63. Olivia

Olivia

T he news of Senator Ross and my father killing each other has been the hot topic of the week. Apparently, my father kidnapped and killed Senator Ross’ son, Malaky, and after a heated confrontation, they killed each other.

While I haven’t said anything, I know my men are behind this. They promised they would kill all those who had hurt me in the past. Some men buy jewelry to prove their love. My men give me the heads of my enemies. Only figuratively, because I’d have a meltdown seeing a head in the house.

I am so happy Malaky and my father are dead. Because of them, so many people have suffered or died. Not to mention what they did to me. Knowing they are six feet under makes me sleep like a baby.

The oven lets me know the shepherd’s pie is ready. Tyson revealed to me that Jasper loved this dish when he was a child. I wanted to do something nice for Jasper because he spoils me daily. He’s not the only one I’m making food for. The other night, Mose and I made kimchi together so Tyson wouldn’t run out of his favorite snack. I got candies for Rueben and chocolate bars for Ansel. For Mose, it was a bit hard to find out what he likes, but it was Hellcniht who told me Mose likes Korean honey cakes. I have to admit that learning Mose prefers sweet desserts came as a shock since he only eats spicy food.

I got in the kitchen early in the morning since the weather today is going to be perfect for eating outside. Spencer mentioned the other night that he wanted to have a picnic with everyone. Grandma Khloe has been helping me throughout the morning. She left a few minutes ago to make sure the guys got everything else ready, like drinks, sun umbrella, chairs, table, and anything else we might need. If the water is warm enough, we might even get in the lake. I haven’t had a swim in so long.

I put the sheet pan on the counter to check the pie. Before I can cut a piece, Spencer bursts into the kitchen, Diva chasing after him.

“Mommy! Mommy! Help. Diva wants to eat me!” His giggles fill the kitchen.

I catch Spencer in my arms, lift him up, and start spinning him. I’m not scared that Diva will hurt him, because since the day we returned from Malta, Diva and Spencer have become best friends. However, I feel that the only safe place for Spencer is with me, in my arms.

“She’s not the only one who wants to eat you,” I say before covering his little face in kisses.

Spencer laughs louder. Diva barks as if telling me to let Spencer play with her a little more.

My heart is so full of happiness that I’m afraid it will explode. I never imagined, never dared hope, that I would ever live such a wonderful life. It’s even better than the one I planned with Tyson.

“Mommy, no! Don’t kiss-eat me!”

I don’t know how Spencer came up with kiss-eat, but it sounds about right.

“Then, I’ll let Diva lick away all my kisses,” I say before I press my lips to his cheek one more time.

“No! I don’t want Diva to swallow your love.”

I start to get dizzy so I stop spinning. I don’t want to fall and risk hurting Spencer or the baby. I put Spencer on the counter, far away from the pie, so he won’t accidentally burn himself and say, “No matter what, no matter where I am, I will always love you.”

Spencer circles my waist with his arms and rests his head against my stomach. “I know you will. That’s why you and Daddy left Heaven. To be with me.”

I kiss the top of his head. When Spencer is older, if he still remembers this period of time, I’ll tell him the truth. Not the bad parts, but that Tyson and I were forced to separate and that I was made to believe he died.

“Yes. Because we couldn’t live without you,” I say.

A small baby bump is starting to show and the guys take pictures of it daily. I pretend to be bothered about it, but secretly, I love how excited they are.

Spencer looks up at me. “Mommy, when will the baby get here?”

The other day, Tyson explained to Spencer about the baby. He is too little to understand how the baby grows inside me.

“When the leaves turn yellow,” I reply.

The due date the doctor gave me was the beginning of November. It’s a bit tricky since I haven’t had a period in years, so he had to approximate based on the size of the baby.

“Oh.” Spencer sounds disappointed.

So I add, hoping to get him excited again, “Will you help me get the nursery and a bunch of other things ready for when the baby gets here?”

