Jessi's P.O.V.
I jump out of bed as soon I get the distraught mindlink from Ryder. Wyatt and I throw clothes on and race out of the room, no longer caring who sees him walking. Guards and warriors are frantically looking for the princess everywhere. When we reach the office, I hear Zoe's sobs, breaking my heart. Ryder runs to us as soon as we walk through the door. "What do you mean, Samira is gone?" I ask him in disbelief. Ryder falls to his knees with tears running down his face. "When we get up, we always peek into her room to check on her. When we went in this morning, her bed was empty. At first, we thought she had gotten up already, but we knew something was wrong when we couldn't find her or mindlink her. I found this note on my desk." Ryder hands me a crumpled-up piece of paper before standing up and going to Zoe. Both of them are sobbing. Lucas is there, too, with tears streaming down his cheeks. As I reaGabe's P.O.V."Do you think they'll come?" Trevor asks me for the hundredth time. Why was he given to me as a son? He's incompetent and thinks with his dick. I told him to stay away from Jessi, but he was determined to take her from Wyatt. "Of course they will. Jessi and Wyatt are bleeding hearts. They won't let the princess stay with us longer than necessary." I reply, patting Samira on the head. She moves her head and glares at me."Jessi is going to cut you into so many pieces when she gets here that the buzzards won't be able to find them all." She says, looking at me with fire in her eyes. I grab her hair and pull her head back hard. To her credit, she continues to glare and doesn't even wince."Let her try. She and Wyatt will be dead before you even see her." I tell her angrily. Jessi is young and headstrong; she's no competition for me. "You can kill Wyatt, but I want Jessi before we kill her. She owes me." Trevor says with a grin.
Jessi's P.O.V.When Gabe said the name of the witch I never wanted to hear again, my blood ran cold; we had to get out of there. I wasn't prepared for Cressida. She's supposed to be dead. "Jock, get to Samira and get her out of that shack." I mindlink him. The evil feels like it's all around us."I'm already here. The rogues have left. I assume they're on their way to you with the others. I'm going to grab her and come back your way." I sigh in relief."Samira, Jock is coming to get you. Stay with him. We're going to get you back to the palace." "He's here, and he's untying the ropes now." She replies. "Jock has Samira. Let's get the hell out of here. I don't like this." I mindlink Wyatt."Jock, tell us when you're close so we can all return to the palace. We need a plan before we take on Cressida. I'd like to know how she's even here. Ryder and Zoe killed her." Wyatt takes my hand as darkness surrounds us. "We're wait
Jessi's P.O.V."I know why she wants Samira," I say, looking at my princess. Everyone stops eating and looks at me with confusion."I thought it was to get to you and Wyatt," Zoe says, setting her fork down."If Cressida is currently in a form that's not human, she most likely wants to become human again. She can't just switch from body to body like she did in the past. To do that, she needs a sacrifice. I believe that's what she wants Samira for. If she sacrifices her and allows the blood to seep into whatever form she's in, then she'll be able to take the form of a human again." Samira looks at me with wide eyes, but she's nodding."That makes sense, because Gabe kept telling Trevor they needed me for something. Does that mean they're going to try to get me again?" She asks, getting up to sit next to me. I put my arm around her and shake my head."We're not going to let them get near you. How did Gabe get you in the first place?" I ask as we g
Cressida’s P.O.V. Why am I surrounded by morons? Gabe and Trevor were supposed to stay with the princess so I could use her blood. I would have been in my proper form, a centuries-old witch until I could find a body to steal, but that would have been better than a damn skunk. Why wasn't a bear or a deer around when the tree began rotting? Now, I’m in the middle of the forest looking for some bugs or small rodents to eat. Ryder thought he was so smart, throwing me into the fire, thinking he killed me. It doesn’t work like that for witches that have been around as long as I have. When will they learn? All the fire did was release me to be absorbed into the earth. Granted, I wasn’t able to return to human form right away, but that’s what I’m working on now. Maybe I’ll take over Jessi’s body. She's going to die, anyway; it would be a shame to let her body go to waste. Finally, I see a little mouse running in front of me. I
Jessi's P.O.V. How in the hell did I do that? I'm standing in front of Wyatt one second, and the next, I'm on the other side of the palace grounds. All I did was think it would be nice if I could disappear, and the next thing I know, I'm here. Wyatt mindlinks me, but I don't answer him right away. I'm still trying to figure out what's going on. "Jessi, please answer me. Where are you?" I know I have to say something when I hear how frantic he is. "I'm on the other side of the palace grounds in the garden," I reply as Rieka begins walking toward the palace. Is this one of those hocus pocus things from Selene? If it is, she should have given me a warning rather than a heart attack. "How did you get over there?" Wyatt asks. I hear Scar panting, so I know they're running toward me. "I honestly don't know. I thought it would be nice to disappear, and then I was over here." I see Scar running toward me, and Rieka runs to
