8. Pandora

8

PANDORA

S unshine splashed into the room through the curtains, and warm rays caressed my skin softly as my eyelids fluttered open.

I’d never woken up feeling so safe in my entire life.

I was nestled between Hunter and Reed. I’d never slept beside anyone but Nebula, but I already knew I was already attached to it. The sheer comfort of having someone beside me while I was at my most vulnerable flickered warmth in the coldest parts of me.

Mother always used to wake me up with pain, so I never slept well. I was always on alert. But last night, even with everything that happened, was the best sleep I’d ever had.

Our souls entwined, swirling around each other in the most magical way, but there was a lingering hunger deep inside each soul—a desire to seal the matebond.

It was instinct, and Fates, I wanted to seal the bonds between us. Desire burned in my abdomen, kindling between my legs.

I took a calming breath and glanced over to see my sweet dream demon sound asleep on my left. Reed’s chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. His dark brown coils were tousled, and a small smile played on his lips as he dreamed.

He was so gorgeous.

I reached out and gently brushed a spiral of hair from his forehead. He was my fated mate, a man that immediately made me feel welcomed and wanted. I couldn’t be happier to have the Fates connect us.

On my right, my fierce vengeance demon lay with his arm draped protectively over my waist. Hunter’s dark blond strands were messy.

They were both so handsome.

I reached over to move the strands from his face as well, but his white eyes with that gray rim around the iris fluttered open to meet mine.

“You okay?” he rasped, blinking away the sleepy look in his gaze.

I nodded, heat creeping up my cheeks from being caught staring at him. “Good morning.”

“Morning, starlight.” He pulled me closer, and I felt a hard lump against my thigh. “You’re so beautiful in the morning.”

“Thanks,” I squeaked. “I was thinking the same about you, actually.”

The ache between my thighs was becoming more insistent, and while I had no experience, I knew exactly what it was.

“Morning, dream girl,” Reed yawned, curling up on my other side and moving his arm across my stomach beside Hunter’s.

“Good morning.” My tongue darted out to wet my lips.

“I’m glad we’re your mates,” Reed mumbled against my neck. “You smell so good.”

“She really does,” Hunter practically moaned out with a kiss to my cheek. “ My mate…”

“ Our mate,” Reed corrected teasingly.

Not just their mate, I remembered. The thought hit me like a dragon stepping on me.

The heat of desire doused itself as tears sprang to my eyes. The events of last night rushed back—along with the fact that I had three more fated mates.

Dexter Shadowheart—a man so damaged, I didn’t know how to interact with. He’d found pleasure in my pain—pain I’d been trying to put behind me.

Bram Hemlock—an angry drunk that sought me out, determined to make me suffer more than I already had.

Skel Grimshaw—a fae magic addict that I had thought wasn’t as cruel as he seemed to be. I was mistaken.

How could the Fates possibly think they could complete my soul?

My soul lurched out to theirs by just simply thinking about them, and an overwhelming amount of pure grief filled them.

Dex’s bond hurt worse than the others—almost a physical kind of pain that reminded me of being pierced by Mother’s shadows.

A gasp escaped me as I felt a ghostly sharp pain on my flesh. I shot up out of bed, clutching my chest as I wheezed.

What was that?

Was that…Dex getting hurt? Did his skin get split open last night?

Horror slid through my veins like sludge.

“Shit, get her water,” Hunter told Reed as he rubbed a soothing path up and down my back.

“Already have it.” Reed placed the bottle into my hands. “Here.”

I unscrewed the top and drank it. The cold water went down my throat, and I inhaled a deep breath as I screwed the top back on. “Thanks.”

Reed took the bottle and put it back on the table before getting up and grabbing a new shirt from his bag and pulling it on. “What was that?”

“My soul reached out to theirs,” I murmured, covering my face with my hands. “They’re swimming in grief, and Dex feels like he was hurt. It felt like…like he was being cut into.”

“The three of them should be upset, so I understand the grief. But I don’t know how Shadowheart would’ve hurt himself already,” Hunter said, gently grabbing my wrists and pulling my hands from my face.

“I don’t think he hurt himself. I think someone hurt him.” Tears welled in my eyes. I might not have liked him, but I didn’t want him to get hurt.

“Death mentioned that since you’re a soul eater, you have a special access to the bond that we don’t have right now. You’ll feel a muffled version of a marked bond,” Hunter told me. “Try to reach out again to see if he’s hurt right now.”

Tears spilled from my eyes as I focused on the matebonds. I searched for Dex’s soul, and minutes ticked by before I finally recognized it. It ached, the grief still there, but it didn’t hurt anymore. “He’s not in any physical pain right now. But all of them are in intense emotional pain.”

