9. Pandora

9

PANDORA

T he sun bore down mercilessly on the desert campus, and the heat was suffocating as it pressed uncomfortably against my dress. The thin fabric helped only a little, and my thigh wrap was snug to hide the scars from the other demons.

My long black hair hung like a protective curtain around my face, but I snuck a peek at Reed as he walked beside me. His presence continued to be a soul-deep comfort even before the matebond snapped in place. Hunter, too. But the other three had been a constant ache in my chest, and I found that I couldn’t fill the hole they’d left.

“I’m impressed, honestly. He hasn’t been coming in drunk,” Reed told me, the dark brown spirals of his afro bouncing with each step. “And there’s no longer empty booze bottles on his side of the room.”

“I hope he’ll continue to stay away from drinking.” My feet shifted on the sand as we walked. “It’s only been a week, but Hemlock’s bond is burning with self-hatred.”

Hemlock should feel bad for how he treated me, but the raw hate for himself that pulsed through his soul was enough to make my heart hurt.

“Honestly, it’s for the best.” Reed’s hand found mine and laced our fingers together. “They each need to come to the realization of what they did and become better. Especially Hemlock. What about the others?”

“Dex’s bond is…oddly determined. Still pained, but it’s like he’s working toward something.” I took a shaky breath. “I thought I saw him in the shadows of my room after I woke up one night.”

Reed’s grip tightened. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“I’m not sure it was him,” I whispered, more to myself than to him. “But Skel’s grief...it’s unbearable. It echoes in our bond, and I can’t escape it.”

Reed stopped, letting go of my hand and pulling me into his chest. “Hunter and I have been taking turns sleeping at your dorm, and we’ll continue to do so. Okay? We care about you, dream girl. We’re your mates, and we’re here to protect you.”

There was nothing but fierce loyalty shining in his violet eyes.

“Thank you, Reed.”

“Of course.” He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips before pulling away. “I have to get to Reform Hall for my next class. Will you be okay?”

My heart ached at the thought of him leaving, but I nodded. “I’ll be fine.”

“We’ve been able to prevent them from coming around until now, but you’ll have a class with them today. Are you sure you’re ready?” He looked deep into my eyes as if he were searching for any hint that I wouldn’t be okay.

“I am. Hunter already told me. I’m ready. I promise.” My soul reached for his. “I’ll be okay. I’ll just miss you.”

I knew I’d have to face the three of them eventually, but that wasn’t right now. I knew they weren’t in this class with me, thanks to Hunter for telling me their schedules.

“I’ll miss you more.” With one last kiss to my lips, Reed turned away and headed toward Reform Hall.

I licked my bottom lip and tasted cotton candy as I watched him go.

My heart thudded erratically in my chest as I turned and headed up the stairs into Serpentine Stadium. It’d been a little over a week since the matebonds snapped in place, and term two classes started today.

I’d spent the week practicing my magic and learning how to focus on my instincts with Daryl, Hunter, and Reed. Even Nebula helped. I was ready to use my powers without fear.

Above the entrance loomed the enchanted skull statue that thrummed with magic. The hollow sockets pulsed with the same eerie glow as they did last term, and it set off the illusion of lava flowing from the skull's mouth, cascading down in molten rivulets that sizzled as they met the hot sand-covered stairs.

I didn’t hesitate as I walked underneath it, feeling the heat of the magic over my skin. The stares of the other demons bore into me as I stepped inside. Their souls were filled with curiosity and judgment.

I’d also been practicing sensing souls with Daryl, and he’d been right. Once I practiced this part of my power a couple of times, it came instinctually. I’d have more trouble trying not to sense souls at this point.

I moved to the side, away from the group of demons gathered in the center. Most looked familiar, notably Shadeberry, but there wasn’t anyone in the class that I knew well enough to talk or even stand next to. There was a woman I’d never seen before, though. She stood on the other side of the stadium opposite of me, away from the crowd as well.

Was she a new student?

The stadium was the same as usual. Red mats scattered over the sand, and the scent of sandstone and sweat lingered in the air.

