together carefully. And that’s what I’m doing right now—stitching myself back together, one Devil at a time.
When I hang up the phone, I feel infinitely lighter, like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I’m actually smiling when I climb down the ladder and enter the kitchen. But that smile fades when I notice the somber expressions of Nana and her men. Tears wet her cheeks as she stares up at a frowning Gabriel. Polo and Christian seem just as distressed, their arms folded over their chests and their lips curled into severe-looking scowls.
“What’s going on?” I ask, causing their attention to divert to me. Nana hastily brushes at the tears which have escaped her eyes, attempting a nonchalant laugh, but Gabriel’s frown remains.
“I’ve been called away by the witches’ council,” he states without preamble. “There’s been another death.”
“By Bloods?” I query anxiously, now understanding why they all look so upset.
“Gabriel is an expert on Bloods,” Nana explains tiredly, raggedly. She sniffs once, attempting to plaster on a feeble smile, but it slips off her face almost instantly.
“You are?” I eye the man with newfound wonder. “I didn’t know that.”
“No one does.” Polo offers me a kind smile, though his eyes remain worried as he stares at his brother. “But the council asked Gabriel to travel to the various sites and investigate.”
“You know I have to do this.” Gabriel addresses this to a frowning Nana, whose lips are so thin, they’re practically nonexistent. “For you. For my brothers. For Peony. These Bloods…” He shakes his head in disgust. “I have to do this.”
Nana’s knuckles are white from her harsh grip on the tabletop, but she manages a weak nod. It’s barely a tilt of her chin, but her eyes spark with steely determination and resolve.
“I know you do, my beloved,” she says. “But…”
“I’ll be careful.” He tentatively places a hand on her cheek, smoothing his thumb over her lip, and I turn away, unwilling to intrude on their personal moment. Less than a second later, Gabriel stands directly in front of me, eyes cold and assessing.
“You need to be careful, Peony,” he warns. “Don’t walk home alone at night. Don’t get into cars with strangers. Don’t—”
“I understand.” I take his hand in mine and give it a reassuring squeeze. I only saw pictures of my dad and I never had a brother, but I imagine if I did, they would be like Gabriel, Polo, and Christian. I may not know them that well, but I believe they’ll go to bat for me if I ever needed them to. We’re family, after all, and family sticks together.
And despite only being five to ten years older than me, I feel centuries younger beneath their archaic gazes—gazes that have seen too much. Survived unspeakable horrors. “Don’t be a dumbass.”
The corners of his lips twitch. “Right. Don’t be a dumbass.”
“You know, someday, I’m going to get you to actually fucking smile,” I vow, attempting to alleviate the tension ratcheting up ten octaves in the room. I hear Christian release a strained laugh from somewhere behind Gabriel, and even Polo chuckles softly.
Gabriel continues to stare at me with a weird combination of fondness and annoyance.
“Be safe. And protect your nana.”
“You be safe too, old man,” I tease, and he rolls his eyes at me before turning back to face Nana and his brothers. The looks they give each other makes me want to run from the room…run from the house…as fast as humanly possible. Vomit climbs up my throat as I turn on my heel, all but stomping back towards my attic bedroom. The one good news about living in a hole in the ceiling—I don’t hear anything. Thank fuck.
The second I’m back in my room, I make a beeline towards the window. Unsurprisingly, Elias’s Jeep is still parked in front of my house. I can see his broad silhouette in the front seat.
Elias: I just want to know you’re alright.
Elias: I need to know you’re alright.
Maybe it’s the fear for Gabriel leaving. Or the heartbroken expression on Nana’s face. Or my conversation with Uriel and Yoselin. Or my confrontation with Karsyn the night before.
Either way, I find my fingers moving rapidly over the keyboard on my phone as I type out a reply.
Me: I’m fine. You can go now.
I watch in rapt fascination as Elias’s shadowy head bends over, reading my text message. His reply is instantaneous.
Elias: thank you.
I swear my heart shreds into thousands of pieces smaller than confetti as he finally