Before I could tease him further, a familiar voice purred from the shadows. “What’s got you giggling all cute like that?” Dex stepped out of the shadows of the hall smirking, his fog gray eyes gleaming in the dim light.
Reed tensed beside me before placing a hand on his heart. “Fates, Dex. Do you have to sneak up on people?”
“It’s part of my charm.” Dex’s gaze flicked to me. “Have I told you how much I love that necklace on you?”
Reed chuckled. “Obviously. It has all our scents on it, and you were with me when we bought it.”
I ran my fingers over the pendant as warmth spread through me. “I love this necklace.”
“I’m glad,” Reed murmured.
Dex grinned at me. “You’re so fucking cute.”
Then, his shadows engulfed us, and we stepped out beside our study table in the library just as Hunter arrived, balancing a tray of snacks.
“You brought offerings,” Dex teased dramatically, plopping down next to Skel and Bram.
“I brought study fuel.” Hunter sat the food down. “Make sure you’re eating enough.”
My mates and I fell into simple conversation, teasing and laughing with each other. For a moment, I let the stress from Dark Veil melt away, losing myself in the comfort of my mates.
22
SKEL
My fingers traced small circles on Pandora’s thigh as we sat in Ironwood’s classroom for Practical Applications of Ceremonial Magic.
Bram’s gaze was locked on where my fingers moved on Pandora’s thigh, and there was a burning hot desire in his eyes that had been present ever since they marked each other. I knew he wanted her as bad as we all did. He was the only one of her mates that hadn’t been intimate with her.
He’d come a long way from where he’d been, though.
My tablet buzzed on the desk in front of me, and I tapped open the message from my dad.
Nelson Grimshaw
Skel, can you come to dinner tonight? You should bring Pandora. We haven’t seen you since dinner at Death’s manor. We miss you both. Honestly, I know you said Pandora was doing okay after what happened, but I would like to see her. She’s family, too, you know.
Pandora leaned over to read the message and brought her lips close to my ear before whispering, “Tell him we’ll be there.”
A chill ran down my spine as I nodded. “Thanks, princess.”
I hadn’t heard from Kat much since what happened at Death’s manor when Pandora was cursed. It irritated me. She’d texted twice to check in on Pandora, but that was it. Maybe irritated wasn’t the right word. It hurt me. Then again, we’d been out of each other’s lives for an entire year pretty much. No wonder we didn’t talk as much as we used to.
We were both still healing from it.
Pandora’s hand slid into mine, the one that had rested on her thigh. “Your feelings over Kat are valid, Skel. She’s your sister, and honestly, her avoidance was never a reflection of you but of her inability to cope with a situation she caused.”
“You’re right,” I muttered, my heart swelling at how she knew exactly what had been bothering me.
Kat did her best to heal in her own way. I’d felt the sincerity in her soul—the guilt, the pain, the regret. All of it.
I had to do my part in forgiving her.
“Are you two finished?” Ironwood’s irritated voice snapped me back to reality. “I am lecturing, and demonic hearing makes it difficult to do so when I have students talking.”
“Sorry, Ironwood,” Pandora murmured guiltily.
“Sorry,” I muttered, but I was not feeling guilty about it. The professor was a fucking idiot.
