Page 23

23

PANDORA

I adjusted the thin strap of my dress in the mirror, watching my reflection as I shifted it into place. The dark midnight fabric felt smooth and velvety against my skin. I piled the long strands up on top of my head and wondered if it looked better up, but all I could focus on was the tension thick enough to choke the air in the room behind me.

“I’m going to kill him,” Hunter muttered under his breath, pacing back and forth. His hands were clenched so tightly that I swore I heard his knuckles crack.

“I’ll help,” Dex offered, sitting on the edge of our bed, arms crossed. “I knew I shouldn’t have left for my counseling session in that class.”

Skel and Bram sat on either side of Dex with the same expression of anger he had.

“Me, too,” Bram snarled.

“Count me in,” Skel joined.

“We’ll all help eliminate him.” Reed was practically vibrating with restrained frustration.

They were all furious about Ironwood.

“It’s fine,” I sighed, dropping my hair and letting it fall around me like a veil as I turned to face them. “We don’t need to kill the creepy professor.”

Hunter stopped mid-stride and shot me a glare that would’ve made me cry a few months ago. Now, I knew he was just extremely passionate about keeping me safe. “It’s not fine.” His voice was sharp, edged with the need for vengeance. “That creep put his fingers on yours.”

“He barely touched me when I took back my pendant that I’d dropped and he picked up,” I corrected him in a calm voice.

“Barely?” Hunter barked a humorless laugh, running his hands through his dark blond hair. “What do you think Death will say when he hears about this?”

That made me pause.

Dad would be furious, and Ironwood would be soulless.

I turned back to the mirror, grabbing a scrunchie before tossing my hair up on my head and tying it up. “Okay, good point. Ironwood’s a problem. I’ll stay away from him.” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal because, in the grand scheme of everything else, he wasn’t. “He’s only a professor.”

“A sleazy professor,” Dex muttered, twirling a piece of his white-blond hair.

I sighed. “We can agree with that.”

“One that you have for a class,” Hunter grumbled.

“That’s true.” I frowned.

Nebula took pity on me and interrupted. “We’re going to be late if we take any longer.”

“He’s right. You and Skel stay safe, but I want to at least talk about murdering the sleazy asshole, okay?” Hunter wasn’t ready to let this go, but at least the reminder of dinner redirected the energy in the room.

“That’s fair,” I mumbled my agreement.

“Good.” A flicker of relief went through our bond as he walked over to me and kissed my neck. “You look stunning, starlight.”

“Fuck yeah she does,” Dex practically moaned as he tilted his head back.

“You look gorgeous,” Reed murmured from his spot next to Gumdrop’s tank.

“Truly,” Bram agreed.

“I think so, too.” Skel got to his feet and strolled over to me. “Thanks for coming with me tonight.”

“I’m going too,” Nebula commented.

Dex stood up, brushing off his pants as he stared over at Nebula. “You’re going with her to Skel’s?”

“Yes.” He offered nothing more than that.

Nebula had been very adamant about not being away from me with Sybil out there, and I understood his anxiety for it.

“We’ll see you guys later,” I promised Bram, Hunter, and Reed after putting Nebula in my bag.

Dex slipped his hand around my wrist and shadow-traveled Skel, Nebula, and me to Skel’s family home.

We landed smoothly in the entryway, where a familiar excited squeal greeted us. “You made it!”

Kat practically threw herself at me, wrapping me in a hug so tight that I nearly lost my breath.

Before I could respond, she pulled back and Dex ruffled her hair in that brotherly way that I’d read was annoying to sisters. Honestly, it was sweet that Skel and Dex were so close that Dex considered Skel’s sister his. “Good to see you, little sister Kat.”

“You too.” She pouted at him but didn’t protest.

Then, without warning, Dex’s hand found my throat. I barely had time to gasp before his lips crashed against mine. It wasn’t gentle. It was possessive, demanding, and it sent desire pouring through me.

If we hadn’t been around Skel’s family, I would’ve caved and begged him to take me against the wall.

By the time he pulled back, my knees felt weak, and my lips tingled. “Dex...”

“Have fun, trouble.” He smirked, as if pleased with himself, then turned and disappeared into the shadows.

I blinked, still dazed.

“Always leaving his mark on you.” Skel wrapped an arm around my waist and tugged me against him.

