Ignoring their chit-chat, I decide to put this idea to test. Harvey and Seiji go against Angel and Grace, and though both teams have very different approaches in a fight, it’s fascinating to watch them tackle against a different attack style and try to come out on top.
Hazel breaks my attention by blocking my view of the fight. “Why are we practicing without our powers? We have them for a reason, you know.”
When I asked everyone to hold their Divines back and use their strengths and weapons without powers, there was a lot of whining before they gave in.
“The coven stripped me of my powers every single day for adecade,and the only reason I survived is because they didn’t want me dead…yet.” From the corner of my eye, I watch her eyes set ablaze with anger.
I’ve noticed how the topic of our time with the witches affects her much differently than others. It’s terrifying to think she might relate to it on some level, but that’s not something I can ask upfront.
“I waited for my Divine to save me, oranyonereally, but in the end, what saved me was my training.” I shake my head to get rid of the flashes from my past. “I’m not saying you would ever have to experience that or be without your Divine, but if the day ever came, I want all of us to make it out alive.”
I see the reason settle with her, and a strange spark of emotion flashes through her eyes before she backs away. I thought she was done with the conversation and walking away, but then she asks for me to follow. I signal Anxo about where I’ll be before taking off.
Hazel avoids eye contact as she plants herself under a thick tree that gives us more than enough shade from the sun. I’ve never seen Hazel look so unsure and weary, but I don’t say anything in case I spook her.
“You took a bullet for me.”
“Yeah… I was there.”
“If you’re going to be a smartass about it, I’m leaving.” She springs up, but before she can stomp away, I stop her from getting too far.
“Woah woah. Okay, sorry, look.” I zip my lips together with an imaginary chain before making a show of throwing away the key. Hazel presses her lips together to stop herself from accidentally giving away her amusement. She signs before sitting down once again.
I’ve known Hazel was hiding a massive, life-altering fuck up ever since I first saw her cleaning her daggers in the kitchen. Anyone with eyes can see her paranoia after spending ten minutes with her.
But I’ll tell you what happens when you keep bottling and shoving things down so you don’t have to deal with them in the present. First, the cracks show up. This is the perfect time to empty your bottle of horrible stuff rather than concealing the fractures because the crackswillgrow deeper until, finally, the bottle shatters.
By then, it’s always too late because you were so busy hiding your fears that you didn’t prepare to face them.
With Hazel, I can see her cracks and the way she actively tries to hide them until the day comes when facing her fear will be her only choice. When that day comes, I really hope her fears won’t swallow her whole.
Hazel takes the silence between us as the perfect opportunity to spill her guts without worrying about the consequences.
“I was sold to the king of the Eldoris kingdom when I was three years old. His other slaves groomed me to be his chosen mate and future queen.Tiberius… kept his distance until I was fourteen, and then he wanted more.I didn’t, but who cared about what a glorified slave wanted.”
To distract herself, she draws shapes on the ground. For the first time, her guard is down. Hazel is not afraid to tell me about her past, but the way she avoids my eyes makes me think she might be more afraid of my reaction than her past.
She doesn’t know… but even the devil would blush if he heard the gruesome acts I’m willing to commit for her.
“The night before our mating ceremony, Ikindakilled his brother and ran away. I jumped around different realms, hiding, for twelve years until I stumbled upon Anxo, who—bless his mushy heart— thought taking in a stranger running from the mermen king was a good deed instead of the total clusterfuck it actually is.”
I’m gaping at her in shock, but Hazel continues drawing patterns in the dirt to appear nonchalant. She would’ve fooled me if not for the barely visible tremble in her fingers screaming in the silence.
I rub over my heart when a weight suddenly leaves me breathless.I’m starting to think I have heart problems.All this time, I was begging Fates for people who love me and who I get to love back, but I’m not sure I want that anymore.
Is it worth the way my stomach rolls, seeing them hurt?
“He’snevertouching you again,” I feel my words settle in my soul. The way my Divine stirs, I know this is not just a promise but an oath. Pursing her lips, Hazel stares blankly at the sky above us and nods.
She doesn’t believe it.
I know that look. I’ve seen that look too many times to know she’swaiting. Waiting because she is confident that that rat bastard is coming for her. Maybe not today, next week, or even next month, but he’s coming.
“Believe it. He is not touching you again.” Shaking her head, Hazel tries to dismiss my insistence, but I can’t let it go. I don’t care who that man is, but he will face the Horsemen and our entire army if he tries to come near her again.
“You want me to find him and break his neck becauseI will. I’ll even set my Divine loose on him. He won’t know what hit him because no one knows what my wacky Divine might pull next. Ican bring you his balls on a silver platter. You know what, that’s exactly what I’ll do.First. Men hate losing those precious parts. And then—”
The sound of her carefree laughter stops me from planning his death out loud, but I’m storing all the good ideas in my head for later.
