Harley Merlin 12 by Bella Forrest (story books to read TXT) 📗

tad, but this was my sister’s moment. I had no place being all mopey. Harley would soon marry the love of her life—the man who’d been by her side through all of her troubles. If I couldn’t be happy for them, then I might as well have stayed at the Winchester House.

“Wade and Tobe had lit the entire place with candles, and these glowing white snails from the Bestiary—Clusterwink snails, I think they’re called. Anyway, Tobe started to sing. All the sea sprites and firefly squid came out, with the selkies and the sirens joining them, holding glowing orbs and singing the most haunting, bittersweet song I’ve ever heard. All about love and loss and hope. It was like staring into a whole undiscovered universe, all the stars twinkling just for us.”

She put her hand on Wade’s shoulder. “I turned to him to tell him how amazing it was, but he was down on one knee, with the ring box open. And he said, ‘I wanted to create a galaxy just for us, because I can’t give you the stars, but you’re the center of my universe.’ With the music, and all the glowing lights, and his face peering up at me with so much love… I burst into tears and said yes.” She laughed and pulled Wade closer while he cringed. “I wish I’d said something more profound, but I’ll save that for the wedding.”

“‘Yes’ was profound enough for me,” Wade replied with an embarrassed grin. “You could’ve left some of the details out. I’m burning up, here.”

“No, she couldn’t!” Santana protested. “We wanted to hear everything.”

Dylan nodded. “Yeah, man, thanks for setting the bar so high.”

“I wanted it to be perfect,” Wade said.

“It was. It really was.” Harley kissed him, not caring that everyone was watching. Another explosive whoop of cheers erupted from the table, startling the server who’d come to take our orders. He quickly scurried away, probably realizing it wasn’t the best time to give the specials.

Jacob toyed with his shirt sleeves, looking as uncomfortable as I felt. “But… aren’t you a bit young? No offense, I think it’s cool, and I’m mega-pleased for you both, but I couldn’t imagine getting married at your age.”

Wade smiled. “After all we’ve been through, I think it’s added about a decade to our real ages.”

Harley kissed his cheek. “And we’re already partners in work and in life and in love, so it just felt… natural to take the next step. You know, make it official. Believe me, I didn’t think I’d get married this young either, but when you find the right person, and it feels right, then it doesn’t make sense to wait.”

“Precisely.” Wade gazed at her as if he held his entire world in his arms.

“Personally, it makes me want to gouge my eyes out, and maybe rip out my ear canals while I’m at it. Or your tongues, to cease this sickening sweetness.” Raffe’s eyes snapped up from his drink, glowing red. “We are at dinner, after all, and I could use a little tongue hors d’oeuvre to start me off. I’m ravenous.”

What the—! Raffe had vacated the building, and Kadar had seized control.

“You think this is the time for an engagement? You think anyone cares about your pathetic human rituals?” Kadar slammed his fists on the table, smoke billowing from his shoulders. “If you used your eyes for something other than gawping at each other, maybe you’d see that one of your own is in pain! I ought to rip you all to shreds and use your entrails as a veil.”

“Kadar!” Santana put her hand on his arm. “Take it easy. Focus on me. Just look at me and listen to me and try to calm down. I know you’re in pain. I know Raffe hasn’t been sleeping, and you’re both tired.”

Kadar glared at the table. “And what have you done about it? Nothing! Your voice is like razorblades.”

“Kadar, stop.” Santana grasped his face and forced him to look at her. “You don’t get to speak to my friends like that. I know you’re hurting, and I have been helping you. So calm your ass down. I’ll use my Orishas—you know I will.”

Kadar twisted his mouth into a scowl. “And I’ll send them running.”

“What’s going on?” Harley peered at the raging djinn, his billowing smoke thickening as his skin flushed scarlet. Realization hit me like a bitch-slap: Raffe’s sullenness and Kadar’s apparent pain had something to do with Erebus. I just knew it.

Santana cast her a strained look. “He’s been like this for a while. I don’t know why, and neither Raffe nor Kadar can tell me. Honestly, I don’t think they know what’s happening.”

“Not that you care about me,” Kadar spat. “You only think about your precious Raffe, but he and I are a package deal, sweetheart. He hurts, I hurt. He doesn’t sleep, I don’t sleep. He loses it, I lose it.”

“Yeah, well, don’t go losing it, pal.” Dylan gripped Kadar’s wrist.

Ah, you shouldn’t have done that.

“Unhand me!” Kadar roared. Heads turned throughout the restaurant.

“Kadar, listen to Santana,” Wade cut in, hands raised.

Kadar sneered. “She’s about as useful as the rest of you measly flesh-bags. She can’t help me. If this could be fixed, I would’ve done it myself. I have more power in my left eyeball than you all have in your entire bodies.”

“It’s Erebus, isn’t it?” I found my voice.

Kadar’s eyes flashed. “Don’t speak to me of that wretch!”

“I’ll take that as a yes,” I replied. “Since the djinn draw their power from Erebus, there’s only one person to blame.” And Erebus had a jazzy new human body, which restricted his power. I hadn’t realized until now that his limitations would affect the djinn.

Garrett, Ryann, and Saskia gasped in unison. They knew about Erebus and his human body. Harley did too, now, but she seemed to be a little slower to slot the pieces together.

“When did this start, Kadar?” I asked.

“None of your business,” Kadar rasped.

Santana looked at me desperately. “It