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Harlow was an unexpected complication, and I wanted a taste of her.
But would that make me any better than my father?
At least with her I was making no promises, and after my mother, Dark Haven implemented mandatory birth control and heat suppressors. So, at least the outcome would be different.
While I got lost in my head, shadowy bands wrapped around my neck, pinning me to the wall and cutting off my air supply. I didn’t panic, but the moment I was free he was going to fucking regret it.
“Unhand him.” Hel’s voice echoed in the elevator, and he immediately withdrew before popping out of existence as quickly as he came.
The elevator whirred back to life, bringing me to the ground floor. The moment the security guards saw me, they let me through, and I didn’t look back until I was standing outside.
A privilege only I had, since I wasn’t truly a patient here.
When I managed to cross the street, I finally looked back at Dark Haven, staring up at the building and wondering just what was coming.
Something moved on the third floor, and I glanced up to see Roman staring down at me from their window. I knew it was him from the pinched look on his face. Hiro was softer than that, his body always hunched like it would make him safer here. But even that didn’t hide his softness from the world. And that genuine submissive nature of his could be intoxicating if I’d let him close enough.
That and his scent was just as addictive as Harlow’s. Though Roman’s… was not.
I refused to touch Hiro. He may be attractive, but I could never tell him what I was. Not to mention I couldn’t imagine feeding from someone I was fucking, that’d lead to some next level self-loathing.
I was a sadist, not a masochist. I was also a self-aware one and chose not to use my own shortcomings against myself.
Roman was the opposite of me. He was a protector, a guardian. Someone I could fight alongside and respect but not give a second thought to.
It was sometimes alarming to see the physical and personality changes between them, but we’d been around each other long enough it was seamless now and a lot easier to differentiate.
We weren’t friends, I triggered Hiro from time to time without meaning to, and that was something Roman didn’t like.
We respected each other outside of that, nothing more, nothing less.
I nodded at the alter, and he returned the gesture. I’d noticed him watching over Harlow just as much as I did. It was nice to know someone was looking out for her, especially with a demon like Ivar by her side.
I just wish I knew why I even fucking cared if she was safe here. Which was exactly why I shouldn’t get too close.
To her. To Hiro. To anyone.
“That’s because she’s yours.” The voice in my head wasn’t my own, but I managed to hide my shock. It had been years since the Queen of Helheim dropped into my head and it was no less startling than the last.
“Mine for what?”
Her amusement filled my head, and I winced at the strange feeling. I was standing still on the sidewalk, glaring at the stone wall in front of me. I likely looked crazy, not a good thing for someone standing outside of an institution like Dark Haven. But sharing a mind felt invasive, and I fucking hated the feeling.
“She may have been gifted to Ivar and Kol, but you are her balancing guardian, the one who will hold the group accountable. I need you to succeed, Drake. My protection only goes so far.”
“Who is Kol?” I asked back internally.
She sent a mental image of a towering gargoyle. I hadn’t seen them outside of their stone forms but I’d heard whispers of their existence. Hel’s personal warriors that did her bidding.
Cold, neutral, and swift in their punishment.
“Where is he?”
“Not awake quite yet, but soon,” she promised. “Things are changing, Drake. Keep your eyes open and instincts sharp. Listen to them and stop hiding from your demon side. It is not a curse.”
The sharp command there struck more fear into me than the entire conversation with Ivar had. Hel could harm me, but for now, I was useful.
It was time to actually give into my demon side. If for no other reason than self-preservation.
