Page 13

13

PANDORA

T he evening air was cool against my skin as Jenni and I walked back to the dorms. Our footsteps crunched the sand underneath us. The sky was a deep purple that was reminiscent of Reed’s dreamscape, and stars dotted and twinkled overhead.

We had spent the entire day at Dad’s. Dex and Reed brought us back to campus so we could grab dinner at the cafeteria. My mates didn’t hang around since Jenni had claimed me for the day, so it was just us.

It was odd not having my mates with me, but it was also nice to spend quality time with Jenni.

Dad and my mates didn’t love it, but they understood the need for it and gave us space. I knew they were just concerned for us with everything happening in the Demon Capital. I felt their emotions throughout the matebond, and they felt mine through it as well.

Dad and Jenni were the same.

As we walked, our topic of conversation drifted to the impending doom of Dark Veil that lingered over our heads, mocking us constantly.

A shiver jolted through me. “I just hate that they’ve gone after my mates the way they have.”

“Bram took a sword to the heart for you,” Jenni murmured. “From the same sword that killed my dad.”

“I know.” I swallowed a lump in my throat—he had been too close to death for my liking. Too close to becoming nothing but a memory and a physical hole in my soul.

The thought of losing him sent a cold tremor through me, one I buried as quickly as it surfaced.

Bram was okay, and that was what mattered.

“Daryl helped me destroy the dark magic sword that killed Dad.” Her voice cracked. Her blue-green eyes brimmed with tears before they poured over, trailing tracks down her cheeks. “It was cathartic, but fuck, Pandora—my dad died because of that thing!”

I hesitated, searching for the right words to say. Comforting others was something I was learning still. I wanted to comfort her without dismissing the valid jagged edge of her grief. “Dad told me he was going to help you destroy it.” I wrapped an arm around her as we stopped walking. Her body shook, and I could feel her soul’s distress radiating like a storm. “Do you feel better knowing it’s gone?”

She nodded against my shoulder, her sobs muffled but heavy. “I do, I really do, but…destroying it gave me vengeance. It didn’t give me Dad back.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “I’ll never get him back.”

The wind stirred around us, tugging at loose strands of her hair and carrying her sorrow into the night. I couldn’t think of anything to say that would ease her grief, so I said nothing, just hugged her as she let out her pain and cried.

Sometimes, words weren’t able to hold the weight of grief and loss.

And that was okay.

A sudden movement ahead caught my eye, and I shifted my gaze toward the side of the building that was just a few feet away.

Voidfire stood close to Ironwood, her posture taut as she looked up at him. Her short red bob gleamed under the fading light, and her sharp brown eyes were locked on Ironwood’s face with an intensity that hinted at confrontation—but about what?

Ironwood leaned casually against Reform Hall, his auburn curls framing his face. His brown eyes glinted with something unreadable, a mix of calculation and interest that made my skin crawl.

Voidfire turned and caught us staring, and she glowered at us both.

Jenni sniffled as she pulled back to look at where I was staring. She didn’t hesitate—she flipped Voidfire off and tugged me along behind her to continue walking.

I bit back a laugh as we walked on. Jenni’s grief momentarily gave way to her fire. I loved that about her.

Oddly, Ironwood’s gaze lingered on me, his expression shifting ever so slightly. There was something unsettling about the way his eyes tracked me.

I hated the feeling.

A shiver crept down my spine, and I quickened my pace, hoping to lose his interest. “He’s so weird,” I muttered, half to myself, half to Jenni.

“More like creepy ,” she corrected, sniffling as she straightened up. “Let’s keep moving. I don’t want to be around those two any longer than we have to.”

“Creepy is a good term,” I admitted.

“Seriously, he is creepy. He was fucking Dreadful. Probably fucking Voidfire now, too.” She wrinkled her nose, snorting, before nearly bumping into Fester. “Oof! Fester?”

His face was blotchy, eyes red, and he bowed his head as tears fell. “Sorry. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

He went to rush past us, but Jenni placed a hand on his arm. “Hey, wait.”

“Are you okay?” I asked, frowning.

He sniffled. “I know Nightwind was awful, but…he’s missing .”

A lump formed in my throat. “Fester…”

“He was my mate…a horrible one.” He chuckled weakly. “But...it feels like he’s dead. I don’t know how to explain, but not knowing is killing me. I feel crazy. It’s like I know he’s dead, but everyone says no. He’s just missing.”

“What would you say if I told you that he is dead?” Jenni asked bluntly. “Would you be okay with that?”

