Rhea squeezes my hand tighter. “Oh sweetie. He does. Webothsaw it.”
“But I don’t know if I can handle that.”
Rhea’s voice drops, soft but sharp with honesty. “Then decide what scares you more. The curse… or letting someone actually see you.”
The bell pulses. Once. Soft. Like the heartbeat of someone finally waking. And just like that—I know.
The Ninth Realm isn’t optional anymore…
It’sinevitable.
Chapter 12
Slade
Newt is sprawled across my lap like he owns me. Which, frankly, is embarrassing.
I never intended to befriend the creature—yet here we are. He purrs like a tiny engine, kneading the muscle of my thigh with sharp littleclaws he absolutely uses on purpose. “You’re manipulative,” I inform him.
Newt purrs louder. I stroke behind his ears—apparently his favorite spot—and he melts like butter under my hand, tail twitching with smug satisfaction.
This cat has chosen me. And for reasons I cannot begin to articulate, that pleases me more than it should.
My phone vibrates on the table. Newt stretches, planting one paw on the screen as if claiming it. As if saying…No work.Only cat. “I have to answer that,” I mutter.
Newt refuses to move. I sigh and slide the phone out from under his paw, which earns me a slow blink of reprimand.
Draven.Of course.
I answer. “What.”
“Slade.” His voice is pure fury wrapped in suspicion. “Whyare you topside?”
I rub my temple. “Hello to you too.”
“No.No greetings. You vanish for days. I can’t reach you. You break protocol. And then—THEN—I hear rumor that you’re walking around the mortal realm like some trench-coat-wearing menace. What thehellis going on?”
Newt headbutts my hand, demanding more pets. “I’m fine,” I say.
“You’re NEVER ‘fine.’” Draven snaps. “You’re controlled. You’re predictable. You follow rules like a self-righteous martyr. So if you’re up there, something happened.”
A long beat of silence stretches between us. I breathe once. Calm. Measured. Knowing I’m lying through my teeth.
“I found my mate.”
Draven goes silent. Dead. Fucking. Silent. Then— “…thefuckyou did.”
I smile faintly. “Yes.”
“A mortal?” he demands.
“A witch.”A tiny pause as I gather my strength. “Acursedwitch.”
“Oh gods.” Draven sounds personally attacked. “A WITCH?! A fuckingcursedwitch?! Are youinsane?!!!”
Newt chirps as if agreeing.
Draven barrels on, voice rising, “Okay—okay—hang on—tell me you didn’t CLAIM her. Tell me you didn’t—”