Kat wiggled her brows at me. “It’s so cute seeing Skel and Dex like that with you.”

I pressed my fingers to my lips, feeling the ghost of Dex’s kiss still lingering there.

Before I could suffer through more teasing, Skel’s dad came into the living room. “You made it,” he said, giving us a smile.

“Thanks for having me,” I replied.

Durge strolled into the room and over to Kat, kissing her temple. “Nice to see you all again,” he greeted us.

Skel crossed his arms, staring at him with thinly veiled skepticism. He wasn’t glaring, exactly, but there was a distance in his posture. I felt his hesitation about Durge through our matebond. “You too.”

Nelson, Skel’s dad, ushered us into the dining room and into our seats as he encouraged us to eat the dishes spread out on the table.

Skel and I sat together, and Kat sat on the other side of the table with Durge. Nelson took the head of the table.

Kat grinned as she leaned forward, her excitement bubbling over. “Do you guys know about the time Skel almost got murdered by our neighbor’s dog?”

“Murdered?” Durge raised a brow next to her, his lips twitching with amusement. “I feel like I need more context.”

Skel groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Please don’t tell this story.”

Kat ignored him completely, her grin widening. “When we were kids, I was still getting the hang of shifting into my cat form, right? And for some reason, I thought it would be hilarious to mess with our neighbor—an old demon with a horrible attitude.”

“Oh, Fates,” Skel muttered, shaking his head. “I hate even thinking of that guy.”

“I would sit on his porch like a stray, and when he’d open the door, I’d dart inside and hide there.” Kat snickered. “He hated cats, so he’d freak out and start chasing me with a broom. He was a dog kind of demon, okay? Remember that for later. When he would give up after not being able to find me, he’d go to sleep or whatever, and I’d jump on him.” She cackled. “Gave him such a spook.”

“That one is on you, Kat,” Nelson sighed. “I told you time and time again to leave that poor man alone.”

She waved his comment off with a giggle of her own. “And Skel, being the responsible younger brother, would always come running to save me.”

Skel groaned again. “Because you were causing problems, and Dad told me to!”

Kat waved him off. “Anyway, one day, I get into his house, and he loses it. I mean, full-blown warpath mode. But this time, he locks the door behind me. And, I didn’t know this, but the old guy got a dog.”

Durge’s eyes widened. “I take it this did not go according to plan?”

“Oh, not at all.” Kat pouted. “He had all the doors shut in the house, so I was stuck out in the open with all my hiding spots closed off. Skel comes barreling up the porch, bangs on the door, and shouts, ‘That’s my cat!’ And the dude just glares at him and goes, ‘Not anymore, it’s not.’ ”

I gasped. “Oh, my Fates.”

Skel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“He was serious, too. The neighbor was literally holding me hostage; granted, he did think I was a cat and not a demon with a shifting power. He still told me to get ready to be dog food,” Kat said dramatically. “And Skel, bless his idiot heart, runs around and climbs through our neighbor’s unlocked kitchen window. Just as he’s halfway in, the guy whacks Skel with a broom, yelling all kinds of obscenities at him. He swung at Skel like he was trying to send him into the fae realm. He nearly fell into the damn sink that was filled with knives.”

Durge doubled over in laughter. “Oh, fuck.”

“I always got into shit like that because of you,” Skel muttered darkly, stabbing a piece of meat on his plate with a fork and shoving it in his mouth to chew.

“Oh, and then the neighbor strolls over to a room and opens the door,” Kat continued as if this experience wasn’t traumatizing for her. “And a fucking dog comes barreling out. So I freak out, go full cat-mode, and book it up the curtains.”

“That man screamed,” Skel said after swallowing a bite. “Like, horror movie-level screamed.”

“I’ve never seen a demon so scared,” she admitted. “He was swinging that broom like his life depended on it, and the dog kept snarling and trying to eat me!”

Durge chuckled. “How did you even get out of there?”

Kat grinned. “Skel saved us both. He lunged for me, grabbed me when I was mid-air, and jumped out the kitchen window while our neighbor was still swinging his broom around like a lunatic.”

Skel exhaled sharply. “I had bruises for an entire day, and I’m a demon!”

“Don’t forget that the dog bit you so hard, it ripped a piece of flesh off your ass,” she giggled.

“Oh, I’m not forgetting that.” Skel pinned her with an older-brother look.

I stifled a giggle.