The vintage furniture Rueben chose for the nursery is absolutely adorable, and I don’t plan to change it, but there are still a lot of items I need to buy. Grandma Khloe is helping me make a list.

Spencer’s eyes light up. “Yes!”

I smile. “Until then, how about you taste the shepherd’s pie I made and let me know what you think.”

“I hate tasting food,” Spencer complains.

“It will be just a small bite,” I promise as I grab a knife and a plate.

While I cut a small piece to put it on the plate, I keep my eyes on Spencer, afraid he will move and fall from the counter. I’m not the only one watching Spencer like a hawk. Diva is like a mother hen around him.

Spencer is content to wait patiently.

Once I have pie on the plate, I grab a fork and blow on the hot food to cool it off.

“Be honest,” I say as I offer him a small bite.

Spencer chews the food with his eyes narrowed, taking his job as food taster very seriously. It takes about half a minute for him to say, “Mamaw makes better food than you.”

Ouch!

“But…do you like it?”

Spencer shrugs, not giving me a reply. Maybe he doesn’t want to hurt my feelings. “Can I go play with Diva?”

I get him down from the counter, and seconds later, he’s out the door. Diva goes after him.

Spencer didn’t like the pie. He’s not wrong about Grandma Khloe being a better chef than me. Why do I even bother making food when Mose loves spending his entire day in the kitchen?

I sit at the table, defeated.

Because I wanted to make something nice for everyone. What if all the food I made turned out bad? I should throw it away and make some sandwiches instead. Rueben brought in some junk food the other day. No one will say no to chips and Cheetos.

I’m sure there’s some frozen pizza in the freezer. Even ice cream. Everyone loves ice cream.

I put my arms on the table and bury my face in them.

Why did I agree to have a picnic? It’s not too late to order takeout.

I groan loudly.

“What’s wrong?”

Rueben’s voice makes me jerk my head up.

“I didn’t hear you come in.” I was too busy drowning in self-pity.

“I can tell. But you didn’t answer my question. Why do you look like you want to cry for an entire week without stopping.”

Because my child hates my cooking. It’s the end of the world! For me, at least.

When did I become so dramatic? Is it because of the baby? I don’t remember being so hormonal when I was pregnant with Spencer. Maybe because I was on edge all the time since my father had me live in a small apartment all by myself. I tried to escape many times, but it was impossible. He put bars on all the windows and had men guard the front door day and night.

My chin trembles as I reply, “Spencer hates my food.”

Rueben looks at me with an amused expression. I swear if he laughs, I’ll throw the pie at him.

I know it’s stupid to be upset over something so stupid, but I can’t help the way I feel.

“You are not actually upset over food?” Rueben tries to figure out if I’m serious or not because I never give a shit about small things. But he should give me a break, I’m pregnant and hormonal, and I’m still waiting for my dream proposal. I’m starting to get resentful because I have been hinting about the proposal and ring for months now, and the only reply I get is, “Soon. Be patient.”

Malta was my dream destination, and I was sure they were going to propose there, but then we found Spencer, and hours later, Asa attacked us.

I bury my face back in my arms. “Leave me alone.”

Rueben comes to me, scoops me up in his arms, and sits on the chair with me on his lap.

“Are you being hormonal again?” he asks.

Again?

“Do you want to die? Don’t you know how deadly it is to upset a pregnant woman?” I hiss.

Rueben dips his head and brushes his lips against mine. “I’ll take my chances with you.”

I snort.

“Maybe you will use your fingernails on me again. Leave your mark all over my skin.”

Is this Rueben’s brilliant idea to make me feel better? Because so far, he’s making things worse. “The only time I did that, you beat me with your belt,” I remind him.

There’s a faint scar on his cheek from how hard I scratched him on the night they brought me to the farm.

All amusement disappears from Rueben’s face. “I shouldn’t have done that. I swear, Olly, if I had known the truth…I would have never touched you. Not like that.”

