26. The circle of idiots
Nevaeh
I t’s been eight days since the newlyweds refuse to leave their room.
The last I saw them, Harvey was twirling a giddy Grace before he picked her up bridal style and all but ran out of the ballroom. The ridiculously horny and loved-up couple locked themselves in their room that night and haven’t come out since.
Diamond huffs out of boredom, making my head bounce where it’s resting on his stomach. Technically, Diamond is Papa’s horse, but he lets me bother him because he loves me so much.
When I first came to see Diamond, the horse kept his distance. It hurt to know he forgot the only little girl who was allowed to touch his grumpy butt.
On day three, I had enough of him acting like I was a stranger. So I took the risk of him headbutting me and reached out to touch him.
With trepidation, the horse sniffed my hand, and then immediately wanted me to be his best friend. The horse refused to stop nuzzling into my hands for more pets. The desperate need for touch squeezed my heart.
It was clear how much Diamond had suffered in the absence of the only two people capable of touching him.
Usually, when people see Diamond, they either run away screaming or stand there with pale faces about to pass out. It’s not the poor animal’s fault the Fates chose him to be Death’s immortal horse .
Since every horse was made to reflect its rider, Diamond has skin paler than a ghost, and scorching fire erupts from his legs, tail, and wings. The fire makes it impossible for anyone who doesn’t have Blackburn blood or isn’t mated to the Grim Reaper to stand near him without burning to a crisp.
When I was little, it used to bother me so much that Diamond was the only horse who wasn’t pampered like others because no one could touch him without getting hurt. After Diamond knew I was family, I spent days hovering over him and grooming his beyond-dirty skin and hair because the task had been impossible without Papa.
As much as I was missing him, I hated Papa for leaving Diamond all alone like this. I get that he wasn’t fine, but that doesn't make up for abandoning his horse. I think both Diamond and I will be holding a grudge for a while.
I remember the angry tears dripping down my chin when I scrubbed him for the first time. The poor animal hadn’t been cleaned or showered with love in almost three years.
My grumpy horse huffs again, signaling me to get off his stomach. He likes to show that he only tolerates my clingy ass and constant blabbering, but I know Diamond loves my company. He just thinks he’s too cool to admit it.
Diamond is still a little huffy puffy with me, and I think it’s because he’s mad about me leaving for such a long time.
It's not like I wanted to buddy.
“The filthy couple is finally here.” I hear Seiji exclaim from the training grounds and sigh tiredly, even though the day has just begun.
Dusting myself, I pat Diamond once more. He likes to pretend I ruin his alone time, but I don’t miss the little whine whenever I leave him for the day.
When the Deviants attacked us in the human realm, and we failed miserably to fight as a team— mostly because of me —it became clear we needed to fix our team dynamic. It’s been a grueling week of perfecting our individual skills since the entire gang isn’t present yet .
While we work our asses off, sweating and bathing in dirt, Harvey thinks the only exercise he and his wife needs can be achieved in bed .
A dozen dirty jokes later, Grace hides her face in her mate’s chest while Harvey seriously contemplates strangling me and Seiji to death. Thankfully, I have Angel on my side, who diverts Harvey’s pent-up aggression to the combat field before his mate is murdered.
Just like that, it was time to sweat like pigs. For them .
Stuffing my face with a handful of spicy Cheetos, I watch Harvey jot down notes between pummeling the poor dummies to the ground with his fists.
One would think a whole week with his mate would leave the guy with nothing but happy vibes, but no .
Harvey is pissed he had to leave his room at all.
I trace the rough pages of the ancient-looking book in my hand. The consistent overuse screams of its importance. The spine quivers each time I turn a page, and I have to be extra careful before I ruin my mate’s precious work.
Anxo’s book of battle strategies is filled with illustrations and tricks I’ve never heard of before. This is a significant insight into how sharp my mate is when it comes to planning and strategizing. I have yet to see him unorganized or careless, even about minor things.
While everyone swims in their sweat and hard work, I sit under a tree with Anxo’s notes because I refuse to waste my energy on things I have already known since I started training at four years old.
Some thought Papa was being hard on me because I was the future Grim Reaper, but I knew it was to help me control my overbearing Divine before it controlled me.
I was fighting men thrice my size and defeating them before I was eight years old, and that gives me credit to sit on my ass and eat my snacks in peace.
It takes us under twenty minutes to realize we are nothing but a bunch of fuckups tied together in a group who— for some insane reason —have weapons of mass destruction at our disposal.
Looking at us now, anyone would assume the three sisters were high when they made this decision.
I’m amazed that despite being a unit at the core, we can’t work together because all of us are so used to fighting individually.
The air around us starts to heat up, and it’s more because of Harvey than the sun blaring down on us. He is pouring out his frustration in the air, causing the already tired and irritated group to start fidgeting with the urgent need to snap.
