The man leaves to make four copies, and we scatter to change out of the jumpsuits they gave us.
While we’re changing, Angel heads off to meet the Dragon King, wanting to thank him personally for the extra protection and for being mindful of our predicament with Visha.
As we wait for him in the local market, Hazel mutters something that makes Harvey snicker and shake his head. She looks more relaxed than I’ve ever seen her in a loose black denim jacket over a short white jumpsuit. Harvey stands tall beside her in his trusty leather jacket, pretending not to notice Grace eyeing him.
Grace has on a cute yellow summer dress with white sneakers. Earlier, she’d asked Hazel to twin with her, and the siren snorted so loud I bet Uncle Elijah heard it all the way down in Hell.
This morning, while I was showering, Angel shamelessly barged in to leave a short sky-blue summer dress that matched his shirt on the counter for me. He didn’t leave without a few kisses, but you’ll never hear me complain about that.
When I was done, I stepped out of the bathroom and saw Angel rolling his sleeves to his elbows. I was all but drooling as I traced the markings on his forearms when Seiji burst into our room and pestered me to help pick one of the four outfits he’d shortlisted for today.
The fashion expert—Seiji’s words, not mine—is sporting a light blue denim jacket with symmetrical mirrors embroidered in colorful threads. My positive feedback clearlywent straight to his head, because he’s been parading around like a celebrity waiting for the paparazzi to pop out.
My little Monkey insisted on wearing his favorite Disney sweatshirt that has a dashing lion printed on the front. He’s beaming with so much happiness, his dino clutched to his chest, that I have to pinch myself to check if this is all real.
When the woman who was flirting with Angel walks past me, Seiji follows my gaze and huffs. “So, you’re letting it go? She flirted with your man, and you’re not going to do anything?”
“Angel didn’t pay her any attention, and she ran off when I introduced myself as his wife. There’s no need to do anything.” I purposely leave out how close I came to breaking her nose earlier.
Hazel pipes in. “Couldn’t be me. If I had a man and some bitch tried cozying up to him, she’d walk away with three less fingers and way fewer teeth.”
I can’t help but slightly agree, but I’m trying to stay civil for Angel’s sake. He’s already stressed about mending fences with all the people Hazel has pissed off on our behalf.
I was shocked when Hazel’s list of grudges turned out to be four pages long—backand front.Some names had genuinely creepy reasons and practically asked to be stabbed, but most were just peopleHazelhad offended, then took offense when they retaliated.
For example, when a centaur joked she reminded him of his pet fish (a very expensive and rare kind), Hazel shot the tank to prove that she could breathe out of water, but his precious fish…couldn’t.
“Stop trying to instigate her, you troublemakers,” Grace chides Hazel and Seiji.
Grace is like the good tiny angel on your shoulder, while these two idiots are the devils with red horns and pitchforks. In movies, I love it when the little devil wins, but in real life, it’s better to listen to the dork in white.
When Angel returns, we spend the evening wandering the Griari empire’s streets and touring the market before choosinga quiet restaurant to cut the cake and have dinner.
Everyone’s buzzing with excitement, huddled outside the restaurant. It’s August’s first milestone with us, and Angel and I can barely keep it together.
I’m about to follow everyone inside when that familiar feeling of being watched stops me. I scan every face in the crowd that turns in my direction, but find nothing suspicious.
I start toward the restaurant again, but something shifts in the air, making my skin crawl. Suddenly, my Divine goes on alert, sensing a danger I can’t see.
I keep looking, turning my head in every direction, and freeze when a silhouette darts through the trees in the distance. I try to make sense of who or what I’m seeing, but it blends perfectly with the darkness, making a chill run down my spine.
“Hey, what are you still doing out here? The little guy’s about to put his fist in the cake.” Hazel startles me, and the silhouette disappears faster than I can blink.
“I thought I saw something.”
Hazel sighs. “Trust me, I get it. I hate being surrounded by a crowd, too. But I’ve checked everything inside, so stop worrying and enjoy your son’s day.”
I take another look around, and when I don’t find anything suspicious, I follow Hazel into the restaurant.
Maybe the shadows were playing tricks on my eyes.
August is buzzing like a monkey high on a sugar rush. Grace tells him to close his eyes and make a wish before blowing out the candles. I bite my tongue at how ridiculous and creepy the human birthday ritual is, but still sing the silly song at the top of my lungs.
Angel slices the cake into perfect portions and hands me the biggest piece. I take it to share with August, but halfway into my seat, a shaky whisper turns my body to ice.
“I vove you, Mama.”
It takes a moment for me to process that the words came from the little boy beside me. My knuckles whiten around theback of my chair as I glance at Angel, searching his face for confirmation that my mind isn’t playing tricks on me again.