“But you did, so there’s no point talking about what ifs.” A strained laugh leaves me. “I promised myself for years that I’d never love again, and the first chance I get, I fall for my tormentors. Talk about Stockholm syndrome.”

Rueben presses his lips to my temple. “You love us, and we love you. Not because of Stockholm Syndrome or some other shit, but because we were meant to be. All six of us.”

We are together because I decided to love them not because they deserve it, but because I earned the right to be happy, but I don’t point that out. Besides, even if I leave them, what guarantee do I have that I’ll find someone who would not only love me but accept my children and see them as their own? For better or for worse, all my men see Spencer as their son, not only Tyson.

“As for Spencer, he’s a kid, and it’s his job to hate food.”

Maybe Rueben is not as dense as I initially thought. Although…Rueben is known for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time but rarely the other way around. “You think so?”

“All kids are like this. How many times did you say you didn’t like a dish and refused to eat it?” Rueben asks.

I chew my bottom lip. “Never. Unless I wanted to go to bed without dinner after being scolded or beaten.”

Once, I refused to eat liver, and I wasn’t allowed to have anything else until I finished everything that was on the plate. I stayed at the table the entire night. After I caved in and ate the liver, I was sick for several days. One of the nastiest things I have ever eaten.

After swearing under his breath, Rueben adds, “Let’s not think about shitty memories.”

I’m not the one who brought up the past. But I do agree that it’s better to talk about something else.

Rueben has me stand. After looking at my clothes for a bit, he asks, “Do you remember the lace dress I got for you?”

“The one from the thrift store?” I ask, remembering the gorgeous dress Rueben found for me. I haven't had a chance to wear it since he bought it.

“That one,” Rueben mutters.

His cheeks turn flustered. Is he ashamed about buying clothes for me from the thrift store? With how much consumption is happening around the world, I don’t mind buying secondhand.

Rueben looks so adorable with his cheeks all red. Damn. I never thought I’d use ‘adorable’ and Rueben in the same sentence.

In a more cheerful tone, he adds, “How about you put it on?”

I cock my head. “For the picnic?” Rueben nods. “What’s wrong with the shorts and T-shirt I’m wearing?”

Rueben stands. His hands cup my cheeks. “I love seeing you in dresses. Besides, I never saw you wear that one.”

“Fine,” I give in. “I’ll put it on. But if it gets dirty, don’t blame me.”

Rueben narrows his eyes before he drops another bombshell. “Can you also do your hair and make-up?”

What the hell has gotten into him? He is never one to care about how I dress. He only wants to know how to get me naked in record time each time his dick needs attention.

“I would for a date, not for a meal with the family.”

Rueben wraps his fingers around my neck. “You better do what you’re told if you know what’s good for you.”

He sounds like he wants to get me in bed and show me a good time.

My breath quivers. Not with fear but with anticipation. “Yes, my Lord.”

A low growl leaves Rueben’s throat. “Olivia,” he warns me.

I love teasing my men. To make them lust for me even more than they already do. There had been a time when I hated sex, when I found it repulsive. Being touched always made me feel filthy. But not anymore. Being with my men makes me feel loved and desired. It’s not only a union of our bodies but of our hearts and souls as well.

“Do you like it when I call you ‘my Lord?’”

I shouldn’t keep poking the beast, but I love when Rueben loses control. When all he wants to do is fuck me.

“The picnic,” he groans.

Is he saying it to me or to himself?

I sigh a bit dramatically. “Very well.”

Rueben kisses me before letting go of my neck. “Don’t fret, Baby. I’ll split open your pussy later. Meanwhile, I’ll take care of the food while you get ready.”

I roll my eyes because I don’t get the obsession with me looking pretty at a picnic.

Not wanting anyone to starve because of me, I go change.

