Page 41 of Demon Reform Academy, Term 3

41

REED

T he silence in Hunter’s room was suffocating as I stood by the bed Pandora was curled up in.

My stomach twisted in knots of guilt. Her breathing was steady, and she was all healed up, but I couldn’t stop the images of her crumpling to the ground. The pain that shot through our bond as the shadow bullet ripped through her chest. It played on a loop in my mind.

I should’ve protected her and myself. I should’ve sensed the danger before it was too late.

As she was healing, bleeding out, I was infected by dark magic. Then, she used the last bit of her strength to clear the dark magic from my system. I felt her relief when she’d saved me, but who saved her?

“Reed, dude, you’ve got to stop fucking blaming yourself,” Dex said, breaking the silence. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed as his shadows slithered behind him. His usual sarcastic grin was gone. “You’re not the one who pulled the trigger or injected the dark magic into your neck.”

“He’s right,” she rasped, running her hand through her silky black hair. “You didn’t make the crazed cult member attack us.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I muttered, my gaze never leaving Pandora’s beautiful face. “I’m your mate. I should’ve been able to protect you.”

“We were all there,” Skel spoke up, his green eyes flicking between me and Pandora. “We at least know who did it.”

“Infected shadow demon, I know.” I swallowed the hard lump forming in my throat. “And Pandora killed him, but she shouldn’t have to be the one constantly protecting us.”

Hunter stepped forward, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. “She’s strong, Reed. She’s capable of protecting us and herself. We did everything we could for her, and that’s what matters. I know it’s hard, but she’s okay and so are you.”

“I know she’s strong,” I murmured, meeting her concerned red eyes. I knew they were trying to comfort me, but it wasn’t helping.

From the corner of the room, I caught Death’s looming figure by the door. He was staring at me, and Fates, he was intimidating. The tension between him and all of us was thick.

“None of us knew,” Death stated. “Stop taking the blame for something we couldn’t stop.”

I met his dark gaze and nodded. He was right, but it didn’t stop me wishing I could’ve done something to stop it.

A knock came at the door, and we all tensed. Myself and the rest of Pandora’s mates moved instinctively closer to her.

Death frowned at us before he opened the door. Standing there was Fester. He gave a polite bow and held out Pandora’s bag to Death.

“Uh…this belongs to Gravesend,” he said, his voice fast but steady. “I found it in Serpentine Stadium after everything…you guys left in a rush.”

“Thanks.” Death glanced back at us as he took the bag, and we all sported matching scowls.

Fester nodded. “I just wanted to make sure she had it. She always carries it around, so I thought she’d miss it.”

Dex stepped forward, his gray eyes narrowing at him. “Who are you again?”

“Fester,” he said, a little too nonchalantly. “I’m, uh, newish around here. I’ve actually talked to you before, I think. Seen you around, I mean. Um. No wonder you don’t know me. Gravesend has been really nice to me.”

He glanced at Pandora, his gaze lingering for a moment before he turned back to the rest of us. Something about the way he looked at her made my protective instincts flare, but before I could say anything, Dex pushed past me.

“She’s fine. Thanks for the bag,” Dex growled, slamming the door in Fester’s face.

“Well, that was fucking weird,” Bram muttered, his brow furrowed. “Who just shows up like that?”

Skel shook his head. “I don’t fucking know.”

“He’s been trying to befriend Pandora and Jenni in class,” I muttered, glaring at the closed door. “I get a weird vibe from him.”

“No kidding,” Bram scoffed. “Don’t forget when he was infected with dark magic, he tried to kill our mate.”

“Have you sensed his soul?” Death asked, panic leaking into his tone before he started toward the door again. “I’ll eat it.”

I smashed my lips together before sighing. “I did sense his soul. There’s no malicious intent. But it’s weird all the same.”

Pandora shifted up in the bed. “He was just being nice, guys. Dad, don’t eat his soul.”

“But—” Hunter started.

“He didn’t mean any harm. Just found my bag,” she replied sleepily.

The tension in the room eased a little as her words settled in, but I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at me.

“Fester, huh? I don’t like him,” Bram muttered.

Pandora chuckled softly. “You don’t like anyone.”

“I like you,” he replied before blushing and glancing away.

I felt her fondness for Bram flicker through the bond, and I smiled.

“Where’d Dex go?” Hunter mumbled, glancing around.

“He was just here,” I said. “He slammed the door in Fester’s face.”

“I just wanted to grab Pandora food,” Dex said, stepping out of the darkness with a plate in his hand. He moved his attention to her and placed it in her lap. “I got you your favorite, steak. Medium rare, just how you like it.”

Pandora’s eyes lit up, and she grabbed the fork. “You cut it up for me?”

“Of course,” he scoffed.

“You should’ve gotten her some vegetables, too,” Hunter sighed. “She needs to eat healthy sides as well.”

“Shhh, it’s fine.” She eagerly took a bite, then grabbed her enchanted water bottle. As she took a sip, her nose scrunched up. She held the bottle up and shook it. “It tastes… different .”

The rest of us exchanged a glance.

“Different how?” Hunter asked.

“I don’t know. Just…different,” Pandora said, shrugging before bringing the bottle against her lips again. “Maybe I’m just really thirsty.”

Before we could ask more, Bram stepped forward, arms crossed. “I didn’t even know we liked the same food,” he admitted, looking guilty. “I should’ve paid more attention to you, Pandora.”

Pandora glanced up at him. “Want some?”

He hesitated, his prickly demeanor making it hard for him to accept the offer. “Nah. It’s yours.”

His refusal was followed by an awkward silence, but I could see the guilt eating at him. He cared more than he’d admit.

He should feel bad.

I sat on the edge of the bed, brushing a strand of hair from Pandora’s face. “I’m just glad you’re alright,” I whispered, leaning down to kiss her softly. Her lips were warm, and for a moment, all the fear and guilt melted away. She tasted like steak, and even though I didn’t care for steak, I loved the flavor of it on her lips.

The moment was short-lived.

From the corner of the room, Death cleared his throat loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. “Okay, I get it. You all love my daughter. Just try not to make it so painfully obvious when I’m in the room, yeah?”

Pandora smiled against my lips before pulling away. “Dad…”

Death raised his hands in mock defense. “It’s bad enough I’ve got to watch my little girl with five mates. Five. An old soul eater can only take so much.”

Dex snorted. “Jealous, old man?”

“Watch it, Dexter,” Death warned.

The tension in the room eased further, and despite everything that had happened today, for the first time in hours, I felt a little lighter. But there was still a part of me that couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.