Dio continued to talk to the white rabbit asking about his family, which apparently included an unending number of kids and more than a dozen wives. Who knew bunnies had harems?

“Can we speed this up?” Varick asked after the chit chat continued over a cup of tea and cookies.

“Sorry.” Dio shot him an apologetic look as he took another bite of shortbread. “It’s been so long since I’ve had a chance to talk to my family I got carried away.”

“Go ahead dear, why did you come?” Aunt Carolotta asked.

“Mother is trying to bring the demons through the gate and using me as the bridge,” Dio burst out. “She’s convinced if she makes it through the portal she can take over the world.”

“She always was a cheeky bitch,” Uncle Stevie said mildly.

Varick sighed. Every one of his mate’s relatives was madder than a hatter. “Yes and she doesn’t play well in the worldwide sandbox either. What can we do to stop her?”

If he waited much longer for an answer he’d die of old age and werekin lived a long, long time.

Dio, his aunt and uncle and the maniacal bunny all turned to stare at him. “What?” Had he broken a visiting the psycho relative etiquette?

“Auntie said she has an amulet,” Dio commented.

When had she said this? Varick eyed his mate with suspicion. Dio’s eyes begged him to go along with the ploy.

“Oh, yes. Of course the amulet will help a great deal, I’m glad I thought of it.” Aunt Carlotta jumped up from her seat and raced from the room.

“Nicely played boy,” the rabbit praised.

“Thank you.” Dio gave seated bow.

“Do you think it will do the job of keeping your mother under control?” Varick asked.

“Nothing will keep that woman out forever,” Uncle Stevie said pouring more tea. He offered some to Varick who waved him away impatiently. “Then what will this amulet do?”

“Poison her,” Aunt Carlotta said entering the room. A long silver necklace dangled from her fingers with a round flat amulet attached to the bottom. “The amulet of Devonforge was designed to kill demons. Unfortunately my sister is a high-level demon so it won’t kill her instantly but will act as a slow poison.”

“How will we get it on her?” Varick liked the idea of killing Dio’s mother and removing the threat to his mate.

Dio grabbed the amulet and slipped it over his head. “Easy enough. I just have to let her see it on me. She’s never resisted stealing something of mine. This won’t be any different.”

Varick’s blood froze in his veins. “But in order to do that…” he couldn’t force the rest of the words out.

“He’ll have to go to the underworld and speak to her in person,” Aunt Carolotta finished for him.

Varick barely resisted the urge to rip out her throat.