Pure Requiem - Aja James Page 0,57

want from our shelves, Ere.”

Ishtar’s low voice makes me jump a foot.

Loki’s balls, she’s silent!

Silent as a cat, I was about to say, but then, she is one. A snow leopard, no less. The most silent of all, with their large, padded paws. And snow leopards are the only predatory cats that don’t roar.

“I was going to put it back before I…at the end of the picnic,” I lie.

“You can keep it, if you like that one the best,” she says, coming towards me. “Or Tal can make one just for you. Would you like that?”

I swallow past the lump that suddenly forms in my throat.

“I like this one best,” I eek out in a gritty voice, clenching my fist around the kitten in my pocket.

It’s a sleeping one with its thick tail curled around its eyes, its mouth lifted in a contented smile. It reminds me of the first weeks of my stay here at the Shield, when Ishtar came to me as a kitten, when she slept beside me and kept me company.

I didn’t know myself at the time. I was still the Creature. But Benjamin, Ishtar and Sophia befriended me anyway.

And Tal. Tal has always protected me.

“Then please keep it, beautiful boy,” she murmurs, reaching up to smooth a palm over my cheek.

My breath freezes in my lungs at the simple endearment.

She doesn’t seem to notice as she continues, “Would you like anything else? Tal is exceptionally clever with his hands. He can carve anything, and he makes them so lifelike you can see their eyes glint, their fur fluff.”

“I wouldn’t mind a long-haired rabbit,” I choke out. It’s hard to talk when her soothing hand is wrecking havoc on my emotions.

“Or a cute cuckoo,” I add. Then amend, “Though that’s a bit of an oxymoron. But you said he’s clever. Surely there are fictional cuckoos that can look less ugly than most.”

“I’ll let him know,” she says, smiling warmly at me.

As casually as I can, I pull her hand away from my face and distance myself from her, looking anywhere but into her eyes.

Thankfully, the rest of the party arrives. Benjamin with Tal, Sophia and Liv in tow.

“Let’s go have a picnic! I can’t wait!” Benjamin booms enthusiastically in his loudest voice.

Without further ado, we all make our way up the spiral staircase to the rooftop, Tal and Ishtar holding hands, Liv, Sophia and Benjamin chatting happily, and me bringing up the rear, hungrily observing the others.

This is going to be the best day of my life. I want to memorize every single moment.

*** *** *** ***

I scan the high-rises and the Bay that I can see beyond the one open veranda of the rooftop terrace. Everything else is blocked from view by windowless towers, making this pleasure garden extremely private, out of sight.

But the view of the Bay gives me a sense of where the Shield is located. I know New York City like the back of my hand. Now I know the coordinates of the Pure Ones’ secret base.

The fools.

Good thing I don’t plan on using this information against them.

Yet.

I stand idly with my back against the terrace wall, plopping grapes into my mouth from a fat cluster in one hand.

The conversation flows easily, filled with teasing taunts and plenty of laughter. I’ve never seen Tal and Ishtar so at ease, with everyone around them, and most of all with each other.

Astoundingly, they can’t stop touching one another. She often has her hand on his thigh or arm, or she’ll lean in to nuzzle his jaw and surreptitiously kiss his throat. He always has his hand on some part of her body as well. Her hair, her back, her waist, or simply holding her hand.

Their affection is not overtly sexual (thank the gods), but still simmering with passion and heat. I don’t even think they know they’re doing it; it comes so naturally. As if they are each a part of the other, the way the halves of one person fit and coordinate seamlessly together.

It almost makes me believe in sexual love. The chosen kind between Eternal or Destined Mates. The kind that supposedly makes an individual complete and replete, more so than even the love between parents and offspring.

Seeing their happiness makes me conversely melancholy.

I thought Tal and I had something in common, but I was mistaken. Before, I felt less glaring in a dysfunctional family, but now I can no longer pretend that I fit in. Their love, their joy, with each