Page 14 of Live Like Legends

I kicked at the stone flooring. “How do you mean?”

“You want to connect with your light? Maybe you should confide in someone that already understands their own completely. Consensually feed off of it, so that you get the hangof yours. Light calls to light and all that. I can only do so much, but you do have to want to get along with it, meld both powers together from within yourself. Just because they feel balanced doesn’t mean the execution will be as such.”

I wasn’t a damsel in distress, and I didn’t like the idea of not being able to help myself if needed. This feeling of confused helplessness was new for me, and I hated it. Lilith or Dimitri may not stay dormant forever and I wanted to be at my strongest if it ever came to a fight that needed me at my absolute best. Nick’s light was his own and Ididfeel comfort in his warmth and body. If he put all his efforts into me, using his light to help my own, well then what did that mean for him? Just because he was back in Heaven’s Gate didn’t mean that he couldn’t be weakened yet again by all the things he wasn’t saying…or doing. He might have forgiven himself for what happened with Jonah, but Nicholas Cassial, like his own father, had layers to him. Nick could lay some things to rest, while other things needed more time.

“I think he would understand just perfectly. I think he would listen and give me numerous amounts of advice and make some sort of ten-point plan on how to do things.” I was making a small joke, but damn it, if it actually wasn’t the truth. I let go of the railing and ran my hands through my curls, catching one of my fingers on a knot. “Nick has a ton on his plate. He has spent way too much fucking time making me the priority. I mean I love being waited on hand and foot, not to mention the daily orgasms were something to get used to, but he…”

“Heshouldwait on you constantly. The guy did stab you to fucking death.” Elise sauntered over, standing next to Natalia with a cheeky smile.

“He did bring her back though.” Beetee lightly shoved Elise’s shoulder before joining our huddle. She gave me a tentative smile. We really did need to talk soon. Neither of us understoodwhat being a hybrid meant and both of us had only ever known Purgatory.

Elise scoffed. “The guy got stupid lucky on that one. I am kind of impressed now though. He is way more than just a handsome angel with a sword up his ass. Now, he’s a handsome angel with a sword up his ass that just happens to have necromancy powers.”

“Those powers get heavily avoided, as do many things when it comes to Nicholas,” I admitted, taking a deep breath.

Natalia stepped away from the railing, her jewelry glittering in the sun. “Perhaps him spending some time here alongside Garrett will help with that. At least with his powers, even if he never uses them again.”

“Garrett’s been having a rough time, we both are, but I know my moms can handle themselves. His children and wife, they were in hiding for a reason, but now…” Beetee shook her head, her eyes a little on the verge of tears.

Elise stalked over and took her chin in her hand. “They’ll be okay, so stop. I’m not all worried about Axel because that fucking dog knows how to handle himself and he knows how to protect what needs protecting. For some reason, he loves those fucking kids and Leah, so when I say don’t fucking worry, I mean it.” She released the pink-haired demon’s chin prepared to walk away, but Beetee wrapped her arms around her, holding her in a tight hug.

“Thanks Ellie. I needed that.”

Elise stiffened, making a disgruntled noise before grasping Beetee’s wrists from around her back and shoving her off. “Yeah, okay. Don’t ever do that again.”

“Did Axel learn how to protect what needs protecting from his devoted dog mom?” I joked, poking her in the side.

Elise gave me a sour look. “Did Nicholas ever figure out his daddy issues?”

I narrowed my eyes at her, almost wanting to cease this conversation before he came out here and heard us. Beetee huffed. “Ellie, you can’t just say things like that.”

Elise scoffed. “Why the hell not? The man comes here like every other day. I’m allowed to be on the edge of my seat in this father, son shit show.”

I blinked over to Natalia. “Maurice comes here often?”

The High Priestess nodded. “He comes to see me or Zane. Sometimes he comes alone, sometimes he brings Daya or Alex.”

“As much as he loves Reese, he is a little disappointed when he doesn’t see Nick. He asks about him a lot, just wanting to know how he’s doing. He asks about you as well.” Beetee pointed out, nervously fiddling with one of her earrings.

My heart faltered a little knowing that Maurice Cassial wondered about my well-being. I assumed being in love with his son had something to do with that.

“I kind of feel bad for the guy and yes, I feel disgusting saying that.” Elise shook her shoulders as a shiver climbed up her spine.

“Maurice told me the entire story. I knew my mother and Nick’s were close, I mean she spoke about her sometimes, but I just didn’t… I had no idea that my mother was the one who…”

A deep voice came from the open doors, and I closed my eyes, internally knowing this was going to happen. Nick leaned against the threshold, looking down at the ground. “I don’t blame you, if that’s what you’re thinking. The minute he told me what your mother did, I didn’t blame you at all.” He pushed away from the door and walked over to us. He had his hands in his pockets, playing like he was nonchalant, but I knew he was tense and would rather not be having this conversation.

Natalia gave him an apologetic smile. “I know, I just wish that I would have known sooner, so that I could have made better sense of it all.”

Nick shrugged. “I wish my father would have told me sooner, so I guess we are both shit out of luck.”

Natalia opened her mouth and then promptly closed it, seemingly lost on what words she wanted to speak next.

The silence that followed was thick and I almost couldn’t breathe from the way it suffocated me. The fresh air wasn’t enough to thin it out. I cleared my throat, catching his attention. “Why don’t we start that training?”

Natalia rallied, her expression morphing from concerned to determined. “Of course, I’ll get Zane.” Beetee and Elise followed behind her, not before Elise started walking backwards and giving me an awkward smile. She pulled at the collar of shirt, silently sayingwell that was fucking awkward.

Nicholas placed his hand out for me to take it, his open palm looked as inviting as ever. “Let’s go.”

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