44. Reed

44

REED

“ W here’s her friend?” Hemlock asked from beside me as we stood next to each other on a squishy red mat in Practical Applications of Demonic Feeding.

“Jenni had a lunch date with her mom for her birthday,” I explained, unable to unglue my eyes from Pandora and Dex.

“Ah.” He nodded in my peripheral. “You smell a lot like Pandora now that you’re living together.”

“I love it,” I admitted, my heart swelling with a copious amount of love for my mate. I had fallen asleep inside of her every day this week, and it was addictive. “I love her.”

“I know,” he croaked out, reaching up and fixing his septum piercing. “Listen, you can…call me Bram instead of Hemlock.”

“You can call me Reed,” I murmured, flicking my gaze at him. He’d changed a lot.

I’d only ever known the demon as an angry drunk, but he’d changed the drunk part pretty well. He was still angry, but there was a reason for it—there had to be. I didn’t know his trauma, but I knew demonkind well enough to know there had to be something behind his attitude.

“You can feed off me, Dex.” Pandora’s raspy voice hit my ears, and both Bram and I froze as we eavesdropped.

She stood with her hair up in a ponytail, across from Dex on the red mat. She’d already managed to feed off his soul with no issue. But…was she honestly ready for him to feed off her?

If I had it my way, she’d never see another shadow tendril, let alone be touched by one.

“ No .” Darkness crossed Dex’s face. “Why would you want me to do that? I’ve hurt you before. I won’t ever hurt you again.”

“I’m not asking you to hurt me, but I can handle you feeding off me,” she said softly. “I don’t want you to feed off my physical pain…but my emotional pain.”

He flinched but nodded once. “O—Okay, but Pandora, I haven’t fed off your pain in a while.”

“Did it make you nauseous to feed off me knowing you caused that pain last term?” Her expression wasn’t angry, and there was nothing but understanding flowing through our bond as she stared at him. “You don’t have to feel like that anymore. I know you regret how you treated me, but there is still a lingering pain from it. Do you want to feel it? Can you…take it away?”

He closed the distance between them in two strides and reached a trembling hand up to cup her cheek. “I’ll take everything I can to do right by you.”

“Take the pain you caused away,” she rasped, her red eyes getting glossy.

His eyes glowed bright silver, and I could see him flinch. He didn’t move, though. If anything, he leaned down closer until his lips were only an inch from hers. “I’m so sorry, Pandora. I hurt you so badly.”

“It’s—”

The doors to the stadium flew open, and Death stormed in, with Blackthistle following closely behind him.

Dex let his hand fall from her face, but neither of them moved right away. They didn’t even glance at who had come in.

“Damn.” Bram sucked in a breath as he rubbed his chest. “I don’t know how to cope with the jealousy.”

I glanced over at him, and I could see the anguish in his dark red eyes as he stared at them. “Keep doing what you’re doing,” I murmured. “She keeps your poems and your animal skulls. She’s starting to understand you, but you have to let her—let all of us, too. It’s not just her in this. It’s all of us.”

Bram’s head turned to me quickly, and his gaze widened. “I—Thank you.”

“Reed, Pandora, with me.” Death’s voice boomed through the chambers as he paused and glared at Dex. “You too, Shadowheart .”

They broke apart quickly, and worry bounced down our bond.

“You better go,” Bram whispered.

“See you later.” I moved for Pandora, placing my palm on the small of her back and leading her over to Death quietly.

Her dad still didn’t tear his angry gaze away from Dex.

“Death, if you could just talk to me for a moment—” Blackthistle took a deep breath like he’d been running to catch up to him. “I’m the headmaster here. I can be of some use.”

“This is a private matter for my daughter and her mate,” Death snapped at him.

Blackthistle held his hands up in surrender before frowning. “I thought she was mated to Hunter…”

“None of her mates are your business,” Death growled as he led the three of us out of Serpentine Stadium. He led us outside, his long black hair whipping in the wind before he turned to Dex. “shadow-travel us to Pandora’s room— now .”

Dex didn’t hesitate. His shadows wrapped around us, and we came out inside of mine and Pandora’s bedroom.

Death paused, staring at Gumdrop’s tank and the kitten curled up in her bed underneath the tank. Then his gaze swept over the animal skulls on the shelves. But then he settled his gaze on me, and dread dripped down my spine.

I knew that look.

It was the same look Mom had when she told me that my dad had died.

“Reed…”

“You found her. Didn’t you?” I croaked, my legs wobbling so badly I barely stayed upright.

Death nodded, and his expression was grim.

