Cade inhaled deeply, trying to find his Zen, but any semblance of calm eluded him. Sounds of Cael having sex with Brianne filled his mind, and he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, staring at the SUV in front of them. He wanted to turn his truck around, and take his mate somewhere they could talk privately, but there were pressing matters that demanded immediate attention.

He glanced over at his mate in the passenger seat. Her back was to him as she stared out the window. She hadn’t spoken to him since he dragged her from Cael’s vehicle, insisting she ride with him. No way was he going to let her ride home with his brother. It was their date night, Gods dammit. If anyone broke any promises, it was his brother.

The worst part was he couldn’t fault Cael. Cade would’ve done the same thing in his shoes. The fact that every possessive bone in Cade’s body was screaming for him to claim Brianne as his Fated Mate didn’t help the situation. With a jolt, Cade realized that Cael was feeling the exact same turmoil. The thought wasn’t a pleasant one.

For the millionth time in the past few days, Cade asked the Goddess why she had burdened them with such strong mating instincts if they were meant to share Brianne. The only answer that made sense was that they weren’t supposed to share her. Cade believed he was destined to fight for her love and devotion, but fighting his brother was not natural to him. He doubted Cael wanted to fight him, either. The problem was that neither of them could stop. Every cell in their bodies stung with intense pain, urging them to complete the mating. As if the possessive instincts weren’t enough, the nagging mating brand pushed Cade to his breaking point. He could tolerate a significant amount of discomfort, but this was like an exposed nerve being repeatedly plucked by a vicious demon.

Brianne suddenly whirled in her seat and blurted, “What are you guys going to do about the child that was taken?”

The sound of her voice soothed his raw nerves so he could focus again. “Zander will call Hayden and ask for his CLAW to help in locating Crocell’s new lair. Once we find her, we will save the child and kill that bitch once and for all.”

“Do you think her lair is close to the hotel?” she asked, and Cade could hear the concern in her tone. She wasn’t as uncaring as she claimed to be. Harpy, or not, Brianne had a heart of gold.

“I would say yes. But, given the way she disappeared, I doubt she will return to wherever she’s been hiding,” Cade replied with a shake of his head. The only behavior they could predict was that Crocell was most likely going to hole up somewhere in the suburbs.

“You’re probably right,” Brianne said as he followed Cael’s SUV through the gate at Zeum, and he prayed their protections were in place.

The compound they called home was well-guarded by magical and physical means but had been attacked several times in the demon’s hunt for the Triskele Amulet. That search was detrimental for centuries, but became deadlier after the amulet’s power was transferred from a necklace to the princess, Isobel.

“But you’ll still look, right? There might be other children being held hostage. They’ll die if you guys give up,” Brianne divulged, her brows furrowing.

“We would never stop looking. Rescuing the stripling is our top priority. In fact, I’d wager the missing children are the only reason Hayden and Zander are talking at this point,” Cade explained.

“I assumed they were close friends,” Brianne confessed as she fiddled with the zipper on her jacket.

He could feel her anxiety, and it wasn’t because of the missing stripling. They were approaching the house, and she was concerned about his and Cael’s behavior.

“You assumed right. However, that recently changed when Crocell came into the picture. Her public attacks on humans have caused more problems than additional work for those of us that can erase memories. Hayden believes we need to come out to the humans so they can help us fight the demons,” Cade relayed then pulled the car to a stop under the portico.

His chest twisted every time he parked in this location. It was there that Cailyn had saved Cael’s life during a battle. He still had nightmares about the day he nearly lost his twin.

The memory was enough to make his anger dissipate. It didn’t sit well that Cael had been with his Fated Mate, but he would no longer deny his brother happiness. Jumping from the driver’s seat, Cade rushed around his truck and opened Brianne’s door. Cael joined them as they entered the massive double doors leading into Zeum.

They immediately headed to the war room to update Zander on the events of the evening. He was going to be pissed that the archdemon was up to her old habits. Cade was still shocked that Crocell wasn’t killed during Izzy’s rescue from the Underworld. Ramiel, Isobel’s Guardian Angel, was going to be pissed when he heard the news because he thought he killed the demon.

“Raquel!” Brianne blurted excitedly and picked up her pace.

“Bri!” the dark-haired harpy shouted and threw her arms open.

Cade assumed the accented voice belonged to Brianne’s sister. He recognized some of the words spewing from Brianne’s mouth. Sharing a look with Cael, they both caught up to Brianne and entered the war room beside their mate.

“It’s so good to see you. You’re hurt! What the hell? I thought you were here for sex. What kind of love nest do these warriors have?” Raquel exclaimed and glanced over Brianne’s shoulder to him and Cael.

Brianne pushed her sister’s shoulders and laughed. “Oh, if only you knew,” she muttered and glanced back at them, “but, don’t worry. I’ll be fine. What are you doing here?”

Raquel stood back and inspected her sister then placed a hand on her hip and cocked it to the side. “Sestra, I can see by your glow that they please you well. I want details, and then I want a room with an unattached male. I’m ready to get my freak on.”

