Page 39

Harlow

Thursday Afternoon

Third Floor

I ’d met Drake’s mom several times before now but this time it felt different. She was moving to our floor, would be a bigger part of our lives, and part of me was afraid she’d start to hate me.

I didn’t exactly have the best family memories on my side. My dad sold me. My grandmother thought I was possessed and abused me in more ways than I could even count.

Having Drake’s mom like me was important.

I hit the elevator button as I bounced on my feet. Roman wrapped his hand around mine to calm me but when the elevator opened, he used it to yank me back.

“What the fuck,” he growled before turning and shouting. “Drake!”

My half-demon boyfriend came barreling down the hall, his shoes slamming on the tiled floors until he came to a stop at our side and cursed.

Another dead body was waiting for us.

“This one is supposed to look like you and Hiro,” Drake guessed. “Son of a bitch, this means Vane was not working alone. They also probably know Hiro had a hand in his death. I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“We knew he wasn’t, now at least we know someone has taken over?” I questioned in a fake-positive tone they both rolled their eyes at.

“They’re getting bolder. The fact that they just sent this elevator up with a corpse inside is beyond fucked up. Seems like a risk to me,” Roman said. “More than a risk. It’s downright cruel.”

“Maybe that means it’s not even a human he was working with, but a demon. The adviser and warden? They didn’t just come here because they were going to sit back and do nothing. Hel’s not letting us in on her plans, but I guarantee this was part of it. We likely threw a wrench in it when we killed Vane,” Drake added. He spoke through clenched teeth and I almost worried he’d break them if he didn’t breathe. “Now they’ve sent us another warning.”

“Well, think about it,” I said. “Vane had video cameras on this floor, so now whoever he was working with is probably watching us, too. They might have been this whole fucking time. I doubt that secret apartment was the only place that had access to the feeds.”

“True, but I don’t fucking like it,” Drake growled as he slammed his fist into the wall, cursing since the cinderblock had no give.

Not wanting to look at the body any longer or make Drake angrier, I yelled out for my demon. “Monty!”

He was likely tired of us calling him, especially because he always popped in expecting the worst, but he knew we wouldn’t call for trivial things.

“Another one?” Monty bit out as he appeared next to me, the familiar chill creeping up my spine. I breathed him in and nodded, hoping he could chase away the sight of blood and death.

“Yeah... and apparently it’s Hiro this time,” I deadpanned.

I may have used dark humor to cope, but inside, I wasn’t taking this well. My stomach churned and I felt cold all over.

The thought of someone else watching us, an unknown villain, was unnerving enough, but throw in look-alike corpses and it was far too sinister to ignore. It took everything in me to keep my face neutral.

The murders made no sense. Sacrifice might have if it helps open the portal, but why were they even taunting us with these bodies.

The patients didn’t deserve this. Then again, I doubted the fucking demons involved cared about them. Vane was just as bad if that nesting room was anything to go by.

To them, the patients were a food source, nothing more than cattle, especially the lower demons. I’d noticed they were fueled by instinct, hunger, and the desire to cause pain. They drink it in like a fine wine, savoring the flavor of our emotions, always craving more.

Fuck, how did everything get so twisted? And I couldn’t shake the feeling that it could have been me. If I wasn’t mates with Monty and Kol… I might have ended up with the same sinister fate.

“I’ll take care of it,” Monty said as he stepped into the elevator, shaking me from my panic. His shadows exploded out, so it was like looking into the void for a moment before they disappeared, body and all.

Things have been escalating the past week and I still wasn’t any closer to answers. If they thought I’d just magically find them and fix this mess, then they were all delusional.

As if they were my personal cheering section, the shadows were back, adding to my stress. They pushed closer and closer until it felt like I couldn’t breathe.

The demons clearly thought anger would urge me to work harder. But I couldn’t work with something that didn’t fucking exist. I couldn’t just pull answers out of thin air.

Neither could Hel since she relied on a fucking seer to give her the future.

Yet she kept it from me.

The more I learned about the Queen of Helheim, the more I hated her. She was using me and my men like we meant nothing, and that would be her downfall.

I needed something to happen, an answer to come to me, anything. I couldn’t do an internet search to figure out how to close a fucking portal to Helheim. All Hiro found in his mythology books was useless.

It wasn’t like we weren’t fucking trying.

“Breathe, Harlow,” Roman demanded and I sucked in a shaking breath. My stress levels had gone up tenfold in the last few minutes.

“What’s going on?” Layne asked as she and Crew appeared behind us. I’d been so distracted by Monty taking off with the body, I hadn’t even noticed them approaching.

They’d been keeping to themselves more lately and I wasn’t pushing it. My life was dangerous now and being around me could mean their death. I hated to think that way but it was reality.

