She squints at him and seems to be concentrating.
“Is he speaking to you?” I tease as I sit beside her.
“Shush,” she hushes me. “Let me concentrate.”
I mime zipping my lips—a gesture I’ve seen her use before—even though she’s not looking at me.
“He’s … happy, very happy,” she says.
“What tipped you off? The wagging tail?”
She lowers Pom Pom slightly and turns to glower at me. “Valen, respectfully, I love you. But shut up.”
She closes her eyes once more, nose scrunched in concentration.
“You’re his favorite person.”
“Obviously,” I laugh. “He is my familiar.”
She opens one eye and glowers at me. “Valen.”
“Sorry.” I raise my hands innocently.
With a huff, she says, “He thinks it’s funny that you’re making me mad and he really likes when you sneak him bites of dinner.” She purses her lips at me. “I told you not to give him people food.”
Scoffing, I point at the adorable dog. “You try saying no to that face.”
She passes Pom Pom to me and the dog promptly licks my nose.
“Anyway, I’m sure it’ll get easier to read him, but since I haven’t been able to do that, I’m pretty proud.”
“I’m proud of you too.” I kiss her forehead. Ava has been working herself tirelessly. When she’s not at her actual job, she’s either been with Jade or other witches Jade has enlisted to help.
She opens her mouth to reply, but a knock on our door cuts off whatever she was going to say. “Were we expecting someone?” she asks.
“No.” I set down Pom Pom. “But if it was someone troublesome, they wouldn’t knock.”
She sighs in agreement. I get up and check the peephole, finding Levi and Luna on the other side.
Letting them in, I say, “What brought you guys here?”
“I have something for you,” Levi says, reaching into his pocket and procuring an envelope. “Considering I’m currently trapped and unable to travel to Iniquity, I hope you appreciate the fact that I now owe quite a few favors, but I thought you deserved this.”
My eyes narrow and I take the envelope from him.
“It’s not a bomb. It isn’t going to explode.” He rolls his eyes at me. “Just open it.”
“What is it?” Ava asks, wrapping her arm around my bicep and peering over as I open it and pull out a letter.
As I unfold the edges, a gasp flies out of me.
“Safira,” I gasp in awe, tracing my fingers over her familiar writing.
My dearest brother Valentine,
I’m finding it difficult to express in words what I’m feeling after learning of all you have endured in your quest to find me. I feel terrible that I didn’t tell you a millennia ago about my beloved, but in order for us to be together, I hadto follow certain protocol, and that included keeping the information from you. Love makes us do silly, selfish things but I have never, not for one day, regretted him. I want you to know that—that I have found the greatest love I could ever hope for.
I wish desperately to see you, dear brother, but I am unable to leave Iniquity. It is all part of the bargain I made to be with Amadeus. I am happy that my son has gotten to meet you and I’m sure you’ve welcomed him with open arms. Leviathan is the light of my life. When I found out I was expecting, it was the most joyous of days. He might act like a tough demon, but I promise you there’s a soft center beneath his hardened exterior. Believe it or not, he reminds me of you in a lot of ways.
