“He’s…not like the others. Dante trusts him. Leaves him in charge when he’s healing. Come on, I’ve told you everything I know. Show me some mercy and just kill me.”
I stay where I’m at, arms crossed, debating what to do with him. I believe him, but he’s still not getting a quick death. “Something you’ll learn about me, Cronus, is I don’t show mercy to those who’ve laid hands on my mate.”
I loosen his chains, allowing him to drop to his knees. “So you might as well get comfortable in your new home.” His arms remain stretched overhead while I refasten them to the truss. His screams nearly shatter my eardrums when I stab a blade in both shoulders, ripping them down the length of his spine. Dropping the knives, I dig my fingers into his wounds, tearing through muscle and tendons until I find his rib cage. I yank, pulling until his bones crack, giving me room to hook my fingers under his lungs and drag them out, draping them over his shoulders.
Sounds die in his throat, replaced with ragged gurgles. His lungs quiver uselessly where I’ve draped them.
I’m glad I let him heal before Frankie saw him. I know she has darkness in her, but her soul is pure. What would she think if she truly saw the monster I can be? The monster I chose to be. But then that look hits me again—the way she watched him scream. She wasn’t scared of me.
The guilt I’ve felt, hiding this from her, has been eating me alive, but it was for nothing. I’ve been protecting her from the wrong thing. Turns out, this was exactly what she needed—therapy in its most brutal form, and she’s not finished yet. Dante’s next.
CHAPTER 8
Frankie
“Hey bighead, pass the syrup.” Jess holds her palm out, impatiently flapping her fingers.
“That’s no way to talk to your elders.” Ronin slides the bottle further away.
Sunday mornings have been like this every week since we decided to make it a thing. Those two bickering back and forth, Zarreth refilling my coffee like the enabler he is. But this morning is different. I’m lighter, steadier, almost sane…which is kind of disturbing considering what we did last night.
“You’re such a shit.” She stands to grab the syrup, nabbing two pieces of bacon as she drops back into her seat.
He swats at her hand “Hey! Not the bacon!” Technically, grown demons don’t need food, but spending so much time in the Mortal Realm has turned him into an addict. “That’s it! I’m feeding you to the hellhounds as soon as we’re in the Dark Realm,” he teases, shielding his plate in case she steals again.
“Don’t remind me.” Her body deflates, letting her forehead fall into her palm. “Is there at least electricity and running water there?”
A chuckle escapes Zarreth’s lips while he leans against the counter. Ronin and I share a look, silently arguing over who’s going to break the news. True to form, he speaks up, unable to resist teasing her. “Nope. Our princess will have to rough it.”
Zarreth flips the last pancake on the plate and sets it on the table with the others. “It’s better than leaving you here, unprotected, while Dante’s on the loose. Fairhaven may not be luxurious, but their walls and warriors offer better protection than this house will.”
“I was just curious; obviously I can rough it!” When she sees the doubt on our faces she adds, “Seriously. I’ll prove it. Let’s go camping tonight for Nate’s birthday.”
I push past the sound of his name. He always loved the outdoors, but Jess on the other hand… “You hate camping. You always go home at night and return freshly showered in the morning with a face full of makeup.”
She pushes her chair back, reaching for the empty plates. “I don’t hate it, as long as I don’t have to sleep on the ground, or wear those floppy fishing hats you love so much.”
I make my way to the sink and start running water. The boys made breakfast this morning, so cleanup is ours. “Maybe we can go to Beauty Lake. Nate loved it there. Also, you’re in luck because, somehow, myawesomefishing hats have mysteriously disappeared.”
She gives me a guilty look. “Really? That’s so weird,” she says, feigning innocence.
I roll my eyes and try to find an excuse for the guys to give us a moment of privacy. I understand their need to protect us, but I need some girl time. “Hey, would you want to search the shed for camping gear?”
Zarreth steps behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Sure…” He drops his voice, leaning in. “Maybe I’ll find something to restrain you with later.”
“Zarreth!” I admonish, playfully flicking soapy water at him.
As soon as the boys leave, Jess hops on the counter. “You two have been flirting all morning. Did you guys try that tantric thing I told you about?”
My cheeks burn as I hold back a smile. “Not exactly.” I settle onto the counter across from her and tell her everything. Well, almost everything. I leave out how crazy I was when I killed Cronus…and the cutting.
“Oh my God! My innocent bestie is a freak!” She squeals with genuine excitement. “It makes sense, though. You’ve been fighting your emotions for so long, trying so hard to keep them bottled up. It was only a matter of time before you lost control. But you didn’t. You just handed it over instead.”
“It felt so good to let go. I know I have a long way before I can safely wield my magic, but last night was a huge step.”
“It totally was. Have you seen Grandpa G? He looks so much perkier this morning.”
She’s right. His leaves are no longer drooping, and his color looks a little more saturated. For the first time in a long time, I’m hopeful. Maybe I didn’t lose my light magic after all. Maybe it’s just buried under all my grief.