Vane and whoever had replaced him wanted me to fail or wanted to use me, and I couldn’t let either happen.

“Another body,” Drake said without holding back. Layne frowned but Crew threw his hands up, pacing back and forth as he fought for the words.

“I just want to leave,” he admitted. “Not worry about demons or murder.”

Layne froze at his words. “I don’t have anywhere to go. This is home, it has been for two years. Where am I going to go, live on the streets? I’d rather live with demons.”

Crew let out a long sigh. “My family wouldn’t want me either. They’re done with me after the last fire. I wish I could have explained to them that I didn’t mean to, it just got out of hand.” The pain in his voice was raw. Regret filled his eyes and my heart broke for him. He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t need to be but that didn’t change how the world viewed him.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “We know what it feels like to have everybody reject you. We’ve always been misfits and now it’s on a whole new level. I’m sorry I brought all this to our doorstep.”

Crew stopped and stared at me. “It’s not your fault.”

There was confusion in his tone, and I was honestly relieved he didn’t blame me.

“He’s right,” Roman said, giving me a hard stare as if that would bully me into believing it.

“It kind of is,” I argued. “None of this was happening until I arrived.”

Drake shook his head. “Crew’s right. You had nothing to do with this. Hel chose you early on, it was supposedly destined that you’d come here. I’d bet my movie collection she pulled some strings to bring you here. Either way, this isn’t on you.”

“I know you’re right, but it doesn’t help me feel any less guilty. I’m still at the center of this and because you’re close to me, so are you. I have no clue how to stop the portal from growing or close it. While I fumble around in the dark, every city and town around us suffers. Have you seen the fucking news lately? Everything is falling apart and I’m up here having pizza nights,” I ranted as I tugged at my hair, the pain making me wince. It didn’t help ground me in the slightest and I let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Stop being a baby,” Layne told me playfully. She was trying to stop the tension from growing even stronger and it worked. I let out a maniacal laugh. “There’s nothing you can fucking do. We’ll help when and where we can. I’d rather be here with you guys than out in the real world. Even now.”

“Thanks, Layne,” I said, giving her a quick hug before shaking out my arms and taking a few measured breaths in hopes I’d get my shit together.

“Can we just get back to work and get your mom down here?” I asked, turning to Drake, pleading with my eyes for him to listen. Roman squeezed my hand before letting go.

Standing here for another moment, doing nothing, would have me dwelling on the fact I was contributing nothing to this fucking war.

I’d barely seen Kol and Monty since things blew up, and I wanted my fucking men and my life back.

“Why don’t you go down to the courtyard and tell Kol what happened first,” Drake said. “We’ll wait until you get back.”

The gargoyles were using every moment of the day to fight back the demons and needed to know. Even Stravos had gone back to his ranks since the floor was warded and we were supposedly safe.

Drake opened the elevator again and stepped inside. I followed and the doors closed behind us, leaving Roman with the others after he brushed a kiss across my forehead.

Drake wasn’t one for words or false assurances and I appreciated that about him.

We rode down to the first floor in silence and he followed me all the way to the courtyard. When the doors closed behind us, he let out a shrill whistle.

A gargoyle dropped to his feet in front of me. I’d seen him before but only knew a few of their names.

“Can you please get Kol for me, it’s important,” I asked. He nodded once before taking off again, flying up to the roof and disappearing.

Kol must have been nearby because he was dropping to the ground in mere seconds. He swept me into his arms, and I let out a startled laugh.

Having his strong arms squeezing me gently was enough to melt away some of the guilt and self-doubt creeping in. He never gave over the top affection or let emotions get in the way.

Kol was closed off and hard to read but we were slowly blending into something that made sense. He was hard to my soft, harsh to my gentle, and it worked in its own strange way.

“You came to me?” he asked. His expression was a mix of shock and happiness. It was almost as if he were touched by the gesture. Maybe my stone man did have a heart after all.

I nodded when I couldn’t find the right words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bug you, and I know you guys already have enough on your plate. But another body showed up in the elevator when we tried to head out. It resembled Hiro,” I explained in a rush.

“The little human?” he clarified.

“Yes.” I laughed. “The little human.”

He didn’t like the other guys at first, but it was as if he had a soft spot for Hiro. Then again, Hiro made you want to wrap him in a blanket and protect him from the world.

My hand rested on his cheek, and I could see how exhausted he was. Even for a supernatural being there had to be a breaking limit and he was swiftly approaching it.

They’d been fighting nonstop. Demons were coming out of the portal at insane rates. It was so frustrating, especially when Hel sat by and let it happen.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked.

“She’s feeling guilty, like this is all on her,” Drake said before I could sugarcoat it. Kol let out a small growl but it was more frustration than anger.

