44. Seraphina
44
SERAPHINA
“TIGER CUDDLES”
My heart seizes in my chest as I stare at the man with the strange-colored eyes, focusing on the vibrant purple hue bursting from his shoulders so I don’t have to think about what he just told me.
Vee—my Vee—was a Madam. She was just like Calathea.
A shudder runs through me, and suddenly, there’s not enough air in the room. Orion rubs his palm down my spine, gentle tingles sparking from his touch and grounding me as the information whirls through my mind.
“But… but that makes no sense,” I sputter. “When a new Madam is appointed, the old one is killed. Vee couldn’t be… there’s no way…”
“I’m afraid it’s true.” Ghost gives me a sympathetic look, but it’s the last thing I need. “I don’t know how, but somehow, she was able to escape. To live. I think that when she found you ten years ago… I think she knew what you were. I think she protected you, and it’s the only reason you’ve gone undetected for this long.”
I shake my head, looking anywhere but at his face—at his eyes, bursting with the truth of his words. I blink, my throat hot with unshed tears, and suddenly, a familiar face appears in my periphery. I nearly fall out of Orion’s lap as Maggie’s smile peeks through the shadows. I blink and blink at that spot, but she never disappears—just keeps grinning at me with that knowing twinkle in her eyes.
“He’s telling the truth.” Her voice is muffled like she’s talking to me from another room. I look deep into her cobalt eyes, fighting back tears as she begins to fade away. Just before she disappears completely, she opens her mouth, giving me one last piece of advice.
“ Trust the Phantom…”
I look back toward Ghost, a myriad of questions swirling in my mind. But before I get the chance to ask any of them, the sound of footsteps draws my attention over my shoulder.
One of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen stands on the threshold of the doorway, her bright green eyes twinkling with kindness behind layers of thick black hair. At her side stands a little girl no more than eight years of age, her features a carbon copy of her mother’s—save for the bright violet sheen of her eyes. That, I have no doubt, she got from her father.
“Hello.” The woman speaks first, tugging the little girl along as I stand from Orion’s lap. “My name’s Brett. I’ve heard so much about you…” She stops a few feet from me, gauging my expression to see if it’s safe to come any closer. “Ghost told me about your Vee… I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you...” I fight the urge to fall into her arms and sob. She looks like she could give a mean hug.
To my surprise, the little girl steps right up to me, shooting out her hand. “My name’s Sloane. I’m eight.”
“Hi, Sloane.” I take her little hand in mine and give it a shake. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Her serious expression falls away to a bright smile, showcasing the gap from her missing front tooth. “You’re really pretty! I like your scar!” She points at the long silver line that runs the length of my face. “Are you a warrior? Daddy gave me a book about Valkyries, and you look just like one of the pictures!” She presses up on her toes, excitement brimming from her tiny body as a pale purple aura bursts from her outline.
“I… uh…” I sputter, not quite knowing how to respond to the little girl without crushing that excited sheen in her eyes. “I am?”
“I knew it!” She lets out an excited squeal. “Can you teach me how to fight? Daddy says I’m too young to practice with a real weapon, but I think?—”
“I will not risk you accidentally hurting yourself, little one.” Ghost interrupts, stepping forward and hauling her into his arms. She lets out a happy squeal as he tosses her into the air, only to pull her back into his chest as she falls back down. “When you’re old enough, I will teach you. Until then, you’ll have to deal with the wooden blade.” He presses a kiss to the top of her hair as he meets Brett’s eyes, and the look they share causes my heart to squeeze with emotion.
Sloane wriggles from Ghost’s arms, and he reluctantly places her back onto the ground. With a cheeky grin, she turns to Orion, addressing him for the first time since she arrived. “I have something to show you.”
Orion raises a brow. “Hello to you, too.”
Sloane just rolls her eyes. “No time for formalities, onion. Come on. ” She springs forward, grabbing his hand and tugging him toward the passageway at the back of the room.
Curious, I follow them, my interest deepening as we pass through a long, dark hallway that seems to slope downward into the cliffside. We come to a small square foyer with a door at the far end, complete with a large metal bar across the width.
Sloane steps forward, dropping Orion’s hand and sliding the barricade out of its slot. “Remember when you said there were no tigers in the woods?” Sloane looks over her shoulder, giving Orion a haughty smirk. She places the barricade on the ground and throws open the door, stepping back to reveal two massive white tigers.
“A simple ‘you were right’ will suffice.” She throws her hair over her shoulder, placing her hands on her hips as Orion and I stare on, dumbfounded. Before I know what I’m doing, my legs take me into the darkened room.
“No!” Sloane jumps forward, gripping the back of my shirt. “No! They could hurt you!”
I press on, my heart cracking wide open at the sight of the metal collars strapped around my babies’ throats. I fall to my knees in front of Sviato, my fingers working uselessly at the lock as tears stream down my face. Savyne crawls forward, baring gleaming white teeth as she pounces at me. Sloane cries out in horror, only for the sound to die as Savyne sticks her tongue out and slides it up my face.
