Cael kicked a rock across the street and tried to wipe the smile from his face. Thank fuck patrols were almost over so he could return to his mate’s side. When Rhys texted, asking if he could fill in for Gerrick, Cael almost said no, but knew it would lead to questions he wasn’t prepared to answer.

The mere thought of having a Fated Mate was overwhelming. A million ideas had left his brain a fried mess, but his smile grew as he thought about the temptress in his bed. He prayed she didn’t leave before he returned. They had a lot to discuss.

Cael turned his head so Rhys couldn’t see his unbridled happiness. The cambion was an exceptional warrior and someone he trusted at his back, but the male would tease him mercilessly if he discovered Cael found his mate. Especially given what Brianne had spent the past few hours doing to his body. He forced the images of his sexy harpy to the back of his mind, and focused on the sights and sounds of the night.

The cool, crisp air was colder than usual for Fall in Seattle, but he relished the feel against his heated skin. And the fact it wasn’t raining made the night tolerable. He zipped his leather jacket and glanced at his watch again. Not much longer, Brianne, he thought as his boots kicked into gear and quickened his pace.

“You alright, bro? You seem off tonight,” Rhys blurted as he walked beside Cael down a quiet, suburban street. Houses lined both sides of the street. They were in Fairmont, patrolling a neighborhood inhabited mainly by supernaturals.

Ever since Crocell kidnapped Isobel and took her to Hell, things had been quiet on the demon front. The Dark Warriors assumed the evil archdemon gathered her followers and returned to the Underworld. Cael acknowledged he missed the thrill of battle before meeting Brianne. Now, he was grateful for the reprieve. He didn’t want to worry about his mate’s safety or demand she stay cooped up at the compound. She was a harpy, and they didn’t do well in captivity.

“I’m good. Just wondering what that vile, blue bitch is up to. Since Ramiel rescued Izzy, we haven’t heard a peep. I expected her and every other demon to be on the warpath,” Cael replied, hoping to distract Rhys from his line of questioning.

“Ramiel and Kara said Lucifer was freed from his prison, so maybe they’re having a big-ass demon party in Hell,” Rhys joked and shook his head.

Cael knew the warrior was masking his contempt for his demonic father with humor. He couldn’t imagine the guilt Rhys must feel, knowing his blood flowed with the same blood of their enemies. Not that he was anything like the demons of the Underworld, but it still had to cut deep.

“My Illianna thinks Lucifer is planning something big, but word is Crocell is no longer working with Lucifer. She’s too consumed with getting her sister back,” Rhys muttered then added, “sick, twisted bitches,” under his breath.

“I forget your angel spent time in the Underworld. If Illianna’s right, stripling are still at risk. At least Anthru is complete, and there’s a place they can be protected,” Caell explained.

“No doubt,” Rhys answered. “Anthru was a brilliant idea.”

“I don’t imagine Zander or Elsie will ever allow Izzy out of their sight again. I’m not even her parent, and I have a hard time watching her play outside for fear something will happen. I’m surprised Zander didn’t go on a killing spree while she was gone.”

“Tell me about it,” Rhys added. “Illianna met with him and Elsie every day Izzy was gone, infusing them with as much of her angelic energy as she could. So fucking glad Ramiel came through. I can’t tell you how many hours I spent searching for a way into the Underworld, and came up against a wall every fucking time.”

“The house was so empty when Izzy was gone. It was like my arms had been severed, and my heart carved out,” Cael said and glanced at the full moon. Even the night sky seemed to rejoice over Isobel’s return.

“I’d like to kick some demon ass for what they put her through. She came back a different child,” Rhys admitted.

Cael knew precisely what the cambion warrior meant. There was a maturity in Izzy’s eyes that hadn’t been there before her kidnapping. While she still ran through the house and played with the gnomes and kippies, there wasn’t as much laughter and squealing. And, not once, had she pulled one of her infamous disappearing acts.

Without warning, the sensation of a million bees stinging his skin had Cael on alert. It was followed by the stench of putrid flesh filling his nostrils. In the next breath, his titanium sgian dubh was in hand. Beside him, Rhys went rigid, and his blade was at the ready. On silent feet, they made their way to a group of trees and hid in the shadows.