In a moment, I was swept into the air with Kol. Cool air and the scent of his alpha musk and night skies hit me, easing some of the worry. I brushed my nose against his chest and let out a sigh, wishing I could cling to this moment for a bit longer.

He dropped down on the roof again far too soon. As soon as I had my balance, his hands went to my cheeks, forcing me to look at him.

“I’m working so hard to protect you because you’re my mate. I’m sworn to keep the demons at bay, to protect Dark Haven, but it’s more important for me to know that you’re safe. I’d lay down my life for you,” he promised vehemently. It was the most emotion I’d seen from him yet.

“I know. That’s the problem. I feel like I barely know you, Kol. You call me your mate but you don’t even know me,” I countered. “I know that sounds selfish with everything going on but I just hate it.”

I’d reached my breaking point, tears filling my eyes and spilling down my cheeks. Kol looked startled at the sight and I let out a watery laugh.

“Look. I’m not good with words,” he started. “But I don’t want you to cry. I have no problem watching this place. Do I love that you are never with me? No. But it makes me appreciate the other humans and demons you’re with. I never thought I’d say that but even Ivar has shown his worth. You’ve somehow bridged two enemies. It may not be a sturdy one but we’re trying for you, Harlow. Whatever Hel has planned and is desperately trying to put into motion down here? You may be at the center of it but you’re not the cause of it.”

I let out a small sniffle and looked up at him. “I thought you said you weren’t good with words.”

He let out a rumbling chuckle I felt through my chest. It made me think of the mate bond he had mentioned and his effect on me.

“Can I ask you a strange question?” I asked. My filter was gone, and I couldn’t keep it from tumbling out even though I knew this was not the right time.

Kol nodded, his gray eyes focused on me as if nothing else existed. “Of course. You can ask me anything.”

“What does being your mate mean? Just that you chose me? Is it the same for you as it is for us with scent matches?”

I was being needy, yes, but my omega needed to know that this wasn’t just an order from Hel. That he needed me just as badly as I needed him.

“I chose you, yes,” he said carefully. I could tell he was watching his words, trying to make sure he didn’t fuck this up. I appreciated that he was putting in the effort.

He was so out of touch with humans he could seem cold sometimes, almost brutal in his delivery. This was new territory for him.

“It’s more than that, though. Fate chose us to be together. You were destined for whatever this is. We may all be in the dark but Hel is not. This was all foretold. You were given to me, Ivar, your humans, and the halfling for a reason.”

“If they’d just fucking tell me what that reason is!” I growled. “I’m so fucking tired of being kept out of this.”

“Maybe it’s not just for you to find,” he stated. “Our connection will be different than others. We were chosen by fate and can’t just walk away or break this easily. It will strengthen as we learn more about each other, as we grow closer, or it can snap if we get careless. Even if we don’t have the answers, you’ll still rise to the occasion. I have confidence in you.”

Vulnerability from Kol was new, and I felt honored he was willing to let me in like this.

“I won’t pull away from you, Kol,” I promised. “I know that this is hard and we haven’t had a lot of time to get to know each other but you mean something to me. I want you to know that.”

“You mean the world to me, Harlow. Even if you weren’t my mate, I’d still choose you.”

A fresh wave of tears formed but I fought them back, leaning up so I could brush my lips over his.

This time, he didn’t feel cold and rigid, but melted into me. He kissed me back with as much passion as I gave him.

My gargoyle was learning and growing, and I was grateful for him.

A horn blared in the distance. Because something always had to break up any second I claimed with my men.

“Go,” I said when he tensed. “I’ll meet Drake on the sixth floor.”

“Do you have your dagger?” he asked, still not backing away from me.

“Yes.” I lifted my shirt to show him the sheath attached to my belt. He nodded before turning and leaving. He glanced back one last time before he launched himself into the night.

Drake was walking into the hall as I was coming out of the stairwell, meeting me in the middle.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yeah. I think I needed that,” I admitted.

He nodded knowingly. For someone who was such an ass at times, he seemed to easily read us and knew what we needed before we did.

“I had a feeling,” he confirmed before gesturing to the door next to us. “The guys already got all of her stuff. Crew stepped in to help so we just have to convince Mom to come down with us. Her nurse is in there calming her down.”

I reached for the door, then froze. “What’s your mom’s name?” I felt like an idiot for not finding out before now.

“Sarah,” he answered with a small smile.

As I reached for the door, I felt all the tension and worry drain away and embraced the sense of peace taking over.

As much bullshit as we were dealing with here at Dark Haven, I also knew it’s where I belonged.

Answers would come when they were ready, and I’d show Hel I would not roll over and take the abuse she was actively sending my way.