A laugh pours from my mouth as I throw my arms around the twin white tigers, heaving sobs of relief shaking my body as I cling to them.
“Sviato… Savyne… I was so worried about you.” I press a kiss to each of their noses. “I don’t know why—look at the size of you two…” I look over their bodies, checking for any signs of injury, but find they look nearly the same as the last time I saw them.
“Daddy has been coming down here every day to feed them.” Sloane takes a tentative step toward the tigers. “He said… he said they belonged to someone. But I never thought—” Her eyes go wide as she gazes down at me. “You really are a warrior princess…”
I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. “I never thought about it that way.”
Sloane takes another step forward. “Can I… will they let me pet them?”
I shrug, shuffling aside so she can step forward. “They can sense energies really well. If you’re in any danger, I’ll tell you to step back.”
Sloane nods resolutely, her face pinching in concentration as she slowly outstretches her arm. As soon as she places her fingertips on Sviato’s snout, a chuffing sound fills the air. He presses his nose into her hand, lowering his lids in content as she gives him a few gentle scratches.
“No freaking way…” Her eyes go wide as Savyne crawls toward her, nudging her side and nearly knocking the girl clean over. “Hey!” She giggles, reaching her free hand out to pet Savyne as well. “Don’t be jealous, girl. I have two hands for a reason.”
“That’s what I tell them.” I match Sloane’s grin, the weight on my chest easing as I take in her awestruck expression. “Careful, they might not leave you alone now.”
“I hope they never do,” she whispers, leaning down to place a kiss on Sviato’s nose like I had earlier.
Shuffling footsteps bring my attention back to the doorway, and I find Ghost leaning against the frame casually. “I knew it wouldn’t be long before she won them over.”
My eyes fill with tears as I look at him. “Thank you… thank you for keeping them safe.”
He shrugs. “You should thank Orion. When he was at Vee’s place, he noticed two men mauled to death, but no big cats in sight. He told me they were probably out in the woods and the one who asked me to find them.”
I gaze at Orion, at the smoldering look in his eyes. “I… Thank you…”
He shakes his head. “It was nothing. I only… only wanted to make sure the things you loved were protected.”
I stand, walking over to Orion and throwing my arms around his middle. Pressing up onto my toes, I place my lips on the tip of his nose, my heart fluttering at the contact.
“What was that for?” he whispers, his voice low and husky.
“You have a very kissable nose.” I smile, loving the way his arms tighten around me.
“I think I’ve heard that somewhere,” he murmurs, brushing his nose against mine.
A loud, gagging noise breaks the tensions between us. We snap our heads over, finding Sloane’s face buried in Sviato’s fur. “Oh my God, ew! Get a room!”
Laughter fills the space as Ghost steps toward Sloane, pulling her from the ground and into his arms. A large yawn pours from her mouth, and a loving smile tilts Ghost’s serious mouth. “I think it might be time for bed, little one.”
“Nooooo!” she protests, her little arms reaching toward the tigers. “I’m not even sleepy!” Another yawn interrupts her words, and Ghost lets out a little chuckle.
“Whatever you say.” He presses a kiss to the top of her head as he reaches into his pocket. He throws a small silver key into my hand, then turns and walks from the room.
“You can let the tigers out now that I know they won’t maul anyone to death. And meet me upstairs… we have to finish our conversation.”
Orion and I share a glance. I move toward the tigers, unhooking the collars chaining them to the wall, and follow Orion back up to the main room. We wait on the couch for about ten minutes before Ghost reappears, looking far more tired than he was when he left.
He rubs a hand over his face, plopping down into one of the chairs opposite us. “Sorry about that. Sloane was not happy she wasn’t allowed to hear this conversation. Brett’s in there with her now, so she doesn’t feel so left out.”
I nod, and Orion’s hand finds mine, giving it a gentle squeeze as Ghost takes a breath.
“As you know, your position is now compromised. The Sanctum will be looking all over the city for you—and they won’t stop until you belong to them. Not only does this put your life in jeopardy but also every person around you. Meaning myself, my family, and Orion.”
I look to the side, guilt squeezing my chest. “I know that. If you want me to leave, I will?—”
“That is not what I am saying.” Ghost’s eyes pierce mine. “Ten years ago, I tried to rid this city of the Sanctum once and for all. I thought I was successful, but like the damn weeds they are, they’ve clung to the filth of this city and grown back. And if nothing is done to stop them, they will take over anything good that’s left.”
He lets out a heaving sigh. “But we cannot just hide and wait for the storm to pass. If we want to stop them for good, we have to do something drastic. ”
Orion and I pin our gazes on Ghost. “Just how drastic are we talking?” Orion asks.
Ghost shrugs. “Phenomenally. And you won’t like it, but it’s the only chance we have.”