His face paled, but he nodded slowly. “I think I would. You…you know that for sure?”

“We do,” I stated simply.

“How?” His voice cracked.

I hesitated, but his soul radiated nothing but frustration and confusion. No malice, no desire, and no hope.

“Nightwind attacked me, and my mates…” My gaze darted to the side as I remembered the way I was so unbothered by Nightwind pinning me against the wall when I was infected with dark magic. I brought my gaze back to him. “They did what was necessary.”

“Oh.” He almost turned green. “Oh, Fates. I’m so sorry, Gravesend. That’s…understandable. He deserved it, then.”

“He did,” Jenni agreed.

A man jogged up to us with concern plastered on his face, resting a steadying hand on Fester’s shoulder. “Cole, you okay?”

I’d seen him many times before with Fester, but now, the depth of their bond was obvious.

“Yeah, James, I’m fine.” Fester wiped at his tears. “Why did you follow me?”

“You needed me,” he told him.

Fester blushed and bit down on his bottom lip.

“It is better this way, Fester,” Jenni told him firmly.

Fester exhaled shakily. “Yeah. I know.”

“Uh, I’m Brimsworth,” the man Fester called James introduced himself. “What exactly happened?”

“We were just telling Fester that Nightwind is dead.” Jenni gestured toward Fester.

“Good.” Brimsworth sneered immediately. “Nightwind was scum. Fester deserves better.”

“He does.” I smiled faintly, watching the protectiveness in Brimsworth. His soul lit up around Fester. It almost appeared that they were mates. In fact, I would bet on it. I wondered why the bond hadn’t snapped in place yet, though.

I knew my matebonds didn’t form immediately because my magical reserves hadn’t been full enough to connect the bonds, but I also heard the rumors. Evidently, matebonds hadn’t been forming immediately like they used to for supernaturals. The decline in immediate matebonds has been a growing concern in the past decade, according to the news.

Even in cases without trauma.

A lot of scholars are blaming the fae, but I couldn’t find a valid reason why.

“I have something to show you,” Brimsworth murmured to Fester before he glanced over at us again. “Thanks for making him stop running so I could catch up.”

“Have fun.” Jenni waved to them.

“I intend to.” Brimsworth grinned before they waved their goodbyes and walked away.

We continued our way toward the dorms after that.

As we neared my room, Jenni’s tablet buzzed. She glanced down, smirking at the screen. “It’s Daryl. He’s waiting for me outside, and he sounds rather impatient.”

“Tell him I said hi.” I grinned, gesturing for her to go meet with him.

“Of course I will.”

We hugged, pulled apart, and I slipped inside of my room.

“It’s rather odd seeing your best friend be mates with your dad,” Nebula commented thoughtfully.

I shrugged, pulling him out of my bag and placing him on the nightstand. “I kind of like it. I don’t have to worry if he’s found the right one because, well, they’re mates. Also, she’s lovely so she’s good for him.”

“Valid point,” Nebula whispered.

Bram was on the bed, glaring at his tablet. The tension in his shoulders was visible, and he hadn’t even looked up since I entered the room.

“Hey,” I murmured, sitting next to him. “What’s going on?”

“Sorry, Pandora. My head’s filled with all kinds of shit right now.” He sighed, forcing a smile as he stared at me. I felt his stress through the bond, and it made concern fill my heart. “Can you come with me to Slater’s next weekend?”

“Of course,” I agreed, frowning and moving closer until his spicy bourbon scent filled my senses. “What happened?”

He tilted his tablet screen so I could see screenshots of messages. “These are messages from my father to Slater and Melinda.”

My eyes widened as I read the cold, biting words on the screen.

Harry Hemlock

Melinda, babe, please. Just talk to me.

I know I was wrong.

I’ll kill that bitch that seduced me and her son. Just take me back and I’ll make them disappear.

It can be like how it was before. You loved me, didn’t you?

I’ll kill you and our son if you don’t fucking answer me!

You are the singular reason I do what I do, Melinda.

Don’t get on my bad side.

I’m sorry. I was upset. I’d never hurt you or Slater.

Call me back, please.

Harry Hemlock

Slater, you’re my golden son.

You’re everything that bastard isn’t.

Why can’t you just talk to your father?

You know I had a part in making you, right? Don’t be disrespectful to that.

I’ll rid myself of my family so I can be with you guys and show you the attention I should’ve shown you all along.

Bram’s hands trembled. “These messages aren’t all of them. There are voicemails I don’t have. Oh, and I found another full bottle of whiskey in the room.”

