35. Reed

35

REED

“ A re you okay?” I flicked my gaze over Hunter as I entered his office for our session.

His dark blond hair was up in a messy bun, and he had bags under his eyes. His brilliant white irises were dull, and the gray rings had faded a bit. Something was seriously messing with him.

“No.” He squeezed his eyes tightly. “Pandora knows that I’m messed up over this case Dad and I are working, but fuck. It’s the most fucked up case we’ve dealt with, and there’s not even dark magic involved. I can’t even bear to tell Pandora the details.”

“Seriously?” My brows shot up as I sat on the sofa and put my bag beside me. “Do you need to talk about it?”

He shook his head, gulping his coffee cup that no doubt had fae wine in it. Then, he stood up and went to the cabinet for more. “I need to forget about it. The client doesn’t want the vengeance we deem necessary. Our business meets the clients wants—not ours,” he hissed bitterly.

“Hunter…” I cleared my throat, getting up and walking over to the cabinet and shutting it softly before he could grab a bottle. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re throwing off signs of being an alcoholic.”

“I’m not an alcoholic.” His mouth fell open, and his gaze trailed from the cabinet to his coffee cup and back. “Oh, shit. I never used to drink this much, but the caramel in it reminds me of Pandora. It’s…well, it’s calming.”

“Maybe tug on the bond when you miss her instead?” I opened the other cabinet and pulled out a water bottle before handing it to him. “There are also caramel flavored drinks that aren’t alcoholic in nature. I’ll buy you some.”

He nodded, taking the bottle and heading back to his desk. “Thanks, Reed. I didn’t realize what I was doing.”

“Sometimes you need an outsider to bring attention to these things.” I shrugged. Also, Pandora was the one who mentioned it to me. But she asked me not to tell Hunter so he didn’t feel worse about it.

“You’re not an outsider, but…thank you.” Raking his hand over his face, he sighed. “Okay. How about we talk about what we’re going to do about Vane? She appeared in your dreamscape after you and Pandora bonded and was pissed. Then, she told you that your mom stole something from Dark Veil, and you still haven’t been able to get ahold of her?”

I nodded, pulling my tablet out and opening the messages with Mom. Each one went unanswered. “That’s the gist. I called two more times this morning, but it went to voicemail. I’ve left messages and texts, but nothing. I’m worried.” My voice cracked.

I’d talked to Gumdrop about it, and even he looked stressed.

My gut told me something was very wrong.

“The council can’t get ahold of her either,” he admitted with a frown. “Blackthistle told me that he talked to her last week about the cult, but he hasn’t been able to contact her since. He seemed seriously irritated about it. I think it’s the first time he’s cared about a case in a long time, actually.”

“I haven’t talked to her for an entire month.” Hot tears pricked my eyes. Had she really spoken to a council member instead of her own son? “I know she practically sacrificed me for her own benefit, but she’s my mom. She wouldn’t even be like this if she hadn’t lost Dad.”

“She’s not the mother you grew up with when your dad was alive,” Hunter murmured. “That’s due to the loss of her fated mate. Still, what she did to you wasn’t right, Reed.”

“I know.” I fumbled with the tablet and called her again. Each ring was an echo in my chest like an omen.

Her voicemail picked up. “Come on, Mom, pick up,” I whispered into the tablet. “It’s me again. Just…just call me back, okay? Please .”

I hung up and buried my face in my hands.

I could feel Pandora reaching out to me with comfort through the bond, and I soothed her right back. But the memories of the last conversation I had with Mom flooded my mind. I’d told her I met my mate, and she just…stopped talking and hung up.

My heart pounded in my chest like a drum.

I stood abruptly and paced the length of his office. Fear gnawed at me, growing more and more insistent the more I thought about her. “Something’s wrong, Hunter, I know it.”

“We’ve checked your family home, but she’s not there,” he told me.

“She’s never going to meet Pandora, is she?” My voice cracked.

“She might.” He folded his hands on his desk, and sympathy poured from his eyes. Sympathy, but not pity.

I sniffled and ran a hand through my hair, grabbing my bag and tablet. “I need to go pick Pandora up from the library. She’s studying with Jenni.”

He nodded. “I’ll see you both later, then.”

“See you later.” I paused at the door and glanced over my shoulder. “And stay away from the wine today, yeah?”

“I will,” he promised, but there was still that haunted look in his gaze. “I’ll be fine, Reed. Go to our mate.”

I smiled softly. “If you need anything?—”

“I’ll message you,” he assured me, “but Pandora will feel it before I do.”

I left Hunter’s office and tried to ignore the heart-sinking thoughts in my head about Mom. As I stepped out of Reform Hall, the sun blazed relentlessly over campus, casting long, shimmering waves of heat that distorted my vision.

I squinted against the brightness, feeling the oppressive warmth seep into my bones. I grew up in this heat, but somehow, I’d never liked it. Mom was the same way, actually, but she was human. She couldn’t handle the heat the same way demons could.

I wiped my brow with the back of my hand and headed for Demonic Archives. My shirt clung uncomfortably to my back, soaking through with sweat.

When I finally made it, the doors slid open with a soft whoosh, and I was immediately enveloped in a rush of cold air from the enchanted air. It was a blissful shock, and I paused for a moment to catch my breath.

Stepping further into the library, my eyes adjusted to the dimmer light. Shelves of books stood tall, and I moved through the aisles, searching for the spot Pandora told me she’d be at.

I found her seated at a table near the window with Jenni beside her. Hemlock, Grimshaw, and Dex stood at their table, seemingly whining for her to study with them.

“I just think it would be beneficial for all of us to work together.” Dex grinned, lacing his fingers together in front of him. “It would give us a chance to spend time together—for our grade, of course.”

“We won’t even bother you,” Hemlock promised. “I just want to sit next to you.”

“Please, princess?” Grimshaw pouted his lip out. “When you’re around, I don’t have to be high. It’s…nice.”

“Okay, fine,” she gave in.

The three of them let out a noise that I could only ever describe as a squeal, and they all funneled around the table.

“But Reed’s going to be here soon,” she added. “We have plans to go out for dinner.”

Pandora’s presence seemed to radiate a warmth that was entirely different from the sun's harsh heat. My soul swelled with love for her, and she turned her head to meet my gaze.

“Hi, dream girl,” I murmured softly as my pulse quickened. “Do you want to stay and study a bit longer?”

She glanced at the others, but Jenni stood up abruptly.

“I’ll leave you to your mates, girl.” She smiled, waving at me. “I’ve gotta go meet my mom for dinner anyway. But I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Sounds good,” Pandora murmured, waving bye to her as I slipped into the spot Jenni had left open next to her.

I leaned in and kissed her lips softly.

Dex whined. “Oh, come on, I haven’t kissed her yet.”

“Neither have I,” Hemlock grumbled.

“I have,” Skel boasted, winking at Pandora.

She flushed with pink and pointed at their tablets. “Start researching if you want to study with me.”

The three of them ducked their heads and did as she said. It was a sight I never thought I’d see, but I was so glad I was wrong about that.