Jessi's P.O.V. Wyatt groans as soon as we get the mindlink from Dr. Neelson. I can't help laughing as we leave the bedroom to go to his office. My little puppy wasn't done playing yet. "I swear the entire palace must have us under surveillance. Why do they constantly have to interrupt us?" Wyatt complains as we go downstairs. "Oh, I don't know, maybe because an evil witch is trying to kill us all," I say, looking at him with a smirk. He pulls me into his arms before we reach Dr. Neelson's office and kisses me. "That may be true, but that doesn't stop the fact that I need my mate. How am I supposed to fight against the witch if I can't release my stress in the best way possible? It's not fair that we've had one problem after another since we found each other. Most mates get at least a day or two together when they first meet. We haven't had more than a few hours here and there." I giggle as h
Cressida's P.O.V. I knew I couldn't trust that little piece of shit. When I stopped ripping Gabe apart for not getting the princess back, I realized Trevor was gone. I sent out a spell to find him and imagine my surprise when I saw him at the palace. I should kill him, but I can't yet. I still need him, and even if he's conspiring with the enemy, his debt to me has not been paid. He owes me for allowing him to be born. I send a lightning bolt down to scare him, but they're gone before it even hits the ground. How did they do that? Did Trevor get some of my power and not tell anyone? I'll make him pay for keeping things from me. I send my cloud away and look at Gabe. "Your no-good son is at the palace. Would you like to explain to me what he's doing there?" I ask him. He's still mad I sprayed them, but I did place a spell to eliminate the smell when I couldn't stand hearing their whining anymore. He should be tha
Jessi's P.O.V.I'm staring at Dr. Neelson with an arrow in his chest and the note hanging on the end, but I still can't believe what I'm seeing. Why was he killed? More importantly, who the fuck is after us now? I turn when I hear footsteps, and I see Ryder and Zoe. I guess Wyatt mindlinked them."What happened?" Ryder asks, looking at Dr. Neelson."I called my dad and discovered that the rogue who looks like Zayden and has Zayden's DNA is not actually Zayden. We came to Dr. Neelson to ask how that was possible and found him like this," I still can't wrap my head around this. We don't need another crazed psychopath. One trying to kill us is more than enough; thank you!I walk over and remove the note from the arrow. I notice one of the windows is open, and I peer outside. The office is located in the back of the palace, looking over part of the wooded area. I can see how easy it would be for someone to shoot him through the window with his office bein
One Year LaterDavina's P.O.V.I look down at my sleeping daughter, Aleigha, in my arms and smile. She's almost six months old. If she only knew what we went through to have her. One day, I'll be sure to tell her. She has red hair just like me and dark brown eyes like Jock. Despite Trevor's constant teasing that our baby could be Karl's, Rmina assured us that the spell would have killed any viable sperm, so there was no way it could cause me to get pregnant. After defeating Surtur, everything calmed down around here. Jill and Karl returned home to have their twins with a promise they would visit and that they could visit us any time. I didn't let them fight with us because they hadn't trained, and Jill was pregnant, but I was so grateful they had come to help when we needed it. All of our other guests remained at the palace. Zoe and Ryder were fine with all the new people. We're truly a family.Everyone has little ones now. We have a baby phoenix,
Davina's P.O.V. Xantha moves to stand with Surtur while the other demons run toward us. It's time for the battle to begin. Izzy and Shadow return to the skies to do what they can. Our side spreads out, with everyone sticking with their mates. A demon runs toward me and Jock. I leap in the air and kick him in the face while blowing my dust on him to blind him. Jock uses his sword, piercing it through his heart and then cutting off his head. We toss him into the crack that Surtur made. It actually helps us so we can send all the demons where they deserve to go, to burn in hell. We move on to the next one, and I see the others are doing the same as we did, sending the demons to hell. Izzy swoops down, chomps two demons in half, and spits them into the hole in the ground. Shadow picks one up with his talons and tears him apart before sending him to hell. Malantha and Maelani are working with Dion to
Davina's P.O.V. "How did they get you and the kids?" I mindlink Zoe, Ryder and everyone who's fighting with us. "We were hiding in the basement with the kids when we were suddenly outside, and the demons had us. I don't understand how it happened." Zoe mindlinks us back. I can hear the desperation in her voice. This sounds like something Cressida would do, but she's dead. It has to be a witch. Just as I'm about to mindlink everyone, a woman walks out from behind the demons. She's beautiful with long reddish blonde hair, but her eyes are completely black. "She's a witch and not just any witch. Her magic is darker than we've ever seen. Everyone be careful." I mindlink them. "Well, hello there, fine palace dwellers. I have been anxious to meet the people who killed Cressida. I'm Xantha." I glare at the witch. I want to squash her with my foot, but I can't do anything until