She’s dead.

My mind raced through every possibility. Maybe there was an accident or maybe Dark Veil caught up to her. Images flashed before my eyes, each one a dagger to my heart. I could see her lying on the floor with blood around her, calling out for me, but I wasn't there.

The thought hit me like a physical blow, and I stumbled back, catching myself on the edge of the dresser.

“Bane and I went to look for her again. We found her dead at her estate this morning with a suicide note addressed to you.” He handed me a neatly folded letter that smelled of lavender. “I’m so sorry. We’ve sent her body to the morgue. We can send her off however you’d like.”

Pandora let out a gasp, and I felt her small hand rest on my back.

My chest tightened further. My mom had taken my dad’s scent completely when they’d mated. They always smelled the same, and it was because she was human.

I took it with shaking hands and unfolded it. Tears welled up in my eyes and blurred the words as I read them:

Reed Nyx,

By the time you read this, I will be swimming in the gleaming pond where our family had joy for eleven years. I hope you can forgive me for falling beneath the creaking board. Everything started the date that I talked about for years. I trust in your ability to find what I have left for you. It is something that I hope will bring you closure and understanding.

With all my love,

Cass Nyx

“I know exactly what she’s trying to say. She’s left something for me in my childhood home.” I sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

“How do you know?” Dex asked, his eyes glowing as the emotional torment inside of me kept being trimmed down by him feeding off it.

“The gleaming pond is what I used to call the ocean when I was a kid. We lived at our home in Gleaming Gulf for eleven years with my dad before he was killed. The creaking board is in the house, but I don’t know who lives there now.” My voice cracked.

“Reed…” Pandora moved her hand from my back and slipped her fingers through mine as she squeezed my hand.

Her comfort made it hurt a little less.

“Can you lead us there?” Death asked.

I nodded, a hollow ache forming in my chest. “It’s just outside of the Gleaming Coast Beach Town. My parents got the only house not in city limits.”

“I know where that is. I can find the house no problem,” Dex said.

“Are you sure you can do this right now?” Pandora asked, her gaze boring into mine.

I nodded. “I have to.”

“Okay.” She looked at her dad with worry.

“Let’s go.” Death nodded to Dex.

His shadows swooped us up again, and then, we were there. I was hit with a massive feeling of nostalgia immediately.

The sound of gentle waves lapping against the shore filled the air, and the salty tang mingled with the earthy desert scent. I could literally taste the flavors of the sea and desert as the soft sea breeze blew over me.

My childhood home was the same as it always had been. The warm hues of the sandstone walls blended with the golden sands. In front of it was the azure waters of the ocean, and it was where I had spent my childhood—the good part of my childhood.

“This is exactly like your dreamscape,” Pandora murmured, her red eyes big as she took everything in. I wished I could’ve shown her this at a better time. “I’m sorry we aren’t here for a better reason.”

“Me too.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and gathered the courage to walk up the sandy beach and onto the porch. I lifted my fist and knocked twice.

I felt a familiar magic barrier ripple over my skin, and the door opened.

“It recognized you,” Death murmured. “Are you sure your mom didn’t still own this home?”

“She…told me she sold it a long time ago.” My breath caught as we walked inside. Everything was the same. The same tan furniture, the same family photos, and the same scents. Lavender and cotton candy. She had been here…she’d taken care of it. There was no dust. But when did she do this? She’d been catatonic most of my life, at least, I had thought so. “But she must’ve lied to me.”

“Your family was beautiful.” Pandora stared at the family photo on the wall that featured myself when I was about five being held by Dad and standing next to Mom on the beach just outside. We were so happy that day—we were happy every day Dad was alive.

“You looked happy,” Dex commented.

“We were,” I replied hoarsely, leading them through the house and into my parent’s bedroom. Pure lavender wafted into me as I opened their door. Their room was the only room in the house that had a wooden floor. I pushed back the happy memories that flooded me.

Tears filled my eyes as I walked in and knelt down beside Dad’s side of the bed. My hands reached for the edge of the worn floorboard. My fingertips glided over the roughness of the wood as a cold bead of sweat trickled down my temple. I slipped my fingers into the narrow gap between the floorboards and pulled.

A sharp, creaking sound cried out as the board lifted. A dark, hidden space was beneath the floor with a small safe inside. I reached in and pulled it out, typing in the code: 030889—the date my parents first met.

My heart beat pounded so loudly that I could hear it like a drum in my skull. The safe opened, revealing a relic of some kind and a couple of papers.

Death took a sharp intake of breath. “That relic…”

“What is it?” Pandora asked.