I caught the gaze of the woman as she looked over at me, but I glanced down. My anti-social action didn’t stop her from walking over, though. She was only about three inches taller than I was, and the scent of passion fruit clung to her.

I stiffened, but my ring remained white. Which meant, she wasn’t an immediate threat to me. I could tell that from her soul alone, though.

“Hi! I’m Jenni Inferno.”

I jerked my head up at her introduction.

Her blue-green eyes lit up as she smiled at me, and I noticed her nose piercing was a little rose gold rose.

“Inferno,” I murmured the acknowledgment, my voice barely audible. My voice was something I became more aware of when meeting someone new, and I hated the anxiety that came with it.

Inferno’s smile widened, and she smoothed back her black hair that hit below her shoulders. “Call me Jenni. I want to be friends.”

My brows shot up in surprise. Friends?

A demon just walked up to me and wanted to be friends? After last term, I knew a trap when I saw one. But…everything about her screamed that she was genuine. Even her soul felt pure, and souls didn’t lie.

Daryl promised me that much.

Jenni Inferno wore a black tank top with black shorts. She had a budding red rose tattoo in the center of her chest with petals floating up around her collarbone, and it was actually a really pretty tattoo. She was in full demon form with red horns and a mushroom-tipped tail. I was almost positive she was a succubus, but even as she tried to recruit me as a friend, her pheromones remained in her body.

Friends .

The word felt foreign. “I’m…not so sure about being friends with someone I just met.”

“ Girl .” Jenni’s lips curved into a frown. “Who hurt you?”

I raised a brow at the straightforward question. This woman was already so different than the other demons I’d met here. “I don’t remember you from term one classes.”

“I skipped last term because of…personal issues,” she explained, waving her hand around. “So, are you going to tell me who hurt you?”

I remained tight-lipped, but something about Jenni’s genuine nature eased the tension in my neck and shoulders.

She moved closer, like we were friends. “Okay, I get it. Demons are assholes, usually. Bad experiences are totally understandable. I don’t have any friends other than my mom, honestly. So I’ll introduce myself first. I’m twenty-two and love being in demon form. Or at least having my tail out. Is that weird?”

I shifted over an inch, shrugging. “I don’t have a tail or horns. Only eyes that turn black. So, no. I don’t think that’s weird.”

The tension clamped back in my muscles as I waited for her to judge me as harshly as the rest—but she didn’t.

“That’s cool as fuck!” Excitement that practically vibrated her soul. “You know who else has no demon form but also has black eyes? Death !”

My chest tightened, but my ring was still white. Surely, she had to be messing with me? Maybe this whole conversation was a trap. Could she have been a noble or run in that same circle? If she was, why wasn’t she over there with Shadeberry and her group? What was the point in this?

“Death?” I crossed my arms, narrowing my gaze at her.

Pheromones poured from her as she nodded, attracting unwanted attention around us. It was like she didn’t even realize it. “I’ve literally had a crush on that man since I was like fourteen! I smelled him in the capital. That black clove scent will always send my pheromones in a tizzy,” she gushed.

“Like now?” I gestured toward the random guy walking over with a cocky smirk. He wasn’t ugly by any means. He was average height and had black shaggy hair and brown eyes.

“Oh, shit.” She groaned, sucking back in her pheromones and running a hand through her hair. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“Hey, gorgeous,” the guy purred as he stalked closer. “I’m Fester, and I was wondering if you were interested in?—”

She held up a hand, silencing him rather effectively. “I’ll stop you there, Fester. I’m not interested in anyone but the man I’m in love with. And that’s definitely not you, so… Boy, bye!”

The guy’s face turned red as he promptly turned and walked off without another word.

My lips parted in amusement at the exchange. It was like she was completely used to shutting down admirers.

“So, anyway, Death’s gorgeous. Seriously, I wish he could be my mate, but I know he’s already had a mate that unfortunately perished. It’s sad.” Her tail flicked back and forth wildly. “And maybe I’m fucked up for it—but I’m pining for him—and before you say it, I know he’s older than me, but what’s a little age gap hurt?”

