12. Reed

12

REED

M y gaze scanned Hunter’s office as I chewed absentmindedly on my thumb nail. It was always organized, and the map behind him had only one new red X on it. It was over at the academy.

“Reed, focus,” Hunter’s voice cut through the haze clouding my mind, tugging me back to the present. He leaned over his desk. “We need to find out if she knows anything.”

“But what if Pandora gets upset?” My cheeks heated, and there was a rock in my stomach at the thought.

The last thing I wanted to do was upset my mate.

“She’s not going to be thrilled,” he admitted, running a hand over his jawline. “But she’s aware of what we’re doing. Even Death agreed it would help.”

I let out a heavy breath and nodded, feeling the spirals of my hair brush against my temples. “If I have to.”

Glancing down at my tablet, I read over the messages Charlotte had sent me since the last time we’d messaged back and forth.

Charlotte Vane

Seriously!?

Uh, yes! Of course!!!

You just tell me what you want to know!

I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.

So…did you tell anyone?

You didn’t tell Death’s daughter, did you?

Reed…?

I thought you said you were my best friend, and I need you right now.

Please.

I get that this is a lot for you.

I’ll give you a couple of weeks to process, but then…I’m going to be back.

You’re more than my best friend, Reed. I need you.

Dark Veil is going to welcome you with open arms.

A violent chill zipped down my spine, and bile crept up my throat. “Even texting her feels wrong. My gut rebels at the thought of it.”

“If we had other means of getting information on Dark Veil, I wouldn’t ask you to do this,” Hunter whispered, running a hand over his face. “But your mother, even with the demonic pact binding her, isn’t as forthcoming with information as we’d like her to be. She’s off the radar currently. Just ask about the rumor.”

My jaw tightened.

Of course she is.

Reed Nyx

Charlotte, I’ve been thinking about everything. I need to know more. There are a few rumors about dark magic infecting Rapture Cavern. A cave close to the campus I’m on. Do you know anything about it?

As usual, her response was instant.

Charlotte Vane

Reed! Oh my Veil!

I’m so excited you messaged me! I’ve been waiting.

As for Rapture Cavern, it’s been rumored to be the gathering place for Dark Veil.

But we tend to add rumors of truth and lies.

The Veil demands it.

If you want to know for sure…you need to meet me in your dreamscape.

I’ve missed you.

I swallowed back the bile that threatened to spew from my mouth, and acid burned my throat. “Charlotte says she needs to meet me in my dreamscape to tell me more about it.”

My mind drifted to my dreamscape—the purple hazy clouds underfoot, the deep purple trees with glowing blue leaves, and the galaxy that swirled endlessly above. It was my sanctuary, the place my cotton candy scent mixed with a hint of caramel that reminded me of my fated.

I didn’t want Charlotte there ever again.

“We can’t put it off any longer. With the rumors circulating, I’m sure students will head that way to check it out. I need to make sure they’ll be safe,” Hunter replied, his tone awfully grim. “But you should tell Pandora first. She needs to know before you meet with another woman.”

“Charlotte is not another woman. She is more cunning and vicious than a basilisk,” I snapped, anger flooding my veins as I thought of all the deception our friendship had been based on. “But you're right. If my mom isn’t talking, I’ll talk to Pandora about it tonight.”

“Thanks, Reed.” Hunter deflated, rubbing his eyes. “See if she knows anything about the dark magic tome or a witch named Sybil Shaw, too.”

“I doubt Pandora’s going to love her mate meeting with some woman in his dreamscape.” Shadowheart sauntered in from the shadows. “But if you want to be on her shit list like we are, go for it.”

He was right. I frowned.

“Why the fuck are you here?” Hunter growled, grabbing his coffee cup filled with caramel fae wine and taking a swig before setting it back down with a thud. “Reed doesn’t need your advise about Pandora. She actually likes him.”

Shadowheart visibly winced. “Pandora’s hanging out with a demon called Inferno,” he said, his voice edged with caution. “I want to know if she’s safe for Pandora.”

Hunter and I exchanged glances.

He cared about her enough to get intel on who she was hanging around? I guess it made sense. She was his fated, too. But seeing him care about anyone like this was odd.

“Pandora made a new friend,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral. “She already messaged us about her.”

“I’m only doing this because we’re both fated to Pandora.” Hunter shot a seething glare toward Shadowheart before grabbing a file on his desk and opening it. “Jenni Inferno is a succubus from a middle class family. Her father’s passed away, and her mother is living. She is here because her mother’s concerned. Her daughter has issues with feeding. That’s all you need to know.” He shut the file and slapped it on the desk. “I’ve already checked into her, and she’s safe. Just be happy Pandora has met someone who is kind to her. Unlike you.”

