Page 21 of Hunted By Her Demon Wolves

Phoenix wasn’t comforted when Daeva and Horatiu shared worried looks. No doubt they were telepathically speaking.

Dragomir came up to her and puffed up his chest. “You let us worry about Tor.”

She cringed at the undertone of menace in his voice. “I don’t want him getting hurt.”

“Hopefully it won’t come to that.” Hecate’s smile widened. “This meeting will be a good thing. Maybe I can convince Tor to join our cause, and in turn, he can convince Eilea.”

Ugh. Why is she still so fixated on Eilea?“We don’t need her,” Phoenix spat, regretting the harsh bite to her words. “We have a crystal now. We can go get my mates ourselves.”

Hecate clucked her tongue, looking at Phoenix as if she was reprimanding a child. “It’s not that easy.”

“Why?” Phoenix pressed. Why, after over a year, had they still not tried to save Phoenix’s mates?

“There’s a very tricky demon in their dimension,” she said. “One who I fear will give us problems.”

“Why would having Eilea make the difference?” she asked.

Hecate folded her hands in front of her. The smile she gave Phoenix was one a mother would give to her wayward toddler. “Because she had the power of celaris?”

“Celaris?” Phoenix asked.

“Also known as hidden magic,” she answered. “Those with prognosticating abilities couldn’t see her next move. When they tried to scry her in their mists, they saw only a blank slate. Why do you think the Vindictus struck her down first when they attacked? They couldn’t trust what they couldn’t see.”

Phoenix’s blood turned to ice. “And this tricky demon in the next dimension has the power to prognosticate?”

“He does.” Hecate frowned. “He’s a powerful oracle. He’ll know our next move before we do.”

Phoenix had no idea why she’d expected saving her mates would’ve been easy. “Did I know hidden magic when I was Eilea’s apprentice?” She thought of that inky darkness she could summon at will.

Hecate shook her head. “You were learning, but it’s not a skill that can be easily taught.”

“But nobody can see me when I call on the darkness.” Phoenix held up her hands, letting the inky magic seep from her fingertips, spilling over her arms like those mists flowing from Hecate’s pool.

“Shadow magic,” Hecate answered. “Yes, the magic is similar, but still not the same. Hiding in the shadows is different than blocking the oracle from seeing your next move in his mists.”

Phoenix wasn’t convinced her shadow magic wouldn’t work on the oracle. She could still hide herself and others. “Look, we need to come up with a new plan.” She turned up her chin, her voice firm and unwavering, even beneath Hecate’s unnerving stare. “Eilea and her mates have made it clear she’s not helping us.”

“Then we wait until they do,” Hecate said calmly, as if time wasn’t of the utmost importance, as if Phoenix’s mates weren’t languishing in hell.

A vice of frustration crushed her skull. “That could take years.” Years of yearning, years of worrying while guilt ate at her soul. How could she abandon her fated mates in hell?Helius. Drakkon. Cadmus. Damon.

Hecate shrugged. “A drop in time for a demon.”

“Not for me.” Rage clouded her vision. “I want my mates!”

“I want to rescue my nephews, too,” Hecate answered, her voice too neutral, too apathetic, “but not until I’m assured of our success.”

Phoenix stomped, dark magic dripping from her fingers. “This is bullshit!”

Hecate blinked but didn’t say anything.

“Phoenix!” Daeva scolded, wagging a finger.

“Don’t you scold me,Daeva.” She said her sister’s new name as if it left a bitterness on her tongue, and it did. Her sister had all but forgotten her after she’d changed. Tori wouldn’t have dismissed Phoenix’s need for her mates. Tori would’ve insisted they take action. Daeva, on the other hand, was all about placating her mother-in-law and selfishly enjoying time with her mates. “You have your mates!”

A shrill scream rent the air, and Phoenix shrank back as if she’d been scalded by the flames that rose up and crackled from the stone hearth at the far end of the chamber.

Hecate turned toward the fire and cracked a smile. “Well, that didn’t take long.”

---