Page 59 of Blood

“Your son...?” I don’t know why Violet even bothers to ask. We all already know the answer to that question.

No less than two seconds later, our shared theory is confirmed when a belligerent, accented voice drawls, “Mother, can you not embarrass me for once in your life?”

CHAPTER 21

VIOLET

The Fomorian known as Balor stops directly beside Athena.

Brown, slightly curly hair frames a face that isn’t as sharp or defined as I would’ve expected. If anything, his slightly rounded features make him appear sweet and innocent—which is fucking hilarious. I once read that Fomorians represent the wild and destructive nature of life and death, that they’re the personification of chaos, blight, and destruction. I never believed those rumors, especially with the knowledge I have now, but Balor’s icy temperament is enough to make me second-guess all I know about the elusive race.

His body is toned and well-defined, despite being imprisoned without a soul for a few hundred years. It’s apparent that his...mother? Yes, his mother... It’s apparent that she took care of his body while Balor was trapped on Earth as a wayward soul.

Balor’s gray eyes, the exact shade as his mother’s, land on me. His lips twist into a rictus, sardonic grin.

“Hello, luv,” he purrs in his thick Irish brogue. It somehow sounds even more pronounced now that he’s not using Hux and Jack’s vocal box.

I simply wrinkle my nose at the little fucker and give him the finger.

That only causes his smile to widen.

But that grin of his abruptly disappears from his face when Athena whacks him across the head.

“Show some respect, my boy!” she chides in a disapproving voice. I swear Balor seems to wilt like a stepped-on dandelion under his mother’s ire.

“Sorry,” he murmurs.

Athena huffs and folds her arms across her rather generous bust. “It’s not me you should be apologizing to.”

When Balor doesn’t immediately respond, scowling at the ground, Athena jerks her chin in my direction with a pointed stare.

The first genuine smile I’ve felt since I woke up flutters at the corners of my lips. It doesn’t fully form, but it’s there, teasing and fleeting.

“Balor...” Athena’s voice holds a note of warning.

“Fine.” Balor huffs exaggeratedly and finally lifts his head to meet my eyes. “I’m sorry, Violet Dracula, for being mean to you.”

“And?” One of Athena’s dark brows arches delicately.

Balor grits his teeth and turns to face Jack and Hux. “I’m sorry for possessing your body and killing a bunch of monsters and humans using it.”

“Um, thanks?” Jack says softly. I have no idea when he gained control back from Hux. He shuffles forward until he’s able to stand beside me and places his hand in mine, seemingly unconcerned that Barret’s arms are still banded around my waist.

I offer Jack a tentative smile in return, and for a moment, I swear I see Hux staring out at me—that primitive, radioactive fury and possessiveness I’ve come to associate with that facet of his personality. But then Hux retreats and my sweet, timid mate returns.

Jack squeezes my hand in reassurance, and I take comfort in his touch, allowing it to bolster my resolve and do what I have to do.

Taking a deep, calming breath, I focus on Athena and Balor. “So, if you’ve been watching me for a while, then you must know who I am.”

Athena’s pale lips pinch, as if she just ate a sour lemon. “I do.”

“And you don’t want to...I don’t know...go stabby stab stab on my ass?” My hand reflexively tightens around Jack’s. I’m still too raw after everything that just happened. After my...death, or whatever that was. Sometimes, when I blink, I can see Mason’s face staring back at me, rife with anguish and desperation. I can feel his touch, as if he’s physically beside me, running his fingers through my hair and skating his lips across my cheek.

Was that real or just my imagination?

I desperately try to banish the cobwebs spinning in my head before they can collect flies.

“Violet.” Athena’s gentle voice pulls my attention back to her. “I can’t blame a child for the actions of a parent.”

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