Page 60 of Truth Revealed

He wanted to tell her so badly—about Youth, how he’d helped them escape. But Truth had also shared information that helped Pandora, information that had almost gotten Betrayal killed.

And that was why Truth had both a crockpot and a big pan on the stove filled with hot milk and chocolate, waiting for the two to mix together in perfect harmony, while keeping his mouth shut.

“Hey,” Daria whispered, wrapping her arms around him from behind.

“Hey,” he responded, laying the ladle aside and turning to face her. “How are you doing?”

“I’m okay. It smells really good in here,” she said, and leaned closer.

“It smells sweet, just like you,” he murmured.

“Once it’s done, will you come join us?” she asked, propping her chin on his chest.

Unable to resist, he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. Once, twice, and a third time. Nothing obscene, nothing hot and heavy. Just the soft affirmation that she was real, safe, and in his arms.

“Of course. I’ll bring the drinks in a moment.”

“I’ll be waiting,” she teased. He missed her warmth as she pulled away, but the wink she sent him over her shoulder made his heart flip.

The soft murmurs in the living room drifted into the kitchen, the familiar sounds comforting. It was quite a sight, all the guys piled onto the pillows and blankets they’d brought from the second floor. Daria paused, a finger on her chin as she stared down at the empty spaces between the guys. His lips twitched as she struggled to make a decision, before Betrayal reached up and pulled her down. She squealed, but moments later, she was snuggled up between the four of them, each touching at least a single part of her.

They were all safe and together, but he still wanted to wrap himself up in her and make his body believe it too.

His phone rang, breaking into his thoughts, and he frowned. The vibration buzzed in his pocket like any other phone call, but for some reason dread slid down each vertebrae of Truth’s spine.

Because it could only be one person.

Pulling the device out, an unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. He eyed the comfort of the living room, the steaming milk, and sighed. Then he stepped quietly out of the kitchen and into the garage.

Youth’s frantic, breathy voice was on the line. “Truth? Truth, I think she knows. I don’t know what to do. She’s gonna kill us if she finds out. What do I do? Truth? Truth, are you there?”

“Why aren’t you calling from your number?” he hissed.

“That’s why she knows. I—I had to throw it out the window at your house. Death cornered me and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to make you look guilty! But when I went to get it, it was gone. I think Pandora has it, and if Pandora has it…”

“Then she knows we’ve been talking more than usual,” Truth finished.

Gritting his teeth, Truth envisioned a house of cards. Envisioned two manicured nails flicking a card on the bottom, sending the whole tower down. That’s what had happened.

“Alright, stay calm. I’ll come get you, okay? It’s going to be fine,” he insisted, ignoring his own panic.

“And I’m supposed to just wait here? What if she comes before you do? Oh God, I have a bad feeling,” he whimpered.

“Youth!” Truth barked, and he could almost picture the younger looking demon jumping in place. “Get it together. I’ll stay on the line with you until I get there, okay?”

“Okay,” he whispered, defeat coloring his tone. “I’m at the park across town, beside the old school.”

“Why aren’t you home?” he asked, instantly suspicious.

“Uhm, hello, Pandora knows where I live. I’m not just gonna wait around like a sitting duck.”

With a side-glance through the glass window of the garage door, Truth took one last look at everyone, cuddled up and warm in their puppy pile. Then, he cursed and slipped back inside silently, grabbing a set of keys off the counter, and slipping out through the garage.

“I’m on my way, now what happened? Why do you think she knows?”

“Fuck—that’s right. You weren’t there.” The demon released a slow breath. “Your friends came into the fight, and I refused to help. I couldn’t fight them back. When one of them cornered me, I told them about the word we use to abandon the plan. Then I yelled it and everyone scattered, but that wasn’t what Pandora had told us to do. There’s no way I can talk my way out of that one. Plus if she did get my phone, she knows we exchanged a call right before we arrived.”

Truth started the car as quietly as one could start a car, wincing as he reversed out of the driveway. When he glanced back at the house, Chaos stood where his car had been, shaking his head. The expression on his face sent fear trickling down his neck, and Truth gulped.