Anxo is tense. I watch him swallow loudly to bury his irritation. Seiji hasn’t stopped whining that his whips won’t work how he wants them to.
I mean how can they when he won’t let them do what they are made for? To cause havoc.
Harvey is solely interested in breaking as many combat accessories as possible, which pisses off Hazel to no end since she spends a significant amount of her time overseeing and maintaining these fields.
And Grace, my poor Honeybunch, is tired of being the only voice of reason.
I won’t lie; this is starting to resemble a sitcom. I’m actually torn between interfering or quickly running inside to grab some popcorn.
When Harvey misses an attack that could’ve been his winning strike, Hazel blows out a quick tune that paralyzes him for the second she needs to swiftly dodge behind him and kick his back. The large man falls to the ground with a loud thud, cutting off the last thread of his rage he was holding on to. “Oh, for fuck’s sake!”
“Aww, don’t be mad, big guy. I’m sure it’s hard to move around with all those muscles.”
“I. Will. Kill. You.”
“Yeah? Bring it on fucktard.”
When the two start stalking in each other’s direction, I jump up and run to stand between them. Before I can tell them off, another round of argument starts behind me.
“Nevaeh, can you tell Anxo off? He keeps hitting my head. I think all my brain cells are scattered on the ground at this point.”
“That would be true if you had any brain cells.” Oh my.
“I will give you a stroke on purpose,” Seiji’s eyes darken as he glares at Anxo, and a dark thundering cloud forms over his head. If this continues, Seiji will accidentally electrocute someone.
“You can’t even walk in a straight line on purpose.”
Damn Angel bites when he's stressed.
Turning to Harvey with a pointed look, I ask him to drop it. Harvey looks guilty for a second before throwing his head back and groaning. Taking a few deep breaths, he pulls back the anger and frustration he had released in the air so he didn’t have to bear it all himself. Dumbass .
“It’s not like you’re any better,” Grace points a finger at Angel. “You act like you’re immortal. You’re distracted watching everyone’s backs, but your own. I have hit you nine times now. You would’ve been hurt or worse that many times if this was real.”
Before Grace is even finished, everyone seems much calmer. Turning to Harvey, who is muttering to himself, they realize he was the one escalating their emotions and bombard him with a few not-so-polite curses.
He groans, slumping to the ground and taking his mate down with him. “This isn’t working.”
I watch them abandon their weapons, plant their asses on the ground, and talk about leaving already. I guess I’ll have to be the one to keep my head on straight with all of them acting like fussy children.
Sitting before them, I carefully put the book aside when Angel immediately crawls over to where I’m sitting and leans against me, bringing my arms to wrap around his chest. He grabs his book and holds it to his chest, so I'll have to hug him if I want to reach for it.
Suddenly, my cheeks feel hot under the burning sun, and I have to tamp down the urge to squirm.
Touching me is like his lifeline. I love it.
Forcing my heart to relax, I face the people in front of me. “I have a list of what you’re all doing wrong.”
Snatching the book Harvey was writing in, I scan his notes. It takes a minute to make a list of ways we can fix our coordination issues. I tear the parts that are rubbish and fold the ones that make sense while they watch.
“I want to say fuck off so bad , but that’s a long ass list, and I’m intrigued,” Hazel comments over my shoulder before coming over to sit down with the rest.
“Seiji strikes first and hard.” The idiot blows me a kiss like I won't point out his mistake next. “But you need to stop hesitating and questioning yourself at every turn.”
Harvey snickers at Seiji’s expense, and that’s my hint to pop his ego balloon next. “This dumbass gets way too involved with his victims. You don’t focus on your surroundings enough—or at all, to prevent any surprise attacks.”
“I just make sure they don’t get up again,” he grumbles, leaning against Grace, who shushes him, knowing I’m right and it will end badly if he keeps it up.
Leaving your back exposed in a battle is nothing short of a death sentence.
“Honeybunch, you’re incredible at foreseeing attacks unlike your mate, but hand-to-hand combat is just not your thing. Don’t worry, though; I have a plan for that.” Grace takes my observation with stride, unlike her stupid mate.
“And Angel—”
My heart takes off, beating wildly when he drags my palm over his heart.
I’ve been on edge ever since Angel came closer, but now, I can feel it affects him, too. His heart thumps under my palm as if he ran a marathon, and the realization helps me relax.
“You’re good with close combat and far-sighted attacks but … you're not focused enough. Keeping tabs on everyone puts your safety at risk, like Grace said.”
Angel pouts so adorably that I forget how to breathe. Tracing his cheek with my finger, I forget where I was until Hazel nags me, “Hey soul eater, can you blush after my turn?”
I snatch my eyes from hypnotic green ones to the impatient siren. Did she just call me a soul eater again?