A giggle broke free from my chest, and the sound was foreign to my ears. “ Little age gap? He’s over five-hundred years old.”

Her face fell, and she wrung her hands together. “Look, I get it. Nobody understands my feelings for him. Not even Mom. I thought I could be honest with you. I’m not even sure why, and I’m not even sure how you know his age. I don’t even know it. He keeps that secret.”

He did?

“You misunderstand me.” My arms fell to my sides as I began feeling more comfortable around her. “Death is my dad.”

“Oh my Fates!” Her hands flew up to cover her mouth as her eyes practically bugged out of their sockets. “I thought the rumors weren’t true! I didn’t know he actually had a daughter, and that daughter is you .” Horror flitted across her expression, and she bowed from her waist to me. “Oh, my Fates! I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize.” I smiled, reaching out to touch her shoulder and guided her up straight. “You really seem to like my dad.”

She let her hands fall with a long exhale. “I’m a virgin succubus, saving myself for Death,” she confessed, slapping her hands over her mouth again. “Of course I fucking like him,” she hissed.

“That’s okay. I’m a virgin, too.” I shrugged. “Nothing to be ashamed about.”

“I’m a succubus. I’ve been ridiculed for it. I mean, I feed off voyeurism ,” she emphasized before pausing and assessing me again. “Oh, fuck it. Let’s start a club. Virgin demons exist, too. Right?”

“Right.” I giggled again, and she joined in.

“No, seriously, though. I really like your dad. It was love at first sight for me, and I’ll never be able to move on unless he rejects me to my face—seven times.”

I blinked at her. “Why seven?”

“Seven’s my favorite number, and if he doesn’t want me that much, he can tell me seven times.” She grinned mischievously before turning a shade of green and the grin fell. “Oh, Fates. You can actually introduce us, can’t you?”

“I could.” I nodded, a smile playing across my lips. “If you wanted.”

I didn’t know how Daryl would handle being introduced to someone his daughter’s age who liked him, but I was sure he’d figure it out. Besides, Jenni was really gorgeous. And if he didn’t like her, he’d just have to tell her. Seven times.

“Oh, Fates, I’ve never been so close to meeting him.” She held a hand over her stomach, and her gaze darted around the stadium. “You know what, I need time. Even thinking about it makes me nervous.”

“That’s fine.” I licked my bottom lip as I smiled. “I’m Pandora, by the way. Pandora Gravesend.”

“You even have his last name!” She squealed, lunging forward and wrapping her arms around me. “Oh, we’re going to be the best of friends!”

I stiffened at first, but then I slowly relaxed as I hugged her back. “Sure, Jenni.”

It was the very first time I’d been hugged by a woman. I’d been hugged by Daryl, Hunter, and Reed. I’d even been held by Skel when we smoked together. But I’d never had a woman wrap their arms around me.

My mother would’ve never.

Another squeal came from her as she pulled away and bounced on her heels. “You called me Jenni!”

Her joy was contagious in a way I hadn’t felt before, and I found myself smiling. “You can call me Pandora.”

Her eyes welled with happy tears, and her soul literally pulsed with excitement.

Ashenfell clapped his hands, and the sound echoed through the entire room. I hadn’t even realized he’d come in. “I hope everyone had a good break. Welcome to term two classes. This is Demon Instincts, and I’ll be your professor again. I did want to take the time to mention the two new students joining us today.” He waved a hand over Jenni and the demon who had hit on her earlier, Fester. “Please welcome Fester and Inferno. They unfortunately had to miss last term due to certain personal issues.”

Jenni and I moved slightly closer to Ashenfell, but we remained away from the core of the group. She seemed to be just as unwilling to get close to the rest of the demons as I was.

“Demonic magic can be triggered with high emotions just like all supernaturals, but demons are more dangerous in nature. That’s why it’s important to learn how to rely on our instincts as well as control those instinctual reactions,” he explained, jumping right into the lesson. “Everyone spread out on the mats. You need your own mat for this.”

