Sorry this is late. I have to say I’m not super happy with this section so I’ll probably completely change the ending for the final book but here it is for now. Enjoy!

* * * *

 

“Dio if you don’t come see me you’ll regret it. I might not be able to come to you but I can make your life miserable. If you want your little wolf safe you’ll listen to your mother.”

Dio made a show of his reluctance. He laced his fingers through Varrick’s and gave his mate a regretful look.

“I have to go,” he said in a low voice he knew his mother could hear.

“No! I forbid it!” Varrick snapped.

“You what?” Dio dropped the shifter’s hand.

“Forbid it,” Varrick pulled out the words so they dragged into long syllables, stressing each one.

Dio turned back to his mother. “I’ll be there soon, mother”

“Yes dear, come visit with me and I’ll protect you from the bad wolf,” her words dripped with sugary sweetness. Dio almost gagged. He forced his face into calm lines that he hoped didn’t give away his disgust. Things were going well he didn’t want to ruin it all.

“Why don’t I just send you the necklace if you want it so much? I don’t trust you to trap me.”

His mother’s face relaxed and a slow smile crossed her face. Dio’s heart beat loudly in his chest he knew Varrick must be able to hear the sound. “Smart boy. You knew if you came here I’d find a way to coax you to do what I want.”

Dio barely stopped a reflexive shudder. In his mother’s vocabulary coax translated to torture. He gave her a weak nod.

A soft pop filled the air and Sillybean appeared beside him.

“Yes, master.”

Dio took off his necklace and placed it in the demon’s hands. For a brief moment he slid a hand over Sillybean’s shoulder before stepping back.

“Take that to my mother,” Dio said.

“Yes, master.” Sillybean vanished from the room and Dio watched the little demon appear on the other side.

His mother snatched the necklace out of Sillybean’s hands and placed it around her own neck. The demon popped back into the room with Dio and Varrick before Dio’s mother could do anything to him.

For a simple demon he had excellent reflexes.

“Thank you dear.” Dio watched expressionless as his mother put the necklace around her neck. “Because you’ve proven so cooperative I’m going to give you another week before I expect you to open the gate. If you don’t, you’d best guard your mate well.”

The mirror blanked.

Dio rushed forward and placed a blocking spell.

“How long will it take to go into effect?” Varrick asked.

“I don’t know,” Dio said worriedly. He hoped it killed her before the end of the week. His mother, not known for her kindness in the past, had only gotten worse with her fixation over world domination.

“We’d better go check out the gate,” Varrick said. “If she tries to do something we will need to be prepared.”

Dio nodded even as he knew trying to convince his lover that nothing would stop his mother if she survived. Revenge was her favorite pastime.