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Neverra nudged her with her shoulder. “Yup. It is like a spark of electricity when you first meet. The mortals call it butterflies, but it is just your powers connecting and communicating. It is a knowing, a greeting, an acknowledgment that you have been waiting your whole life for this one person.”
Imogen laughed. “Yes, like that. It doesn’t matter if you get along or fight like enemies. They are the person you’d do anything for. You become consumed by a weird territorial drive, and no one else will do.”
Neverra giggled. “Understatement of the year.”
Imogen leaned close to the mirror, carefully applying the mask under her eyes. “I’ve never felt that. Not for Samkiel, not for anyone.”
She glanced at me when she said that, letting me know she meant no harm, and my beast yawned and went back to its nap.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, putting my brush back into the bowl. “That’s beautiful. Gabby would have loved it. She was such a romantic.”
“You aren’t?” Imogen asked.
“In my world, there was no such thing as romance. I guess it’s hard for me to believe in something I’ve never had.”
Neverra placed her brush down. “I’m sorry about everything.”
“Don’t be. I did what I had to for her, and I’d do it again. Every part. Even the terrible ones. You guys do realize that, right?”
They both nodded.
“Good.” I smiled at Imogen as she finished her mask. “And I’m sure you still have a mate. They’re probably just sealed behind the realms or something.”
She placed her brush down, examining her face in the mirror, and gave a small shrug. “Well, I guess I’ll be mateless then because the alternative is Samkiel dying, and that isn’t worth it. No matter how great Logan and Neverra say it is.”
Neverra only cleaned her hands off with a small towel. “Okay, movie time.”
* * *
Neverra hit a button on the small device she’d brought, and a screen projected clear as day onto the wall. They had brought movies that they thought I liked, and a part of my damaged heart swelled. We had just made it to a part where the heroine jumped to her feet when Neverra’s phone buzzed once more on the table between us. She leaned over and grabbed it, taking half of the blanket with her. She grinned at the screen, and Imogen nudged me with her foot, drawing my attention as she nodded at Neverra.
“Logan?” Imogen grinned.
“No, it’s my other secret mate,” Neverra joked. “Yes. It’s Logan.”
“You haven’t been gone that long.” Imogen continued to jest with her.
“He just misses me.” Neverra stuck her tongue out at her.
The room fell silent, the reason for Logan’s unease suddenly weighing on me. Kaden had taken Neverra because she’d tried to protect my sister.
My fault.
“He wants a picture,” Neverra said, pulling me from my thoughts. “Want to do something funny?”
“Yes!” Imogen all but cheered.
Neverra waved us closer. Imogen and I scooted in, one on each side of her. “Okay, make a funny face,” Neverra said. We all pulled our goofiest faces, and the camera flashed, capturing the moment.
“Perfect.” Neverra laughed and sent the picture before placing the phone down.
We got comfortable again. Imogen and Neverra returned their attention to the movie, but I watched them. Imogen stuffed her face with so much popcorn her cheeks bulged. Neverra laughed at a part of the movie that would have terrified most mortals. They were relaxed and happy to be with each other and me. They deserved happiness after all they’d been through. I had laughed a lot today, but while neither of them had made a big deal out of it, it had surprised them each time. They hadn’t said anything, as if afraid I would notice and stop. They wanted me to be happy, too.
This was it, the feeling I had wanted, needed, and searched for. Family. They weren’t cruel like Kaden, Alistair, and Tobias. They were sweet and kind. This family cared for each other. All of them had checked on me throughout the day, even when I glared or rolled my eyes.
I sighed, the ache in my chest growing. I had fun today for the first time since Gabby was taken from me. A single tear rolled down my cheek, and I turned away from Imogen and Neverra, hoping they wouldn’t notice as I swiped it away.
They are like a family. A home.
