Quinn has intrigued me since I joined. They walk around the carnival, bouncing about and playing their dulcimodia, but they’re actually a little shy and reserved. So are Taryn, Leo, and Aida, which is not something I expected from my fellow performers. Khalid and I are loud and bold, but it’s good we’re not all the same.
Hel’s Carnival is a well-balanced team. A family, even.
“That’s great. You’re all wonderful parents, but I wonder if—what’s his name?” Raph asks, pausing his line of thought.
“Nico,” I say, looking over to where Chicken still rests on Leo’s lap.
“I wonder if Nico would be better suited with Tempest, as they’re both lupion.”
I can feel the energy shift beside me, Tempest’s entire body going rigid.
“No,” she says, firm and finite.
Everyone’seyes widen. Some in judgement, others in shock. An entire table of mostly golden eyes staring directly at her.
“Would you like time to think it over?” Raph offers, but Tempest shakes her head, playing with the fingerhole of her hoodie.
“No. I am not interested.” There is no softness to her tone, no empathy. Part of me wonders why she feels so strongly about this, and another part of me is proud of her for sticking with her boundary.
I understand that he’s a lupion, but that doesn’t mean she owes him anything.
Raph’s eyes make his way over to where Lilian and Baelor sit, but they don’t say anything, both sets of eyes meeting the floor. Raph doesn’t know that they’re trying for a family of their own, so it’s unsurprising he thinks they might be interested.
“Reina, would you have any interest in caring for the child?” Raph asks as footsteps approach.
“Hi.” Nico sprints into the room before turning back to Gemma. “Who is Draven again?”
Gemma points to her husband, and Nico charges towards him. Draven’s mouth curves into the most adoring smile. “How can I be of assistance?”
“I asked Gemma if I could live with her and she said I have to ask you,” Nico says, green eyes beaming up at the half-demon.
Draven uses his knuckles to scruff the top of the child’s head. “Now, are you sure youwant to do that?”
“Yes, I’m really sure. I really like Gemma. Plus, Ms. Phaelyn said you’d be good parents to me,” he answers as he climbs into Draven’s lap.
I think every individual in the room is fighting back tears. Draven and Gemma haven’t been open about it, but I’ve been quietly wondering if they’ve been struggling with fertility issues, as there have been some signs. Regardless, this is an amazing opportunity for them to have a family of their own. Gemma having been raised by her grandparents, and Draven having gone through what he has, they’ll understand the trauma Nico has likely endured more than anyone.
Movement No. 16
Tempest
My father walks towards me, there’s a feral sort of rage in his eyes, and I can feel the tears streaming down my cheeks as he slaps me square in the face and I fall to the ground.
“What did you do?” he asks, his voice projecting through every inch of the den.
“I don’t know, Dad, I don’t know,” I answer, and I can feel that it’s the truth. I have no idea what he’s accusing me of.
“Do notevercall me that again. I am your Alpha first, your father second.”
My hand reaches up to touch my swollen cheek. “I’m sorry, Alpha.”
He spits on the wooden floorboard beside my foot, and I look down at the aerial shoes on my little feet. My vision goes blurry, my body feeling like I’m in a drunken haze. My limbs are heavy, my movements slow, and I’m sosotired.
Jolting awake, I open my eyes and understanding dawns on me. It was just a bad dream. I have them a lot. Bad dreams, nightmares, even night terrors. The kind where you wake up screaming and frantic.
A lot of my childhood feels like I blacked out, like my brain istrying to scribble permanent marker over the memory. It leaves me with a lot of unanswered questions. I don’t know if these dreams are figments of my imagination, or if they’re memories I’ve suppressed over the years.
As I get up and get dressed, I try not to think about it. Exiting my tent, I cross towards the metal fence, hoping Taryn is back from her trip, though nobody mentioned it.
