by Juniper Hart
“I… I made a mistake?” Onyx muttered. “I…” Again, he stopped speaking. “What spell have you cast on me?” Onyx howled. “Stop this witchcraft at once!”
“It’s not witchcraft, Father, it’s emotion. You’re feeling empathy for once in your life.”
The words seemed to have no meaning to the ruler of the underworld, and he took a staggering step toward his son.
“Stop this!” he ordered. “I-I do not like it!”
“It’s too late, Father,” Dane said. “You can’t go back to the underworld through the portal. It’s been closed.”
Onyx blinked, tears of rage and discombobulation filling his crystalline eyes.
“I-I-I have to go back!” he whimpered, shaking his head like a frightened child. “It—it… it is my kingdom!”
Dane nodded in agreement, resting a hand upon the confused king’s shoulders.
“There might be a way,” he agreed quietly. “But not before we have some assurances from you.”
“A-assurances?”
“You must return to the underworld and never send another minion or soldier to Earth,” Dane said.
“I-I do not want to return here,” Onyx mumbled.
“I am staying,” Dane continued. “And so is everyone else who has crossed.” Onyx tried to shake his head, but the magic which Samantha held over him made refusal impossible. “The choice is yours, Father,” Dane told him. “You can stay here for eternity and face the wrath of the gods for defying their natural laws, or you can return home. The only thing you need to do is leave the rest of us in peace.”
Whatever it was that he was feeling, Onyx did not like, and he grunted, falling back. He seemed to think that Dane’s hold was causing his confusion.
“You are making a mistake,” Onyx growled. “You are…” He wheezed, a tear falling from his eye. “All right!” he yelled. “Enough! I have had enough. I just want to return.”
“We need your assurances, Father,” Dane urged him. “All the terms I laid out.”
“Fine!” Onyx choked. “Please, just stop this torture!” He whimpered again and buried his crying eyes in his hands. Dane turned and nodded almost imperceivably to Samantha, who released her hold over the king. Dane watched as his father’s back stiffened and he struggled to regain his composure. “That is a dirty trick,” he hissed, but Dane could read the respect in his eyes.
He’s impressed, he thought with some disgust. This is the kind of thing he would do to make someone bend to his will.
“You agreed to the terms, Father,” Dane reminded him. “There is no backing out now.”
“I am not backing out. Just send me back to the underworld, and I will forget I even have a son,” Onyx snarled, spinning away.
A pang of regret touched Dane’s heart, but when he looked back over his shoulder and into the shadows, he saw Elle standing, waiting for him with a worried look in her eye.
I never really had a family anywhere but here, Dane thought. Alaric Aldwin never had a family.
“Father!” he yelled out after the retreating figure. Reluctantly, Onyx paused and turned to glare over his shoulder.
“What is it?” he snapped.
“You’re going the wrong way.” He didn’t wait for his father to respond as he fell back into the shadowy side street to join his mate and her sister, slipping his hand into Elle’s.
“Christmas dinner is going to be awkward,” Elle joked, but Samantha shook her head.
“No,” she replied softly. “It’s going to be perfect for the first time in our lives.”
Dane felt a swell of happiness in his heart, and he smiled at the sisters.
I created them, he thought, squeezing Elle’s fingers as they disappeared into the night. But they empowered themselves all on their own.
And Dane could honestly say that the Vulpes were his finest achievement… to date.
***
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Thank You
Thank you for reading my book. Readers like you make an author’s world shine. If you’ve enjoyed this book, or any other books by Juniper Hart or another author, please don’t hesitate to review them on Amazon or Goodreads.
Every single review makes an incredible difference. The reason for this is simple: other readers trust reviews more than professional endorsements. For this reason, indie authors rely on our readers to spread the good word.
Thank you very much! I am giving you a virtual high-five!
Juniper Hart
About the Author
Juniper Hart is a romance writer from the Midwest, who loves telling the insta-love tales of werewolves, dragons, and other paranormal heroes. She specializes in sweet and short alpha romances that always promise a happily ever after.
Juniper resides in Miami, Florida with her husband and rambunctious blue-eyed son.
Find out more about Juniper Hart at SecretWoodsBooks.com