“A dark magic beacon that attracts and absorbs it,” Dex answered with a cracking voice. “My parents use it constantly…they used to. Fuck. If she took this…she fucked up their plans.”

I pulled out the relic and handed it back to Death. “Here. I don’t have any idea what to do with it.”

“I think this needs to go to the Supernatural Council,” he muttered. “This was lost decades ago.”

One of the papers was a deed to this house—in my name. The other was a note addressed to me. I unfolded it and read it. Tears splattered on the words, running the ink a little as I did.

My dearest Reed,

I knew you would find this. I’m so sorry I wasn’t strong enough to live for you. I tried, I really did, but losing your dad was like I lost my entire soul—not just half of it. I could only ever think of him. He and I had made a promise when we had you that if one of us passed before the other one, we’d live on to care for you.

I’m breaking that promise today, but I am doing so while helping you.

I’m sorry I offered you to Dark Veil to get your dad back. It wasn’t something a mother should do, and your dad would hate me for it. All I can do is right that wrong.

When you told me you found your fated mate, I realized that you still have a full life ahead of you. I don’t want to take that from you. I may be your mom, but you don’t owe me for giving birth to you. I’m sorry I saw it that way through my desperation.

But my mind is clear for the first time in years. You’re my son, and I love you with all of my heart. My soul belongs to your dad alone, but my heart was both of yours. I want you to live a life full of love with your mate. I’m sorry I can’t meet her, but I know the Fates must’ve blessed you with someone amazing. I know your dad helped the Fates choose her for you.

You’ve done so well, Reed. I’m so proud of you for becoming the man you are, even though I wasn’t any help. I’m sorry I was blinded for so long and let you suffer. I never sold your childhood home, but I couldn’t bear to go back there after your dad was killed in our bed. I know how much you loved it there, so I kept it. The deed to the home is yours now.

I need to go be with my fated mate, your dad, now. I truly hope now that you’ve found yours, you understand why.

I’ve been hiding and spying on Dark Veil all this time. I learned news recently. You need to know that Dark Veil is planning on using a demon named Pandora Gravesend to create a new generation of demons that can wield dark magic. They hope it will be ingrained in their soul and the new demon’s souls. I believe they are going to pair her or mate her with a man named Dexter Shadowheart. The rumor is that he can absorb dark magic without it taking over his body. Please tell the council this on my behalf.

There’s also a man that has been caught by Dark Veil that had infiltrated. I believe he’s the incubus representative on the council. He told me to tell Darkmore that he’s sorry. He also told me to tell Death and Darkmore that the Chaos Representative is on the hierarchy of Dark Veil. He’s their mole.

Please stay safe for me, Reed. I love you so much. I’m sorry I didn’t show it these years.

Live a long, fulfilling life with your mate, okay?

With love,

Mom

I curled in on myself, clutching the letter to my chest as if it were a lifeline. “Fates, Mom…”

She didn’t know Pandora was my mate.

More tears spilled, hot and unrelenting, streaming down my face. I sobbed, my body shaking with the force of my grief and worry for the future.

Pandora’s arms circled me from behind, and her head rested on my back. “I’m here, Reed. Let it out. I’m here.”

She was here. My mate was here, and I would be okay.

But I had to grieve for my mom.

The minutes dragged on, each one an eternity. I wanted to rush to the morgue, to see for myself that she was dead and this wasn’t some awful misunderstanding, but the fear of what I knew was true paralyzed me.

I stayed on the floor, curled up in a ball, my sobs the only sound in the room.

“Hunter,” Death murmured.

“I called Pandora and Reed. They didn’t answer. Can you—” Hunter’s voice was panicked, and Pandora’s arms tightened around me.

I couldn’t stop crying. I could feel Dex feeding off me, and it did make me feel like I was choking on the pain less. I appreciated it.

“I’m with them,” he told him. “We found Reed’s mom. She left a suicide note, and Reed just read it.

“Shit,” Hunter cursed. “Is he okay?”

“As okay as he can be. Pandora’s with him. I’ll have her call you later, okay?” Death’s voice was calm, but I could hear the anger.

“I can’t get back until after tomorrow. The ceremony is at noon, and once Melody Stormsong claims her vengeance, I’ll be there.”

“Your dad told me about the case,” Death said. “Tend to your work, Hunter. It’s extremely important it gets done right. We will be here when you come back.”

“Tell Pandora I love her,” he murmured.

“She loves you,” Death said with a sigh before hanging up.

Everything else tunneled into darkness, and I was swallowed whole by it.