I nudge her leg with my foot. “Carm, what did he want with you?”
She cuts me a sideways glance before letting out a heavy sigh. Her hand goes to her top. After a moment, she pulls the collar down to reveal a burn on her chest. No, not a burn.
A brand.
I stare at the mottled skin, the burn scar forming the image of broken angel wings. Just like the ones on Rebekah’s arm.
“Oh.”
Carmen fixes her shirt and meets my stunned gaze. “It’s a long story.”
I nod. “I’d like to hear it one day. When you’re ready.”
She gives me a sad smile then hooks her arm around me and pulls me in for a hug. “Come here, kid. I like seeing you like this, all happy and in love.”
“You should try it.” I wiggle my eyebrows at her and look over at where Jack and Reaper are standing. How they know Carmen is yet another mystery but neither of them have taken their eyes off her since they arrived.
Carmen scowls their way. “Not in a million years.”
I laugh and she shoves my shoulder as she stands up and strolls away. I stay where I am, taking over her hiding place and looking out at the buzzing party. I’m kind of surprised I know this many people.
Layla and Rebekah are sharing an armchair, scrolling through their phones like actual real-life teenagers. Jude is playing with Sam, the two of them racing the remote-control monster trucks I got Sam for Christmas.
Luke and Josh are here too and they dragged Diaz along with them. The trio are currently on the same team for charades and couldn’t be worse at it if they tried. Eva, Eli, and my grandmother of all people are smashing them.
My mother watches them play, but her face is blank. She’s sitting on the very edge of the chair, her knuckles white where she holds her wine glass.
I shift my gaze, trying not to let it get to me. I, of all people, should understand her grief.
A shuffling to my left tells me my stolen hiding spot has been discovered. My grandfather grunts a little as he lowers himself down next to me at the bottom of the stairs. “Good party. That man of yours sure knows how to cook.”
Oz made a ginormous roast with four different kinds of potato and an endless selection of desserts, but I haven’t managed to bring myself to eat anything yet. My grandfather passes me a slice of chocolate yule log.
“Your mother could never eat when her mind was busy either.”
I don’t know whether I like hearing about the traits we share. I feel like it should make me feel closer to her and then I get angry that it doesn’t. “She hates me,” I find myself saying.
Peter tsks. “She doesn’t hate you.”
“I killed her daughter.”
He plants one hand on the step behind us and twists to face me, a sad, bemused look wrinkling his weathered face. “You’re her daughter too.”
When I don’t say anything, he sighs. “It’s Mary’s birthday next month. Come have dinner with us. Just me, you, your grandmother, and mom.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
Peter’s hand settles on my knee. “It’s hard to love someone you don’t know. Spend some time together. Get to know her. I promise you she wants that because she already loves you.”
Tears push at my eyes, and I look away. My gaze catches on my mother and my heart flips when I find her watching me. She chews her lip and maybe I imagine it but I think her eyes soften ever so slightly.
“Okay. I’ll come.”
Peter leaves me then, going back to talk to Eli’s dad, and I heave in a breath. When Oz appears in front of me, I jump up from the stairs and bury myself in his sweater. His arms circle me, holding me tight.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’ve got you.” He presses his lips to the top of my head and when I finally detangle myself from his arms, he takes my hand in his. “Come with me. I have something for you.”
He leads me down the hall and I wait outside while he ducks into River’s office and comes out with a thin jewelry box. “I know we gave you presents earlier, but I wanted to wait till it was just us for this one.” He fiddles with his glasses.
