Anxo calls over his shoulder, “He’s five, Dean!”
August is still giggling when he waves me over. I grab my plate of uncut sandwiches and sit at the head of the table, so I’m not next to them but not too far either.
Dean steals a slice of tomato from my plate, dodging out of my reach before I can hit him, then turns August to face him.
“So, how’s school?”
“Why do you ask me that every day? " You never went to school?” August asks so earnestly that I can’t help but laugh. Dean chokes on his drinking, but starts laughing, too.
He bumps his head, lighting against August’s. “This is my own fault. I prayed for a herd of grandkids.”
“He’s adorable,” I pull a face at August, and he copies me before glancing back at Dean.
“I’m arodable,” he grins, butchering the word completely, but proving my point.
When I get up to leave, the sight of them together pinches my chest, stealing the breath from my lungs. This is what Dean wants… a family, a house filled with laughter.
I can’t give him any of that. I really am a curse for him.
When I step back, Dean’s head snaps up, his smile still in place. “Do you want to come with us to the human realm?”
I shake my head, smiling at August, because if I look at Dean right now, he’ll see everything I’m trying to hide. I ruffle August’s hair, and the boy melts into Dean’s lap. “Can’t. I have court, then a couple dozen hellions to train.”
Dean sighs like I just broke his heart, and it tightens something in my throat. I turn away, catching his whisper behind me. “One of these days, she’s going to say yes.”
August lets out a mocking cackle only a five-year-old could get away with.
“You don’t believe me? Write it down. When life closes a door, don’t go looking for a window like a loser. Break the damn door.”
August sighs. “I don’t know how to write, Grandpa.”
I’m laughing as I open the door, but before I can leave, Dean shouts, “Have a great day, honey!”
“Arrgghhh!” I growl, slamming the door behind me.
5. The things we miss
Hazel
The Conquer castle comes into view, along with the chaos of construction.
Tarp covers most of the outer walls as the centaurs who run the kingdom’s construction business work tirelessly to bring Anxo and Nevaeh’s vision to life.
Thankfully, the interior is nearly finished, but scraping the gold from the exterior walls is taking a lot longer.
Before, the Conquer Castle looked like a dragon’s lair, gold and precious stones layered across every surface to show off.
When Nevaeh called it tacky, I nearly sighed in relief. One word from her was enough for Anxo to tear it all down and rebuild something she actually liked.
Anxo was more than eager to destroy the castle and everything it stands for after we found out that his parents were complicit in Visha’s plan to kidnap and torture Nevaeh for a decade. Because of their greed, Nevaeh, Harvey, August, and countless others were sent to a coven that ruined their lives.
He already had a complicated relationship with them after they made his childhood hell, but he couldn’t stand to look at them after what they did to his mate.
Before Nevaeh came home, Anxo only stepped into Conquer when necessary, so after things settled down, he decided his family deserved a fresh start.
If it were just him, he would’ve stayed in the Horsemen Castle forever, but he wanted to give his mate and son a real home… something he never had.
That’s how Anxo became obsessed with tearing everything down and building something untouched by his past. When it’s done, this castle will be a resting place for their family, no matter where life takes them.
