“Elodie, make her look to prove her wrong,” Rion insists, and I grin.
“I know the truth, that’s all that matters.”
He beams at that, tossing me a wink from his spot on the other side of Kael. “See, that’s why I love you.”
“He loves you?” Ocean blurts, and I roll my eyes, but before I can say a word, Rion beats me to it.
“She loves me too. She lovesallof us, she’s just dealing with it slowly because those are some bigfeelings, and sometimes it takes a moment to adjust.”
He states it so matter of factly that I feel my cheeks heat. I neither confirm nor deny as I clear my throat and redirect the topic back to what’s important right now.
“So, Jude knew?”
The air remains light, but the humor is gone.
“He did, but he didn’t make that fact known to me before making me…”
The lightness disappears at his unspoken words, replaced with the sickly torture of pain as Kael runs a hand through his hair.
“It’s okay, Kael,” I breathe, instinctively reaching for him, and he gives me a tight smile.
“It is now that I know you’re okay.” He places his hand on top of mine and we take a moment to breathe each other in, confirming that we’re all back in the same room again.
“How did you get out?” Ocean asks, and I nod eagerly for the answer.
The soft smile on his lips grows as he keeps his eyes fixed on mine. “How didweget out, you mean?”
I gasp, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I read between the lines. “You mean…”
“They’re not here, but your parents are safe, along with the others.”
I feel lightheaded as I gape at him. “How?”
“Rory.”
“The demi-demon?” Rion clarifies, and Kael nods.
“A demi-demon?” I repeat, oblivious to what or who they’re actually talking about.
“It’s a human shapeshifter that turns into a scary demon with horns and a tail,” Rion explains, and a flashback consumes my thoughts for a moment until I shake my head, refocusing on the present.
“Does he happen to wear a brown leather jacket?” I ask, wrapping my arms around my middle to hide the tremble in my hands as Kael rears back.
“You’ve met him?”
I purse my lips. “He dangled me out of a floating room when I was first captured,” I grunt, and Rion snarls.
“I’ll kill him.”
It’s a promise I know he would follow through on. Kael too it seems, as he lifts his hands, nodding in agreement.
“Let’s make sure everyone is safe first,” he soothes, softening the gnawing panic in my chest.
“Where are they?” I ask, and he grimaces.
“I don’t know. I’m waiting on communication, but they’re safe. I know it.”
“And we can trust him?” Thorne asks, and Kael nods again.