The dress is on my side of the closet, so it isn’t hard to locate. I haven’t worn it ever since Rueben made me try it on the first time, but I’m sure it still fits me perfectly since I've barely gained any weight with the pregnancy so far.

I put the dress on and take a look at it in the mirror. The front part of the waterfall skirt falls right above my knees, while the back part caresses my calves. The upper part of the dress leaves my shoulders exposed, and the sleeves reach my elbows.

The cream color compliments me so well.

When it comes to hairstyles, I don’t know that many. I have three favorite ways to wear my hair—in a messy bun, braided, or loose. But for today, I’ll do something a little different—a Dutch braid with the lower part in a ponytail.

Lately, I’ve been into natural make-up, so I don’t have to spend a lot of time in front of the mirror. Lastly, I put on a pair of flat shoes since heels would sink into the ground making it hard to walk around with them.

When I am ready, I return to the kitchen, expecting to find Rueben, but instead of him, Mose is waiting for me. The moment his gaze falls on me, his jaw drops. I haven’t blushed in years, but his instant reaction brings warmth to my cheeks.

“You look so beautiful, Olly,” he says before pressing his lips to my forehead.

Despite him being a snitch, I know he didn’t contact his parents out of malice. It doesn’t mean I will forgive him anytime soon but at least Ansel and him have made peace. For a while, I contemplated killing him and hiding his body in the forest, but that would mean losing Hellcniht and that’s something I’m not willing to do. Besides, I love Mose. Also, if I kill him, who will make all my favorite dishes for me?

As for Mose’s parents, they have yet to reply to his initial email. With a bit of luck, they might not have seen it. Even so, we are investing a lot in making our new home safe. We might even homeschool Spencer.

The Elders already sent several groups of blood-brothers to find the whereabouts of the Bringers of Doom. Mose shared any information he had about the cult, which wasn’t a lot, and promised to help with everything he could.

I arrange the collar of Mose’s shirt. “So do you,” I say, making him chuckle. “You should know by now that you look like a K-drama actor.” He shrugs. I run my fingers across his short beard. “I love that you wore your hair loose today and not in the usual messy bun.”

“I can leave it like this more often,” Mose suggests.

I kiss his cheek. “Just so you know, I love it when you have a messy bun. But you could try some other hairstyles. Maybe braids like the Vikings.”

“A Korean Viking,” Mose huffs.

I smile. “Why not? I bet you would look so handsome.”

Mose frowns pensively but doesn’t reply to my question. “The others are waiting. Jasper and Rueben are complaining they are hungry.”

I laugh before interlacing my fingers with Mose. “Let’s not make them wait any longer.”

We step out of the cabin, and Mose guides me close to where the barn is.

There, in the middle of a big patch of wildflowers, a blanket is spread out, with food and drinks on top of it.

Spencer is playing baseball with Jasper and Rueben while Tyson is talking to my grandparents. Ansel is trying to convince Juniper to get down from a nearby tall rock. Rueben has yet to forgive Juniper for kicking him in the balls and still threatens to cook her. Mose doesn’t find it funny, but the entire situation is hilarious to me.

Diva lies next to Miss Teapot’s basket. The kittens are too young to venture far, so there’s no risk of them getting lost. Plus, Miss Teapot is an excellent mother to her four kittens.

Even the horses are present, grazing in their pasture.

I am so glad the animals were also included in the picnic.

Mose and I stop under a tree and quietly observe the scene before our eyes. It fills my soul with joy. This is the life I’ve always wanted: to be surrounded by my loved ones and share my happiness with them.

Not wanting to forget this beautiful day anytime soon, I ask Mose, “Do you have your phone with you?”

“Yeah,” Mose says before giving it to me.

I take photos of my family, with the idea of starting work on a scrapbook in a few days. I spent so many years drugged out of my mind while life silently slipped past me. Back then, I wanted to forget, now I want to remember every instance. Every second of joy I experience with my family.

