45. Pandora

45

PANDORA

T he tremors of Reed’s sobs reverberated through my own body, and our bond was drenched with grief. His mother’s suicide note lay crumpled on our bed. The soft hum of Gumdrop’s tank in the corner gave a comforting background noise, and his axolotl stared at him with concern. Comet, the tiny ball of fur and warmth, purred in Reed’s lap as I held him close.

When Reed woke up from passing out, he told Daryl to read it.

He did, and I had never seen him so angry. He had Dex shadow-travel him somewhere, and then, they left.

I read it after, and finding out that our headmaster was involved in Dark Veil was insane. I wasn’t sure how Daryl would handle it, but I knew he could handle it and was looking forward to finding out how.

Worry gnawed at my gut at the mention of Craven. Hunter had been talking about how worried he was for him, and it made me sick to my stomach thinking that he’d been caught. I was going to tell Hunter about Craven when he came back from his vengeance case. It wasn’t really something I could mention over the tablet.

All I wanted to do was be there for my mates, but there was so much happening that I didn’t know what to do.

Another sob wracked Reed’s body, and my heart shattered further.

“Reed,” I whispered, brushing his dark coils away from his tear-streaked face. “Look at me.”

His violet eyes, red-rimmed and filled with anguish, slowly met mine.

I took a deep breath, leaning forward and kissing his forehead. “Your mom loved you. I know it’s hard to see that right now, especially after everything. But the note...it’s clear. She was in so much pain, and sometimes, people in pain push others away. Those in pain can be vicious, even if it’s not their nature. Her actions were not because of you.”

“She was so distant after Dad died. It felt like she blamed me . But after she tried to offer me to Dark Veil?” He shook his head, fresh tears spilling over.

I squeezed his hand, feeling the weight of his sorrow through our matebond. “She didn’t blame you. She was lost in her grief. People react differently to loss, and she...she didn’t know how to cope. She didn’t react well. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t love you. It’s obvious she did from the way she wrote about you in the note. What she did with Dark Veil was horrible, and clearly, she finally saw that herself.”

Comet stretched and nuzzled closer to him, offering her own brand of comfort.

“I know.” He reached out to stroke her fur. “I get it now, though,” he murmured, his voice breaking. “I understand why she acted that way. If I lost you...I’d be broken, too.”

A lump formed in my throat, and I blinked back tears. “But you wouldn’t treat our kids the way she treated you. I know you wouldn’t.”

His gaze sharpened, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. “Our kids?”

Heat crept up my cheeks as I held his gaze. “Yes, our kids. If something ever did happen, we’d find a way to be there for them. We’d never let them feel unloved.”

He managed a small, sad smile. “You’re thinking about having kids with me?”

I shrugged. “Of course, I am. Eventually. You’re my soulmate. I want a future with you and the rest of my mates. A family. Everything .”

He pulled me closer, his grip tightening as he buried his face in my shoulder. “You know why I hate mornings?”

“Why?” I rubbed a soothing path up and down his back.

“Because I used to cling to my dreams more than reality,” he confessed. “My mom was absent even when she was there, and my dreams were the only place I felt safe. But now...” He pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes. “Now, my dream girl is my reality. You’re my reality.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I kissed his lips softly. “And I love you. So much.”

“Fates, Pandora…” He broke down again, his sobs convulsing his body as he mourned the loss of his mother, the pain of her absence, and the complexity of their relationship.

I held him tightly, rocking him gently.

“You’ll get through this,” I promised. “I’m here. We’ll build a future full of love just like your mom wanted for you. I promise.”