I said, relaxing as he smoothed the tape.
He leaned over and kissed the skin next to it, and then he looked up at me, his eyes falling to my lips.
I leaned in and tilted my head, stopping just inches from his mouth.
He moved toward me. “Ask me to kiss you.”
I put my finger on his lips, and he looked at me, confused.
“What are you keeping from me?”
He sighed and fell back against the sofa cushions.
“You’re killing me,” Levi said.
“You’re lying. You’re not my family. You don’t get to lie to me.”
“You’re right. I’ve known you longer, and I love you more.”
“You don’t know that.”
He frowned, sitting up with some effort. “If they wanted you to know, they would have told you by now. There’s a reason they’re keeping it from you.”
“Keeping what from her?” Mom asked, carrying her heels in her hand. She leaned over to kiss my cheek. “Going to work. Love you.”
“Something about Grandmother.”
“Grandmother?” she asked, looking to Levi.
He shrugged.
“What about her?” Mom asked Levi.
“You didn’t find the small stint of panic during breakfast strange? Right after Grandmother left the room?” I asked.
“She’s well versed in all of this, Eden,” Mom said.
“No”—I shook my head—“it’s something else. She scared them off somehow. She’s done it before.”
“Eden,” Levi warned.
“What do you mean?” Mom asked.
I leaned back. “You didn’t know either.”
“Know what?” she asked.
“About Grandmother.”
Mom shook her head, frustrated. “What are you saying, honey?”
I looked to Levi and then felt Bex’s presence in the room. I turned to the doorway, and he shook his head.
Oh God. It must be something really bad. They all know about it and have kept it from Mom all this time.
Mom noticed Bex, too, and then glared at Levi. “Spit it out, Junior.”
“She’s, um …” Levi looked at me, hesitant.
“Levi, don’t,” Bex said.
“Tell her,” I said.
“She’s like me,” Levi said. “Except she’s a true Cambion.”
Mom laughed once without humor. “Cynthia is a hybrid.”
Levi sighed, unhappy. “Yes. Her father is a demon.”
Mom and I had matching expressions.
Bex shook his head and covered his eyes. “You’re lucky you’re my Taleh. Jared will want to kill you after this.”
Mom spun around. “Jared knew?”
“Oh, crap,” Bex said, backing away from the door.
Mom walked slowly toward her brother-in-law. “Bex Emmanuel Ryel, this … is unforgivable.”
Bex fidgeted for a moment. “Well … you did walk out of the Sepulcher and nearly got us all killed. We forgave you for that.”
Mom froze for a moment. Her bottom lip trembled, and then she shouldered past Bex. He allowed her to nearly knock him over as she passed.
“Eden, she can’t know that I told you,” Levi said. “She’s older than me, and she’s strong. I’ve never seen a Cambion with abilities like hers. And I get the feeling she wouldn’t care that Bex will die if she kills me.”
I clenched my teeth and then craned my neck toward Bex. “Kim was one of Mom’s closest friends. Most women are granted a pregnancy freak out or two. Mom’s happened to get Kim killed. You think she doesn’t know leaving the Sepulcher led to Kim’s death?”
“You’re right,” Bex said, ashamed.
“Every year on my birthday she comes home from the cemetery in tears, Bex. Every year. How could you rub that in her face? I can’t believe you just said that.”
Bex let his forehead fall against the doorjamb, holding on to it with both hands. “I can’t believe I said it either.”
“Still sick?” I asked, staring at Morgan’s plate of food.
He’d barely touched it.
“It comes and goes. Your grandmother’s cooking is amazing, but I’ll never eat it again.”
Beads of sweat had begun to form along his hairline. It had been a week since he visited, and even though Grandmother had assured me he was fine, I could see in her eyes she was hiding something.
“How are you feeling?”
“Almost like new.”
“That was a speedy recovery.”
“Not as quick as I hoped. I missed two days of training.”
“I can’t believe you’re back at it at all.” He nodded to the long bandage on my arm. There was nothing but unmarked smooth skin beneath, but I had to keep up pretenses with Morgan.
“I’m taking it really easy,” I lied.
“What did you say you were training for again?”
“I’m not. I help Bex, remember?”
He winced as if he were in pain. “And what does he train for?”
“Um … he likes CrossFit.” It wasn’t a complete lie. He didn’t hate CrossFit.
I sighed. Morgan had only taken one bite of his soup, and it had cooled. He showed no signs of picking up his spoon