“Yes… Right. You’re perfect, sharky. I’ve never witnessed such clean and precise combat skills, and I don’t think anyone here can hold your hand when it comes to this.” Her smug smile disappears when I continue, “But you have a death wish.”
“Uh… no, I do not.”
Looking around, her confidence falters when everyone agrees. Cursing under her breath, she motions for me to continue.
“You dive in headfirst, no matter how overpowered or outnumbered you are. You’re good, incredible even, but you’re not a cat with nine lives.”
Seeing her contemplating my words, Angel tugs on my braid, “What about you? Do you have any flaws, or are they only for us lesser beings?”
With one hand holding my notes and another brushing through his hair, I shrug. “I take on too much. I don’t get to channel my rage nearly enough, so when I get the opportunity, I’m cutting through people without a plan. I’m emotionally compromised most of the time, which makes me vulnerable... and a liability.”
Seiji sighs, “We need a proper plan.”
Harvey steals the words right out of my mouth. “What about block on block?”
That’s exactly what I wrote as our best solution. I send him a knowing look, which makes him chuckle, probably recalling those days.
Block on block was something Papa taught us as kids whenever we couldn’t perfect an attack. Like the colorful blocks kids play with, you strategize one block upon another to create a strong tower. Harvey and I were the blocks, so where one lacked, the other helped to increase our combined efficiency and strength.
Throwing my notes at him to look over, I work on the pairings. “Angel and Grace should be our eyes. A higher vantage point will be perfect with their weapon of choice. This way, they can have each other’s back and ours.”
Angel sits up straight, turning to me with his eyebrows reaching his hairline. The proud gleam in his eyes starts a fluttering in my chest.
“Seiji and Harvey would work best together. Seiji could be the initial attack that Harvey finishes off. This way, Harvey won’t be vulnerable to surprise attacks, and Seiji can plow ahead without his conscience taunting him... saving them both time and despair.”
I don’t understand why Seiji is surprised. This idiot is my family; so of course, I understand what goes on in his twisted, guilt-conscious brain.
For a Horsemen of the apocalypse, Seiji is timid about taking lives. While Anxo is the same, he doesn’t let that stop him from getting his hands dirty if it means protecting his people. I need to talk to Angel about it. If anyone can relate and help Seiji, it’s him.
“That leaves us.”
Nodding at Hazel, I explain my reason. “We both love inviting trouble and don’t mind a challenge. If we constantly have someone to look out for, we won’t have the luxury to linger around our opponents. There won’t be any teasing or baiting. All our focus will be on doing our part and not giving into the temptation of doing more.”
“That’s…” Hazel starts, or at least tries to.
“ Brilliant .”
“I’m too impressed to search for a better word, so what he said.” Seiji points to Angel, who doesn’t even bother hiding his pride.
“Why have we never sparred before?” Hazel asks me incredulously.
“Because I’m better than you, and I know everything. Also, I don’t enjoy sweating unnecessarily.”
Seiji leans into Angel and whispers, even though we can all hear him just fine. “It’s so creepy how she keeps repeating his words.”
“Right? It freaks me out all the time.”
I hand Hazel the new techniques when she gestures for them and say, “We'll have so much fun together. You'll gather the dummies with your captivating tunes, I'll steal their Divine and then we can take turns—” I trail off when I realize everyone has gone quiet.
Then comes chaos.
“You'll steal their what?!” Hazel shrieks.
“I knew you were hiding something about your Divine!” Grace accuses.
“I told her to just come out and tell you guys the truth, but you know Nevaeh, always so stubborn and secretive,” Harvey lies straight through his teeth.
He'll pay for this later.
Damn it. I totally forgot about this. At first, I was waiting until I could trust them better but as more days passed it completely slipped my mind.
“Sweetheart?” Angel links me, standing across from me with his lips pressed tight. “You forgot, didn't you?”
When I nod my head like a guilty person, Angel starts howling in laughter.
I'm starting to get turned around by all of them talking over each other.
“Don't just stand there, help your one and only mate!”
Angel barely composes himself to pull me behind him and says, “Relax guys, Nevaeh wasn't intentionally hiding it... my beautiful idiot just forgot.”
Hazel is quick to scowl up at me, “Sometimes I genuinely worry about you, does your brain even work at this point?”
“Trust me sharky, you don't want to know what goes on up here,” I tap my head.
I spend the next ten minutes telling them about my unique talent, answering their questions, and apologizing for forgetting to mention it before.
Once chit-chat time is over, we decide to put my idea to test. Harvey and Seiji go against Angel and Grace, and though both teams have very different approaches to a fight, it’s fascinating to watch them tackle against a different attack style and try to come out on top.
Hazel breaks my attention by blocking my view of the fight. “Want to tell me why we are practicing without our powers? We have them for a reason, you know.”
I watch Harvey abandon his sword with a dopey smile when Grace's sharp crossbow cut through it like butter.