“Och. I doona need to hear any details, and I sure as hell doona want the fighting to start again. But, I am curious as to your visit. Why now?” Zander instructed with an arched eyebrow.

Cade was wondering the same thing.

Seeing Raquel put Brianne in a better mood. Funny how sisters did that. It was a bond she held close to her heart. Brianne wanted to grab Raquel and dash to her room so she could fill her in on the sordid details of her chaotic life.

Her two males were driving her insane. Insane with anger, and mad with lust. She wanted to throttle them with her bare hands for their childish behavior, and drag them into the bathroom for wild shower sex. She was certain she had enough to please both males. Hell, she proved that tonight. But they would never allow it. Too much jealousy and possessiveness always led to fists flying when the three of them were together.

“So, why are you here, sestra?” Brianne asked, needing to focus on something besides the two males staring her direction. She could sense their emotions, and knew they could sense hers, as well.

Raquel’s mood sobered instantly. “I’m here to warn you that Aurora plans to attack your compound. Through her connection to Brianne, she knows the location, and is going to surprise you at dawn.”

“What the fuck?” Brianne blurted at the same time Zander cursed, “Bluidy fucking hell. Why? We are no’ holding Brianne against her will.”

Raquel waved her hands in the air and shook her head rapidly. “Que jodienda. There’s a demon at the wheel. That’s why.”

“Explain,” Zander demanded with a scowl.

“Look, Your Highness. I am not one of your people, and I don’t take your orders. I came to get my sister so she can help me recruit others. This is a Harpy matter,” her sister replied.

Brianne didn’t miss the way Raquel’s voice wavered or the tremor in her stiff shoulders. She was terrified by whatever was happening at the nest.

“I doona care who your leader thinks she is, but you canna come in my house and announce an attack withoot providing details. You will give me answers. Why the change from ally to enemy?” Zander barked.

Elsie came up to his side and ran her hand up and down her arm. “Zander, this isn’t helping,” she scolded.

Brianne cut off the Vampire King before the matter devolved into a battle of wills. No one was more stubborn than her sister. She was known to hold a grudge for several centuries. “I will go with you, but these warriors are our allies, and I trust them. I want their opinion on how we should approach the situation. We aren’t soldiers or skilled strategists. That is why Aurora reached out to Zander during our last attack. Raquel, please tell them what happened,” Brianne encouraged her sister.

Cade and Cael stepped close to her side, putting distance between her and Raquel. Brianne remained fixed on her sister as she put up her hand to forestall the impending argument she knew her sister would make.

Heaving a sigh, Raquel lowered her lashes and toed the floor with her high-heeled boots. “Fine. Last night, I was bored and contemplating the short flight to Seattle to find a male when I heard voices. I took to the air and landed on some nearby branches of an evergreen. Aurora was in a meeting with her first and second in command when all hell broke loose. Denna and Gabby passed out as black smoke poured from an invisible portal,” Raquel explained, and several gasps filled the room. Brianne recalled the black smoke at the hotel and understood the severe reaction.

“Anyway, Aurora stood there in a trance while a shadow took human form. Evil filled the air, and I almost choked. I held my breath so no one would see me. I watched a demon take shape. The red eyes and black horns,” she said with a shudder. “But what will haunt me forever was the sound of the creature’s voice as it chanted a spell. It felt like razors across my skin then it’s body literally disappeared inside Aurora while she screamed for her life,” Raquel muttered in disbelief.

“Holy shit. We’ve been ignorant all these years, believing we were exempt from this whole demon mess,” Brianne admitted. “So, it’s not really Aurora planning to attack?”

“No, it isn’t. You know Aurora. She prefers standing on the sidelines, and would still be there if not for the stupid fucking demon,” Raquel retorted.

“Shite,” Zander cursed. “This complicates matters. Jace, get the Mystik Grimoire. This is one problem I am certain it will address.”

Brianne cringed at the subtle reminder of her situation with the two males standing on either side of her. For a brief, blessed minute, she forgot about the impossible choice she needed to make.

Brianne had gone from the best date of her life and earth-shattering sex, to an attack by demons, more hot sex, and now the possible end of her kind. Gods, life was a complicated mess, she thought.

“I hope you’re right about that,” Jace replied as he pulled his phone from his back pocket and tapped at the keys. Moments later, Brianne felt the sorcerer’s power wash over her when he closed his eyes. She recalled someone mentioning the warrior was magically connected to the book.

“Whoa,” Raquel whispered, clearly feeling it, too. “I hope you get some answers fast because she’ll be headed your way soon. It’s nearly dawn. We should just leave, Brianne. They can call us and tell us how to handle this situation after they find the answer.”

Her sister’s anxiety infected Brianne, and she was suddenly eager to be on their way, too. “You’re right, let’s go,” she announced then added, “If we get there soon enough, we can gather the enclave and stall Aurora before it’s too late.”

