“Are you listening, Kitty?” Maureen’s voice sharpened. “Hades, she’s so traumatized, she’s dissociating.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I’mnot, and I’mfine. Believe it or not, I don’t think I’m in danger there.” Oddly enough, Hell was the only place Harvestcouldn’treach me while I was still mortal.
August threw his hands up. “Are you kidding me?The enemykidnapped you!”
“Who is also my marked mate,” I muttered instantly regretting the words.
The silence was deafening.
They didn’t yell. Or argue. Everyone just…stared. Worried. Wounded. Like I’d become something they didn’t recognize.
“I know who he is,” I blurted. “I’vealwaysknown my duty—even when everyone assumed I didn’t.”
“Dad kept you safe from the Devil,” Sebastian said, quiet but pointed. A reminder.
“I know,” I whispered, running a hand over my temple, feeling the headache building. “But I’m not a child anymore. He let me go because he wassurewe’d lose. I want to prove him wrong.”
August’s jaw clenched, brows furrowed in frustration. “You can’t go back.”
I shook my head. “If we don’t stop them from crossing, it won’t matter. We’ll all be gone. Can we focus on that? I can take care of myself.” I rubbed my grumbling stomach. “Do we have anything to eat?”
“Finally,”Maureen muttered, materializing an apple and slapping it into my palm. “That’s the most normal thing I’ve heard you say.”
There was a satisfying crunch as I bit into the fruit. “Thank you. So…now what?”
“Kitty!”Mom’s voice cracked through the infirmary as she barreled in. Her arms wrapped around me before I could brace myself. I hugged her back, smiling into her hair.
“You guys never tell me anything!” she scolded the others over my shoulder. “When did you rescue her?”
“Just now,” I said quickly before anyone could jump in. “It’s fine. I’m okay, see?”
Her hands cupped my face, scanning every inch like she could detect hidden trauma. “What happened to you?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I couldn’t tell her. No one would understand what it felt like…being withLuke. I wasn’t even sure I understood it myself.
???
Once the shock wore off, the room slowly quieted. Everyone trickled out until it was just Barron and me..I pulled up a stool and sat beside his bed. His red essence rolled around him like angry waves crashing against the shore. August and Sebastian must have enchanted the restraints—his curse was subdued, but barely. Without Gwendolyn, he was a ticking bomb. And if they didn’t keep him contained, he’d explode trying to get her back.
I crossed my arms. “Look at you.”
He didn’t look at me. Just stared up at the ceiling. “I love you, Kitty.”
I arched a brow. “I’m not removing the restraints.”
“That’s not why I said it.” His eyes shifted to meet mine. “I’m sorry I’ve been more focused on Gwen. I just…I knew the family would focus on you, so I—”
“You don’t need to explain,” I said softly. “She’s your mate.”
I smiled, even though it stung a little. “It’s kind of sweet, actually. Watching you change because of her. You tried to send her away to protect her…and now you’d drag her right back into this hellscape just to have her with you.”
Tears shimmered in his eyes. “When you say it like that—fuck.”
“There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be with your mate.” I hesitated, my throat thick. “Hades, if I had…”
I couldn’t say it. Not out loud. Ihada mate. But he wasthe Devil. There was no future there. No soft ending like the ones my siblings had found.
So why did it feel like something vital was being torn out of me, watching my brother cry for someone he couldstillhave?
