Page 24 of Caelum

“More like impenetrable,” Eren commented.

Nestor conceded that with a nod.

“What do the Hell Hounds do?”

“Well, they work with another creature—the Sin Eater.”

My eyes widened. “Do they eat sins?”

Stefan laughed. “You got that, huh?”

“Sins as in the acts that corrupt eternal souls? Or…?”

“They eat actual souls. Corrupted ones.” Stefan shot Eren a look before he cleared his throat. “They’re basically our cops. Hell Hounds work with them as a team.”

“There are days when I feel like my skin is too tight… which soul is that one?”

They frowned at me, but Stefan asked, “Do you feel angry on those days?”

“Sometimes.”

“When that happens and you’re angry, it’s a Hell Hound day. If you feel…” Nestor pursed his lips. “I guess, when you feel like you want to corral everyone you care about, make sure you can watch over them, that’s agouilleday.”

“And a Were day?” I inquired. “That the one where you want to just run and run?”

They all nodded, and it relieved me that even if I had aneighthsoul, everything else was in working order. To a degree, at any rate.

I gnawed on my bottom lip. “Why do they change each day?”

“So that they can stretch their legs, basically,” Eren explained softly. “How will they know which is the strongest if they’re always contained?”

“Good point.” Pulling my hand from his so I could reach up and rub at my temple, I murmured, “Thank you so much for explaining.”

They smiled at me, and it felt like the sun had just burst out from behind a wall of clouds. It felt good to be encompassed by them and even better to be with them. They were strangers, and yet I felt safer amongst them than I had with my own family.

Stefan squeezed my fingers. “There’s a lot to learn, and you’re older than most new students so you’ll be behind for a while, but we’ll help out.”

“You will?”

He stared into my eyes like I was a pool of water that he wanted to dive into. “I’ll do anything for you, Eve.”

“Why?”

He reached up with his free hand and rubbed his chest. “I think you know.”

Did I?

My cheeks burned again. “Are we kin?”

Nestor snorted and Eren laughed, earning themselves glares from Stefan. Before he could snap at them, though, Eren clambered to his feet and stated, “You should get some rest. The days start early here, and you’ll need some time to get acquainted with things.”

Stefan squeezed my fingers again. “You’ll meet Alexandre soon. He’s one of our friends.” He pulled a face. “He got into a fight and…let’s just say it didn’t work out so well for him.”

“Is he okay?” I questioned, concerned.

“He’s fine.” He shot me a gentle smile then leaned over until he was in my space. He scented of fresh air, a salty sweat that wasn’t overwhelming like the men at the compound after they’d been doing heavy lifting, and a sweet smell that was like a perfume. The scent made me frown because it was delicious. Fresh and zingy, even though I’d seen the gleam on his body that spoke of his having been ‘training’ before he’d come to guide me around.

I looked up into his eyes as he hovered above me, but I wasn’t nervous like before. Stefan meant me no harm. When he’d touched his chest, I’d felt the pang in my own. Whatever we were, family or two people meant to be friends, he wouldn’t harm me.

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