Their voices blur together, but the tension keeps tightening around my chest.
Seiji is backing Dean—who wants to try something wildly crazy—solely for the purpose of antagonizing everyone, when the sound of tiny footsteps catches my attention.
August climbs down the stairs, rubbing his eyes with a fist, clutching his favorite dinosaur stuffed toy to his chest. I expect him to toddle over to Nevaeh or Anxo, but my heart lodges in my throat when he stops in front of me, looking up with sleepy eyes.
The little guy has always been too perceptive for his age, and as if he can sense the panic building inside me, he places his toy in my lap, offering me something that brings him comfort.
Fuck, my heart is going to burst out of my chest.
I didn’t think I’d be choking on tears because of a four-year-old tonight.
August turns to leave, probably looking for his parents so he can curl up to them, but the heaviness in my chest won’t let him go.
I want to be one of the people he turns to when he needs something. I don’t want him to hold back because I’m always so rigid.I don’t want to be someone he avoids when he wants comfort.
“August?” I clear my throat when my voice wavers.
He turns back, blue eyes going adorably wide when I pat the space beside me. August has always been the most respectful of my space. He knows how out of character this is. He knows how much this matters.
Before I can blink, he throws himself onto the couch, wiggling on his stomach until his butt isn’t hanging in the air.Then he snatches his toy from my hands, and I stop breathing when the little guy climbs into my lap and nuzzles against my chest.
I don’t move a muscle as he breathes out, melting into my arms before his eyes fall shut and he goes back to sleep within seconds.
This boy is the perfect example of: give someone a finger, and they’ll take the whole damn hand.
August slumps deeper into my lap, and I instinctively wrap an arm around his back, pulling him closer. I don’t know how kids sleep, but I’m not about to let him fall and break something.
Once I’m sure he won’t tumble back, I look up to find seven sets of eyes staring at me like I’ve grown a second head.
“What?” I hiss when they don’t stop staring. When their expressions soften, and I spot tears, I cover August’s head with my palm, pressing his face into my chest so he won’t hear me. “Stop with the fucking looks, or I swear to Lucifer I’ll stab you every single one of you assholes.”
Thankfully, they stop and shift to discussing Nevaeh and Anxo’s wedding in soft whispers. I tune out talks of flowers and fireflies, focusing on the warmth of the little werewolf clinging to me in his sleep, his lips parted, his chubby cheek squished against my chest.
For once, I don’t feel like I’m standing outside looking in.
August lets out a soft snore, and I don’t know why that makes my nose sting. I sniff, trying to hide it, but of course Dean notices.
“I thought mermaids didn’t have tears.”
“I will kill you, Reaper.”
22. A broken siren
Hazel
Iturn onto my side and watch Dean’s chest rise and fall with each breath. There’s something peaceful about watching him sleep. It steadies me, quiets the storm in my head until the silence wins.
He anchors me without even trying.
“Your Divine is… weak. Was it worth it, Flaw? Running away and losing your identity?”
Timor’s words have been replaying in my head for days. Everything about that day cemented my worst fears. His voice doesn’t just echo in my head… it claws its way in.
I’ve always known running away from Tiberius was a fluke, so I tried to prepare for the day he found me again. I knew my Divine’s limitations, but fighting Timor made them impossible to ignore.
I didn’t lose… but I struggled.
I’m not ready.
