Page 35

35

PANDORA

T he sun hung low, casting long, golden streaks across Serpentine Stadium’s grounds from the windows.

Ashenfell had set up a career fair for our final term and had told us that our final project would be a presentation on what we wanted to do after graduation. This meant the chamber buzzed with unfamiliar faces, stalls, and representatives from various careers in the Demon Capital. The atmosphere carried a hustling energy, a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and the looming pressure of what we were meant to do for the rest of our lives after we left the academy.

But I wasn’t nervous. Not when I knew I would have my mates by my side after we left. It didn’t matter what we did, as long as we stayed mated.

Dex, Bram, Reed, and Skel stayed around me like they were my bubble as we walked around the crowd. Each one of my mates had their own way of keeping me close, and I loved it.. Bram kept shooting me worried glances, Skel kept casually brushing his arm against mine, Reed slung his arm around my shoulders, and Dex walked slightly behind me, scanning the area constantly.

Hunter had a session to attend to, so he was missing the fair, but Dad and Joel were present, flocking around Jenni as she talked to a business owner of some restaurant at the Market.

Nebula’s voice carried from my bag. “You know,” he said, “you should take your dad’s spot on the council.”

I blinked, my heart stuttering. “Me?”

“You.” His tone was confident.

“He’s right,” Reed murmured. “It would make sense for you to take Death’s spot.”

“That’s true,” Skel agreed. “Then, we would both be on the council with Hunter.”

“No fair,” Dex whined. “But you would be a great soul eater rep, trouble.”

“You would,” Bram said.

Me, on the Demon Council? I’d never considered actually having a seat on the council.

The idea burrowed itself in my mind, but before I could process it further, my dad appeared in front of us, looking slightly exasperated as Jenni and Joel trailed behind him, snickering.

“Oh, thank the Fates, Pandora,” my father groaned. “Save me from your best friend.”

Jenni grinned at me. “I only suggested something you wouldn’t want to hear about.”

Joel nodded wickedly. “It was a brilliant idea, truly.”

I forced a smile, knowing it must’ve been something sexual between the three of them. “Thanks for sparing me from that information.”

Dad sighed dramatically. “What are you thinking about doing after graduation, Pandora?”

“ We think she should take your spot,” Dex answered before I could.

Dad nodded, his expression turning serious. “That’s a wonderful idea. I’ve been the representative for so long. I’d like to try managing a restaurant with my mate instead.”

“Oh, no fucking fair,” Joel whined. “You know, I just got on the council, and I actually like the position.”

“No one is asking you to step down.” Jenni pressed up on her toes and kissed his lips softly.

“Don’t I get affection? I’m deciding to retire for you.” Dad pouted, crossing his arms.

Jenni giggled and turned toward him, kissing him on the lips too. “Of course you do. I’d say more, but Pandora doesn’t need to be traumatized any more than she is with us.”

“Thank you.” I nodded in agreement.

Dad’s tablet buzzed, and he took it out. “It’s Rowan Clearwater. I need to take this, but I think all of your mates should take up spots on the council. It’d be good for all of you,” he said before turning and walking away with Jenni and Joel following behind him with a wave bye to us.

“What?” Bram, Dex, and Reed squeaked.

Skel and I shared a look. If I did take Dad’s spot on the council, I’d be working with Skel, but… It would be amazing to have all five of my mates on the council with me.

Wait.

“Did my dad actually just say he was giving me his spot on the council?” I rasped as the realization of what that meant sank in.

“He did,” Reed murmured, smiling.

“I really think you’d be perfect for it,” Bram told me.

“I agree.” Skel smirked.

“Ditto. Anyway, I’m stealing her for a bit,” Dex stated, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. “Enjoy the career fair.”

His shadows curled around us, swallowing me into darkness before I could process what was happening. The shift was seamless, like slipping into another dimension, and I wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

A soft gasp left me as I took in the dark space he had created. A void of darkness, sure, but it wasn’t scary. It was quiet, actually peaceful, with a warmth nestled on the edges of us.

“We’re in the shadows, trouble. Are you scared?” he asked, his fog gray eyes turning a little brighter. “If you are, I’ll take us out.”

I turned to him, my heart beating a little faster. “I’m not scared.”

“I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear you say that.” Dex’s lips curled in the faintest of smiles as his fingers interlaced with mine. “Dance with me.”

“Dance?” I barely had time to process before he pulled me close, one hand settling at my waist.

“Yes. Dance. Have you ever danced before?”

I shook my head. My heart beat erratically in my chest, echoing against my skull.

“Let’s start off easy. Relax with me.” He began to hum, and a deep melody resonated through the darkness. It was a sound that I couldn’t help but sway to.

Slowly, he moved us, guiding me effortlessly. His shadows moved in sync with us, slipping over our forms in a non-threatening manner.

For a moment, there was nothing but him: Dex ; my mate. His touch, his presence, his coppery blood-like scent…all of it was around me. His shadows embraced me like they knew me, and they did know me. They were a part of him.

“I wanted a moment with just you,” he admitted, his voice a rough whisper. “No anxiety, no expectations. Just you and me .”

“I’m glad you brought me here.” My chest ached at the rawness of his confession. “I like it.”

He smiled, and love poured through the matebond from him. “For so long, my darkness was just that. Darkness . But you—you’re my light, Pandora. You make this life we live bearable. You make me feel… whole . Sane. Worthy. ”

Tears pricked at my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. Instead, I leaned in, resting my forehead against his. “You were never broken to begin with, you know?”

His breath hitched, and for the first time, I saw something vulnerable flicker in his usually sharp gaze. “But I was. You’re the other half of my soul. I’ve needed you for so long. I didn’t realize how badly I did until the day I met you. It wasn’t until the day the matebond snapped in place that I truly realized why I was so infatuated by you.”

“Dex…” My heart was about to burst from the amount of love I felt from him and for him.

“I love you, trouble.” He closed the space between us, pressing the softest kiss to my lips, his humming vibrating through me as he did.

Then, he pulled back and continued to sway with me to the melody.

His shadows moved gracefully, and it was a rare moment of peace for us: dancing in the dark with nothing but his humming filling the space. Our blood and caramel scents swirled together as he moved us around the shadows.

The darkness didn’t seem so empty anymore.