"Agreed," Kearan chimed in. His voice was steady and calm, a soothing balm amidst the tension in the room.
"Let's work together on this," Grayson added, his eyes meeting mine. "We'll find the ring and set things right."
"Since I have no idea where it might be, what is your suggestion?" I waited for a smart-ass remark.
Ro waved away Trux and Rhiot, his eyes narrowing as they fixed themselves back onto me. "We have to find the ring," he insisted. "And if you don't know where that is, it's probably in the only safe place I can think of… Eloise's grimoire."
"Her what?" I froze, my heart skipped a beat or three. Grimoire? That was something witches had. At least according to TV. My mother wasn't a witch, so why would she have a grimoire?
"Her grimoire," Ro repeated, clearly enjoying my confusion.
I tasted the word on my tongue, repeating it several times. But each time it felt like a foreign object in my mouth, something that didn't belong. "Wait, wait, wait." I shook my head, trying to reconcile what Ro had just told me. "My mother was a witch?"
"Fuck," Grayson bit out.
Ro burst into hearty laughter, the sound echoing through the room like rolling thunder. "Oh, Eloise never told you?" He wiped a tear from his eye, barely able to contain his amusement. "Of course she wouldn't have! That would mean admitting what she did."
Trux, Rhiot, Grayson, and Kearan frowned, as clueless as I was. I felt my cheeks heat up with anger and embarrassment. How could my own mother keep something like this from me?
"Even for a demon," Ro said, finally reigning in his laughter, "I wouldn't be so cruel as to keep someone's bloodright from them."
"Enough!" I snapped, my fists clenched at my sides. "Just tell us where we can find this grimoire and let's get this over with."
"Fine," Ro smirked, clearly still enjoying himself. "But I warn you… what you're about to discover might change everything you thought you knew about your mother."
"Let it." I growled, my anger fueling me. "I'm tired of secrets and lies."
"Whatever happens," Grayson murmured softly into my ear, "remember that you're not alone. We've got your back."
"Thanks," I whispered back, feeling a small sliver of comfort.
"Very well," Ro said, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
CHAPTER 14
IGNORE YOUR PETS, PARKER.
The room seemed to close in on me as I struggled to process the latest revelation. My mother was a witch? It made sense, but at the same time, it felt like too much to take in all at once. The hoard of occult books back at her house suddenly took on a whole new meaning. I could almost see her poring over them now, searching for answers and ways to protect me from my demon half.
My breathing came faster, threatening to spiral out of control. Panic clawed at my chest, making each breath feel like a struggle.
"Easy, Parker," Kearan murmured, his frown deepening as he watched me. He must have sensed my distress because before I knew it, he pulled me onto the bed with him, positioning me between his strong thighs with my back against his warm chest. "Stay with us."
His hand covered mine, resting on my ribcage, and he guided me through the process of slowing my breathing. His voice, low and soothing, whispered instructions into my ear, grounding me with each word.
"Deep breaths, inhale... hold... exhale..."
Eventually, my breathing evened out, and the room stopped spinning. As I became aware of my surroundings again, I noticed Seph's concerned gaze fixed on me. Ryker, in raccoon form, perched on her shoulder, watching me with equal concern.
"Thanks," I managed to choke out, touched by his gentle care despite his usual avoidance. I felt vulnerable, exposed, but somehow safe within the circle of his arms.
"Anytime, mate," he replied softly, his breath warm against my skin.
I expected him to slip away, since he always seemed to appear when I needed him for as long as I needed him before he slipped away again. Except he didn't. His hands circled my waist, gently holding me as he rested his cheek on the top of my head. To be honest, it was helping. Even though he wasn't guiding my every breath, my breathing matched his.
For a moment, our little group sat there, the tension hanging heavily in the air as we all processed the information that had been revealed. Inside, I felt a storm of emotions swirling… fear, confusion, anger. But I pushed them aside, determined to focus on the new problem thrusting itself into my life. The ring and my mother's grimoire were out there somewhere, and I needed to find them.
"Alright," I said, forcing myself to sit up straighter and face my friends. "Let's figure this out."