Jenni and I shared a look before claiming two mats next to each other. It was comforting in a way I couldn’t explain to have someone like her around. Even though I just met her, I could tell she was good. Her soul radiated kindness.

“You’re going to use your powers, but I want you to focus on your instincts and see how well you can control them,” he instructed. “Focus on what the magic wants you to do. Sometimes it’s good to give into it—other times, it’s not. That’s what you’ll be controlling.”

The stadium became charged with magic as we focused on our powers.

My eyelids fluttered shut. I took a deep, centering breath as I searched for my soul eater magic. My power swirled in my gut, easier to be found than last term. Opening my eyes, I exhaled slowly, expelling a wisp of black smoke that unfurled from between my lips. It moved with eerie grace as I allowed my instincts to take over. I wasn’t afraid of it anymore.

The smoke crept through the stadium, weaving between students, brushing against them with ease. As it made contact, I could feel the souls of each encountered demon. Each one tasted different. Fiery ambition, quiet resolve, nervous energy, and calm poise fueled them.

Daryl had told me I could sense souls without using my smoke, and I had learned how—but instinctually, my power wanted out to search for… something . Along with their emotions were a symphony of experiences. Various memories were on my tongue—moments of happiness, grief, victory, despair, and love. Unfulfilled dreams were common in their souls, and it left a bitterness that made my heart ache for them. Few held on to the sweet tang that was hope.

The weight of their depression pressed against my stomach, but I remained in control—utterly curious. When I sensed souls, I could feel their true nature, but tasting the souls was something else entirely.

I hadn’t even known I could do this. Daryl hadn’t gotten this far in our lessons.

Soul eater magic danced and swirled before it became harder to control. As soon as it came close to Fester, an acidic scent caught my power’s attention, and it lunged.

Before it could reach him, shadow magic split open my back with sickening force.

My obsidian smoke coiled back and retreated into my body as I sucked in a pained gasp. The back of my dress had torn open from the unseen attack, and my immediate concern wasn’t the open gash but the deep scars covering my back. My only saving grace was that the fabric stuck to my back from the wet rush of hot blood.

The room fell silent as magic came to a halt.

I turned toward the source of the hit. On the mat behind me was Shadeberry. Her magic reeked of poison berries.

She batted her brown hair out of her face and curved her red lips into a cruel smirk. Her gray eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “Oops. My instincts took over.”

My spine clicked straight as my breath came in short pants. The blood trickled down my back, and the pain seared me to my core. My vision blurred, and I was lost for a split second in the overwhelming surge of fear and agony.

Her magic felt just like Mother’s shadow tendrils.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, you vile bitch!” Jenni’s voice pierced the stadium, echoing around us.

“What?” Shadeberry snorted. “It was just an accident. Besides, I don’t think you have any right to call me a vile bitch.”

“Just stating the obvious—you are a vile bitch,” Jenni snarked back, standing next to me before her hand came up and held my tattered dress together.

The warm glow of healing emanated from the laceration and spread until the flesh knitted back together. It was faster than usual, and my reserves dwindled as the bleeding finally stopped.

“Fuck you, Inferno,” Shadeberry huffed.

How did they know each other?

She let go of the back of my dress and stripped off her cardigan to wrap it around my shoulders. “Don’t worry about the blood getting on it,” she told me. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head. The past clawed at me, threatening to jerk me back to the cellar I’d grown up in.

Had Jenni seen the scars? Had anyone else?

The class was still silent as I tried to calm my pounding heart.

Shadeberry’s smirk didn’t falter, and her gaze was still on me with clear malice glimmering back. “Of course she’s not okay. At least the charity case can take a beating, isn’t that right, Gravesend?”

“She’s Death’s daughter—not a fucking charity case,” Jenni snapped at her.

“She apparently ate her mom’s soul because she was mean to her. Death probably only took her in out of pity and obligation. She told Dreadful about her mom herself. I’d say that’s charity,” Shadeberry laughed. “Are you sure you wanna hang around something like that?”