When I’ve taken enough pictures, I give Mose back his phone and place my hand on my stomach. I haven’t felt the baby kick yet, but the gesture brings me so much comfort. Looking back at the night I found out about my second pregnancy, I feel ashamed of how I reacted. Now that I love the baby with all of my heart, I can’t believe I wanted to have an abortion.

My darkness wraps around the baby, letting me know nothing and no one will harm him or her. It will be another month before we can find out the gender. Tyson, Rueben, and Jasper hope we have a girl, while Mose and Ansel want a boy. I don’t care about the gender; all I want is for the baby to be born on time without any complications.

Spencer is the first to notice me.

“Mommy! Mommy!” he says as he runs toward me. When he reaches me, he wraps his arms around my legs. “You look like a princess.”

“Thank you. You, too, are very handsome,” I say. He lets go of my legs only to grab my hand. “Hungry?” I ask.

“Very!” Spencer exclaims as he drags me after him.

Mose follows us.

When we reach the blanket, Spencer has me sit next to Tyson. “My Daddys told me this is where you have to sit.”

Spencer’s serious expression makes me laugh. “As long as I get food, I don’t care where I sit,” I say.

Between conversations, good food—thank you, Grandma Khloe, for helping me cook; your advice saved the dishes I made. They didn’t turn out as bad as I thought—and laughter, the following hours pass by so fast.

It’s been years since I last felt so calm, so peaceful, so protected. I’m not delusional to think this serene moment will last forever. Only for today, I want to forget about the Nephilims, the Dukes, Azael, Carlos, and my brother, who are still out there.

Only for today, I will forget about the evil looming over the world, threatening to ruin my newfound happiness. Only for today, I want to pretend I have a normal life. Well, as normal as it can be since I have five lovers. They are more than lovers. They are my bondeds.

At some point, Rueben and Jasper get up.

“We are going to check on the horses really quickly,” Rueben says. I nod absently since Grandma Khloe is telling me about her time in Malta. “Spencer, do you want to come with us?”

I want to tell Rueben to make sure Spencer doesn’t get hurt, but then Grandma Khloe changes the subject.

“Our premade house will be here tomorrow. Isn’t that right, Jon?” she asks my grandfather.

Tyson and Ansel also get up. Probably to stretch out their legs.

Grandpa Jon takes a sip from his juice before replying, “Yes. We already chose a spot for the house.”

Tyson and Grandpa Jon have walked around the lake many times, looking for the right spot for my grandparents’ new house. I was not aware they had already picked one.

“Where?” I ask.

“Across from the cabin, on the other side of the lake.”

I like it. It’s far enough for me and the guys to have our intimacy but close enough in case I need them. My grandparents are not the type of people to drop by uninvited unless there’s an emergency.

“I was wrong about something,” I say.

“About?” Mose asks. He sits close to me, his eyes on Juniper, who is worse than a toddler. She keeps trying to steal food even after I gave her some bread.

As I reply, “Dukes and Lords can get along,” I know I’m right. “Not all the Dukes are like Carlos or my brother.” I don’t mention my father. There’s no need since he’s dead. God, I hope he rots in Hell for eternity. “Some are good men, like you, Grandpa Jon.”

Tears shine in my grandparents’ eyes, and for a moment, I panic, thinking I upset them somehow.

Before I can say anything, Grandma Khloe takes my hands into hers. “We weren’t always like this. We made many mistakes. But with age comes wisdom.” She brings my hands to her mouth and kisses my knuckles. “You have always been like a daughter to me, sweety. Jon and I should have done a better job protecting you.”

If only my grandparents were my real parents.

It’s my turn to kiss my grandma’s hands. “I love both of you with all my heart. You protected me when you took Spencer in and raised him with love, telling him about Tyson and me.”

Grandpa Jon kisses the top of my head. “You are his mother. It was only right he knew his origins.”

I hug them.

Finding Spencer still feels like a dream, one that I never want to wake up from.

