Page 32 of Hazel’s Choice (A Monstrous World: Next Gen)

Chapter Thirty

Hazel

I ’m about to lose my shit.

If this doesn’t fix Zephyr…

It’s like I can’t even fathom that as a possibility.

I’d have to find a not-fallen angel to devour, and even then, I have no way of knowing if their gilded blade would stick around on this plane or simply reappear in Heaven once that angel was no longer alive.

That means this has to work.

My mom wraps her arms around me, kissing my cheek. “I love you. Wraith and Knight are going to do everything they can.”

“I know.”

Allowing Zephyr to die would fracture my soul, and they’ll do anything they can to prevent that from happening. They may love to torment me, but I know they would never purposely cause me harm.

“Restrain my daughter,” Wraith says.

My mom steps back, and Annex’s arms wrap around my middle. I don’t even fight him. At least not until Wraith’s hand transforms into claws, and he jabs that clawed hand right into Zephyr’s chest. Silver blood pools around his fingers, and my panic intensifies.

“They didn’t have to do all that to sever the cords,” I choke out.

“A human doesn’t have to be cut open to be shot, but I can assure you a good surgeon would open up their patient to fix any interior damage rather than simply sewing up the bullet wound,” Wraith says.

“Nadia, if you would.” He bends over, bringing his other hand close to Zephyr’s chest. “This silver tether needs to be mended to the one dangling from Hazel.”

My head tilts.

What?

“Are we thinking now might be a good time to knock her out?” Knight asks. “I’ll just…”

And the next thing I know, everything goes black.

My eyes pop open, and for whatever reason, I’m in the process of sitting up. Annex’s face is the first thing I see, but that’s only for a fraction of a second before my forehead slams into his cheek.

“Shit, baby doll. Are you okay?” he says, helping me sit back against the couch cushion.

“I’m fine. What happened?”

“I knocked you out,” Knight says. “But good news, your mom was able to tether the angel to you in a similar way to how Wraith and I are tethered to your mom. It should keep him from expiring without his connection to the angelic divine.”

“And his soul accepted Truthseeker,” Wraith says. “It was up in the air for a few moments, but I believe the fact the two of you are fated allowed the angel to bond with a demonic blade.”

“Or the fact that her soul now basically acts like the angelic source where he’s concerned,” Knight says.

Okay, my brain is officially fried.

“He has a name. It’s Zephyr.” I glance between my dads, so they understand that I expect them to start treating him with some respect.

Annex takes a seat on the couch next to my thighs. “It was much less stressful than they made it seem.”

I peek over at Zephyr, and he seems to be resting comfortably. “How long until he’ll wake up?”

My mom steps forward, shaking out her hands. “I could wake him now, but I don’t recommend it. His mind will rouse when he’s healed. Why don’t the three of you take your old room?”

I scoff. “I love you, but that’s not happening.” I know from experience, this house is loud and chaotic. Zephyr needs a quiet environment to recuperate. “Annex and I will take Zephyr back to Black Cove to rest. Where is his dagger?”

Wraith comes over, offering me the handle of the blade. “He should be able to store it in the ether once he’s conscious.”

I take it, setting it on my thighs, but Annex grabs it.

“Might as well store the soul-collecting knife in the box when it’s not in use.” He shrugs, and Knight places the box in his hand. “It’s like when you hide kitchen knives around small children. I’m clumsy. Better not to risk any stumbles into a would be soul-stealing blade.”

Mom laughs.

Annex drops the box on the couch and offers me his hands.

“We can head home after this, but I absolutely have to know what teenage Hazel’s bedroom looks like.

” I place my hands in his, and he pulls me off the couch.

“I will die if there are pink unicorns. Please tell me the emo vibes from when we first met were just because you missed home.” He drags me toward the stairs.

“Baby doll, tell me there are rainbows.”

“You can see it, but we have to hurry. I need to be here when Zeph wakes up,” I say, glancing back at my sleeping mate.

“Keep the door open,” Wraith calls after us.

“Never in a million years would I have pictured Hazel with an incubus.” My mother’s laughter taunts me. “But somehow it works. I think he’ll be good for her. Did you notice how he immediately set her at ease?”

My face burns.

We can not get out of here quick enough.