My eyes bore into her with a quiet fury. With a deep breath, I shoved the panic back and locked it away with the rest of my scars. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Feed off her, Pandora.” Jenni crossed her arms and glared at Shadeberry—clearly, they had animosity for each other. Not that I could blame Jenni. Shadeberry was a wicked demon. “It’s only fair.”

My magic thrummed through my veins in agreement. “Ashenfell did tell us to listen to our instincts.”

“Then you’re doing nothing wrong,” Jenni said innocently.

Shadeberry’s smirk finally fell, and she took a step back. “But that’s exactly what I was doing!”

“Then no hard feelings, right?” I felt my eyes change to black, and strings of inky blackness seeped from my mouth.

Shadeberry’s scream tore from her as my magic slunk toward her and into her mouth. It forced its way down her throat until I consumed part of her soul. I watched with a satisfied detachment as the fragment of her soul came out with my magic. It was a small, flickering dark light within it.

My smoke retreated, pulling the piece of her soul into me. I shuddered slightly at the bitter taste of Shadeberry’s soul as it dropped into my gut.

“Your soul tastes bad.” I scrunched my face up.

Her eyes widened as she collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. “A—Ashenfell!”

“What the hell happened?” Ashenfell came out of his office that was in the corner of the stadium. The blood drained from his face as he took in Shadeberry on the ground and the blood around my feet. “Shadeberry, did you cut Gravesend?”

“I was just listening to your instructions!” she wailed, fat tears rolling down her face. “My instincts took over, and my shadow just cut her!”

“Bullshit,” Jenni seethed, shoving a pointed finger in her direction. “You did it on fucking purpose. You were gloating afterward!”

“Shadeberry, you aren’t permitted to train around Gravesend if you’re going to cause problems. The entire lesson is about control . You need to allow your instincts to guide you only so far before you take control,” Ashenfell told her, and his entire frame trembled as he snuck a glance toward me.

“She ate part of my soul!” she screeched.

Ashenfell avoided eye contact as he sighed. “She didn’t kill you.”

Shadeberry sputtered something incomprehensible before shoving up to her feet and stomping out of the stadium.

“Alright, back to the exercise!” Ashenfell barked, turning and going back into his office.

I wondered briefly why Ashenfell even taught. He didn’t seem to like it very much.

“She’s such a dramatic bitch,” Jenni huffed with an eye roll. “Good job eating some of her soul, but I’m also sorry you had to eat something from her.”

I smothered a laugh before we went back to our mats and practiced with our powers and instincts for the rest of the hour.

It was a good thing I’d topped off on soul fragments with Daryl’s help after the drowning. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to heal right when Shadeberry cut me. His help had really made me feel more confident in my powers and who I was. After the matebonds snapped in place, I somehow knew that I could control my magic. It was instinctual. I wasn’t afraid of it anymore, and I was making progress.

At the end of class, Jenni and I walked out of Serpentine Stadium together. She linked her arm with mine as the desert sun sizzled down on us. “Let’s compare our schedules!”

The sand shifted under our feet as we found shade underneath Occult Arch, and a hollow ache settled in my chest as I remembered how often Dex, Hemlock, and Skel hung out here last term.

“You good?” she asked, gaze flickering to her cardigan. “I saw, the, ah, scars.”

My stomach plummeted. “You did?”

“Nobody else did!” She waved her hands back and forth. “I made sure they didn’t. The blood covered them pretty well. Um, but don’t worry about it. You can tell me your trauma when you’re ready. Not a moment before. And I won’t tell anyone what I saw, either. Now, here’s my schedule.” She handed over her tablet with her schedule pulled up.

“Thank you,” I murmured softly, a surge of thankfulness filling me, and glanced at her tablet. “It looks like we have Demon Instincts, Ceremonial Magic Theory, and Practical Applications of Demonic Feeding together.”

“Oh, sweet!” She took her tablet back and tossed it in her bag with a grin. “This is going to be fun! We still have a couple of hours before Ceremonial Magic Theory. Want to grab lunch?”

“I’d like that.” I smiled, retrieving my tablet before messaging Hunter and Reed in our group chat. “I just have to check in with a couple of someones really quick.”

