I tangled my fingers in his long hair and pulled him in for a quick kiss. He devoured my lips, leaving me breathless when he released me.
Groaning, I pulled out of his embrace and got up, heading for the door so I could go meet Mom and Dad.
Cold air pricked at my cheeks as I stepped into the brisk afternoon. Dad's gaze shifted between Ash's Camaro and the newly built cabin, a frown creasing his brow. Mom saw me before she got to focused on anything else and came over to me, wrapping me in a hug.
"How are you?" Mom studied me closely before glancing at the cabin. "Impressive."
I grinned. "Magic. Come on, see the inside."
Ed and Allan looked out from the kitchen, where they were working on dinner for everyone, when we walked in.
Ash had perched himself in one of the window seats in the living room and looked like he might want to melt into the wall. Nikolai poked at a fresh fire in our fireplace and Doc had stood to greet my parents.
Mom liked all my guys. Nikolai, especially, had charmed her. Dad was tolerating everyone. Of course, neither of them knew for sure I was dating all of them. They might suspect. We hadn't exactly been careful at Thanksgiving, with everyone so happy to see me in one piece and alone in my own head.
Nikolai hugged Mom while Doc shook Dad's hand. Everyone else traded greetings before Mom noticed Ash hiding on the window seat. To his credit, he hadn't actually used magic to vanish.
"You're just surrounded by attractive men, Sofia. Who's your other friend?"
My eyes widened and Ash ducked his head, though I saw a hint of a smile tug at his lips.
"Mom, Dad, this is our friend Ash. He's staying with us for a while."
Ed and Allan disappeared back into the kitchen. I didn't blame them. I couldn't remember if I had mentioned Ash to my parents or not, but there was a good chance I had.
Mom's face twisted up as if she were trying to remember. "Ash? That sounds familiar. Have you mentioned him?"
"Um. I can't remember. Here, let me show you around the cabin." I grabbed her hand and began the tour.
Dad trailed along behind us.
"So, we haven't finished getting stuff for the cabin, and obviously we don't have any decorations or anything."
"You did this all with magic?" Dad asked after we ended up in the kitchen where Ed and Allan were almost done cooking. We sat around our large kitchen table.
"Yeah. Ash, Nikolai, and I, and, uh, Doc, built it." I'd almost forgotten to include Doc. We hadn't even made any of our stories overly complicated, and it was still hard to keep track of everything.
"Wait, Ash," Mom said, her eyes darting to the demon. "Doesn't he..."
"No." I cut her off. Obviously, I had mentioned him before. "He was under their control. He's free now."
"Oh." Mom eyed the demon. "Well, they sound like terrible people."
Ash nodded his agreement but remained silent.
"So, what now? They're still out there?" Mom wrapped her hands around a mug of tea that Doc slid in front of her.
Dad was a coffee drinker, but we didn't have any in the house since I still hadn't gotten over getting drugged with a latte.
Ash lifted a shoulder, staring at the table as he answered. "Melinda is powerful." His lips twisted when he said her name. "But Sofia is more than a match for her now. So is Nikolai. She has experience, but Nikolai can match that, and the demon left Sofia with a lot of knowledge. If Alex is working with her, that will give her a boost, but…" Ash shrugged again. "They don't have me anymore. I was the main reason no one would dare take them on before. They're probably out for revenge. We'll just have to fight them off for good this time."
"Oh." Mom's eyes scanned all of us. "I never really expected to have to deal with this world," Mom replied. "It's so different than what we're used to. I'm grateful Sofia has such capable help."
Dad still didn't say anything, though his jaw was tight.
"Hope you're hungry." Allan broke the uncomfortable silence as he brought plates over.
Nikolai helped him set the table. I watched the mage, marveling at how readily he had settled into our life. Though I was sure it was vastly different than palace life with servants and all that went with it, he had taken to our ways. Of course, we had adapted to some of his also. We were all much more open about using our abilities, at least when safe to do so.
"So, Nikolai, how are you settling in to modern times?" Mom turned her attention to the mage just as he casually brushed his hand across Doc's shoulder. Doc absently put his hand on top of the mage's for a moment. It was an everyday action for them, but I wasn't sure Mom had ever seen it before. Her eyes widened and she glanced at me.
I was currently sitting between Ed and Allan. Maybe I should have taken the spot next to Doc. Maybe I should just tell them and hope Mom and Dad didn't freak out too much.
"It is good. Not even sure I miss home." His eyes danced with mischief as his gaze settled on me.
I grinned back.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that. Ash, what are you going to do now?"
The demon shrugged. "Get used to freedom, I guess. They're letting me stay here as long as I need to. I really don't know."
She looked back at me, head tilted slightly before she shrugged. "I suppose I'm glad my daughter is surrounded by powerful mages and, uh, werewolves, to keep her safe."
The oven dinged, saving us from the rest of that awkward conversation. Doc and Ash brought over the baked pasta and garlic bread.
"And good cooks, too," Mom said as she tasted the pasta. "Sofia can cook, you know."
"She does every once in a while, but we
