It was Monday but we had all decided to ditch for the day. Sage was too antsy to go to school and Maddox was still all melted in a puddle on the floor like that green slime monster from that kid's cartoon about the monsters. I glanced at where he was draped over the corner of the couch with Sage curled against his side with her legs draped over my brother's lap. Maddox literally looked like there weren't any bones in his body. I was pacing not sure what to do. I wanted to go join the cuddle pile that was forming but I also wanted to make sure we were all on the same page. "Are we telling him about the bonds?" I question the group.

Dante looked up at me from his place on the end of the couch further away from the others. He was a cuddler but only when he was asleep and couldn't control the urge to be snuggled. He looked relaxed and calm, but I knew it was all an act he had put on. He was probably freaking out as much as if not more than I was. "Yeah, we'll have to. Part of keeping Sage safe also entails keeping all of you guys safe too." Dante answered coolly.

"For now," Sage muttered under her breath.

"Hmm? What was that?" Dante asked looking toward Sage.

She looked away, "Damn sneaky fox hearing." She grumbled, "Them and everyone else willing in a five-mile radius." Sage clarified.

"Ahh yes, I haven't forgotten about the orgasm robots." His eyes twinkled as he taunted her.

I had no idea what he was talking about but the pinkening of Sage's cheeks told me she knew what he was referring to. I made another loop in front of the couch before she finally snapped. "Sit." She ordered pointing to the floor right next to where she was laying on the couch.

Without complaint, I sat down and instantly relaxed when her hand slipped into the longer hair at the top of my head to fiddle with the strands. My shoulders instantly lost their tension and I allowed myself to relax against the couch my head resting against her hip. Dante and Maddox both turned their heads towards the door at the same time. It was creepy. I hoped that wasn't how Caden, and I looked when we did shit like that. There were a few moments of silence before the doorbell rang.

Dante leapt up from the couch before walking towards the door his whole-body tense in apprehension. I don't know what we had all been expecting but when Dante opened the door to reveal a giant man with tattoos up both arms and either side of his neck I was surprised. Dante ushered the man in and checked outside before closing the door. This man was bigger than Maddox and he was the biggest guy I had ever met, and I had met Lucifer for hell's sake.

We watched as the guy who could only be Swayer followed Dante down the hall. Sage tried to get up to greet the man but Maddox, Caden, and I all pushed her back onto the cushions. We did not want her approaching this giant-looking man without knowing if he was here for the right reasons. For all, we know he was here to assassinate her. He looked down at us his gaze taking everything in at once. His eyes traveled over each of our binding marks. He smiled then and it was obvious that he was a demon because it was sinful.

"You must be the impossible Sage. Never met an extinct species before." He held out a hand.

Sage went to get up again, but Maddox let out a deep growl. Sage turned to look up at him her brow quirked, and it was obvious what she was thinking. Her face softened though, and she rubbed her hand against his chest. "He's here to help. He won't hurt me." She reassured him.

Maddox purred under her full attention. After nuzzling into the side of her neck for a moment he let her go. She stood from the couch and there was a moment I wanted to grab onto her leg like a child and refuse to let go. Sensing my emotions her hand came down and stroked my hair in reassurance. Once she was standing in front of the man, she held her hand out. "You're Sawyer?" She questioned.

He clasped her hand in his enclosing her whole hand in his own with a broad smile on his face. He held on for a little too long for my liking before letting go and fisting his hand at his side. Whatever he was feeling it was clear Sage could read it, but she didn't comment. She never made a habit of outing people's emotions. It was part of what made her so great. Other people would use that to their advantage, but Sage understood how personal emotions were. I had a chance to study his tattoos there was a strip of flesh left around his wrist that was the only bare skin besides his fingers and palm. He must be hoping to be bonded someday. Sage noticed her eyes catching on the bare skin.

"So, I think we've got a lot to talk about." Sage starts still standing before Sawyer.

He nods pausing for a moment before speaking again. "Okay, first I need to know what species you and the men you're bonded to are."

Sage paused for a long moment until Dante came over and placed his hand on her shoulder. After a deep breath, Sage looked up at the man. "I'm a siren." She told him with her voice firm and strong.

I had never seen a scary-looking guy stand there with his mouth hanging open until that moment. It was almost funny if this hadn't been such a serious moment. Caden laughed anyway which seemed to jar Sawyer out of his stupor. He nodded like he hadn't just had a mild freak out.

Sage gestured back to my brother, "Caden is a Demon of Mammon"

There was a pause as Sawyer evaluated Caded. Sage turned her attention to me next, "Aiden is a Demon of Asmodeus."

Another pause as he looked me over before nodding. Sage smiled softly back at Maddox before continuing. "And Maddox is a Corcotta."

Sawyer turned distrustful eyes toward Maddox. Sage stepped between them keeping Sawyer's eyes off Maddox. Her hands were on her hips, and she stood up straight. I wouldn't have wanted Sage to look at me that way.

Sawyer didn't say anything about Sage's new protective stance. "We need to register you with the council. There will be a blood test to prove your species but that can be done at the school's clinic. Then we need to get a security system installed here, I can have it done by the end of the day. Finally, I will become your shadow. I go where you go no matter what." He listed off his plan.

Sage's head tilts to the side like she does when she's thinking. "What about the bathroom? Also, won't it look a little weird that I'm now being followed around by some strange man?" She asked her completely valid questions.

Sawyer Smirked at her. Something changed in his features then they became softer somehow. My jaw dropped when I realized what I was seeing. He was changing, shifting was a more accurate term. I had never met a shapeshifter before. Where a giant man had once been standing there was now a small whisp of a girl who was shorter than Sage. Sage stood there and stared before carefully reaching up and patting the girl's head. She jumped back startled. "Shit, you're actually that small. I thought it would be an illusion or something."

Sawyer let out a laugh that matched this new body. "Yes. I can change my appearance."

Sage nodded along like she wasn't completely dumbfounded. I wanted to laugh at her reaction, but I felt the same way as her. I had no idea that my mother knew an actual shapeshifter. They were about as rare as sirens. The species was almost extinct.