I rise on my toes and kiss him, letting the last of the fear and confusion bleed out through and hoping he feels me steadying and stops freaking out.
When I pull back, the people around us finally come into focus.
Grace crashes into me, tears streaming down her cheeks as she chokes on a sob. I hug her tight for a second before sliding my hand to her stomach. My eyes fall shut as I feel the rapid heartbeat under my palm, and a tear slips free.
They’re okay. Thank Fates, everyone is okay. I don’t think I would’ve survived if anything that bastard showed me was real.
I ask about August, and Papa is quick to assure me that Seiji’s parents and Khatri are with him in the Horsemen castle.
I know even if August had no one else, the Hellhound would never leave his side. I was hesitant at first, but after tonight, I’ve never been more grateful for one of hell’s most dangerous creatures to be in my son’s life.
When my breathing finally steadies, I look around, trying to figure out why I’m sitting on damp ground near the southernmost portal… the one barely anyone uses.
I gasp in horror as I take the bodies scattered around me.
“Angel…” My vision blurs.
Did I do this? Did I kill my own people? All these innocent guards.
“Stop. You didn’t do anything. They did it to themselves. Tiberius got into their heads. Sweetheart, look at me.” I tear my eyes from the fallen warriors and turn to my mate. I blink back the tears, but they end up spilling. “I promise you didn’t do it. It was all him. All him, okay?”
His voice is steady, but I can feel the controlled anger beneath it.
I turn at the sound of rushed footsteps and see Hazel running toward me, but she stops short, like she just ran into a nightmare, taking in the devastation around us.
Her face turns ashen as she stumbles back. “I’m so sorry.”
Papa calls for her, trying to get her attention, but she keeps backing away, her eyes locked on my arm.
I follow her gaze, and I’m surprised to see a dark bruise across my arm. I can’t even feel the pain or remember how I got this. I didn’t fall that hard, and Tiberius never touched me.
He brushed past me once, but that shouldn’t leave a bruise.
Before I can tell Hazel I’m perfectly fine, and none of this is on her, the siren turns on her heel and runs.
Papa rushes to me, grabbing my face and kissing the top of my head. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if something had happened to you.” His voice breaks, and I know he’s remembering what Visha did.
I squeeze his wrists before leaning back into my mate, his warmth helping me get out of my head. “I’m fine, Papa. I promise. Go after Sharky. She needs you more.”
Papa glances at my mate, and when Angel nods, he takes off after Hazel.
I already know this is going to haunt her. I know exactly how it feels when your family is hurting, and you think like you’re the reason.
Right now, Hazel is probably finding reasons to blame herself for that psychopath and everything he did tonight.
And the worst part? She’s going to believe every single one of them.
31. The tale of a damaged child
Hazel
Idon’t stop running until I’m locked inside the safety and isolation of my room. The door closes, but nothing inside me settles.
Guilt, shame, fear—it all crashes into me at once, threatening to swallow me whole. I can’t breathe. I keep wiping at my face until my skin feels raw, but the tears don’t stop.
My stomach churns with every step, but I can’t stop pacing the length of my room, afraid of what I’ll see once the world finally comes back into focus.
My stomach turns painfully, and I rush to the bathroom on instinct, already knowing what’s coming when the anxiety gets this bad.
