Page 21 of Live Like Legends

“What the fuck, we aren’t marri—” I was cut off by Natalia’s lyrical voice from around the corner.

“Nicholas, just the person I wanted to see.” She gave me a smile that warmed my insides and put me at ease. Both her biceps were decorated in gold jeweled bands and for the first time ever she wore a short dress. The royal blue color complimented her dark skin and long legs. I had to bump my shoulder against Reese’s harder than I anticipated due to him staring at her for too long.

“Me?” I asked.

“Just checking in to see how you were doing. Yesterday was about Dani, yes, but I do like to make sure everyone else is thought about as well. Especially with what was said on the balcony about your…”

I cleared my throat, backing away from her and started rubbing the back of my neck. “Oh no, I’m all good. One day at a time and all that.” I looked around the room, a thought brewing in my mind. “You both didn’t want me to come here as some sort of family intervention. He isn’t here, right?”

I wasn’t ready for that. I missed my father; I could admit that. I could miss him and also want my distance at the same time; it didn’t mean I loved him any less. I just needed to look atour relationship from this new viewpoint he’d finally shown me. I had no idea at this vantage point, the new view of my past—of my life—would give me vertigo.

I had made a lot of progress when it came to myself and maybe I could admit I wasn’t strong enough at the moment to face the man I’d looked up to my entire fucking life. I could admit that I wasn’t ready to hear himreallytalk about—her.

Natalia and Reese both looked at each other in slight confusion and then as if in sync, their faces morphed into mild disappointment and shook their heads. Reese stepped over to me and gripped my shoulder. “He’s not here. We know you aren’t ready for that, even if it would probably be for the fucking best.”

The High Priestess shushed him as he patted my shoulder. I flinched just a little at the pressure of his fingers. Dani’s newest burn spot was fresh, and the press of his fingertips just made it worse.

“You okay?” Reese asked, raising a blonde eyebrow at me.

I readjusted my jacket and tried to remain casual. I really, really, didn’t want to explain this to them. I had told Dani we could let them in on things tomorrow, so I would uphold that statement, as much as Reese would have a field day with this kind of information.

I nodded, shrugging. “Never better.”

“You don’t sound like it.” Elise stalked down the stairs, Beetee at her heels.

“Leave him alone, Ellie,” Beetee scolded.

Elise scoffed, walking past us towards the veranda. “I’m allowed to make fucking statements. You all just hate it cause I’m right.” Beetee mouthed anI’m sorrybefore following her.

“You actually enjoy spending so much time here?” I nodded toward the overtly grumpy demon.

Reese ran a hand through his blonde locks. “Enjoy, no. Would I rather be here than at The Skies, living under Ariel’s thumb, fuck yes. Although, most of the time, I stay at your house.” He had a laughing tone to his voice when he finished, but that quickly dissolved into an awkward silence.

I let out a joyless chuckle. “Right.”

Natalia slipped her arm through mine and guided us towards where Beetee and Elise were settled. The hustle of Enchanter around her home was practically nonexistent, it was as if at a certain time of night, she simply wanted peace and if the High Priestess wants peace, she gets it.

A small silence hung in the air and then both Reese and Elise spoke at once.

“I overheard Ariel securing someone to babysit us.”

“I’m going to head back to Purgatory.”

Natalia, Beetee and I all let out one collective, “huh?”

Reese opened his mouth to speak, but Elise placed her hand at his mouth and pushed him away. “I’m going back to Purgatory. I’ll use your key or get your majesty here to send me there, but either way I’m going.”

Beetee’s voice was small and laced with shock. “You never told me that.”

“I decided today. Simple.”

I pulled my eyebrows together. “No, not simple. You can’t just make that decision.”

“I just fucking did. What are you going to do, stop me? I would really like to see you try, although I don’t think that would work out too well for you, pretty boy.”

Natalia shook her head in disbelief. “I think you know I will not be opening a portal for you to go there.”

Elise clucked her tongue, her gray eyes raging in annoyance before she peered over at me. Before I could answer, Reese beatme to it. “Just let the tiny psycho go. She wants to be on the front lines and destroy herself then so be it.”

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