“They both deserved better,” I hiss, surprised to see Sarah nod in agreement.
“You’re right, of course, but you have to understand, Sheena. Demons have a different way of raising their offspring,” she explains. “I’m not saying it’s right, but lineage, legacy, honor—those things are everything to them. I truly believe Dimitri and Mallory love both boys fiercely in their own way.”
“I’m glad they had you,” I tell her sincerely. “When I dreamed of having a mom, I pictured someone just like you.”
I duck my head at my admission, but Sarah doesn’t give me a chance to feel embarrassed. She envelops me in a warm hug as natural as breathing. When we finally pull back, both of us are laughing and weepy.
“There’s plenty of me to go around,” she says. “I’m just happy to have my babies back in the nest, no matter how badly they’re behaving.” She pats my back and offers me a watery smile. “Now, what’s this rubbish about you not belonging in this world?”
I don’t answer immediately, taking time to fully consider her question in a way I haven’t allowed myself to do before.
“I just feel so behind, so off-balance all the time,” I admit. “Today, it didn’t even cross my mind that it could have been an illusion. If I don’t even know the rules, how can I possibly keep up?” I drain my wine, and she fills my glass back up. “Like, I know I just found out I’m a djinn, but I’m not even sure I know how to spell that.” I laugh a little manically, and Sarah takes my empty hand in hers.
“The truth is, I’m a liability for them both.”
“That’s bullshit.” A deep voice interrupts me. Sarah and I turn to see Callum hovering at the edge of the room. “Sarah, can I have a moment alone with Sheena?”
If I weren’t completely obsessed with her already, Gideon’s mom turning to me for her cue on how to answer would have been what did it. She would toss him out if I asked her to. But I don’t; I square my shoulders and give her a nod instead. This is a conversation I need to have. Sarah gives my hand a comforting squeeze before she stands and leaves the room.
Callum doesn’t come any closer. He stays half hidden in the shadows, so I can’t make out his expression. After everything that’s happened, the distance between us stings. Still, I do nothing to erase it. While I’m feeling a lot of empathy for him after my talk with Sarah, none of the reasons I’m upset have magically gone away.
“I heard what happened,” Callum says, finally breaking the silence.
“Is there anyone in this compound who hasn’t?” I snort, frustrated by the rush of shame I feel.
“I fucked up, Sheena.” He runs his fingers through his hair, tugging lightly at the ends.
“Yes, you did.” I don’t give an inch. I need him to understand how badly this hurt. “Can you tell me why?”
“Honestly, I don’t even know.”
“That’s not good enough, Callum.” My voice wobbles, and he shifts his weight but doesn’t come any closer. I wait him out.
“I don’t know,” he groans. “I had maybe ten reasons, but all of them seem stupid now.”
“Share some of them with me, then.”
“To toughen you up—you know, prepare you for what we could be up against.” He starts pacing, carving a short path back and forth in the small space of the entryway. Fury boils in my gut, but I keep my mouth shut as he explains his warped reasoning. “You fell asleep immediately last night. After you got off, you were out like a light.”
I blush at the reminder.What does that have to do with anything?
Callum stops in a patch of light, staring at me like he can will me to understand.
“I could still taste you, sweet and perfect on my tongue, and feel you pressed against me. One minute I was watching you sleep, the next I was drowning in fear.” He resumes his pacing, like a man possessed. “Sheena, I saw your death a hundred different ways. Each time, I couldn’t stop it, wasn’t enough to protect you. Then we woke up, but it was all like a dream. You were everything, and I couldn’t get enough of you, of us.In the bathroom...”
He stares at me like it’s all so clear.
“What about the bathroom, Callum?” I snap. “I brushed my teeth. You shaved. So what? You’re not making any sense.”
“We were talking, and you were happy, excited to train. You were shadowboxing in front of the mirror. It was cute, but then that fucking asshole broke into our home. He went through our shit and you froze. This whole situation—it’s not a joke.”
Oh, I know he did not just say that to me.My confusion fades, and the boiling rage inside me erupts, raining red-hot lava down on us both.
“Wait.” I hold my hand up palm first. “You set this all in motion because you think I’m not taking this seriously? That I’m some kind ofidiot?”
“No, no, of course not,” he says, pausing in his pacing. “I don’t know. I told myself it was a good starting lesson—something to put everything into perspective for you. Like supernatural shock exposure or something.”
Callum waves his hands like that’s going to make his motivations any less ridiculous.