“Mommy, look!” Spencer’s voice, full of delight, reaches my ears. I’ll never get tired of hearing him.

I let go of my grandparents and look in Spencer’s direction. My heart almost stops beating when I see him on top of a brown pony. How did the pony get here?

I jump to my feet.

“Be careful that he won’t fall!” I say to Jasper, who is next to Spencer and the pony.

Tyson, Rueben, and Ansel are behind them.

A warm smile spreads across Jasper’s face. “I’ll never let anything bad happen to our son.”

Oh. My. God.

The way Jasper says, ‘Our son,’ makes my heart melt. If I weren’t already in love with him, this would have been the moment he won me forever. I wonder how a baby from the love between Jasper and me would look. A little girl with the same warm brown eyes and skin tone as Jasper. She would be the princess of the house, loved by everyone.

Why am I thinking about another baby when I’m already pregnant?

Rueben is not wrong. I am hormonal.

So what if I want Jasper’s baby? Or Ansel’s? Or Rueben’s? What if I have a baby with each one of my men? It would be so adorable to have a house full of children—full of love and laughter.

“Do you like my horse, Mommy?” Spencer asks. “It’s from Daddy Rueben.”

Rueben looks at me sheepishly, probably expecting me to get angry. I go to him and kiss him. “You are such a good dad,” I say.

I expect Rueben to deny it, but to my shock, he starts crying. It’s so sudden, so unexpected, it leaves me speechless.

Rueben pulls me into his warm embrace. I have never seen Rueben cry before, and I don’t know how to react.

“Olivia,” he repeats my name several times, his voice thick with emotion. Suddenly, he gets on his knees, his arms tight around my waist, and kisses my belly. “You have no idea what your words mean to me.” His pretty turquoise eyes look up at me. Tears keep falling down his cheeks. “I love you so much, Baby. You are my entire world.” I never knew Rueben was capable of such beautiful words. His cheek rubs against the baby bump. “Our children as well.”

Months ago, I would have never thought Rueben was capable of such love, of such intense emotions. “I love you, too.” I look around, wanting to tell the others how much I care about them too, but the words die on my lips as I see Tyson, Ansel, Jasper, and Mose kneeling around me.

Oh.

My heart starts beating fast.

Oh.

I didn’t expect this.

“Mommy, this is for you,” Spencer says, making me turn my attention to him. He holds a small black velvet box in his hands. I take it from him.

Even without opening it, I know what’s inside.

An engagement ring.

My hands tremble so much I’m afraid I’ll drop the ring. Ansel comes to my rescue and helps me with the box, opening it for me. Inside is the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. The sunlight reflects on the golden band before bouncing along the two stones set in the ring. One stone is a gorgeous teardrop salt and pepper diamond, and next to it is the blue semi-precious stone from the ring Tyson proposed with.

I press my left hand to my trembling lips. I love the ring so much. It’s perfect in all ways. As is the proposal.

Tyson takes my right hand into his. “Little Queen, my sweet Little Rabbit,” him saying my old nickname doesn’t anger me anymore, but I prefer the new one, “I’m so grateful for a new chance at life with you. I love you so much, Olly.”

A knot forms in my throat, preventing me from expressing how much I love him.

Jasper speaks next. “Little Love,” his tone is so soft and full of love. “Despite how I came to know you, my heart belongs to you. You own me. You did from the first moment I saw you. I never knew true happiness until you.”

If Jasper only knew how much he did for me. How his love and care for me made me realize I am worth something. I am so lucky to be loved by him.

“I’ve never truly been in love until you. Knowing you has changed my life for the better. Saranghae, Beautiful.”

It’s the first time Mose has said something in Korean to me, and while it’s been a while since I last saw a K-drama, I know what he said to me.

I love you.

If I were to speak Korean I would say to him, “I feel the same.”

