Chapter 288
Snowflakes
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I was full from dinner, stomach pleasantly heavy with the rich meal Cupid had made and reached for my glass of water when the thought hit me.
“Oh, the herb.”
I stood, already turning toward the door, but Cupid’s voice stopped me mid–step.
“Where are you off to?”
“My car. Mother prepared some herbal potion I’m supposed to take morning and night.”
“I brought it in last night,” he said, rising smoothly from his chair. “You were so tired and quiet, I didn’t ask where it came from. Want me to get it?”
I nodded gratefully, sinking back down while he disappeared down the hallway. I watched him go, broad shoulders, easy stride and a soft smile curved my lips.
Yes, he really was so domestic. The quiet way he took care of things, never making a fuss about it, just… doing. It warmed me more than the meal had.
He returned a few minutes later with the small sealed vial and a fresh glass of water.
“Which mother gave this to you?” he asked, handing them over.
“Dove’s mom. I call her Mother.” I smiled, staring at the dark, murky liquid inside the vial for a long second before tipping it back in one brave gulp.
The bitterness exploded across my tongue like liquid fire.
“Oh shit, it’s bitter.”
Cupid’s smile widened, small, amused, eyes crinkling at the corners as he watched me gag and frantically chase it with water. He leaned back in his chair, relaxed, content just to witness my playful suffering.
“You and your best friend have known each other long?” he asked, picking up his fork again.
I nodded. “Since I was born.”
He blinked, genuinely surprised. “When?”
I laughed softly at his expression.
“What?”
“I thought she was a friend from… work, maybe. College. Something.”
“No.” I shook my head. “Her mom and my human mother were best friends from college, before either of them even got married.” “Oh…” He leaned forward slightly, interest sharpening. “So your best friend’s mother knows when your brothers were born?”
1/3
Chapter 288
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“Yeah. She helped deliver Roc, and then the twins Kashi and Eshan. That was back when the worked as a healer in a simati trov before she was fired. Things happened. Eventually my human father, Grant, gifted her a building for her heating for the rung
now
Cupid blinked again, processing.
“You were born where?”
“Castle Healthcare,” I said quietly. Our eyes met. I knew exactly what question he wanted to ask next, and I answered if before he could ask aloud. “Mrs. Mane, Dove’s mother, was ill when my human mom went into labor with Viviana. She was rushed to the hospital instead of the healing home. She gave birth… but she died right after. It was a big loss. Too much. My human father never really recovered. I heard they loved each other so deeply. I can only imagine how he felt.”
Silence fell between us heavily, respectful.
Cupid reached for his glass and took a slow sip, eyes never leaving mine.
“And they…uh… doing okay?” he asked carefully. “Your friend is an Omega from Crescent pack. That pack is… shit. And being an Omega on top… it might be hard.”
I nodded, memories of my time in Crescent pack drifting back like smoke.
“It is. Sometimes.”
“She have siblings or… just her?”
“Oh, Dove has younger sisters. These lovely triplets. God, they’re such sweet, troublesome little things. Seven years old.”
“That’s still young.” He tilted his head, noting the large age gap. “Dove’s older than you, right?”
“Two years.” I nodded. “Um… actually, Mother had… miscarriages. Over the years. When they were trying to conceive again.”
Cupid’s face didn’t change. No shock, no pity but he lowered his gaze for a second, as though he’d accidentally stepped on something fragile.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” I murmured, staring at the blank space on the table. “How I wish he was sorry too.”
He looked up slowly, confused.
“Who?”
“Mr. Mane.” My voice stayed soft. “He’s been violent for years. Terribly so. Dove grew up watching her father strangle and beat her mother. She had three miscarriages before she decided enough was enough. She came to my human dad, Grant Frost. My brothers took up the case.”
The atmosphere had shifted, relaxed now, but tinged with sadness.
Cupid was listening intently.
“Kashi handled the divorce case while Eshan charged Mr. Mane in court for domestic violence, among other things. Mr. Mane started begging, said he’d changed, that he had a new lead on life, all of it. The case dragged on. Around that time Mother realized she was pregnant again… so she dropped some of the allegations.”
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9:35 pm P P
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