“You’re not leaving,” Cael shouted followed by Cade’s growled, “No way in hell I’m allowing you out of my sight.”

“That isn’t up to you. You don’t own me, regardless of your beliefs. I am a grown-ass female, and I make my own decisions. Besides, we’re trying to save your hides from a brutal attack. Gods-only-know who Aurora has partnered with, but my guess is the demon that possessed her has chosen his kind to help with the dirty work,” Brianne countered.

Her mouth was saying one thing, needing space from the overbearing males, but the mere thought of leaving them made her chest ache and an emptiness set up residence in her gut.

“You’re my Fated Mate, Brianne. There’s no way you can deny our connection,” Cade uttered through a clenched jaw.

Cael lifted his hands and reached for her. “You’re mine. I found you first, and I can feel your conflict. We’re meant to be together. Stay with me.”

Raquel let out a low whistle. “Damn, sestra. You weren’t kidding when you said these two sexy vampires were your mates,” she spouted then jumped when Brianne punched her shoulder.

“I said they believe they’re my mates. Despite the fact I want them both, they can’t share, so I don’t want either of them,” Brianne replied with a pointed look at the twins.

“Enough,” Zander barked and slammed his fist onto the wooden table. “We havena figured oot a solution regarding two Fated Mates, but we will. The bigger issue right now is Aurora and her possession. We canna leave the demon in control of such a powerful creature. We have innocents and stripling on our property, not to mention my daughter. I refuse to allow her to be taken from us again.”

Elsie’s hand clenched on Zander’s forearm and tiny claws extended from her fingertips. The Vampire King met his mate’s eyes and didn’t flinch when she drew blood. A lump formed in Brianne’s throat at the terror that flashed through the queen’s eyes before she closed them and hid her reaction.

Brianne had caught snippets about Izzy’s kidnapping during her time at Zeum and felt the cloying rage, despair, and fear that hung like a storm cloud over the entire compound. It was a testament to the closeness between the warriors, their mates, and the staff that they worked day and night to rescue the princess.

Small arms suddenly appeared around Zander’s neck, and Izzy was hanging from his back. “Och. There’s my nighean. Are you playing chase with Dipple? It’s not fair to disappear on him.”

“No, silly,” Isobel laughed and reached for her mom. “I came to give mama a hug. I’m safe. The bad demon didn’t get out. Ramiel stopped him,” Izzy reassured her mother and kissed her cheek then hugged her tight.

“I love you to the moon and back,” Elsie told her daughter.

“Love you to Khoth and back,” Izzy replied.

“C’mon, let’s get some ice cream,” Elsie suggested and headed for the door.

When Brianne’s gaze returned to the room’s occupants, she noted smiles on everyone’s faces as Izzy asked if Blaze and Donovan could come over and join her. Brianne had no idea who Blaze was but recalled the strong connection between the little girl and young cambion.

“Now. You two,” Zander roared, pointing at Cade and Cael. Brianne had the urge to defend them, but kept her mouth shut, “had better change your attitudes. I willna have you behaving like galoots. There is too much turmoil in the realm right now for your bullshite. You both need to do some soul searching, and figure oot how you will handle this mating. I’m happy to put you in the dungeon while you pull your heads oot of your arses,” Zander threatened then took a deep breath and sighed, “but I’d rather send you with your mate. The Harpies canna handle Aurora withoot warriors. There’s a chance the demon will bring reinforcements. Can you act like rational beings, and do what is necessary?”

Cade and Cael shared a look that Brianne didn’t understand until she tuned into the connection she felt with them. They were wary and uncertain, but determined. She couldn’t read their minds but could read between the lines. They didn’t believe they could stop fighting to win her heart but were determined to do whatever it took to save Brianne’s leader and her kind.

“We won’t let you down, Liege,” Cade promised. “We refuse to be locked away from our mate, unable to protect her.” It was the first time he’d referred to her as their mate, and it resonated with Brianne more than it should.

“We will set aside our differences and cooperate,” Cael intoned, and Zander nodded his agreement.

“Well, alrighty then. It’s settled,” Raquel said and clapped her hands. “We have to leave now if you don’t want Aurora on your doorstep.”

“Aye. ‘Tis settled,” Zander agreed. “Call at once if you need backup, and we will be there. We will move the stripling to safety in the event you canna delay her.”

“Don’t kill the Harpies if they show up. They have to follow Aurora’s orders, and she’s under the power of a soul-stealer,” Raquel threw out before they could turn to leave.

“We will do our best, but the safety of the females and stripling are our priority,” Zander explained.

Despite the race to stop a war, a surge of excitement welled at the thought of showing Cade and Cael her home. She hoped they liked her pretty things. It took centuries and well-planned theft to accumulate her collections. No male had stepped foot in her nest, and the fact they were the first was telling.

Their vows to win her heart were coming to fruition, and Brianne didn’t know if she could stop it. And, if she were completely honest, she didn’t want to stop it.