Pandora Gravesend

I’m grabbing lunch with a new friend. I’ll see you both later!

Their responses were immediate.

Reed Nyx

Have fun, dream girl.

Hunter Darkmore

Who is the friend?

Reed Nyx

Truthfully, I’m also curious. I didn’t want to come off as a stalker, though. You already seem to have one of those.

Hunter Darkmore

Ensuring our mate’s safety is NOT being a stalker, Reed. Speak your mind to keep her safe. Besides, it’s not as if we’re following her around. Just…being a little nosy.

Pandora Gravesend

Her name is Inferno. She’s really nice! I promise.

Hunter Darkmore

Ah, I have her as a student for counseling.

Have a good lunch, starlight.

Reed Nyx

Can’t wait to see you later.

I put my tablet up and smiled at her. “All set.”

“Perfect!” She linked her arm through mine, and we made our way to the cafeteria for lunch.

The lines weren’t very long because we were released from class early. I opted for a medium rare steak and my enchanted water bottle filled with ice water, while Jenni chose a salad with spicy chicken and a passion fruit lemonade.

They had really good choices for food here—even if it was a reform academy.

As we sat down to eat, Jenni's expression turned serious. “Okay, so I’m sure you were wondering how I knew Shadeberry.”

“I’ve been wanting to know, but I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about me asking.”

“You can always ask.” She frowned, stabbing at a piece of spicy chicken before shoving it in her mouth. “Shadeberry’s been a bully for as long as I can remember. We went to high school together. Her and her friends bullied me relentlessly.”

I sighed, and the memories of last term flooded back to me. “The nobles did the same to me last term. They beat me up, teased me, and bullied me. Shadeberry wasn’t even the worst. I know I’m technically a noble too, but it doesn’t make it any easier for me.”

Jenni reached across the table, her hand covering mine. “They beat you?”

“Until my reserves stopped me from healing, then they beat me some more.” My voice cracked as I tensed at her touch. “My powers wouldn’t work. I was at their mercy. It was before I could control my powers.”

“Fates,” she hissed out. “I’m so sorry that happened to you. They…do that to people they don’t like. They did it to me back in high school.”

“I’m so sorry.” I winced, hating the thought of them beating her the way they did me. “I’m not surprised, though. I figured they’d done it before. It was too quick for it to have been the first time. Dreadful was the worst, though. She was my roommate for most of last term, but I didn’t like her. She’d tried to befriend me, but she talked about others awfully. I suppose she sensed my disdain for her. And guess what? She lost her nobility along with her family because of what she did to me.”

“Good.” Jenni's eyes flashed with anger as she pulled her hand back and took a sip of her lemonade. “Her and Voidfire are the two nobles that deserve that standing ripped away from them.”

“Unfortunately, Voidfire’s still nobility, but that’s because I didn’t mention her name to my dad. Dreadful was the main perpetrator, anyway. Unfortunately, she hasn’t withdrawn so we’ll still see her.”

“Too bad… Uh, so, Death’s protective, huh?” Her eyes almost glazed over as she sighed dreamily. “I knew he had that quality.”

I tilted my head and huffed out a laugh. “It’s almost comforting how much you’re crushing on Daryl.”

“You call him Daryl?” Her brows furrowed. “Why not Dad?”

“He is my dad, and he’s everything I could’ve ever asked for in one.” I grabbed the enchanted bottle and unscrewed the top. “But we just met each other five months ago. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable by calling him dad.” I brought the bottle up to my lips and drank the icy water before putting the cap back on.

“I bet he’d love it. You should call him dad.” She lowered her gaze, and I noticed the flicker of pain in her eyes that was gone as soon as it was there.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I just miss my dad.” Her tail flicked back and forth again as she raised her head. Her gaze widened at my bottle. “Is that an enchanted water bottle?”

Heat warmed my cheeks as my lips curved into a smile. “My mate got it for me, actually.”

Jenni's eyes sparkled with excitement as a squeal erupted from her again. “Oh, my, Fates! You have a mate? That's amazing!”

