Papa’s voice as he told me these rules still echoes in my head. A long time ago, I started doing this thing where I would recall a small moment of us together and play it repeatedly in my head. No matter how fucked up I was, I never let myself forget him.
“Since you and Harvey don’t have your rings or weapons, we can’t risk an attack, especially with August traveling with us. Don’t wantMr. Grim Reaperto kill us for getting his daughter killed.” Hazel snorts when I show her my tongue and blow a raspberry.
“Nevaeh doesn’t need a ring or her weapon.” Everyone stops what they are doing and turns to Grace curiously.
“We don’t either, but they boost our powers significantly.” Angel agrees with Hazel that it’s not worth the risk when the coven is waiting for us to make one wrong, careless move.
Ruffling through a drawer, Seiji grabs a spoon before he sends it flying in Anxo’s direction. I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting to see where it hit, but keep one open in case my Divine decides to kill Seiji for hurting our mate.
Thankfully, Angel easily catches the metal spoon and calmly asks Seiji to use hiswords. The other day, I skimmed through a book Anxo has on being a new parent. So now if I pay attention I notice how Anxo uses so many of those techniques. Not on August, but on these dumbass overgrown kids. Sometimes on me too.
“You idiot, we already saw her using her powers when she was literally on her deathbed.”
Angel grimaces at the mention, but his face goes slack in realization. And now I’m the center of everyone’s uncomfortably long staring.Thanks, Grace.
Grace apologizes to Angel for bringing up my near-death experience—who is clenching his fists and exhaling heavily like a bull ready to attack before elaborating, “Nevaeh is the purest form of Divine in the flesh. Her powers are already in the same zone as a crowned Horsemen without a ring or weapon. She doesn’t need them to—pardon my language, kick some serious butt.”
For every supernatural being, their Divine is their primary source of power, but with Horsemen, our weapons and rings blessed by the Fates magnify those powers beyond what anyone intended our kind to possess.
Even without the extra boost, the Horsemen are a death wish to challenge. The magic our rings and weapons contain, when combined with our Divine, makes it impossible for anyone to stand before us. Ask Heaven. They paid a huge price by underestimating my kind when they went after Papa for creating me.
We aren’t known as the physical manifestation of the apocalypse for nothing.
Harvey leans back in his chair smugly. No doubt, waiting for them to realize what I’m capable of is entirely too different from what I can actually do. And what I can do is stuff my Divine as far back as possible because I’ve got zero amount of control over it.
Anxo’s brows dip lower, “How’s your Divine treating you these days, sweetheart?”
“Good,” I answer through clenched teeth and maintain a tight smile.
“Hmn.” Folding his arms over his chest, Angel leans back against a wall. “Let’s meet your essence then.”
I’m stunned for a moment at the order. Angel always gives me a wide birth over things I’m uncomfortable with, but it looks like I’ve finally run out of luck because he isn’t budging on this.
His eyes soften when I bite the inside of my cheek enough to draw blood and hesitate. “Hey, I only want to know what you’re dealing with. I need to know how to help with your—what do you call it? Oh yeah, yourwacky Divine.I’m right here, sweetheart. I will step in the moment something goes wrong.”
At least he’s aware this will be a mess.
Scratching the back of my head, I give up and let my Divine peek through. The room darkens with my Divine’s presence and my essence seeps out, surrounding me with a thick gold fog, but before I can blink, the fog dissipates.
Angel encourages me to try again. I take a deep breath and this time I push my Divine out more forcefully. I certainly wasn’t expecting a pushback strong enough to make me stumble.
Every lamp, ceiling light, and even the TV running in the distance shatters as my Divine aggressively seeks out every ounce of light it can but fails to contain inside me because we’re not on the same page.
Thank Fates, I don’t have to differentiate between the living and the dead too. I’m messed up enough without having to guide souls anywhere. I don’t want to accidentally scare off a freshly passed soul into running away.That would be bad for business.
Angel smiles at my pout and stretches his hand out for me. Any chance of being near him is a deal breaker for me. I don’t know if I should hate or love the way I’m starting to depend on Angel for my peace, but the acceptance he gives me is addicting.
I’ve witnessed people freak out countless times when they see my essence and how out of control it is, but this man is fearless against my Divine.
Sheepishly smiling, I look up to the passive faces that scream we know ‘You’re not ready yet’.
“Maybe we should take the cars.”
Everyone laughs at my sullen expression, but Angel reminds me it’s perfectly fine for me to take my time. He promises to helpme practice my control and makes me forget my grumpiness by mentioning Diamond.
Yes, I named my papa’s pale horse of Death,Diamond. Whoever has a problem with it can fightme.
“Are you sure you’re not forgetting something?” Angel asks Seiji once he double-checks the luggage in the second car that will be following behind us.
