For years, I’ve let Tiberius haunt my life, my happiness, my freedom. But for how much longer? If I let him, his darkness won’t just cast a shadow on me, but it’ll reach them, too. Even this baby.
Grace and Harvey’s baby isn’t even here yet, and I’m already letting fear overshadow the announcement of his life.
If I’m right, Tiberius is closing in, and my time to feel this might be limited.
Maybe it’s time I give myself permission to be happy.Even if it doesn’t last.
I take a shaky breath and step into Grace. She freezes, but I don’t let myself think too hard, or I’ll lose the nerve. Her eyes widen comically as I raise my arms and carefully pull her into a hug, barely squeezing.
I don’t think either of us breathes for a full minute before Grace melts against me. I hear her sniffle, and my throat tightens, but I don’t pull away.
It’s fine. Everything is fine. No need to panic.
A breath whooshes out of me when she hugs me tighter. Fuck, is the baby giving her super strength already? It’s half Harvey, so anything is possible.
“Please don’t make your baby call me grandma,” I plead, and Grace’s shoulders start shaking, her laugh filling the cracks in my heart.
“Deal.”
When I pull back, every eye in the room is on me. I swallow, staring down at my boots to avoid explaining why I’m suddenlyhugging Grace after breaking Seiji’s pinky for trying the same thing last year.
“I hope it’s a girl,” Dean blurts out.
I look up, and his eyes are already on me, but instead of the questions I expect, there’s only understanding.
He’s distracting them.For me.
“You think you can handle a granddaughter?” I challenge.
His smile is immediate. Effortless. “Of course. I’m a girl dad through and through.”
Harvey’s scoff mixes with mine, but I’m glad he jumps in to set Dean straight because I’m too busy untangling my tongue after that smile.
“No, you’re not. Nevaeh is basically a guy with anger issues and an obsession with wearing her mate’s clothes.” He points at Nevaeh’s hoodie, which once belonged to Anxo. Then he turns to his mate. “And Grace is like those creepy, obedient kids you find in cults.”
Bullseye.
Nevaeh folds her arms, scowling at Harvey. “I don’t have any anger issues!” She swats Anxo’s chest, “Angel, tell him I don’t have anger issues.”
“You think I’m creepy?” Grace whispers, her eyes filling with tears. Again.
She already cries too much. The whirlwind of hormones is going to make it worse.
“Oh no, darling, that’s not—” The panic on Harvey’s face is so entertaining that no one steps in to help. He dug this grave. He can lie in it.
Everyone’s too busy talking over each other, arguing about nothing and everything, to notice Dean wink at me.
But my heart doesn’t miss, skipping a beat like an offering at his feet.
Fuck.
10. Shush demons
Hazel
Nothing feels right.
I can’t see more than two feet ahead. My instincts are screaming danger, and my hands won’t stop shaking. Everything about this place feels wrong to the bone.
