug. “I shouldn’t stay long.”

“Why?” She giggled, tossing her hair over her shoulder again. Clearly, she was out of moves and her seduction skills were rusty after spending almost three thousand years as a Vindictus zombie. “Are you so afraid of the truth? Of changing your perception of us?”

“Hecate, we come from different worlds,” he grumbled as he pulled away. “A few buildings and a body of water will hardly change my perception.”

Hecate turned her lip down in a pout. “I suppose not when you’re blinded by prejudice.”

Jezebeth loudly sighed behind her. “Let’s just take Phoenix and go.”

Phoenix tossed her mother a scowl. “I’m a grown woman, Mother. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Well, you’re not staying here”—she scowled at Hecate—“with her!”

Phoenix laughed under her breath. It was clear her mother was jealous of Hecate, though Phoenix wasn’t sure why.

Tor held up his meaty paws. “We can’t give you what you want.”

“Eilea is a powerful witch,” she said, crossing her arms under her breasts and pushing them high above the low neckline of her robe. “She can give me exactly what I want.”

“I’m sorry,” Tor said to her, his heavy jowls turning a frown. “Believe me when I say I want to help, but not at the risk of Phoenix losing her eternal soul.”

Tor gave Phoenix a forlorn look, making heat rise into her cheeks. She hated putting him through this, but she had no choice. She had to save her mates.

“I understand.” Hecate heaved an overly dramatic sigh. “One meeting with Eilea. That’s all I ask for, and Phoenix can go with you.”

“What?” Phoenix gasped. “No!”

Hecate gave her a sharp look. “We cannot have peace between our races if the Amaroki believe I’m keeping you captive.”

“You aren’t. I’m here willingly.” Phoenix backed away from Hecate and Tor, then ducked under her mother when she lunged for her. “I’m a grown woman who should be able to decide where I get to live.” The irony didn’t escape her that she was technically not alive in hell, but that didn’t matter at the moment. She wasn’t leaving. She wasn’t. She went to Daeva’s side, her heart faltering at the look of pity in her sister’s eyes.

“I know this,” Hecate said as she advanced on her, “but they don’t.”

“That’stheirproblem.” She clung to Daeva’s arm, giving her a pleading look.

Hecate gave her an apathetic look, as if she was no more significant than a speck of dust.

“I will ask the Lupescus for a meeting,” Tor said as he followed Hecate back into the chamber.

“So is that all I am to you?” Phoenix sneered at Hecate, her heart pounding out a wild drum in her ears and magic crackling in her palms. “Just a pawn so you can get to Eilea?”

Hecate shook her head, clucking her tongue. “We can’t save your mates without her.”

“Bullshit!” Phoenix spat, magic flaring off her skin.Helius. Drakkon. Cadmus. Damon.She wouldn’t forget her mates. She wouldn’t allow anyone else to forget them, either.

“Phoenix,” Tor said on a warning growl while holding a beefy hand out to her, “this isn’t up for debate.”

“I’m not going back.” Her voice cracked and splintered. How could they treat her like this? How could they dismiss her feelings after everything she did for them? “I’m not!” She caught the glare of the crystal out of the corner of her eye and lunged for it, snatching it out of Daeva’s pocket. She was momentarily stunned by the way it throbbed in her hand like a beating heart. Magic pulsed off it in strong waves. She shoved it in her pocket, her hand protectively wrapped around its smooth sides.

“Phoenix!” Her sister turned on her with a snarl. “What are you doing?”

Her mother cried out.

“Phoenix, put that down!” Tor boomed.

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