Page 67 of Titan’s Mate

Blizzards of flower petals began to rain down, swirling around the demons so they couldn’t see. Baby goats bounced out of nowhere, dressed in pajamas that were all colors of the rainbow, tangling the demons’ legs. They began to falter.

Mari, Titan thought. Leave it to her to fight with flowers and baby goats. A rush of love came over him, and his demon flinched.

And then he got it. Anger wouldn’t win this war. Hate wouldn’t win it. It could only be won with love.

Titan opened himself to the crew bond—to the love of his friends. Brock, who spent long hours in Titan’s cabin—reading, or talking, or just sitting with him when he needed it.

Remy, who pranked him and tried to get him dates and made him laugh when he was feeling broken beyond repair. Damien, who worked in his studio with him and brought him Pop-Tarts, Lila who sparred with him. Colt, with his crazy humor and intense love for his brother and his mate. Nick, with his soccer games and ghostly companionship.

Jaeda and Callie and Kitty, who tried to civilize him, who dragged him to stores and made him buy clothes that lit Mari’s eyes on fire.

And Brandon, their alpha and their anchor, who made them into a family, smacked them down when they were out of control, and held them together with pancakes and tough love.

Who had felt Brock faltering, and pulled him into their family to save his life, just like he’d saved the rest of them.

The crew joined in and their memories rushed at the demons—love and laughter, caring and compassion, loyalty and bravery. Parties and barbecues and touch football, Sunday brunches. Rebuilding the house—a place for them to all be together. Titan’s cabin and Callie’s retreat—places for those who needed to be apart.

The demons began to shrink. More flowers rained down on them, blizzards of glitter. Colored dildoes danced under their feet, tripping them up.

They couldn’t stand against the onslaught—the tethers that tied them to the demon realms began to pull them back inside the gates. But the first demon still remained.

With a rush of wings, Tyr’s dragon arrived, with a smaller black dragon at his side. The two of them unfurled their wings, sheltering the crew, as Tyr chanted in Draken.

Healing power burst from them. Titan could feel it spreading through the crew, see it following the lines of their bond. The essence of the demon, diluted by their shared sacrifice, weakened by love, could no longer stand against them.

One by one, Tyr and Dragon Boy burned it out of them, until the magic of the crew bond was clear blue.

The demon was gone. But the gates to the demon world remained open.

Chapter 30

Mari jumped into Titan’s arms, and he swung her around. “You were amazing,” he murmured. “Best bear ever.”

She hugged him tightly. “Not me. You. You saved me.”

Then they realized how quiet it was. The rest of the crew was staring uneasily at the open gates before them.

“We defeated the demons,” Kitty said. “Shouldn’t they, um, go away now?”

“The gates can’t close.” It was Dragon Boy, walking right up to the gates, peering inside.

“Well, why the hell not?” Brandon demanded.

“Him.” Dragon Boy turned around and pointed straight at Titan.

He let Mari slide to the ground. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re still connected.”

He gestured in the air between Titan and the gates. Like a strands from a spiderweb, dozens of glittery lines came into view, heading from Titan’s chest right through the gates, and beyond.

“Your people,” Mari said. “They’re still in there.”

“Well, let’s get them out,” Remy said.

“I’m in,” Damien said.

Brandon said, “Hold on. We are not just marching into the gates of fucking Hell with no plan.”