Kat grinned and patted his arm. “But you saved me. That’s what brothers do.”

“Usually older brothers. You’re my big sister, you know? You constantly had to rely on your little brother to save you.” Skel chuckled, and it was a genuine laugh that lit up his face in a way I hadn’t seen before.

But, just as quickly as it had come, it faded. His smile disappeared, and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. His gaze flickered to the floor as he cleared his throat.

Kat noticed it, too.

We all saw the way his jaw tightened, the way his fingers curled subtly into the fabric of his pants, and I felt his pain in our bond.

He missed his sister.

And he hated that she had been out of his life when he’d needed her the most.

Kat’s smile wavered, and for a second, I thought she might reach for him, but she didn’t. Instead, she cleared her throat. “You were always looking out for me back then.” Her voice was softer now, like she was scared of his reaction. “Even when I was being a terror.”

Skel inhaled deeply but didn’t look at her. “Yeah,” he murmured. “I had to.”

Nelson reached out and placed a steady hand on Skel’s shoulder. “It’s okay to voice your feelings, Skel.”

Skel hesitated, but he finally shook his head.

Kat pressed her lips together, nodding as if she understood. Because she did, I could sense that much in her soul.

Dinner was fun, filled with stories and laughter, but I saw the way Kat and Skel stole glances at each other. There was so much unsaid between them. Their sibling bond needed mending, and I wanted them to take the steps to do that.

After dinner, I nudged Skel. “Go talk to your sister.”

He tensed, biting down on his lip ring. “I don’t?—”

“Not just talk. Sense her soul again.” I held his gaze, raising a brow. “You need to do the work to repair the relationship. I know you miss your sister.”

Something in his gaze shifted, and he deflated. “Only because you asked.” He nodded once and made his way over to Kat.

I couldn’t help but listen in a little with my demonic hearing. I could feel the weight of the moment in our bond as he’d told her it hurt to pretend the past didn’t happen. She listened, really listened, and then she apologized. She hadn’t meant to abandon him—she’d been trying to move forward without reopening old wounds.

Skel’s green eyes widened as he sensed the pain in her soul, and he told her he understood, but he wanted her to acknowledge what had happened, too. So, she did. She acknowledged her part in their past and apologized again.

It was an enormous step for them both, and I loved that they could work through their pain together like this.

It was so obvious that they shared a special sibling bond.

I turned my head and found myself next to Durge.

“They needed that,” he told me, staring lovingly over at Kat. “I think they both did.”

I nodded. “They absolutely did.”

“Thank you, Pandora.” Nelson smiled at me. “Skel doesn’t open up well, but with you, he's been getting better at it. It’s good to see.”

“He helps me, too,” I admitted, wringing my hands together.

Skel and Kat joined us a few minutes later.

Skel’s arm draped over my shoulders as he leaned in. His expression was lighter, and his soul was less burdened. “Thank you, princess.”

“Anything for you.” I turned and met his lips in a soft kiss before he pulled away. He looked over at Kat and Durge, who were huddled together in a similar way.

“I can tell that he cares for her,” Skel murmured. “For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel the need to hold on to any grudges.” He inhaled, exhaled, then finally spoke directly to Durge. “You’re good to her.”

Durge turned from his conversation with Kat, blinking at Skel like he hadn’t expected him to speak at all. “I always try to be.”

Skel nodded slowly, his fingers tapping against my arm. “She deserves that.”

Kat, mid-sip of her drink, choked slightly. “Whoa. Who are you, and where is my brother?”

“Shut up,” Skel muttered with an eye roll.

Durge smirked. “I’ll take that as brotherly approval, then?”

Skel huffed. “Don’t push your luck, Durge.”

“I’ll take what I can get, then,” Durge chuckled as we all gathered back around the table. “Since we’re all talking about feelings tonight, let’s hear about your mates, Pandora. Four of them other than Skel, right? I met them when we had dinner at your father’s manor.”

“Yes, that’s right.” I smiled.

Durge let out a low chuckle. “I can barely manage the three I have. How the Fates do you keep up with five?”

“I love them,” I answered instantly. “Getting time with all of them is probably our biggest obstacle, but...I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

“I can relate to that.” He grinned, kissing Kat’s cheek.

“Where are your other two mates?” I asked.

“They’re at work. Evening shift at the market.” He frowned, and his soul lit up with longing for them. “They insisted for us to come without them tonight, but it never feels right doing that.”