Davina's P.O.V.When we see the hounds and lower demons, I look at Jessi. We all know this is only Surtur's first attack. He'll save the best for last, so we need to reserve our energy. "Everyone stay back. Let me take care of these rats." I make myself tiny and fly over those running through the gates. I sprinkle my dust as I go. They all turn into giant rats. Hmmmm, what dance shall we have them do? I know this isn't the time for fun and games, but we need a little laughter before we face the fire demon. I've got the perfect song. I return to the others, and they all look at me."Come on, fellas, show us what you got." I clap my hands, and the rats all line up in rows, standing on their hind legs. When they begin singing and dancing, everyone howls with laughter. "You have them singing Y.M.C.A.?" Jessi asks while wiping the tears from her eyes."Yep, why was there something else you'd rather hear?" Jessi shakes her head while pulling out
Davina's P.O.V. After Karl gave his sample to Rmina. We got him, and Jill settled into a guest room. Rmina kicked me out of her bedroom when I kept asking her how much longer it would be, so now I'm pacing in the hallway. I could make myself tiny and get back in, but I don't want to make her mess up the potion. Jock is leaning against the wall, watching me. This is our chance to have a baby, and we both feel anxious. When the door to Rmina and Trevor's bedroom opens, I stop. Rmina walks out with a smile, holding up a small glass bottle. "I made it into an oil. You need to rub it all over your body and let it soak in for an hour, and then you can take a shower. After that, you should be able to get pregnant." She hands me the small bottle and I wrap my arms around her. "Thank you. I love you, Rmina." She chuckles and hugs me back. "I love you too, you crazy fai
Davina's P.O.V. "So, can I have some of your semen?" I look at Jill and Karl, and they both look like they're ready to run away. Jessi, Wyatt, and Trevor are laughing so hard I think they might fall over. This is no laughing matter."Why do you need Karl's semen?" Jill asks. I guess I should have explained it a little better."I need it so I can have a baby. So can I have some?" The others are laughing even harder while Jock's hold on me gets stronger. What is wrong with everyone? I'm telling the truth. Jill stands in front of Karl like she's going to attack me if I get near him."You want to have sex with my mate?" She asks through clenched teeth. I shake my head."Let me explain." Rmina steps forward. I wish her luck because I told them what I needed it for. What else is there to say? "I'm Rmina, and I'm a witch. The demon Asmodeus had a spell placed on Davina so she couldn't get pregnant with anyone except him. She is now mated to Jock, the man w
Rmina's P.O.V.While the others are going through the palace looking for any more spies, Trevor and I are working on a special project. Even though Asmodeus is dead, the spell on Davina is still in place. I need to find a way to remove it. I feel bad now that she's explained why she always picks on me. It has to be hard on her knowing she can't get pregnant when she wants a child so badly. "Any luck?" Trevor asks, putting his arms around me from behind. "Not yet, but I think I'm getting closer," I answer as he kisses my cheek. Most people see him as nothing more than a warrior, but I know the truth. Trevor has one of the biggest hearts of anyone I know. He doesn't always know how to show it because, let's face it, Gabe and Cressida weren't exactly good role models. His hands slide down to my belly to cover my small bump where our son is growing. "I can't wait until he's here," Trevor says against my ear. "Me neither. I know he's a pup, but
Gabriel's P.O.V. No one ever asks for my help. Most people don't even know I exist. They think of other shifters like wolves or bears, but there aren't many like me. I'm an alicorn. My alicorn's name is Thunder. He's dark gray with blue eyes like mine. We're running to the palace rather than flying because we'd be noticed by humans. Selene reached out to me and asked for my assistance. I was honored that she considered me. I spend all my time alone. After my parents left me when I was a foal, I've been alone ever since. They said I could take care of myself because I was a shifter. That was over twenty years ago, and I'm now thirty. Thunder reaches the palace gates and shifts. An advantage of being an alicorn is that we have a little magic and can shift without removing our clothes. I run my fingers through my golden brown hair while the guards look at me with their mouths open. Well, at least someone is impresse
Surtur's P.O.V. I can't believe that idiot thought he could go after Davina and the others with guns blazing but with no plan. Well, that's one nuisance out of the way. Asmodeus wasn't even worthy to be down here, in my opinion. He was too caught up in all his women. I understand he was the demon of lust, but there is more to life than sex. One of my hounds was spying on him, and he saw the entire fight. Even I almost laughed when he said Davina made Asmodeus and his hounds do the Macarena. That fool was probably madder than hell. He didn't have a firm grip on anything, it seems. Two of his daughters and his head hound turned their backs on him and chose another life. That would never happen to me. The people around me know if there was any type of insubordination, they would be dead. I look at the demons in front of me who have agreed to go against Satan and take over the Earth. It is time that w