My lips parted in surprise. As if his father wasn’t worrisome enough, there was more alcohol in the room? None of us would have brought alcohol in here. Especially not when Bram was doing everything he could to stay sober.

So, where the Fates did it come from?

“I’ve been a fucking mess, but…I wrote this for you.” He handed me a poem. “It helped calm my mind. I hope you like it.”

He wrote me a poem to calm himself down? My heart swelled with love for him in a way it always did with my mates.

“Thank you,” I murmured, glancing down to read it.

Fumbled words in a shot glass, I wobbled on droplets of bitter rum.

Each whisper mocking.

But your crimson eyes cut through the fog.

In your gaze, I saw a man.

Not the ghost I’d been for so long.

The poison in my veins tried to kill me,

but your soul lit up my recklessness and guided me to you.

Every sip I denied became a promise to you,

Every tremor of my hands became a chain broken.

No longer chasing numbness in the whiskey’s lies,

I found where true love resides.

Sober.

A demon rebuilt.

I’ll be better,

For myself,

For you,

My fated.

Tears pooled on my lashes as heat pricked my eyes. I felt his struggle with self worth through our matebond, and it hurt to feel how raw it was. Bram was so much more than I ever thought he was when I first met him. I knew he had to be more than the angry drunk he’d personified, but this?

Who he truly was? He was everything I never knew I wanted or needed. There was a depth to him that I truly loved.

“It’s beautiful, Bram.” Leaning in, I kissed him softly. I could taste his pain on my lips, and it broke me.

He pulled back and stared deeply into my eyes. Pure admiration shot down our bond from him. “You’re beautiful.”

My heart skipped a beat, and his lips met mine again. He deepened the kiss, pulling me closer. His tongue tangled with mine, and he swallowed my sighs of relief at his physical closeness.

Our matebond had been tugging me toward him since he’d marked me. Fates, I desperately wanted Bram’s skin against mine.

Desire scorched my veins with each stroke of his tongue against mine.

“Touch me,” I whispered between kisses.

“Anything you want,” he promised, breaking our kiss and licking his way down my neck. Each swipe of his tongue made my body buzz. His hands roamed over me, leaving trails of burning desire for him.

“I want you,” I rasped, panting heavily as our matebond turned electric.

His hand slid between my thighs. “Can I touch you here?”

“Fates, yes.” I let my head fall back, exposing my neck as he found a sweet spot to suck on my collarbone.

“Like this?” Two of his fingers slipped under my panties, and he ran them over my pussy before circling my clit gently.

I let out a raspy moan. “More.”

He chuckled against my neck and pushed two fingers in and moved them in and out. His thumb rubbed my clit as he moved his fingers. “It’s going to feel so fucking good sinking my dick inside of you for the first time.”

“Bram,” I gasped as he sped up his thrusting. His spicy bourbon scent made me even that more turned on.

“Yes, Pandora, I’m the one touching you,” he moaned against my collarbone.

The way he moaned made my body clench down, and my hands fisted in his hair as I cried out softly.

“Come on my fingers, okay? I promise I’ll make you come apart on my dick later.” His fingers curled.

“Bram!” Pleasure exploded within my soul, radiating toward his. “Fates!”

His pleasure merged with mine. “Fuck,” he snarled, his free hand cupping the back of my head and tugging my lips to his again. He devoured me as he brought us both over the edge.

My body wound tighter and tighter until ecstasy crashed through. I cried out my pleasure into his mouth, as he did the same to me.

“Fates,” I breathed out. My body trembled against his as we pulled apart slightly.

“Fuck me.” His cheeks were red, and he stared at me in shock. “I’ve never come in my pants before now.”

I let out a satisfied giggle.

“Seriously,” he urged me, reaching up and fixing his septum piercing. “That was like nothing I’ve ever felt before. The matebond bringing you to orgasm made me come right along with you. Is it...is it like that with everyone?”

I nodded, looping my arms around his neck and kissing him softly. “Pretty much.”

The moment shattered when Chaos and Demo manifested from both of us in a swirl of chaos magic and howled at the door.

It shook it in its frame just before Hunter walked through with a knowing grin on his lips.

Chaos and Demo de-manifested.

“Did you two have fun?” Hunter asked.

Happiness flooded our bond as we nodded, and my face burned as I realized I hadn’t put Nebula in the drawer.

“Yes,” Nebula hissed as if he couldn’t be more unimpressed. “They did.”