Page 22 of Demons of Eden

“Getting a little handsy for someone whose last name I don’t even know,” I say, unable to resist teasing, mostly so I can distract myself from the way being the focus of his attention feels.

“It’s Fletcher,” Daion informs me. His answer takes me by surprise for more than one reason.

“The same as Torrin?” I ask, shifting so I can look over my shoulder at his face again.

“Yes.”

Well, that explains why Fletcher is in their company’s name, I guess. I had thought it was pretty weird considering Daion seems more like their natural leader than Torrin does. However, this new information only inspiresmorequestions. If they’re both Fletchers, and they definitely don’t look related, with the obvious racial difference between them and all. Honestly, they don’t even share a similarity that would lead someone to question if they could possibly be half-siblings.

“So…were you adopted? Or are you two married or something? Because I haven’t picked up on the slightest hint of a vibe, but?—”

“We’re not married,”Daion practically chokes out, his hold on me releasing as he takes a step back while looking at me like I’m crazy.

“It wouldn’t be a problem if you were,” I point out, eyes narrowing a little at his reaction.

“I didn’t…that isn’t why I—” he cuts himself off with a pinched sigh, taking a second before starting again. “You got it right the first time. We’rebrothersin all the ways that count. Torrin’s parents took me in when I was orphaned, then they adopted Rio later on for similar reasons, though he didn’t take their name.”

“Why not?”

“Why didn’t he use the Fletcher name?” he clarifies, and I nod both in answer and for him to continue. “Rio cares a lot for them and I know he sees us all as family, but he was adopted older than I was so it’s a little different. He’s never really explained the choice to keep it, but I think it’s that he’s proud to carry their name on. It’s also nice to feel connected to where you came from.”

“I agree,” I reply quietly, feeling somewhat guilty for how little I do to stay connected with my own family.

I’ll call them—no. I’llvisitthem once I’ve figured more of this demon pregnancy stuff out. I need more time to come to terms with it all and to find Ash. They’ll understand why I didn’t rush to give them the baby news, given my unique situation and the threats that go with it, at least, I hope they will.

“How old were you when you were adopted, anyway?” I ask, hoping to distract my mind from the anxiety-inducing horror of not only informing my parents that I’m unexpectedly pregnant, but that the baby is also half-demon.

“Almost five. Torrin was barely a year old at the time, and despite how…unhappy…I was in general then, I was mostly pleased to get a little brother. Don’t tell him I told you this, but he was actually a cute baby, not annoying like I thought he might be. He always looked either really curious or really angry about something, though. I’ve never seen a toddler look more indignant than he would at being told no.”

“Do you—actually, no, don’t worry.” I bite my lip, debating for a moment before adding, “I shouldn’t be prying into your life like this. I’m sorry, I don’t know what possessed me to ask all of that.”

“It’s okay, you can ask whatever you want. Considering we know all of your personal business, it only seems fair. I retain the right to refuse to answer anything I don’t want to, though.”

“Are you sure? If you don’t want to answer something, I’m not going to make you.”

“Fire away,” he orders lazily with a shrug, moving to lean against the wall while we’ve paused to talk, apparently giving up on teaching me to throw a punch for the time being.

Several different questions swirl around my thoughts. I’m not certain where I should begin when suddenly I find myself blurting out, “Do you miss your birth parents?”

Well, my subconscious sure as hell knows what it’s most curious to learn…

“Going straight for the hard questions,” Daion teases, but his tone falls a little flat. I instantly feel bad for asking, despite his offer. If only I had a filter between my mouth and brain. “Yes and no,” he answers a moment later, staring at his hands. “I don’t have a lot of memories. The only family I really had was my mother, but I loved her, and I know she loved me. She did all she could. I’m grateful for that, even if…well, it doesn’t matter. What I’m trying to say is, I miss her, but I also feel like I don’t really knowwhoit is I’m missing at times.”

“What happened to her?” I ask gently, not missing how he didn’t mention anything about his father. He’d hardly be the first child in existence not to have one worth mentioning, though.

He looks up, his dark eyes meeting mine as he gives me a sad smile. “She was killed by a demon. That’s how Torrin’s parents found me, actually. Fletcher Hunting used to belong to James and Ava before they retired. They’re one of the best demon hunting duos I’ve ever met. They had other specialists working with them on and off over the years as well, though they’ve all either passed on or retired by now too. Demon hunting isn’t exactly a career someone takes into old age.”

“Was it because of them you went into this line of work?”

“My mother, or the Fletchers?”

“Either. Both.” I shrug slightly.

“Honestly, it probably is a little of both. Without my loss, I wouldn’t have had the motivation, and without them, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity and knowledge.” He looks away again, his throat bobbing as he swallows thickly, and I realise we’ve hit the point where we need to switch topics. The emotional conversation is getting too much, even if he doesn’t want to verbalise it. As much as I’m curious about his past, I’m not going to push when it’s not welcome.

“Well, whatever your reasons were, I’m glad you went into this business. I really appreciate everything you’re doing for me,” I tell him sincerely before quickly side-stepping away from the tense topic. “Speaking of, you better get back to teaching me how to punch demons, I obviously need all the help I can get.”

“You’re not wrong,” he taunts me with a grin as he straightens up and steps away from the wall to come and stand beside me again. Though, instead of going right back into demon-fighting lessons, he takes me by surprise by asking,“What about your family? Any brothers or sisters whose eyebrows you cursed away while growing up?”

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