Ansel is the last to speak. His blond hair shines golden in the sun, making him more handsome than he already is. His brown eyes are full of love. “I’ve loved you for a long time, Erelah.” Each time Ansel says that name to me, he evokes such strong feelings inside me. More than that, it’s like I’ve known Ansel for…lifetimes. “I loved you even when I didn’t know what love was. No matter how many lives we are meant to live, I’ll find you in all of them. Be our wife. In this life and all that are to come.”

My gaze becomes blurry.

I might not remember my former life, but I want to remember this moment for all eternity.

Strong emotions prevent me from talking, so I nod, letting them know that I want to spend forever with them. Ansel takes the ring out from the box. I reach out my left hand, and he slips the ring onto my finger.

I finally find my voice. “I love you all so very much.”

The guys get to their feet, and after long kisses and hugs, I turn to face my grandparents. Showing them the ring on my finger, the promise of eternally being together between my men and me, I say, “I’m going to get married!”

Grandma Khloe holds up her phone, “I recorded everything!”

Sometime during the night, after letting friends know about the engagement, I make my way to the barn. It’s been a while since I last spent some time with the horses, especially with the filly.

Ever since Jasper, Ansel, and Mose gave her to me, I have been looking for the perfect name for her. It might have taken me months, but I finally found it.

When I reach the barn, I slip inside and go directly to her stall which is next to Speckles’. Ever since the guys brought the filly home, Speckles started trusting us more. She is still wary of us, but she doesn’t get that nervous when she sees us.

The filly is still awake, so I enter her stall. From the pocket of my pajamas, I take out several sugar cubes. I brought enough for all the horses, the pony—who Spencer called Lincoln—and Juniper.

While the filly enjoys the treat I brought, I say to her, “For so long, I lived without hope. I even lost the will to live. But all that changed during a cold winter night. This is why I want to call you Vida. It means life in Spanish.” It’s one of the few words I remember from the Spanish classes I took in school. It fits the filly so well.

While I didn’t realize it back then, starting with the past Christmas Eve, I slowly started living again.

Vida sniffs my hand. When she realizes I don’t have more sugar for her, she huffs, upset. After patting her, I go and give the other animals their treat before leaving the barn.

On the way back to the cabin, I run into Grandpa Jon. He has a flashlight in one hand and a gun in the other.

“Olivia, what are you doing out here?”

“I went to check on the animals. What about you?”

“Don’t go out alone during the night. It’s dangerous.”

I rub my left arm with my palm. “I know. As long as Jason, Azael, Carlos, the Nephilims, and the Bringers of Doom are out there, I’m in danger. I do hope I didn’t forget to mention someone.”

He gives me a disapproving look.

“I am learning how to fight, so I am not as defenseless as you think.”

“Don’t forget you are pregnant. In your state, you are very vulnerable.”

“My darkness will keep me safe. I’ve survived horrible things before I accepted who and what I am. I am stronger now.”

Grandpa Jon sighs. “Olivia, walk with me. I have something very important to tell you.”

It is almost dawn when Grandpa Jon and I finish talking.

He tells me things I never knew. About Grandma Khloe’s infertility and how much they wanted children. About Azael helping them. About Hannah. About me.

By the time he finishes explaining everything to me, my head buzzes.

“I need time to process everything.”

Grandpa Jon, or better yet, my father, says, “I understand.”

I give him a hug. “I love both you and Grandma Khloe.”

I might need a bit until I get used to calling the people I thought were my maternal grandparents, mother and father.

“I know, honey. When you have time and feel like you can talk to us about finances, Khloe and I would like to tell you about the trust fund we started for Spencer. We want to open one for the baby. And, of course, you still have yours.” After a moment of hesitation, he adds, “Your mother would like to talk to you.”

“Do you mean Hannah?” I ask. Grandpa Jon nods. “She’s not my mother.” I rub my temples. “This is all so complicated. Regardless of how I came to be, tell her that I don’t want to see her. Nor talk to her.”