I’m not sure what she finds in my face, but she nods, takes my hand, and wraps her other one around the nape of my neck.She’s exquisite here, radiant in the silvery moonlight and soft white string lights. Barefoot and short. Her hair is wild from my hands fisting it, her seawater eyes swimming with so many emotions.
We hold each other close, stepping softly and swaying. And for a few quiet minutes, we let the music and the dance guide us.
The song is surprisingly upbeat since Sherman Kelly wrote it after being viciously attacked. It was his peaceful alternate reality. I think my mom loved it even more for that reason. Chords and lyrics eclipsing devastation.
“You’re going to go after them so they don’t come for us,” Tessa finally says. “That’s why you’re bringing my family here.”
Anything to keep you safe.
I don’t tell her that my options are limited, that I won’t risk her or our families being harmed. That this is the life I chained her to, this mess is spiraling, and I can’t see a clear way out. And like before, when I hid who she’d killed, I can’t bear to make her any more afraid than she is.
“Axel and Liam have it under control. I just wanted to take some extra precautions.” I’m not sure if she buys it, but I know how to scare her in a whole different way. “If I were worried about it, I wouldn’t wait to tell you some things.”
Her breath hitches. “There’s no need to now.”
“No, baby girl. When this is all over, I’ll tell you how I think I fell in love with you two and a half years ago, when I walked in that house and saw how fierce you were.” I dust my thumb over her glittery cheek. “Or that I’ve felt more alive this past month with you than I ever have. That your laugh is my favorite sound, and annoying you is my favorite pastime. That you are the only person I’ve ever been able to talk about my mom with, and that’s immeasurable.” I flash the grin that both captivates and incenses her. “And a bunch of other stuff about how perfect you are.”
Fury shadows her features as a rogue tear streams down her cheek. “We’re not fucking doing that now, Maddox.”
That’s the truest sign of how much Tessa cares, of how scared she is that this could be ripped away from us, so I don’t push her anymore. I let her cloak herself in the denial that will make this all easier. Her fury enables her to fight. And she’s going to need that.
I plant a kiss in her hair and press her into my chest. “Of course we’re not, Nightmare. We’ve got plenty of time.”
TESSA
Toxicity is everywhere. But as I stand in La Lune Noire—the hub of the dark underworld—I’ve never been more aware of how polluted life is. It’s not a backroom deal or disgruntled guest or even some bastard headed to Magie Noire with someone other than his wife that has my attention.
My view is none other than my overdramatic family with Axel and Ryker.
It’s late, just after midnight. Their arrival has not been seamless. Maddox and I are in the security room, gaping at the monitors. He’s anxious, watching me observe the spectacle. I wish he’d go back to the dance competition. He’s missed so much of it, and it’s his favorite.
My mother is in hysterics. My father is coddling her. Eden is ranting. Her husband, John, is stoic. Their kids must be sleeping in the room. Violet is folding in on herself, and Derek is rubbing her back. I’m not sure where my grandmother is. Aside from Axel and Ryker, there are four security guards lining the walls. My family hasn’t even made it into their suite, or they’re in the hall so they don’t disturb my niece and nephew.
“I need to go down there.”
Maddox flicks his butterfly knife around, glaring at the screen. “No.”
“You are welcome to stay here, but I have to at least acknowledge that I know they’re here. Axel alerted us for a reason.”
“He was being respectful to you.” His stony eyes snap to mine. “They will not be.”
Deciding the best atmosphere for this argument is en route to my family’s room, I strut away. And he storms after me.
In one of those swing-dancing sweeps he does, he scoops me up, but continues on the correct path, so I decide not to fight him.
“I don’t want to hate them,” he finally admits.
It’s one of those defining sentences that unveils the bigger picture of who a person is. I’m important enough to him that he doesn’t want to nurse animosity toward the people I care about. Something I could never say about my relatives.
I kiss his cheek, melt against him, and force him to put me down as we approach the hallway. When we arrive, it’s evident he’s not wrong. My mother won’t look at me.
And Eden hisses, “Engaged?”
It’s so snakelike that I’m not even sure if most humans could have discerned the word. I guess my father mentioned that Maddox and I were together and marriage had been discussed. This isn’t quite the home-cooked engagement brunch that Violet and Derek got, but this will certainly be memorable.
I could correct her and tell her we aren’t engaged, but my maturity is often lacking when it comes to Eden, so I settle on, “That’s right. Satan’s bride has arrived. Hell is hotter, but I do appreciate the attempt at the warm welcome.”
Maddox muffles a laugh and palms my head with a silent commendation as I focus on my father and Violet and my grandmother breezing around the corner.