“Actually, I have five, but three are... complicated ," I admitted as their scents burned my nose. Blood, spicy bourbon, and vanilla and smoke mingled together in the cafeteria.

I knew they were here, not just by their scents, but also because of the matebond. My soul knew theirs were close the moment we walked in, but I tried my best to ignore it.

I still didn’t know how to handle seeing them—let alone talk to them.

“Three are complicated?” She scowled, searching my gaze. “What did they do?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, knowing they were probably listening to this conversation. Placing my hand up, I showed her my ring. “This is enchanted. Daryl gave it to me before I came to the academy. It’s white when I’m around someone who is safe, but it turns black when someone wants to cause me harm. All three of those mates turned my ring black after seeing me for the first time.”

“Even though you were mates?” she gasped, horror overtaking her expression.

I shook my head, placing my hand on the bottle again, and the ring clinked the side of it. “We didn’t know we were mates until last week when the bond snapped in place. My magic reserves have been empty since I was a kid, so Daryl and Hunter think they formed because I’ve finally figured out how to keep my magic reserves filled somewhat. It makes sense to me.”

“Hunter?” She tilted her head.

“Darkmore,” I clarified. “He’s my other mate—not complicated in the slightest. He’s the one who got me my water bottle.” I smiled at the thought of him.

“Oh, Darkmore’s my counselor! He’s also got quite a vengeful reputation. He must be great to have on your side.” She gave me a soft smile. “And the other uncomplicated mate?”

“Reed Nyx. He’s genuinely the kindest soul I’ve encountered…apart from yours, actually.” The heat of my blush spread down my neck and to my ears.

“I’m flattered, and I freaking love that for you. Now, tell me everything about the three complications.” She leaned in after stuffing another bite of spicy chicken and salad in her mouth and chewing.

I knew they were listening in, but I wanted them to hear how badly they hurt me from me. This counted, right?

Goosebumps pebbled my flesh. “Bram Hemlock, Dexter Shadowheart, and Skel Grimshaw were my enemies, but now…they’re my fated mates. They hurt me with their words more than anything.” I took a shaky inhale. “Dex hurt me with his shadows.” I blew out a heavy breath. “Skel terrorized me with his fear magic.” I squeezed the water bottle tightly in my hands. “Hemlock hates me because I’m a noble, and he hasn’t let me forget that.”

Each memory of when the four of us fought felt like a thorn in my heart.

A small curl of her lips caused her expression to turn deadly. “They don’t deserve you, Pandora. Fated mates aren’t supposed to hurt you.”

“I know.” My voice cracked. “But…they are my fated mates just like Hunter and Reed. I’m not sure what I want to do yet, but I’m not ready to figure it out either.”

“You don’t have to figure it out right now. You have two mates who have their heads on straight.” Jenni sighed as she sipped on her lemonade. “I wish I had a mate...especially if that mate was your dad.”

I giggled, feeling a lightness spread through me. For the first time since I became friends with Nebula, I felt the warmth of friendship. “You’ll find someone, Jenni. Who knows? Maybe you could be my dad’s mate. I mean, I have five of them. It’s not unheard of for a supernatural to have more than one mate…except for wolf and penguin shifters, of course.”

“Oh, of course.” Jenni cackled. “You can just call me step-mommy.”

The subject of mothers didn’t make me balk like it would’ve just a month ago. Instead, I felt happiness swell inside of me. “Honestly? Even with my mother-trauma, I would welcome you.”

“Mother-trauma? Was what Shadeberry said not total shit?” She frowned, setting her drink down.

“I did eat my mother’s soul,” I admitted quietly. “But only for survival. It was the only way to heal enough after she’d cut my throat open. She tried to kill me, but I ended up killing her instead.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m sorry to hear that. I don’t understand how some mothers could be so evil to their own kids.”

Silence settled between us as we finished our lunch.

We talked for another hour before heading to our next class, and I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe this term would be different. Maybe, with a friend like Jenni and the support of my mates—at least two of them—I could finally start to heal.