“They’re going to be okay, starlight. It’s okay for them to feel the consequences of their actions.” He leaned in and molded his lips over mine. His kiss stole my breath, and I kissed him back. Desire for more swept over me again as Hunter deepened our kiss. His tongue plundered mine, and he tasted so much like chocolate it made me moan into his mouth.

Reed coughed, and we broke apart.

Embarrassment flushed through me. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.” Hunter smirked, his eyes dark with the same desire that coursed through me.

Reed’s cheeks were darkened, but he smiled as he put his knee on the bed and leaned over to brush his lips over mine. “Don’t ever apologize for wanting your fated mate. I’m going to go grab coffee. Want some?”

“Yes, please. Whatever you get will be fine,” I mumbled against his lips.

“You got it.” He kissed me softly again before pulling away and glancing at Hunter. “Want something?”

“Caramel coffee, I suppose.” His tongue rolled over his bottom lip.

Reed’s breath hitched as his gaze raked over me. “Caramel sounds perfect. I’ll be back.”

It looked like it physically pained him to turn away from me and leave the room, but as soon as the door shut, Hunter groaned.

Heat spread through me.

“Fates.” He reached up and tugged me down against his chest. The heavy scent of sweet chocolate filled my nose, and I inhaled it deeper. “Starlight, you smell so good.”

“Funny. I was just thinking the same about you.” I glanced up at him.

His lips curved into a cheeky smile like I’d never seen on him before. “You know I care about you, right?”

I nodded. “Of course. I care about you, too.”

“I would kill for you.” His tongue rolled over his bottom lip. “I’ve wanted to kill for you many times, and if the opportunity ever presents itself, I will do it.”

I blinked at him. “I…thank you?”

He nodded to himself almost as if he felt vindicated for that declaration, and it made me think that he meant to say something else. Or perhaps, killing for your fated mate was a declaration of love for us demons—oh, Fates, was it?

“I would kill for you, too,” I said quickly.

His gaze snapped back to mine, and he grinned. “I’d love nothing more, but I also wanted to let you know that your dad called last night when you were sleeping.”

My eyes widened, and I pushed up off his chest. “He did? You didn’t tell him anything, did you?”

He winced. “Only everything.”

“Hunter,” I groaned, tilting my head back. “You know how he gets.”

“I know, starlight, but he’s your dad ,” he emphasized. “It’s what they do, and just so you know, he’ll be here soon.”

“Hunter!” My lips parted in shock.

He just chuckled, slipped his hand behind my neck, and tugged me down to meet his lips in a sensual kiss that left my toes tingling.

I wasn’t sure how long we kissed, but my soul brimmed with happiness and a desire I couldn’t yet sate.

“I need to change my clothes,” I mumbled against his lips.

He pulled away slightly with a smirk. “Death will definitely have something to say about you wearing Reed’s shirt.”

The door cracked open to reveal Reed with the color drained from his face.

“What’s wrong?” Hunter pulled back to glance at the door.

“Death’s here.” Reed carefully walked in with a bag clutched in his hand and a tray with four coffees. He placed it on the nightstand that didn’t hold Nebula.

Daryl strolled in with his hands stuffed in his pockets and an eye twitch. “I ran into my fated son-in-law as he was getting breakfast so I joined him.”

“Morning.” Hunter climbed out of bed and grabbed the coffee cup with his name scrawled on the side and took a sip. “Thanks for getting coffee, Reed.”

“No big deal.” Reed laced his fingers together and stood next to the bed.

“Did the three of you sleep in the same bed together?” Daryl’s black eyes seemed to darken more—if that was even possible. “With her wearing Reed’s shirt?”

“Yes, but?—”

“I disapprove.” Daryl cut Hunter off before spearing a glare at both of them. “Pandora’s only twenty-two.”

“With five fated mates,” Hunter reminded him with a casual sip of his coffee.

There was another eye twitch from Daryl.

“It was just a sleep over,” Reed defended, handing me a wrapped breakfast burrito. “After everything that happened last night, we wanted to stay close.”

“Exactly!” I swung my legs over the side to sit up, and the warmth of the burrito seeped through the wrapper. “They’re right, you know. Nothing, um, we just slept.”

Daryl’s jaw ticked, and he ran his hands over his long hair. “And the shirt?”

“My clothes were soaked from falling into the lake, and Reed offered his shirt. It smells like him,” I mumbled, sniffing the cotton candy scent around me. “I like the scent of my mate.”

“I can understand that,” he said softly, his gaze snagging on my thigh. “You’re not wearing your wrap. They’ve seen them?”

“All of my mates have,” I whispered, running my fingers over the raised scars. “Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about it yet.”

He shot an accusatory look at Hunter. “You didn’t mention that.”

“I forgot that part.” Hunter frowned, sipping his coffee. “A lot happened.”

