The Heir She Loved (Shadows of Sin #4)

31 Olivia

October 30th, 2022

Evelyn had taken me home yesterday.

I cleaned myself up and settled back into the routine that I had been in for the last few weeks.

A bottle of wine, mindless television, Lucy laying on my right, Merlin on my shoulder, and Rover clutched to my stomach.

Tomorrow was Halloween, and I knew how much Rae loved Halloween. Evelyn had already told me that she was planning on stopping by tomorrow with some movies and candy. Terrifying movies, she promised.

Despite what happened yesterday, I was looking forward to it, to seeing her again. I remembered to tell her ‘happy birthday’ on October 19th, and she had said that the party wouldn’t happen for a little while longer. I wondered why she was putting it off, only to realize that she and Jack were still searching for the man who was going to buy me.

Mr. Alascer.

I should tell them. I really should, but Azrael was smart, cunning. It continued to make me hesitate.

Evelyn and Emily had settled down to watch television with me, the smell of popcorn filling the air as we enjoyed the trash tv. Tonight, they didn’t try to push me into talking. They didn’t try and force me into pointless conversations, they just allowed me to be, which I truly appreciated.

I didn’t feel as unsettled as I had the last time I had killed someone. Was I getting used to it? Was that something I should accept? Everett hadn’t looked scared, but I couldn’t even remember how close I had come to killing him. What if he had pushed me? Would I have come out of that fog and found him dead on the ground?

My grip tightened around Rover. I couldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t.

The door opened behind us, the steps near silent.

Evelyn and Emily looked up, both of their eyes widening, a smile spreading across Emily’s face as Evelyn looked between the two of us and laughed. “Holy shit,” she said.

My eyes flicked from her to Everett as he made his way to the chair adjacent to me and fell into it, the light from the television lighting up his features.

Not just his features, but the new cellophane around his neck.

His icy blue eyes found mine, my brows pulling together in confusion.

His gaze flicked to my lips and back. “Had to commemorate the day my girl had the guts to choke me,”

he explained, his voice hoarse.

My eyes widened as he turned back to the television, my lips parting in shock. He…he did what?

Why would he do that? After everything I put him through, was putting him through? Why commemorate something like that? A moment when I lost all semblance of control.

I snapped my mouth shut and turned back to the television, but my mind was far from able to concentrate on anything on that screen.

He had a tattoo artist permanently put that memory on his skin. My worst fear had come true, and he wanted to keep it forever. It was as if he were saying ‘See? You did good, no matter what you think, here’s the proof.’

I worked my jaw, my body melting into the couch, my muscles relaxing of their own accord to the point where I had to look down and stare at my now relaxed hands holding onto that giraffe.

The motion was familiar, and not because I had felt it before I was taken, but because I had felt it after.

I hadn’t realized how tense I had been until he sat down, and so many other moments flooded through me. Every moment since coming to this house. It was as if my body hadn’t recognized it until now. All of those moments when the tension had simply…melted away.

I glanced over at him again, taking in the way he was sitting. Relaxed, spread out, comfortable.

They hadn’t been lying, had they? Everett’s been right behind me since we left that compound.

I swallowed, feeling the tears burn the back of my throat. Why hadn’t I noticed?

October 31st, 2022

The house was abuzz with joy and laughter.

I was curled into the arm of the couch, watching as Rae, Emily, and Evelyn got everything ready for our movie marathon.

Was I nervous? A little, yeah, but I used to love horror movies. Slasher films, all of that stuff, I loved it. I should still be able to enjoy it now, right?

Right.

So, I settled into my spot, Rover close to my chest, Lucy laying just under my feet, Merlin on the coffee table, spending time in his little house. I watched them set up a table filled with treats. Chocolates, cookies, and an entire bowl filled with berry Trolli gummy worms.

“My favorite,”

Emily beamed, winking at me. She fell into the other side of the couch, her neon green, giant dinosaur slippers nearly knocking over the drinks Rae had just set on the table.

Rae gave her a stern, but playful look, wearing a cute set of black and red plaid pajamas herself, her hair up in a messy bun.

Emilly only smiled wider. “I love my monster feet. Makes me feel unstoppable.”

“You’re unstoppable all right,”

Evelyn commented, throwing herself into the chair. “Or should I say ‘unstompable’,”

she said, her eyes shining brightly. “Eh? Right?”

I felt a smile grace the edges of my lips at her lame joke. The more time I spent with her, the more I realized how silly she was. Badass in the streets, big nerdy softy behind closed doors. It was comforting.

“You’re ridiculous,”

Rae said, falling into the other chair with a big bowl of popcorn on her lap. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

Evelyn scowled. “It does. It makes perfect sense. Emily, tell her it makes sense.”

Emily pulled up the hood of her neon pink robe, revealing the unicorn ears and golden horn on top. “I brought the slippers; the jokes are all on you two.”

I took in her entire outfit, loving every bit of it. A bright pink robe that fell to her knees, her neon monster slippers, her black silk tank top and shorts, her hair falling over her shoulders in waves. God, she was gorgeous. They all were. Rae’s beautiful hair nearly glowed in the light of the television, and Evelyn? She was sporting just a pair of sweats that hung low on her hips, and a purple crop top, her hair also up in a bun. None of them had makeup on, and from what I could tell, Rae was the only other one with a scar on her face.

A stray bullet, just like me.

I looked at myself, studying the sweats, sweater, and socks I had chosen to wear. I know it was movie night, but I hadn’t tried at all. I had lots of cute pajamas I could wear, I just hadn’t. Not since I got back.

But what better time to try and get used to my new body than with these three?

I glanced over at Emily and held up a hand before pushing myself to a stand, only to pause when I went to pick up Merlin. I glanced towards the bedroom and back. He’d be fine, right? It was just a quick trip to the bedroom. He was safe with them.

After another second of hesitation, I turned for my bedroom, leaving him where he was. I had to learn.

I quickly changed into my favorite old set. My pink silk cami and shorts, lined with lace.

I pulled on my black robe and put my hair up in a messy bun and finally walked back into the room, sending a glance towards Merlin who was, in fact, perfectly fine on the table.

See? I could live without him. I could.

They were all watching me when I walked back in and took my seat back on the couch. I immediately pulled a blanket over my legs, but it was still the right step.

It had to be the right step.

“Okay,”

Rae smiled proudly, “let’s get started.”

I made it thirty entire minutes before I started to feel the panic set in. It was a movie I had seen before. An old slasher. A monster stalking a group of people, they were trying to escape, but they kept separating themselves like idiots, and he kept picking them off one by one.

I couldn’t blink as I continued to stare at that screen. I couldn’t breathe, my heart was racing far too fast. I tried to breathe through the panic, but this was a new kind of panic. A panic I had learned after getting out of that room.

I was losing out on one of my favorite genres because of what happened to me.

How was that fair? It wasn’t. It wasn’t fucking fair. I wanted to be able to watch this shit without reacting, without feeling like I was right back in that room.

I didn’t want to be back in that room—

The couch deflated under me, and I gasped, my head whipping around only to freeze when Everett settled just a foot or so away from me.

My heart stuttered as he leaned forward and grabbed a handful of chocolate covered pretzels before sitting back, his eyes catching mine.

Those icy blue eyes warmed my skin, a small smile flicking up one corner of his lips. “Hey, pup.”

And it was as if the fear didn’t have a place to latch onto anymore. Why would it? I was in that death aura again. I was protected.

I turned back to the movie, his presence filling the room so fully, I couldn’t help but breathe again. He brought the oxygen back, just like that.