Page 9 of Hunted By Her Demon Wolves

Phoenix’s life, on the other hand, had become stagnant while the demon wolves she believed to be her fated mates were trapped in another hostile dimension in hell. Phoenix had learned of their fate fourteen months ago, yet nothing had been done to save them. Phoenix’s djinn mother, Jezebeth, refused to take her back to hell after Phoenix had threatened to sneak off and retrieve her lost mates. Phoenix knew the trip was risky. She would’ve had no way to escape unless she miraculously found one of the lost crystals.

But now that Daeva’s mates had recovered a crystal buried deep inside one of hell’s caverns, there was no excuse not to go save Phoenix’s mates. With the crystal in their possession, they were finally able to travel between dimensions. This was how Daeva was able to visit the mortal realm now. It also meant Phoenix would have a way to come back to their dimension if she went to retrieve her mates.

Helius. Drakkon. Cadmus. Damon.

Those were her mates’ names. Ever since Hecate had told her, she’d repeated their names every morning when she woke, several times throughout the day, and every night before she went to sleep. Though others might be content to let her mates languish in a hostile dimension in hell, Phoenix refused to forget them. Their names were constantly in the forefront of her mind, souring the food she ate and robbing her of sleep. How could she enjoy life knowing her fated mates were probably suffering?

And yet, instead of rushing to save them, Daeva and Horatiu were here, insisting on a meeting with Boris Lupescu, the new chieftain of the Romanian tribe—correction, the New Mexico tribe. The US military had relocated all Romanian shifters to New Mexico after unrest in Eastern Europe. They couldn’t risk the Army’s secret weapons falling into enemy hands. That’s what they’d said, anyway. Tor believed the military had been looking for an excuse to recruit more wolf trackers. Either way, the Romanian tribe was no more. With the change, the elder Lupescus thought it a good time to enjoy retirement and turn over this clusterfuck to their offspring.

So much change and responsibility had put Chieftain Boris Lupescu in a foul mood. Phoenix knew Daeva was wasting her time trying to convince him to let his mate Eilea visit hell. Hecate believed Eilea was the reincarnation of Elria, Hecate’s sister in hell who’d been obliterated by the Vindictus almost three thousand years ago. She insisted they couldn’t save Phoenix’s mates from the second dimension of hell without Eilea’s help. So Tor had humored them all and brought them to New Mexico. This wasn’t going to end well.

Daeva took a loud sip of coffee and squinted up at the sky. “I thought the balloon festival was over.”

Phoenix tossed her hair behind a shoulder. “Apparently, it’s a normal thing here.”

When Daeva turned her inquisitive gaze on her, Phoenix pretended not to be bothered, but she wondered if her sister had noticed that she, too, had changed. She hadn’t dyed her hair in over a year, letting the dark chestnut roots grow out past her ears, leaving just the tips a bright pink. What cared she for pink hair or mortal frivolities when her mates were languishing in hell?

Daeva released a slow breath while watching the balloons rise into the sky. “I wonder what it’s like to fly in one.”

“Like riding a dragon, only slower,” Phoenix drawled. “Are you ready for your meeting?” The sooner they got this meeting over with, the sooner Daeva could return to hell, and Phoenix was making sure she went with her.

“Not really.” Daeva grimaced, wrapping her arms around herself. “I don’t like the mortal world.”

“Why would you?” Phoenix snorted, refusing to mask the bitterness in her voice. “You have everything you need back in hell—including your mates.”

Daeva’s features turned as hard as stone.You have a chip the size of Alaska on your shoulders, you know that?she asked through thought.

Phoenix looked away. She’d always loved her sister, but now she was starting to resent her.You’d be the same if it was your mates.

“I’m here to improve relations between the demon wolves and Amaroki.” Daeva gave her a dark look. “To get Eilea’s help retrievingyourmates.”

Phoenix had to work hard to unclench her jaw. Her sister was wasting time, but she was tired of arguing. Nobody listened to her, anyway. “Do you think it will work?”

“Hope so,” she said. “Hecate needs Eilea.”

Phoenix wasn’t so sure of that. Hecate was the most powerful witch in hell. Why did she need Eilea’s help? Between Hecate, Daeva, and Phoenix, they could handle any demons who threatened them in the other dimension. Retrieving her mates didn’t have to be so complicated. So why was Hecate making it that way? “Do you ever worry that she’s abusing her power?” She eyed her sister, watching for any cracks in her façade.

“Hecate?” Daeva blinked as if she’d splashed cold water on her face. “No.”

“Why?” she pressed.

“Because she’s a mother,” Daeva said matter-of-factly. “Her sons ground her.”

Phoenix resisted the urge to laugh out loud. “Jezebeth is a mother. That didn’t stop her from using her power for evil.” Phoenix nodded toward the sliding glass doors behind them. Somewhere beyond those doors was a backpack with her mother’s rusty lamp. Though her djinn mother had always been loving and kind to Phoenix, that was where her compassion ended. She’d been a cruel demon to everyone else, shaming Phoenix with her selfish nature.

Daeva laughed. “That’s different.”

“How?”

“Hecate has a history of being a kind ruler. Jezebeth has always been...” Daeva trailed off, biting her lower lip.

Phoenix gritted her teeth. “You can say it—a bitch.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

The look of pity Daeva gave her made her want to scream. “You won’t,” she snapped. “I’ve accepted what my mother is.”

“She’s trying to atone for her sins.”

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