“Don’t you dare break the damn gate.” I step closer, and the fire that licks his hooves and tail flares brighter. “If you burn me, I’m never touching you again,” I warn, even though I know he would never do something like that.
He nudges his nose in my palm, then loops his head around my shoulder, dragging me into a hug.
A laugh bubbles in my chest. “You’re so bossy.”
He acts like a grumpy asshole, but he melts the second I start grooming him.
I can complain all I want about how similar Dean and Diamond are, but the truth is, I see a lot of myself in him. We never got the chance to be soft. And now we don’t know how.
Everyone thinks our sharp edges are all we are. They’re not entirely wrong.
I’ve spent the last ten years with blood on my knuckles and my daggers dripping in blood. I wanted people to be afraid of hurting me. But I didn’t realize when I stopped feeling anything but the anger consuming me until it was too late.
I stopped believing in Fates and their plan a long time ago. For years, I was forced to stay quiet, to accept torture as my life, and they didn’t help me. No one did. I was the one bleeding until I stopped taking the hits and gave them a taste of their own medicine.
I’ve just started grooming Diamond when Grace links me that she’s finally going to see a human doctor. I’ve been hounding her for weeks, but she kept brushing it off like throwing up four times a day wasn’t serious.
Humans are ridiculously stubborn.
When Harvey first told us Grace wasn’t feeling well, Dean damn near lost his fucking mind. It wasn’t hard to guess how he’d react when he found out they were going to the human ream to see a doctor.
If something is wrong with Grace, it would set him off. Dean is just as unhinged as Nevaeh when it comes to their family. I admire that… even if it scares the rest of us a little.
The Blackburns already walk a thin line when it comes to morality, and when push comes to shove, they don’t hesitate to cross all lines for their people.
Dean needed a distraction, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone and asked Jackson to help me with my next prank. It didn’t hurt that it pissed Dean off. That was fun.
Ever since Grace left, Dean has been on edge, and it’s messing with my stupid Divine because we’re apparently on our way to becoming one. Whatever the fuck that means.
No matter how much I try to convince myself I don’t care, there’s a constant tug in my chest pushing me toward him. The more I resist, the tighter it pulls.
If only I knewhow to give in without everything falling apart.
I’m cleaning up after spending nearly two hours braiding Diamond’s mane when Anxo links me, his voice tight. “Come to the War Castle. Quickly.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. Harvey and Grace are back, but they refuse to say anything until everyone’s there.”
I pat Diamond’s head, apologizing for ditching him early, and take off toward War. I ignore the stares, people gasping like the kingdom’s on fire.
Why is everyone here so fucking dramatic?
In the distance, I spot Anxo and Dean running toward the castle and remember they were supposed to visit Luke today.
I’ll have to check with Khatri to see if Luke’s still alive. His torture session came at a very bad time. I wouldn’t blame Dean if he finally lost control and finished the bastard.
I shove the door open and rush inside, Dean and Anxo right behind me.
We find Grace and Harvey in their living area. Seiji and Jackson are already here, watching Grace lounge on the sofa, sipping coconut water like her mate didn’t just scare the life out of all of us.
Nevaeh rushes in, August at her side. “Who died?”
August drags a hand over his face. “Mama…”
“Sorry. Old habit.” Nevaeh grimaces. “What’s wrong?”
Dean goes straight to Grace, brushing the back of his hand against her forehead. “What did the doctor say?”
