I breathe through every terrible thought, every violent impulse. With every breath, I distance myself from all the ugly emotions swirling inside me and sit down, holding out my arms.
Nevaeh doesn’t hesitate. She climbs into my lap withAugust snuggled safely in hers.
I bury my face in her neck and rub August’s back, holding them both close. Having them close is the only way I can control my temper.
They’re here. They’re safe.
Neveah runs her fingers through my hair and rests her cheek on my head. “Please,” she whispers. “No more disturbing thoughts about something that never happened.”
Harvey rubs his face, exhaustion creeping into every line, but he doesn’t move. He’s still waiting for Nevaeh to explain before he even thinks about sitting down. My instincts tell me he’s preparing for when Nevaeh turns his worst fears into reality.
I’ll have to chase him down before he runs off to wage war on Visha alone. I’m not saying I won’t help, but I don’t do things halfway and never without a solid plan.
I keep my head tucked into my mate’s neck, not giving a damn about the dried blood on her dress. I just want to hold her… while I plan the most brutal witch hunt of all time.
Nevaeh exhales softly and melts deeper into my chest, and I tighten my arms around my little family.
“It was another vision,” she starts. Nevaeh explains how she found August and how they escaped, while keeping details about his family vague. August is now wide awake, so we use big words and codes to tell the whole story.
Nevaeh and I agreed we won’t be telling August about his biological parents and pack anytime soon. We know somewhere down the line he’ll start asking questions, but he doesn’t need to carry that weight right now.
“That b—” Grace covers Harvey’s mouth, her eyes darting to August.
Honestly, the kid’s heard worse. Between Nevaeh, Hazel, and Seiji, swearing is practically a second language around here.
Nevaeh is determined to steer things away from what Harvey blurted out earlier, so she gently turns August towardsHarvey and introduces them.
“Monkey, that’s my best friend, Harvey. He’s a Horseman too, like me.” I feel him nod against Nevaeh. I laugh when he drops that perfectly practiced glare Hazel taught him, and gives a shy little wave.
And just like that, Harvey, the big, grumbling, tattooed Horseman, melts into a puddle. Another person who isn’t immune to my toddler’s charm.
August offers his tiny hand, checking with Grace first. She’s already beaming like her heart might burst because the little guy remembered what she taught him about polite gestures.
Harvey gently grasps August’s hand like he’s afraid he’ll accidentally crush it. “Funny,” he smirks. “A Monkey introducing another Monkey.”
“Don’t make me stab you.” Nevaeh shoots Harvey a glare, which he brushes off with a lazy wave, completely unfazed.
“She absolutely would,” Seiji warns, but Harvey remains nonchalant, clearly just as immune to her threats as she is to his.
“Oh, I’m used to it.” Harvey leans back with a laugh. “Nevaeh was barely five when she started threatening to choke people and cussing like a pirate. I have no doubt she’ll follow, but one thing about Monkey—she willneverhurt someone she cares about.”
Nevaeh scoffs and mutters, ‘Sappy asshole’ under her breath, trying to hide how much his words mean to her.
Grace tilts her head. “Why do you call her Monkey?”
“Don’t. You. Dare.” Nevaeh growls in warning before Harvey can answer.
Harvey ignores her.Again.I’m honestly starting to enjoy their banter.
Even with all of us around her, I knew Nevaeh needed a connection from her childhood to remind her that not everything had changed in her life.
“Ever seen a Monkey in action?” Harvey asks, and everyone nods. “She was exactly like those mischievous little beasts. Sheused to steal every shiny thing and hide them in the most ridiculous places. Her whole kingdom would lose its mind trying to find what she called ‘her hidden treasure’. And she had the cutest little chipmunk cheeks—”
Before he can finish, Nevaeh flings a pillow at Harvey’s face, cutting off the thoroughly entertaining childhood tales.
A door on my left slams shut, and I glance up to see Khatri. His eyes lock on Harvey, and he freezes mid-step.
In a blur, Harvey bolts across the room and pulls Khatri into a bone-crushing hug. I’ve never seen Khatri laugh so hard as long as I’ve known him.