Shadowheart’s fog gray eyes narrowed slightly. “I’m not here to fight. I just thought you’d be interested in what I overheard from Pandora and Inferno when they were talking in the cafeteria.”

I felt a knot tighten in his stomach, and once again, I felt like I would puke. “What did you hear?”

Shadowheart leaned his hip against the side of the desk. “Shadeberry cut Pandora with her shadows in their training class with Ashenfell.”

Hunter’s anger flared, and his horns cracked his skull as they extended. “I need to get vengeance for her.”

“No need.” Shadowheart’s lips curved slightly. “Evidently, Inferno encouraged Pandora to feed off her after, and she did. But also, I’m going to handle Shadeberry just like I handled Dreadful.” He cackled, tilting his head back. “Get it? Handled ? Because I cut off her hand?”

Hunter’s gaze widened slightly as shock zipped through me.

“The missing hand was you?” I gaped.

He shrugged. “She beat Pandora. I may not have known she was my mate then, but I never hated her. I was fascinated by her, and I have always wanted her. Nobody was allowed to touch her, and Dreadful broke that rule, so I took her hand.”

“Do you still have it?” Hunter blinked at him.

“Fates, no.” Shadowheart’s chuckle was deep, and his shadows warped around him. “I made her eat it.”

Eat it?

My stomach churned at the thought, but also, good. Dreadful deserved it.

“Great. I’ll handle Ashenfell for letting that happen, of course.” Hunter nodded, his expression less hostile. “I’m happy Pandora’s made a friend, and I can guarantee that Inferno’s safe for her to be around. You may leave.”

Shadowheart fluttered his fingers and stepped back into the shadows as my tablet started ringing.

“Who is it?” Hunter steepled his fingers and rested them against his chin.

Dread filled my veins, but as I looked at the ID, it wasn’t Charlotte like I expected.

“It’s my mom.”

“Answer it.”

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I did. Her voice came through on speaker.

“Reed,” her voice was shaky, desperate . “I need you to pair with Charlotte.”

What?

Anger surged white hot through me, and I clenched my tablet so tightly my knuckles turned white. “No.”

“No?” she choked out. “Reed, I’m your mother! I need you to pair with her in a dark ritual so that I can get your dad back before the council?—”

“I’ve met my mate,” I interjected, cutting her off in a vicious tone. “Not that you care.”

There was a pause on the line, and then a ragged sob. “I—” she started but the line went dead.

My mom had never been the same after my dad died. Her depression had created a distance between us that was impossible to bridge. Now, I didn’t think I cared to bridge it.

I glanced up at Hunter with heat in my eyes. “She hung up.”

“I heard.” Hunter took another drink from his cup. “We’ll deal with Dark Veil and your mother. One step at a time. First, we need information from Charlotte. Your mother is hiding from the council.”

“I know.” I ran both hands through my hair and groaned. “I’ll talk to Pandora later, but I need to get to class.”

“If you need anything, just…”

I didn’t listen to anything else he said as I left his office. I couldn’t . Hunter was just doing his job, and I wanted to help. That didn’t make this any easier, though.

First, my mother wanted to offer me up as a demon to be infected and sacrificed for a cult’s warped purpose. Now, she wanted me to pair myself in some dark ritual to a woman who betrayed me. Mating pairs weren’t uncommon in demonic society, but they were blasphemous when one had a fated mate.

And I needed to talk to my mate.

My shoulder collided with another, and I stumbled to the side as reality whooshed back in.

“Fuck,” Nightwind growled, pushing me roughly into the wall. “Watch where you’re going, Nyx.”

The back of my head smacked against the stone, and I felt it split open. Hot blood trickled down my neck as the warmth of healing spread through my skull.

What the Fates?

Nightwind stalked toward me, his blue eyes glinting with malice.

Before I could process anything, Shadowheart stepped out of the shadows. He stepped between us and growled at Nightwind. “Fuck off.”

Nightwind hesitated, then retreated down the hall with a growl of his own. “Not fucking worth it.”

I sucked in a breath of relief. Why had Shadowheart stepped in? The only person who had ever stood up for me was Pandora.

Shadowheart turned to look at me, and I noticed that dead look in his eyes was gone. I hadn’t been paying enough attention in Hunter’s office to notice it then. “You good?”

I nodded, reaching up and feeling the slick blood on the back of my head, but the wound had at least healed. “Thanks.”

He shrugged, his expression as unreadable as usual, and then, he disappeared into the shadows.

I took another deep breath, my mind racing.

I needed to talk to Pandora, to protect her, and to navigate the dangerous threat that was Dark Veil. But for now, I focused on the fact that the matebond would soon anchor me fully to her.