Reed elbowed Hunter in the side before striding over and kissing my forehead. “We’ll give you some time with your dad. I know you have a lot to talk about, and I need to feed Gumdrop.”

“Okay.” I smiled, my skin heating where his lips touched. “I’ll see you later?”

“Of course,” he promised before bowing his head slightly in respect to my father. “Good to see you again, sir.”

“You as well,” Daryl grumbled, crossing his arms. “I guess.”

“Let’s give them space,” Reed mumbled to Hunter, who pouted.

“Yes. Listen to the mate that can read a room,” Daryl urged.

“Fine.” Hunter groaned, leaning down and kissing my lips softly. “I’ll drop by later.”

“I’ll see you both soon.” Heat bloomed across my cheeks.

“Okay.” Daryl waved at them, his gaze flickering to the door. “Daddy-daughter time, now. Bye.”

Hunter and Reed chuckled weakly, and they grabbed their coffees and headed out the door.

I unwrapped the breakfast burrito and took a bite as Daryl grabbed his coffee and sat down next to me.

“Those two are good demons,” he declared.

I chewed the bite and nodded. “They are.”

He sucked in a choppy breath before rubbing his fists into his closed eyes. “Fates, I didn’t know I had to have this conversation so early with my daughter.”

My brows furrowed, and I bit into the burrito again. It had egg and bacon in it, and I was more hungry than I’d realized. My heart fluttered thinking about my fated mate feeding me.

Daryl looked to be going through a mental crisis as he took another deep breath.

“What conversation are you talking about?” I asked cautiously.

“You know,” he stated weakly.

“I don’t.” I tilted my head. He looked like he was having gas pains. “Are you okay?”

“I never thought I’d have to give the sex talk to my adult daughter.” He shuddered, visibly wincing as his hands dropped into his lap, and he glanced over at me. “But I need to make sure you’re aware of?—”

“Stop right there,” I blurted, holding my almost finished burrito up in an attempt to make him stop talking. “You don’t have to, Daryl.” I blew out a shaky breath, looking everywhere but at him. “You really don’t have to talk about this with me.”

“So…you… know about it ?” he asked, his cheeks tinging a deep red. “Like how it works and what happens?”

“Daryl, I’m twenty-two.” I blew out a breath. “I know about sex.”

“Um, okay. How?” he asked, clearly flustered as he coughed a couple of times. “I mean, just with your background and everything, I wasn’t sure you’d been given an explanation of that.”

“Books, Daryl, books,” I mumbled between bites of the burrito. “I’ve read up more on the topic since getting here, too. I’m educated.”

“Great.” He slapped his hand on his thighs and rubbed them. “Uh, what about the different matebonds and marking?”

“Um, no, actually, but that’s okay. You really don’t have to explain it.” I cleared my throat and balled up the wrapper of the burrito after finishing it.

Why was this so awkward? I mean, I appreciated that he cared enough to make sure I was educated on the matter, but couldn’t he have sent me articles or maybe a link to a video?

“I need to make sure you’re informed, Pandora. Soul eaters can sense other souls. It’s kind of like reading auras but more instinctual and easier for us,” he said, getting to his feet and starting to pace the length of my dorm. “So, when a matebond forms, a soul eater can feel the bond even before they accept and mark their mate. It’s not something you will feel constantly. Not like it will be after you’ve bonded. It’s more of a glimpse into the bond in random spurts.”

I knew that, at least. I wasn’t able to feel my bonds unless I really focused on them. Sometimes, they’d just randomly open, though, like he said.

“You just focus on the magic in your soul and let it reach out to your soulmates.” He inhaled and touched his stomach. “Start here. Each tendril of the matebond will feel different because their souls are different. It might help you understand them a little more. Plus, if something happens to them, the matebond should open up and let you know. Though, without being bonded, it’s not always exact.”

I got up and tossed the wrapper away before taking a drink of water. “I’ll try it. I haven’t fully grasped my powers yet, but I have gotten better.”

“All you need to do is let your instincts take over.” He smiled encouragingly. “I know you can do it.”

I nodded, shutting my eyes and inhaling deeply. My hand hovered over my stomach, where I knew my power dwelled. Searching deep inside of my body, I felt the magic of my soul pulsating within me.

It was dark but yearning.

Attached to it were five tendrils that connected my soul to theirs, and I was surprised by how well I could visualize their souls on the other end of the matebond. This was so much easier than feeding.

Dex’s, Hemlock’s, and Skel’s souls were much darker than Hunter’s and Reed’s were. They bore something sinister in a way that I hated to admit I related to.

Why were they so dark, though? And why did I resonate so much with them?

“I’m not thrilled that you’ve formed bonds with the other three.” Daryl cleared his throat.