“Where are they?” Rhys whispered as his eyes scanned the area.

Cael shrugged and evaluated their location. He realized they were close to several supernatural homes, and detected witches, cambions, and shifters living on the street.

“All I know is there are stripling nearby,” Cael added.

Rhys’s eyes widened for a split second before they narrowed. “Yep. Three families have kids. Let’s see if the motherfuckers are inside.”

The first house they approached seemed peaceful. The curtains were closed, and the only sounds inside were soft snores. Before they reached the second house, Cael heard muffled screams. Rhys took off running with Cael two steps behind him.

Reaching a two-story Victorian, Rhys didn’t pause before he busted through the front door. Chaos erupted the moment they entered the living room. Cael slipped to the right, and Rhys went left. He noticed two children huddled against the far wall while skirm and several demons fought three adult cambions.

Cael charged behind a rage demon, plunging his knife into its skull. With an ear-splitting howl, the beast fell to the floor. Claws swiped at Cael. He ducked then quickly ran his blade through the back of the creature’s ankles. It crumpled to the floor, and Cael jumped onto the back of the sofa then jumped into the air. As he soared toward the children, Cael stabbed outward, and his titanium blade landed in the chest of a skirm. The creature flashed on fire then turned to ash.

Sharp cuts to his side interrupted Cael’s plan to dust another skirm. He fell to the ground and landed on his back. The impact forced air from his lungs, and Cael rolled to his side as a hellhound snapped its jaws where his head had been.

Cael jumped into the air, and the hound followed. His blade found purpose in the beast’s ribs, and its agonizing roar rattled the windows. He glanced to his left and saw Rhys in the throws of battle. By the feral look in his kaleidoscopic eyes, Cael knew the warrior had the situation under control. Rhys was a psycho when it came to fighting, and loved every gruesome minute. Cael’s distraction with Rhys cost him, and another blow from the hellhound caused Cael to stumble and fall. He quickly recovered and pounced on the creature’s back, plunging his blade into its ear canal, but not before sharp canines embedded in his forearm.

Teeth ripped through his skin as the hound crumpled to the floor. Cael didn’t have time to nurse his wounds, and the acidic saliva burned his flesh while he fought the remaining skirm and Sheti demon. Those bastards stunk worse than rancid ass, he surmised as he kicked out and sent a Sheti flying into the wall. The plaster caved, leaving a body-sized indentation behind.

Quick as lightning, Cael twisted his torso, and his hand was in motion before the skirm knew what hit him. There was a brief fire then a cloud of ash filled the room. A piercing scream caught Cael’s attention and he turned to see the Sheti demon grab the young girl and boy then bolt toward the window.

Rhys tossed one of his blades at the Sheti as he wrapped his arm around the throat of a skirm. Within seconds, another burst of fire and a puff of ash surrounded Rhys.

A female shouted as she ran toward the demon. It was clear to Cael the stripling belonged to her, and he managed to reach the Sheti before she did. He quickly plunged his knife into the demon’s back.

Panting, he turned to see the female scoop the children in her arms, protecting them. A male jumped into the battle and hacked off the head of the last rage demon, and Rhys fist-pumped the air in triumph.

“That’s how you fucking do it, bro. Sign him up for our next patrol,” Rhys hollered with a wide grin.

Cael was cut and bleeding, but it was minimal damage considering they were outnumbered. Rhys appeared unscathed, of course, and they needed to call in a cleanup crew to take out the demon trash. Oddly, all Cael could think about was returning to Zeum, and his mate.

This was the first time in his long existence that he had someone other than his brother and fellow warriors to consider. He had an incredible female waiting in his bed. With luck, Brianne would be awake and ready for another round of lovemaking when he arrived home.

“Don’t worry. You’re safe now. The demons won’t be able to hurt you again. We will have patrols in the area, day and night. And, Anthru is open if you want to send the stripling there for safety. At least until we can locate Crocell and eliminate the threat she poses,” Rhys assured the family.

“Thank you for everything,” the male stated and shook Rhys’s hand then Cael’s.

The female threw her arms around Cael’s neck, thanking him for saving her children. He returned the embrace and caught a subtle whiff of her sweet perfume. It reminded him of mangoes, and he smiled as the image of a dark-eyed beauty filled his vision.