“It's not a special combat tactic if that's what you're wondering.” I wait for Hazel to lose interest now that it's not combat-related but she keeps staring.
Sighing, I answer honestly, “It's for selfish reasons. The coven stripped me of my powers every single day for a decade, and the only reason I survived is because they didn’t want me dead... yet.”
From the corner of my eye, I watch Hazel's eyes set ablaze with anger. I’ve noticed how the topic of my time with the witches affects her differently than others. It’s terrifying to think she might relate to it on some level.
“I waited for my Divine to save me, or anyone really, but in the end, what saved me was my training.” I shake my head to get rid of the flashes from my past. “I’m not saying you would ever have to experience that or be without your Divine, but if that day ever came, I want all of us to make it out alive.”
I see the reason settle within her. A strange spark of emotion flashes through her eyes before she backs off. I thought she was done with the conversation and walking away before she turns to ask 'If I'm blind and if not, then why aren't I following behind her'.
That's Hazel Seagrave. Kindest woman in all of Tetrad kingdom.
I quickly signal Anxo about where I’ll be before taking off after her.
Hazel avoids eye contact as she plants herself under a thick tree that gives us more than enough shade from the sun. I’ve never seen Hazel look so unsure and weary. I don’t make a sound in case I spook her.
“You took a bullet for me.”
“Yeah… I was there.”
“If you’re going to be a smartass about it, I’m leaving.” She springs up, but before she can stomp away, I stop her.
“Woah woah. Okay, sorry, look.” I zip my lips together with an imaginary chain and make a show of throwing away the key.
Hazel presses her lips together before she accidentally gives away her amusement and sits down once again.
I’ve known Hazel was hiding a massive, life-altering fuck up ever since I first saw her cleaning those daggers in the kitchen. Anyone with eyes can see her paranoia after spending ten minutes with her.
But I’ll tell you what happens when you keep bottling and shoving things down so you don’t have to deal with them in the present. First, the cracks show up. This is the perfect time to empty your bottle of horrible stuff rather than concealing the fractures because the cracks will grow deeper until, finally, the bottle shatters.
By then, it’s always too late. You were so busy hiding from your fears that you didn’t prepare to face them.
With Hazel, I can see her cracks and the way she actively tries to hide them. I really hope those fears won’t swallow her whole when she finally decides to face them.
Hazel uses the silence between us to spill her guts.
“I was sold to the king of the Eldoris kingdom when I was three years old. His other slaves groomed me to be his chosen mate and their future queen. Tiberius … kept his distance until I was fourteen, but then he wanted more. I didn’t . But nobody cared about what the glorified slave wanted.”
To distract herself, she draws shapes on the ground. For the first time, her guard is down.
Hazel is not afraid to tell me about her past, but the way she avoids my eyes makes me think she might be afraid of my reaction to that past.
I don't understand how she still doesn’t know that even the devil would blush if he heard the gruesome acts I’m willing to commit for her.
“The night before our mating ceremony, I killed his brother and ran away. After that, I jumped around different realms, hiding for twelve years until I stumbled upon Anxo, who— bless his mushy heart —thought aiding a stranger hide from the mermen king was a good deed instead of the total clusterfuck it actually is.”
I’m gaping at her in shock, but Hazel continues drawing patterns in the dirt to appear nonchalant. She would’ve fooled me if not for the barely visible tremble in her fingers screaming in the silence.
I rub over my heart when a weight suddenly leaves me breathless. Living with these people, I’m starting to think I have heart problems.
“He’s never touching you again.” I feel my words settle in my soul. The way my Divine stirs, I know this is not just a promise but an oath.
Pursing her lips, Hazel stares blankly at the sky above us and nods. She doesn’t believe it.
I know that look. I’ve seen that look too many times to know she’s waiting . Waiting because she is confident that that rat bastard is coming for her. Maybe not today, next week, or even next month, but he’s coming.
“Hey, say you believe it. I'm not letting that deranged octopus king touch you again.” Shaking her head with a snicker, Hazel tries to dismiss my insistence, but I can’t let it go.
I don’t care who that man is, but he will face the Horsemen and our entire army if he tries to come near her again.
“You want me to drag him by his tail to you because I will. I’ll even set my Divine loose on him. He won’t know what hit him because no one knows what my wacky Divine might pull next. I can bring you his balls on a silver platter. You know what, that’s exactly what I’ll do. First . Men hate losing those precious parts. And then we can—”
The sound of her carefree laughter stops me from planning his death out loud... but I’m storing my good ideas for later.
“I’m fine without the revenge plans, you psycho.”
“But you know I will do it for you, right?”
“Oh, I know. My favorite thing about you is how many lines you’re willing to cross for us. That dungeon made you dark . Weird too, but I can tolerate weird.”
I snort, “ You tolerate me . I’ll let you know people are dying to be in my Divine presence.”