My breath caught. “Nebula…”
“Youhaveto promise me. If you stand any chance against Sybil Shaw, it’s without me here boosting her powers. And more than that, I’mtired. The Fates are calling me home, I can feel it. The dark magic is blocking them.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I?—”
“Promise me,”he urged.“Please, Pandora.”
Tears burned hot against my skin, dripping down in silent agony.
Nebula’s pain laced his disembodied voice, and I’d been so blind to it for all this time—too focused on my own struggles to realize that he was in agony from the dark magic curse that kept him alive.
My lips trembled as I forced the words out, as they tore from my throat like something dying.“I promise.”
“Good.” His disembodied voice sounded relieved as it wrapped around me. “Thank you.”
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
I felt Dex’s presence a few times, but he no doubt knew this was a conversation I needed to have with Nebula alone. He must’ve shared that with the rest of my mates, too, because they gave us the space we needed.
I wiped my face and turned to Nebula. “I’ll do this for you because I love you, but I’llneverforget you. You’re the best friend I’lleverhave. You’re my family, you know?”
“I know.” His whisper surrounded me. “You, Pandora, are my best friend and my family. I know you’ll do the right thing when the time comes. Don’t cry for me. Just…kill the witch for me, okay? Make sure she suffers.”
I stared back out the window at the rolling dunes and the sun that felt too harsh. My whole body trembled as I whispered, “Okay.”
I wished more than anything that love alone would’ve saved him, but I vowed to claim vengeance for him and kill Sybil Shaw in the worst way I could think of.
41
PANDORA
Reed and I strolled back from our study date at the library hand-in-hand. The warm air hadjuststarted to cool as the sun dipped below the horizon, and the breeze ruffled my dress.
“We’re so close to graduation,” Reed murmured, his violet eyes searing into me. “How do you feel about it?”
“Both relieved and sad?” I shrugged my shoulders as I met his gaze. “I met my mates here, but I’m also glad we’ve overcome our traumas during our time here. I’ve learned how to be a demon.”
“I understand that. You have come so far. Plus, this is where I met you. You know?—“
A sharp voice interrupted us. “Pandora.”
We stopped with an abrupt halt, noticing Ironwood ahead of us, his expression more unreadable than I’d ever seen it before.
“Ironwood?” I frowned, my skin crawling at the way his gaze raked over me.
“I need a word with you about your grade,” he said smoothly, but there were dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. Not from being infected, but from clear lack of sleep. “It’ll be quick.”
“It’s late.” I shook my head. “Can’t you speak to me about whatever it is during class?”
He shook his head, but Reed cut him off before he could answer.
Reed’s eyes burned with anger. “Didn’t I warn you about Pandora?”
My brows furrowed before I remembered that Reed had paid Ironwood a visit in the form of a nightmare.
Ironwood forced a smile, but there was anger sparking in his soul as he noticed Reed. “It’ll be quick,” he repeated. “I just need her to come with me to my class for a moment.”
Something in my gut twisted. “I’m not going anywhere alone with you.” I held onto Reed’s hand tighter.