I related to that.

“That’s true. They’ll be home by the time we leave, though,” Kat reminded him with a soft smile before turning her attention back to me. “So, who’s the one who causes the most trouble?”

“Dex,” I murmured with a soft smile. “I love it, though. He’s always around.”

“I’d vote Dex, too,” Skel muttered.

“Does not surprise me,” Kat snickered.

Durge chuckled. “Mine would be Kat. What about your other mates?”

I smiled, loving the fact that he asked about them at all. “Reed’s my rock. He’s always the one I know will back whatever I want. Hunter’s more of a protector in a way that gets me vengeance in the right way. Bram’s got a lot of chaos, but he’s sweet and shy. Then there’s—” I looked over to my mate. “Skel.”

Skel shook his head, exhaling through his nose. “Still weird to process that I’m hers.”

Durge tilted his head. “I get the sense you wouldn’t change it, though.”

He snapped his gaze to Durge. “Never.”

“Skel’s always there for me when I need him.” There was a comfortable silence as we smiled at each other. I glanced at Durge again. “And you? You have two mates other than Kat, right?”

Durge nodded. “Yes. Aris and Patricia.”

Kat’s face softened at the mention of their names, and I caught the flicker of warmth in Durge’s expression, too.

Matebonds truly made families, and I loved seeing it in action.

“Okay, enough about mates!” Kat’s face turned red. “Let’s talk about the Cat-tuary.”

Durge’s lips twitched. “The what?”

“The cat sanctuary she and Skel built,” Nelson explained, chuckling lowly. “Such an interesting name.”

Kat grinned. “You have to say it properly. Cat-tuary. Emphasis on the t .”

Durge gave her an amused look. “Of course.”

“It’s basically just a giant rock arch with awesome cat supplies for stray cats to live without fear of predators or starvation,” I explained. “I guess they aren’t stray anymore after calling it a home, but it will always attract more strays. The runes we put on it makes that a promise.”

Kat snorted. “Comet is still my favorite.”

“Only because Comet is the only one you’ve been able to spend time with.” I giggled. “You’d love them all.”

“Comet is an agent of destruction,” Skel corrected his sister. “Swipes food off counters, knocks over expensive things, terrorizes poor Gumdrop and Nebs?—”

“Finally, someone gets it,” Nebula commented from my bag.

“And yet you let her stay,” Kat pointed out.

He sighed dramatically. “We’re weak to her cuteness.”

Nelson, who had been listening to us with amusement, stood then. “Speaking of old memories…” He left the room briefly and returned with a thick, well-worn scrapbook. “I thought it might be nice for your mates to look through this.”

Skel stiffened slightly as the book was placed on the table, but he didn’t object.

Kat’s eyes lit up. “Is that our scrapbook?”

“The very one.” Nelson smiled at his kids. “I may not have been able to document everything, but I did my best.”

I leaned in as Skel’s dad opened the cover, revealing the first page—old photographs, slightly yellowed pages at the edges, filled with snapshots of Skel and Kat’s childhood.

There was a photo of Skel and Kat as kids, Kat in cat form sitting on a tree branch while Skel stood below, arms crossed, glaring up at her as if she was an absolute menace.

“Oh my Fates,” I laughed, pointing at his expression. “You were so done with her.”

Skel rubbed a hand over his face. “Yes, yes I was. She kept pouncing on my head.”

Kat beamed. “Never stopped me, though. He never was really done with me. He always kept playing through the torment.”

Another page, another memory of my mate’s—Skel was maybe eight years old, sitting on the floor with a tiny, fluffy black kitten asleep on his lap. But that kitten definitely was not his sister in cat form.

He stared at it for a long moment.

“…I forgot about him,” Skel admitted quietly.

“Me too.” Kat’s voice softened. “Midnight. We used to play a lot together.”

He nodded slowly. “We did. What ever happened to him?”

“He ran away,” Nelson told them with regret. “We never could find him.”

“I still think that old man had something to do with it.” Kat crossed her arms. “He hated cats. Why do you think I tormented him so much?”

“Let’s hope he just ran off,” Skel muttered, flipping through the scrapbook.

Page after page, picture after picture, filled with moments of Skel’s childhood. Some were funny, some were sweet, but all of them were little fragments of an early life that I was so happy he was able to experience.