I opened my eyes with a deeper understanding of them. I didn’t condone their actions—not by far. But at the same time, I understood why they pushed back with me in a way I couldn’t explain. “I’m not sure how I feel about them, to be honest. I understand them more, sure, but…it still hurt how they treated me.”

“They’re your fated mates,” he said simply, but I could see the anger simmering in his gaze. “Your scars make you strong,” he continued, strolling over and stopping in front of me. He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You should wear them with pride around your mates. They need to know what you’ve been through to fully understand you . Fated mates are special in a way I can’t convey with just words, but you also shouldn’t just forgive them because they’re your mates. They need to be taught a lesson, and I can do that for you.”

“ No ,” I hurried the words out. “I mean, I appreciate your offer, Daryl. I do. I promise not to let them off easy just because we’re mated. I’m not even sure what I want right now when it comes to them.”

“They better make it up to you if you’re going to accept them,” he huffed. “But also, it’s okay to not know right now. You don’t have to decide now.”

I nodded, feeling five tugs on my soul at once. Placing a hand over my heart, I sighed. “I wished it were different for us. I really do.”

He squeezed my shoulder before his arm dropped to his side. “As a soul eater, you’ll mark your mate by literally searing your souls together. It’s a more hands-on approach than a regular marking, but it’s just as potent, if not more so. Your hand goes over their heart, and your magic takes over. It’s instinctual, but your mark will be a soul burn in the shape of your anatomical heart.”

“ Oh .” My brows rose. “That’s actually really cool.”

“I’m just happy you didn’t mate an incubus,” he muttered under his breath.

My mouth fell open before I rolled my eyes. “Daryl!”

“What?” He held his hands up in defense. “I’m just saying, but seriously . You know I had a fated mate, and I cherished her with my entire being. Our bond snapped in place almost immediately, though.”

“Amy,” I murmured her name. I wondered how different my life would’ve been had she been my mom. “You told me about her.”

A ghost of a smile blessed his lips as he sat down on the edge of my bed. “She was the first soul eater to attend this reform academy, you know. She’d been struggling with what she wanted to do in her life. She enrolled herself to get away from a narcissistic mother, and I was here on council orders.” His eyes got a far-away look in them. “I was…drawn to her in a way I can’t explain, but I’m sure you understand. We fell in love at first sight. I swept her up and took her away from her mother. When we were fully bonded, it was amazing. It felt like she was my soul rather than just a piece of it—she was an extension of it. I loved her, and I almost gave my life up to be with her.”

My heart spasmed at that. “What?”

“She’d always expressed how much she hated suicide, though.” Agony creased his forehead. “Her father killed himself. So, I didn’t. I met her over two centuries ago, and I just lost her fifty-five years ago. Just before the war started, she was killed by humans. I loathe humans, Pandora. Even with the treaty. Logically, I know that not all humans are vile, but…”

“They took your soulmate,” I mumbled, crossing over to the bed and sitting next to him. “Of course you do.”

“I claimed my vengeance,” he said in a pained voice. “I ate the souls of that human and their entire family—save for the children. Still, I can’t stand the thought of them.”

“I don’t blame you. She was your fated mate.” I could feel the absolute torment of his soul as my magic caressed over his. His heart was more than broken—his soul wasn’t complete anymore—but there was also something else missing. I didn’t know how I knew that, but I did. I wondered if he knew. It wasn’t Amy’s soul missing, though. I could sense that hole. This…was something else. “I’m so sorry she was taken from you.”

He nodded, blinking away the unshed tears. “I’ll always love Amy, but I think she gifted me you.”

“What do you mean?” My hand clutched over my chest.

“I don’t pretend to understand the afterlife, but I know Amy.” A watery smile spread over his expression. “She always wanted kids, but we couldn’t have any. We tried, but the Fates never blessed us with a pregnancy. I made one drunken mistake when I was grieving Amy that I barely remember, but it resulted in you. I think Amy wanted me to be a father, and even though Penny Bones was an evil bitch—you resulted from that encounter with her. You’re my daughter, Pandora. Not Penny’s.”

My heart swelled with a deep-seated grief as tears pricked my eyes. “I would’ve loved to have met Amy.”

“She would’ve loved you.” His voice wavered with mourning. “Fated mates are a blessing from the Fates, Pandora. To have five of them is a miracle for a demon. I may not like three of yours, but they are yours. If the Fates bonded your souls, it’s for a reason. Hopefully, they can make us understand what that reason is.”

“I hope so,” I croaked the words.

Daryl got up and gave me my water bottle to soothe the ache in my throat. “If they don’t, I’ll help you eat their souls.”

“Daryl,” I warned, but there was a smile spreading over my lips. I loved that I had a dad that cared more than anything. I truly wished that he’d been there from the beginning. How different would my life have been if he were?

The Fates had blessed me, he was right, but how do I accept my three broken mates the same way I accepted Hunter and Reed?