Page 177 of May: Bloom & Bane

The door creaks open behind us. Damien’s heavy frame fills the doorway, his pale eyes searching the yard before they land on us.

Elena goes positively pale.

“It’s okay,” Eden soothes. “He’s a friend.”

Penelope’s ears perk up, her little nose twitching frantically as she inhales. Without warning, she launches herself off my shoulder like a furry cannonball. Damien’s hands shoot out and catch her with ease. She melts into his palms, curling into a ball against his chest and pressing her face into the crook of his elbow.

“She…” Elena’s mouth opens and closes. “She has never done that. With anyone.”

Penelope purrs louder, and the hard line of Damien’s jaw softens.

He stares down at the furry weight in his arms, his massive fingers twitching against her gray fur.

“Ohh,” Eden hums. “She loves you, Damien.”

He keeps his eyes glued to the raccoon. He looks bewildered that a living thing would fling itself into his arms for a cuddle.

“She’s… heavy,” Damien rasps, his gravelly voice cautious as he holds Penelope like he’s going to break her. He stops a few feet from Elena, keeping a respectful distance, and slowly extends his hand forward.

“Here,” Damien murmurs, his eyes moving to the ground as he offers her back. “Before she falls.”

“Thank you,” Elena whispers, as she accepts Penelope.

“I’m sorry,” Elena says. “Have we met before? You look incredibly familiar, but I swear I’ve never been out to this part of the county.”

“No,” Eden says softly, a knowing smile spreading across her face. “I don’t think we have.”

“That’s so strange. I feel like I—never mind. I should get her back to the truck before she tries to scale anyone else.”

Penelope lets out a mournful chitter, her chubby body twisting around to look back toward Damien.

“Maybe I’ll see you again, Vaeïn†.” he murmurs quietly to Penelope. (Thread)

Eden watches Elena leave the meadow.

“What was that?” I murmur. “You were rubbing over your chest.”

“She belongs to one of them,” she whispers. “The Horsemen. I felt it the second she held out her hand to grab Penelope.”

My brow furrows. “Which one?”

“I don’t know.” She frowns. “But I think we’re going to find out very soon.”

CHAPTER 50

it’s your⁠—

—ASHÁN

Iwait until the house goes quiet. Until Sage’s breathing slows into a deep, even rhythm and Eden’s heartbeat settles into the soft, steady cadence that means she’s out cold.

A thread of shadow silently peels away from our spine, slipping beneath the blankets and winding around Eden’s stomach. The baby pulses against my darkness.

The sound of Eden’s sobs is ingrained in my mind. I cannot face her. But our daughter… our daughter needs me.

“Drink, little shadow.” I pour my essence into the shadow covering Eden’s belly, and I feel the gentlest tug on my magic while she takes what she needs.

“Hello, angel,” I hum into the dark. “It’s me. It’s your…”