Page 40 of Resurrection (Daemons & Lumens #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Tabitha

T he cool air made me shiver, but I was enjoying the morning surrounded by people I trusted. It still felt strange to have my own mind back. Flashes of the terrible things Laszlo forced me to do, the lies he made me tell, all swirled in the back of my mind like a fucked up carousel of nightmares.

“Are you cold, love?” Gremory murmured, leaning down from his position standing behind me.

The fact that I didn’t even flinch at his close proximity almost made me cry. I didn’t think I would ever be unafraid again, but Grem and Delphine brought me back to life.

I shivered again, but this time not from the cold.

Grem was so fucking sexy, even when he wasn’t trying to be.

His attentiveness made him doubly attractive.

I turned my head up to meet his eyes, something else I never thought I would be able to do again.

Laszlo wouldn’t let me look anyone in the face.

I smiled softly. “I’m a little chilly, but it’s nice.”

Grem smiled back at me, his bright-blond hair blowing gently in the wind. His silvery blue eyes searched my face. “I can make it a little nicer.” He whispered a few words, and within moments, created a pit before us filled with firewood.

“ Lustro ,” Delphine whispered, waving her hand casually at the wood pile and it immediately came to life with roaring flames.

Grem growled at her, but it wasn’t malicious. “Show-off.”

Delphine arched an eyebrow at him, and the fire in her gaze was enough to make goosebumps pebble my skin.

The heat between Gremory and Delphine was palpable.

Anyone could see the bond between them. A very small piece of my heart ached to feel that with someone.

And if I was being completely honest, I wanted it to be with them.

From the moment I met Grem, a connection formed, a bond of friendship unlike anything I’d ever felt, besides my connection with Seraphina.

Speaking of my devilish best friend. I grinned when she approached us. “Hey, Nova.”

“Hey, Zenith.” Seraphina leaned in as if to hug me but stopped.

I nodded, realizing she was waiting for me. She hugged me tightly, and I returned her embrace, letting out a heavy breath. I missed her so fucking much, and I was so fucking sorry for everything I did that led to this.

“Sara…” I started, but she cut me off.

“Don’t even fucking think about apologizing to me.

” Her voice was soft and hard all at once, as if she was afraid to be forceful with me but needed me to understand her words.

Seraphina’s blue-green eyes blazed with emotion as she stared into my face.

“We are in this together, Tibby. And nothing you did was your own choice. I will fucking kill him for what he did to you.”

“Get in line,” Grem growled at my back, his fingers brushing gently against my shoulders.

Blood rushed from my head to my core at his innocent touch, and my cheeks flushed.

I cleared my throat, forcing my body to remain calm and focus on my friend.

“I know it wasn’t me. And I’m trying not to take the blame for the shitshow we are in now.

But some part of me was still in there, watching it all happen, even if I couldn’t stop it.

Maybe if I had power like you, I could’ve been stronger. ”

Seraphina crossed her arms, shaking her head. “No. I supposedly have big, bad power thrumming in my veins, and I haven’t been able to end the fucking Kings. We weren’t ready to fight them before, but we will be soon.”

I nodded, feeling that fire in her eyes mirrored in my own. She was right.

“Go kick some ass then, Nova.”

“I like seeing this fire in you, love,” Grem whispered, brushing his fingers against my neck.

Heat pooled in my center at his touch, and I wanted badly to lean into it, but my body remained still. A strong part of me was still trapped in that cycle of abuse, and even though I knew with every fiber of my being Grem was good, my body needed time.

But he was right. The fire was building within me. “I wish I had the power to fight like you all do.”

Grem stepped in front of my chair and knelt before me. His blond hair fluttered around his shoulders, and his light-blue eyes captured my own boring brown gaze. His jaw ticked with mild irritation, as if he could read my mind, but I knew he would never. Not after Laszlo.

“Tabitha Marsden,” Grem growled, his voice low. “You are one of the strongest people I have ever met. You have strength of heart and mind like I have never seen.”

My cheeks flushed, and I dropped his gaze, looking down at my hands and fidgeting. Grem’s rough fingers reached out slowly and lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze once more.

“Your part in this is not over. I believe there is more to come for you, love. If you can take any of my words with you, believe that.”

My skin heated where his hand still connected with my face. A rush of emotions flooded my insides at his words. If anyone was going to bring me to life and give me the strength to continue this path, it was him.