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My hands trembled, the warmth of her skin still lingering on my palms.

She exhaled sharply through her nose. “I will only repeat myself this once,” she claimed, slapping a hand over her sternum. “You left me to fend for myself after promising to protect me.” I opened my mouth to protest, nostrils flaring, but she held up a hand. “Rationally, I know it wasn’t your fault,” she explained quietly, “but the end result was the same. I'm just extremely fortunate that I have a someone who gives a shit and came for me. Monstera rescued me when I thought all was lost. Not you.” Although her words slashed like a razor’s edge, her eyes screamed how badly I’d failed her, hurt wavering in their depths.

Seizing the opening as tension grew, Monstera cleared her throat and Huff nodded, as if some silent communication had passed between them. “Miko, I think you should listen to him.” She held up her hands, aqua magic arching across her fingertips. “Yes, you’re hurting,” Monstera glanced at me, “you both are. Letting your emotions guide you isn’t a problem unless it veils the truth.”

Miko moved closer, craning her neck to meet my stare. “I trusted you,” her voice cracked at the end, moisture gathering along her lower lashes. “This is not how my summer semester was meant to go. Perhaps this is a sign that I was right from the start.” She huffed in feigned amusement, but it lacked true emotion.

My wings fluttered anxiously behind me as if they too wanted to crush her to my body and never let go. Please don’t do this, Lass.

“Prepare yourself,” Marv suggested, his tone soft for once.

“First, we had incredible sex while we somehow traveled into Little Red Riding Hood,” she sighed, Huff winking onto her shoulder and nuzzling her cheek gently, giving her the comfort she wouldn't allow me to bestow. “Then, you vanished while a motherfucking wolf chased us.”

“But remember it wasn't his fault,” Monstera interjected. “Grimnyr was in Little Red’s thrall because she cursed him.”

Miko’s hands clenched and unclenched. “Stop. For once in your life just shut the fuck up, Monstera.”

Her bestie took several steps back as if she had been slapped, then shook her head, determination glossing over the hurt stealing over her features, hurrying to Miko’s side, and squeezing her into a side hug, and resting her chin on her shoulder next to Huff.

“You didn't mean that, Koko,” she said in a soft voice.

Miko replied without saying a word, turning and hugging her friend.

Conflicting emotions fought within me, using my ribcage as their battle front, chipping away pieces of it the longer they fought. Possessive jealousy bubbled my bone marrow, while gratitude staunched the roiling surface.

It occurred to me that Monstera, though she was a witch and a powerful one at that, something I purposefully dismissed when I first met her, was someone I could trust with my mate. She didn’t shy away from Miko’s barbed words no matter how deeply they cut. In that at that moment, I was glad she had someone in her life like the witch.

The stone fur around my neck bristled. “Wait. You said Monstera rescued you?”

The witch’s eyes flicked to me, and she placed a hand on her hip. “Yes, after she was gone for days. Again. I took matters into my own hands and created a portal. I didn't get a chance to tell you, Koko, but I checked at least half a dozen fairytales before I found you. It was more difficult than I expected, given portal magic is my most studied power.”

The betrayal pinching Miko's expression softened as she rested the side of her head against Monstera’s. “And you have no idea how much I appreciate you for it.”

“Before this gets even more out of hand,” Huff, gurgley-growled, “I think we all need to take some time to decompress before more hurtful words are said.”

Miko picked up the Heechu and cradled him against her chest, running a finger down his back, then twining it through his three tails. “No. I can't waste any more time. I've been utterly foolish.” she said, looking everywhere but my face. “No matter what this bond says,” she gestured to her chest. “I have to focus on my goals. Fuck knows how much classwork I've missed. Although it shouldn't be hard to catch up, between you and Professor Torbus nothing gets done anyway.” She rolled back her shoulders and clasped Monstera’s hand. “How long was I gone?

My body leaned towards her on its own volition as I struggled to restrain myself from going to her. “A week and a half,” I answered gruffly.

“You sure? Felt like fucking centuries,” Freddy said, joining the conversation.

I growled. So fucking help me, demon. I promise I will strangle the life out of you. I don't know how, but I'll find a way if you say one more godsdamn thing.

“Oooh, I know,” Marv offered, delight coating his words, “you could ask the King of Hell for help. I heard he’s still collecting wayward demons and punishing them despite his new elevated status.”

The promise applied to you, too, I reminded him.

“Uh, never mind. I’ll just…occupy my time with something else.”

The witch’s head tilted, her eyes glowing with power. “I knew there was something off in that skull of yours. I could probably expel them,” she offered casually and shrugged. “If you wanted. No need to involve Lorcan.” Miko’s friend rolled her eyes so hard the whites showed.

Curiosity tickled the back of my tongue, forming unapproved words. “You’re on a first name basis with that arsehole?”

Monstera only grinned.

For some reason, witnessing her self-satisfied, knowing look brought my focus back to the present, my senses focusing on the quickening staccato beat of Miko’s heart.

I gripped my horns and spun away from the witnesses of my deteriorating state, the demon’s fear bashing against my brain with their outburst, as if they only realized what the witch might be capable of. My ears turned toward the group as I dropped to my knees, part of me listening to the conversation taking place behind me, the other teetering over an endless abyss.