Delta groans, but eager anticipation flashes through me. My lilac wings twitch at my back, and two words flap through my mind: flight school. I can’t wait!
Delta huffs out a resigned breath, but she nods, agreein’ to Nefta’s plan. Alder and Flint both look confused and irritated at bein’ told not to return home, but I can see they want to discuss it with Delta’s demons after Nefta and Tazreel have left.
I understand my mates’ sense of urgency. Yes, I want to train and learn all about bein’ half demon and half angel, but after talkin’ to my guys at length last night, I know that my priority needs to be becomin’ a Gate Guardian too. I want to help them, and if my bein’ inducted needs to happen soon, then I’m sure we can figure it out.
The last thing we want is for anythin’ to happen at the Hell portal in Sweetgreen while we’re here. And from what Alder and Flint have told me, they have to give up a lot of power to stabilize the Hellgate. I want to be able to share the load and make things a bit easier on them. But...Delta’s eyes are tellin’ me that Nefta’s right—we have a lot to discuss.
I sure hope it’s nothin’ bad.
30
“Alright, Daddy. Yeah, tell Mama I will. Okay, love you too. Bye.” I click the button to end my call and pass the phone over to Alder. “Thanks,” I tell him as I curl my legs beneath me and lean back against the wall.
“How are they?”
“Right as rain,” I tell him with a smile. “Mama’s cookin’ up a storm, and Daddy’s convinced the imps to pick him up some chew every time they go over to feed Todd. I think they like bein’ in a safe house. Makes them feel all mysterious and excitin’.”
Flint and Alder both chuckle while I let a smile slip onto my lips. I miss my parents, but I’m glad they’re safe.
“It was just nice to hear their voices,” I say as I lean over to rest my head on Alder’s shoulder.
The three of us are sittin’ together in the mansion’s basement-level gym. It’s got everythin’ from weights and a padded sparrin’ area to a lap pool, and they even converted the ridiculously tall ceilin’ to have ropes and rings suspended from it to help with flyin’ lessons. I’m both excited and nervous to get started.
The three of us are waitin’ for Delta and the others so we can train, but we’re a bit early, so I figured I’d take the opportunity to check in back home.
“I’m sorry you didn’t get a chance to call them yesterday,” Alder tells me as he sets the phone down between us.
“Yesterday was crazy,” I say, blowin a strand of lilac hair that managed to fall out of my top knot. After Nefta and Taz left on their missions to go look for Morax and Sable, Delta and her guys filled the three of us in on some more secrets of my heritage.
“How are you doing with all this, Peaches?” Flint asks as his hand settles over my thigh, and his fingers gently skate over my black yoga pants.
“I’m okay,” I answer honestly. “I probably should be freakin’ out. I’m half angel, half demon, have crazy bickerin’ birth parents, two demon mates, I’m one third of a set of triplets, my hair went purple, and I sprouted wings,” I say with a laugh and a shake of my head. “Oddly enough though, it’s all just...settlin’, like these things were always supposed to be this way. And I dunno, I could just picture myself bein’ with you two and becomin’ a Gate Guardian. But I gotta be honest...I’m not sure how I feel about this new information Delta told us yesterday. I knew there was somethin’ they hadn’t told me yet. I mean, Morax wouldn’t want us so bad otherwise, but I didn’t expect that.”
Alder and Flint both nod. “I have to admit, I thought they were going to tell us that you were a Gatekeeper. It fit with the scythe and why Nefta would’ve hidden you. But...you’re something even more special,” Alder tells me, his voice still radiatin’ his own surprise and awe.
Annulus.
That’s the bomb that Delta dropped on us last night after our parents and their armies left. Nefta’s bloodline is the last of our kind. I can’t be a Gate Guardian to help the guys sustain their portal. Instead, my kind has the power to reset or annihilate everythin’, from souls to the Hellgate itself. To say that was a soberin’ revelation is puttin’ it lightly, and I still can’t even really fathom what the hell it all means.
“Are y’all upset?” I ask, chewin’ on my bottom lip as I voice the question that’s been blowin’ around like a tumbleweed in my head ever since yesterday.
Flint and Alder both look down at me. “Upset? About what?” Flint asks, dark brows pullin together in a frown over his rock-like face.
“Y’all assumed that I’d be able to become a Gate Guardian with you. But now you know I’m somethin’ else. I might not be able to help you the way you thought, and not just that, but it’s dangerous to be my mate, maybe even more so than it is to be a Hellgate Guardian. Look at all the stuff that’s happened to Delta. Seems to me that Nefta kept this all a secret for good reason, but despite her best efforts to protect us, Morax knows and he’s comin’ for us. I hate that I put you in a position where you’ll be at risk because of what I am.”
I feel fingers curl on my chin as Alder pulls my face toward him. “We wouldn’t change any part of you,” he tells me sternly. I try
