Page 77 of Hex
“Don’t do that. Do not fucking pity me. I’m fine. I’ll be just fucking fine. All of you, stop it. I’m not broken. I’m not crying myself to sleep. This is not a fucking melodrama. I will survive and no one will treat me like I’m a fucking glass doll.” Danika ends her monologue with a pointed index finger accusing every single one of us, landing on Slash last.
“Don’t look at me, little red tempest. There’s nothing fun about a glass doll. I think what you need is a night out full of faerie drinks.” Quick as a whip, Sage throws a tiny fireball at Slash’s head.
“Do not corrupt my best friend!” Desdemon and Danika both snort like it’s the funniest thing they’ve ever heard. “Fine, don’t corrupt her…more.”
“Well, as much fun as all of this drama is, I do believe it’s time for you all to find another home.” Samhain isn’t in touch with his deeper emotions.
As though a button is activated, everyone moves at the same time. Sage jumps out from the bed, her movement fluid, her exhaustion a thing of the past. Slay and Pierce walk out, both nodding to Desdemon on the way out. When Slash’s gaze lingersa second too long on Danika’s lithe form, he gets dragged out by his warrior braids, the purple contrasting with Des’s red.
“Touch her and I will fucking destroy you.” Anyone else would cower, but Slash just smiles like he’s about to say “Challenge accepted.” He doesn’t, of course, because he may be impulsive but he’s not a fucking idiot.
“Understood.”
I push my brother out of the door with one hand while the other is pulling my chosen, who decided to dress like an anthros with a thick sweater and jeans.
Before we’re all out the door, Des stops Sage in the hallway, his face a mask hiding myriad emotions, no doubt.
“Petite Sorcière, I owe you everything. I am in your debt.” Then he does the unthinkable and bows his head to my chosen, and for a long moment, everyone just freezes.
Instead of being polite and merely acknowledging him for his gratitude, I decide time is of the essence.
“Prove it.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Sage
Ifucked up. But I’d do it all over again to save Danika because being able to have this with her again is priceless.
“What do you think they’re going to do?” I slouch into the soft couch in Hack’s living room at the property in Georgia, pulling the blanket up around my chest.
“I mean, I don’t know the history of it all because, ya know, baby vamp, but I don’t think anyone has actually killed one of the Dei before.” Danika grimaces and shrugs. “So I have no idea.” That part is a lie. Her voice is slightly elevated, one of her main tells, but I’ll let her have it because the truth is something I am happy to push far from my mind—even though it seems to have set up camp right at the front.
“Do you wanna talk about what happened with you or watch a movie?” I feel like giving her options will make it easier to decline if that’s the route she chooses.
With her coffee cupped in her palms she takes a sip then sighs.
“Can we just do the movie?” Her face says she’s fine, but her eyes tell a whole other story.
“Absolutely. Genre?” I’m not going to push her to talk about anything she’s not ready for.
“Hmm…” She scrolls through the options on the streaming service on the TV, pausing onVikingsand looking to me for approval. “This?” It isn’t a movie, but if that’s what she wants, I’m here for it.
“Perfect. Means we’ll have to have more regular get-togethers to watch the whole series.” Grabbing the bowl of popcorn from the oak coffee table, I put it between us on the couch and take a handful.
“Before we rot our brains in front of the TV for the next few hours, I need to say this.” Looking at Danika, I make sure I have her full attention. “When you’re ready to talk, I’m here. Whether it’s the middle of the night or the middle of the day. Find me. If you need me to be silent, for hugs, or to bitch, literally anything…find me. Okay?” I have to hold back my own emotion as I give her my little speech. I don’t mean to make this all serious, but she needs a reminder and her happiness is important to me.
A deep swallow is followed by closed eyes and a slow nod as she sips her coffee. The grip she has on her cup is tight and I know she’s barely holding it together. Then she takes a steadying breath and her eyes settle on mine.
“I know, babe. And I er…” She clears her throat. “I wanted to say thank you for saving me, too, and for killing that bastard.” She pauses again and takes another deep breath. “I fucking love you.” Tears well in her eyes and mine are no better because they’re actually sliding down my cheeks now.
Unwrapping myself from the blanket, I get up, take the coffee cup from Danika’s hands to put on the coffee table, and squeeze the fuck out of her.
“I fucking love you too.”
She squeezes me back and, for a few moments, we just hold each other. I’ll hold her for as long as she wants because that’s what best friends do. Eventually, her arms loosen and she sniffs back, pulling away with a tear-filled smile.
“Okay, enough of that. Vikings.” She picks up the TV control and waves it in the air, effectively closing the subject for now.
