Outlaw (Wolves of Royal Paynes #4) - Kiki Burrelli Page 0,101

cleared—at my urging—some of us headed for chairs, others food, and the rest the dancefloor.

Diesel tugged us away from the others, toward the edge of the dancefloor, where we were free to shuffle slowly from side to side.

"Should we tell them about the last time we danced in here?" I murmured, resting my cheek on Diesel's chest.

"Don't bother. Knox could smell it the second he walked in. Why do you think there are so many extra flowers?"

He spun us around, showing off his smooth dance skills.

I smiled. "You still remember." One of my favorite memories from before was of the three of us—me, Diesel, and my pack mom—in our living room as Rebecca showed Diesel the basics of a waltz. He'd grumbled the whole time, quieting only once we switched partners. It had been one of the only times in my young life Diesel had hugged me as tightly as I wanted.

"I remember everything that helps me take care of my baby boy." Diesel lifted me off my feet, continuing to dance despite only one of us touching the ground.

We'd settled into a sultry sway while the others joined us, lost in their own conversations with their alphas. I'd just begun to think about trying out some of those small cakes Jazz made, when the twinkle lights began to glow brightly, like someone had turned up the power.

Diesel's embrace went from soothing to protective. He rushed to the children, along with everyone else. The Walker and Royal Paynes alphas, along with Isaiah, Jamie, and Alejandro circled around the rest of the pack, while Claus stood at the front, transforming from dapper bearded gentleman to hulking red demon king.

"I don't care who is causing this. I'll tear 'em apart for ruining the demonling's—"

The light turned blinding, the purest white light that was impossible to look at but also impossible to look away from.

A whooshing sound blew through the ballroom, and when the lights faded back to their normal intensity, three bodies stood in the middle of the room, dressed to the nines in outfits that looked similar to the ones Jazz, Storri, and Sitka wore. The three omegas gasped and surged forward, stopped by their alphas.

"That's my mom!" Jazz cried out to Knox. "That's Sorrows."

The ethereal woman smiled at her son, her Grecian gown a matching shade of navy blue.

"But I thought archangels could only see their kids in their heavens at a time when they truly needed it?" Jazz rushed into his mother's arms. The angel wrapped him in a hug, spending a couple of seconds embracing as she pressed her cheek to the top of his head.

"It's true." Her voice boomed, almost like it was piping in through the speakers. But it wasn't loud, just important. "But, as you've learned, heaven and hell are about balance. Hell," her mouth twisted with distaste, "broke those rules, allowing a demon king to influence the outcome."

"But he helped us." I didn't care for the way her face had soured mentioning my brother.

Sorrows's smile was not unkind. "That may be, but it is beside the point. Hell tipped the scales. We get to even them. With dancing." Her eyes sparkled.

Storri and Sitka rushed to their archangel fathers. Storri's dad picked him up and twirled him in a circle, much to Storri's giggling glee, while Power and Sitka seemed to be sizing each other up, both staring the other's outfit up and down.

"You have a talent, son." Power's voice rumbled.

Sitka ducked his head, covering his blushing cheeks with sheets of glossy black hair. "Thank you."

The alphas reluctantly allowed their omegas out of their arms to dance with their parents while many of the Walkers attempted to not stare at the actual archangels they were seeing for the first time.

Holding on to Diesel's hand, I brought him to the group, figuring I'd at least get to know the other pack while the others danced with their parents. I wasn't bitter that my parents were dead, but it also had never been more apparent that they were until this moment.

Someone tapped on my shoulder.

Claus stood with his hand out, still wearing his demon skin but dressed in the same tuxedo. "Will a demon king half-brother do?"

I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't—

Claus pulled me to where the others were dancing and brushed a tear from my cheek. "You can cry, demonling. Wouldn't be the first time I've seen a human leak." He spun us in a fast circle before settling into a slow, casual waltz.