“Do what?”
“Reapers aren’t supposed to heal others, sweetheart.”
“I wasn’t exactly born with the average Reaper Divine.”
The gold in my essence isn’t the only thing that’s different between Papa and me. I have a few other secrets about my Divine that I keep close to my chest.
“Okay, miss,‘I’m built different.’” Seiji scoffs as he stands. “Now, who’s willing to accept hot chocolate as my apology? Actually, I don’t answer. I’m making it anyway.”
Seiji kisses Grace’s cheek and murmurs another hushed apology before heading to the kitchen. Before he leaves, Seiji turns to ask, “Hey Nevaeh, do you like marshmallows in your hot chocolate?”
Do I?I can’t remember. I’m not sure what the right answer is.
“I don’t know, princess. I was in a rat cell for a decade, concussed and dying for the most part. Whatever you make will be much better than what I’m used to.”
Seiji’s mouth drops open, but no sound comes out. “Poor soul doesn’t remember hot chocolate,” he finally chokes out, holding his forefinger and thumb dangerously close to each other. “Guys, I’m this close to a breakdown.”
The moment Seiji’s eyes gloss over, I whip my head toward Angel in panic. “Is he going to cry because I don’t remember hot chocolate, right?”
“It’s not your fault. Seiji is just a little sensitive.” Grace assures me with a warm smile.
These people smile so easily for no reason whatsoever. It’s fucking weird.
“I’ll check on the drama queen.” Hazel jogs after Seiji before anyone else can volunteer.
Honestly, I expected Angel or Grace to offer a shoulder to cry on, but watching Hazel turn an emotional Seiji into a pissed-off Seiji within seconds confirms my suspicion.
Hazel is just like her daggers. Sharp and dangerous at one end, intricate and delicate on the other.
7. So, my mate is not dead?
Nevaeh
Seiji’s version of hot chocolate was the best thing I’d ever tasted. I was already on my third cup when Angel warned me to slow down before I made myself sick from all the sugar.
His warning gave me pause. Now that I think about it, I’ve been acting like a careless fool for the past two days. Staying in an unknown place with strangers, drinking whatever they gave me, and not giving self-preservation a second thought.
My protective instincts vanish around them, especially with Angel. His Divine feels familiar somehow. His presence soothes the knots in my stomach, allowing me to sit back and relax for a change.
“So, uh, there’s something important I need to tell you.” Angel shifts beside me, nerves written all over his face.
The four of them have been exchanging silent conversations with their eyes and making faces at each other all evening. Either they think I’m blind or they really suck at being discreet.
Angel looks cautious. His nervous energy is slowly starting to seep into my skin, triggering my own anxiety.
‘I told you they were dead.’
The voice I’d shoved to the back of my mind wiggles to the front, forcing me to acknowledge it. It’s terrifying how every aspect of my life was once in Visha’s control. Her lies were the only reality I knew.
The queen of all evil loved to brag about how she took great pleasure in killing everyone I loved on the day her coven attacked my kingdom. She drilled into my head that no one was looking for me anymore—that I was all alone in the world.
But here I am, surrounded by the family I thought I’d lost forever. The line between the lies Visha told me and the reality is getting thinner. I hope every word that ever came out of her mouth was just as false as her promise of never laying a hand on my Monkey.
As the stories Visha fed me over the years start playing in my head, I know I can’t dance around this topic forever. I need to know what truly happened the day Visha attacked my kingdom.
I take a steadying breath and ask, “Who’s dead?”
Angel rears his head back like I struck him. Maybe he didn’t expect me to know about the attack or how no one survived. I wait for him to prove Visha right and crush what’s left of my hope, but Angel just stares at me, brows drawn tight.