Annex’s disappointment over the lack of rainbows and unicorns would be funny… If my heart wasn’t aching, and my mind wasn’t downstairs with Zephyr.

The incubus pushes me backward until my knees hit the edge of my bed. I flop against the mattress, trying not to be annoyed with him, but I kinda am.

I don’t want to be up here at all right now.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that.” His wings stretch wide, and he lowers himself on top of me. “I know you’re stressed, but I thought we should have a chat without your family listening in.”

I pull my hands to his face, cradling his cheeks. “Okay, speak.”

Annex chuckles. “Listen, baby doll. I get that you’re still in triage mode, but you’re blessed to have a family that loves you.

It’s something Zephyr and I don’t have.” He shrugs, a dangerous smile crossing his face.

“Okay, maybe one day if we knock you up, but that’s not the point.

The point is, I haven’t heard you thank your mom and dads.

Not even once. They immediately rushed to aid your mate, who they’d never met, and you’ve been a wee bit snappy.

I get it. You were frantic. I’m worried about Zephyr too, but it’s clear how much they love you.

I believe a thank you might be in order. ”

My head tilts, and my eyes ache.

He’s right.

I would have gotten there. It might have taken until I was no longer spiraling, but I do have an amazing family. Part of that is knowing, even bossy and demanding, they’ll still love me.

“I’ll tell them,” I say, running my thumbs over his cheeks. “And thank you for…” I don’t even have the words. “Everything.”

“Always, baby doll.” He lowers his head, pecking a quick kiss on my lips. “Now, let’s go check on the stick-in-the-mud. I’m really going to have to find a different nickname for him if we’re to be true packmates.”

“Holy shit, Hazel! There’s an angel on our couch,” Violet hisses, stomping inside my room. I’m honestly surprised she’s the first of my siblings to pop in. “Whoa, and a smoking hot incubus on your bed.”

Annex chuckles darkly.

“Annex, meet my twin, Violet.” My eyes roll practically into the back of my head. “Violet, meet my mate .”

Yes, I had to make that clear.

No, I will not feel guilty about it.

Every guy I’ve ever had a crush on has chosen Violet over me, and I’ve never made a big deal about it because I didn’t like them enough to care.

This is a much different situation, and while I might one day regret it, I would devour her if she flirted with either of my mates.

I have more faith in Violet than that under normal circumstances, but I’m still healing after my heat, and apparently my hormones are a little out of control.

Annex slides a hand under my back and lifts me off the bed with him as he stands.

“The angel is Zephyr, another of your sister’s mates.

” He gets us upright and waves. “Nice to meet you.” His hand on my lower back feels extra comforting as he leads us toward the door.

“Our angel is injured. We’ll have to get formal hellos out of the way at a later date. ”

Violet follows Annex and me downstairs, but I ignore her. Making my way over to my mom, I grab my dads along the way. The looks on their faces betray their concern as they stand in a semi-circle across from me.

“I just, um, I need to say…” My eyes ache, and I fail to make eye contact with any of them. “I love you all, and I’m sorry I yelled at you. Thank you for saving Zephyr.”

My mom slams into me with the force of a freight train as she pulls me in for a hug. “We love you too, sweetheart. That’s what we’re here for.”

My mom had a really complicated relationship with her own mother.

Like her mom tried to kill her when her blood magic became evident.

Really messy stuff. Luckily, my great-grandma is amazing, but I’ve always felt like my mom tries extra hard to be everything we need because of how awful the relationship with her own mother was for her.

“I love you so much, Mom,” I whisper, hugging her back. I probably don’t say that enough, but I’m going to work on getting better about it.

Wraith and Knight join in from the sides, hugging us.

Echo and Ridge, my other two dads, are around here somewhere, but I imagine they’re keeping my younger siblings busy upstairs.

“Anything you need, you know we’ve got you,” Knight says, kissing my temple.

Mom releases me, stepping back. Wraith takes her spot and wraps his arms around me.

“You handled yourself admirably under the circumstances. Never back down when protecting those you care about, even if you’re standing up to me. I’m proud of you, Hazel.” Wraith pats my back awkwardly. “I love you.”

I laugh.

He’s even worse than I am when it comes to emotionally comforting someone.

“Um, not to ruin the moment or anything,” Violet says from behind me. “The angel is twitching.”