“It must be dark magic somehow,” Dex muttered bitterly as I ran my fingers through his white-blond strands.
“It’s not,” Nebula hissed, and he sounded certain, though. “I can sense that much, but be aware. I’m sure the alcohol showing up randomly is probably part of this.”
“If not dark magic, what is it?” Bram asked with a scowl.
“More like who,” Nebula muttered.
“I don’t like that,” Bram said.
“I don’t like it either,” I murmured.
“Just because it’s not dark magic, doesn’t mean it’s not a cult member,” Nebula added.
“We’re hitting Dark Veil tomorrow, and I’m not letting anything stop us,” I rasped.
Dex let out a disgruntled sound as he clicked his tongue ring against his top teeth.
“I get why you want to do this, and I feel the need for vengeance in your soul,” Hunter started, running a hand through his dark blond hair. “But I’m still so worried about you, starlight.”
“I am too,” Skel murmured. “If there is someone watching us, wouldn’t they know of our plans? What if it’s all a trap?”
“Maybe Chaos and Demo are just nervous about tomorrow. It could be all our nervous energy,” Bram mumbled, but the tightness around his eyes told me he didn’t believe that one bit.
“Part of me wishes we didn’t have to put you in danger like this.” Skel’s voice broke, and he ran a hand through his black and white strands. “When I saw Hunter’s fear illusion of you chained in that damned cellar, after Dark Veil took you and Dex... I just can’t bring myself to want you to be near that cult again.”
“I share that sentiment.” Hunter swallowed hard.
“I think we all do,” Dex whispered, his eyes fluttering shut as I continued raking my nails over his scalp.
“Don’t forget what Dark Veil has done.” I squeezed my eyes closed for a moment, flashes of my memories flooding my head. “They’ve tried to kill all of us countless times. Sybil was responsible for Skel’s leaking magic. She tried to infect Reed and forced his mother into the cult, turning her against her own son. Hunter and Bram were stabbed. Dex was decapitated, and his sister was murdered. My confinement and torture was also due to the cult. Jenni’s dad was killed by them. They’ve done so much more,” I choked out, opening my eyes and meeting each of my mates. “I’m done letting them hurt us and others. We have to make them pay for all they’ve done.”
“You’re right,” Dex mumbled, his eyes cracked open to meet mine. “They need to pay.”
“And we need vengeance,” Hunter agreed.
“I know,” Skel agreed with a frown. “I just wish Pandora wouldn’t be in danger to do it.”
“She’s strong.” Reed’s violet gaze pierced mine. “She can do this.”
“I’m so proud of you, Pandora,” Nebula hissed. “You must trust your own magic. The Fates gave you this power for a reason.”
“I promise I will.” I yawned as exhaustion settled over me, but something caught my eye.
Sitting on the dresser, barely visible in the dim lighting of the room, was my ring—the one Dad gave me that had gone missing.
My blood ran cold.
“What’s wrong?” the five of them asked, feeling my unease through our bonds.
Dex sat up, scanning me with an intense look.
I pushed off the bed to walk over to it with slow, deliberate steps. “My ring.”
“The one you lost?” Hunter asked.
“Yeah.” I reached for it, and my fingers barely brushed the metal before dark magic surged through it. I yanked my hand away and choked on a gasp. “It’s infected.”
“How?” Skel asked.
