Ihatedthat.
I pressed my forehead to Nebula’s skull, my tears splattering onto his bone. The agony inside me was unbearable.
I had never known a loss like this.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you, Pandora,” he hissed before de-manifesting, and I shattered in the arms of my mates—grieving my best friend, even though he wasn’t gone yet.
54
PANDORA
Dad sat next to Joel and Everglow, and my mates sat around me as I held Nebula in my palms on top of the table in the Demon Council’s meeting room. Sandstone’s tangy scent carried in the air, and I was overwhelmed with grief for what was inevitably going to be one of the worst nights of my life—far worse than any night that Mother ever inflicted upon me.
Across from the Demon Council members, the Supernatural Council gathered. Rowan Clearwater sat with his mate, Wren, and her other mate, Damien. Beside them, Sabine, Jesper, and Grimsworn completed the circle.
Their expressions were as grim as ours were.
“The new moon reaches its peak in just under an hour,” Sabine stated, her voice steady despite the tension thrumming in the air. “Jesper will lead the agents in first, but every agent has been briefed to make way for Pandora Gravesend and her mates. Jesper will be controlling two magical artifacts in tandem: one to attract dark magic, and one to absorb it so Pandora doesn’t get overwhelmed.”
I stiffened at the mention of my name. The reality of what I had to do was pressing heavily against my rib cage.
My hands trembled, shaking poor Nebula.
“Myself and the council members present, including Damien, will be coming as back up,” Sabine added. “But we will not intervene between Pandora and Sybil since Pandora is the only one capable of taking her out.”
“We will be there, too,” Dad stated, gesturing to himself, Joel, and Everglow.
“She’s weak to the special powers bestowed by the Fates,” Nebula hissed. “Pandora, you were blessed by them with this gift to destroy dark magic. That makes you lethal to Sybil in ways no one else here is.”
Nebula’s disembodied voice was unheard by anyone but myself and my mates, but it wouldalwaysbe seared into my memories.
A lump formed in my throat, but I nodded.
“You were always meant to be the one to do this,” Nebula added softly. “When I’m gone, her power will plummet. She won’t be expecting it, especially before a major ritual like this, andthat’swhen you strike.”
“She’s drawing her power from more than just her familiar’s soul,” Rowan said, his fiery eyes sharp with calculation. “Likely the bloodstone. Without it, her ritual should collapse. The dark magic she’s been calling into her will be useless against Pandora.”
“He’s right about that. Doing so should spare Kalista of the mass amount of dark magic Sybil prepares to unleash,” Nebula agreed. “Tell him as much.”
“Nebula agrees. Other than the power he’s forced to give her, the bloodstone is another source of dark magic for her,” I rasped.
Silence settled over the room, thick and suffocating in a way that made my heart ache more.
I felt Dad’s gaze on me before flicking toward Nebula as he spoke. “Nebula,” he said with a sadness coating his words, “thank you.For everything. You’ve been more of a father to Pandora than I was when she needed one. When I was unaware of her existence.”
My breath hitched.
Nebula’s soul leaked over my palms. “It was my honor.”
A sob tore from my throat, and I couldn’t hold it back.
Dad moved before I could stop him and assure him I was okay, but I wasn’t okay, and he gathered both me and Nebula in his arms in an instant.
I cried against his chest, my body shaking as I clung to Nebula and sagged against Dad’s embrace.
My mates’ concern flooded our bonds, and I knew they wanted to hold me just as badly—but there was nothing they could say that would ease the pain of what was to come.
