Page 156 of Dark Haven Omegaverse

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “We know what it feels like to have everybody reject you. We’ve always been misfits and now it’s on a whole new level. I’m sorry I brought all this to our doorstep.”

Crew stopped and stared at me. “It’s not your fault.”

There was confusion in his tone, and I was honestly relieved he didn’t blame me.

“He’s right,” Roman said, giving me a hard stare as if that would bully me into believing it.

“It kind of is,” I argued. “None of this was happening until I arrived.”

Drake shook his head. “Crew’s right. You had nothing to do with this. Hel chose you early on, it was supposedly destined thatyou’d come here. I’d bet my movie collection she pulled some strings to bring you here. Either way, this isn’t on you.”

“I know you’re right, but it doesn’t help me feel any less guilty. I’m still at the center of this and because you’re close to me, so are you. I have no clue how to stop the portal from growing or close it. While I fumble around in the dark, every city and town around us suffers. Have you seen the fucking news lately? Everything is falling apart and I’m up here having pizza nights,” I ranted as I tugged at my hair, the pain making me wince. It didn’t help ground me in the slightest and I let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Stop being a baby,” Layne told me playfully. She was trying to stop the tension from growing even stronger and it worked. I let out a maniacal laugh. “There’s nothing you can fucking do. We’ll help when and where we can. I’d rather be here with you guys than out in the real world. Even now.”

“Thanks, Layne,” I said, giving her a quick hug before shaking out my arms and taking a few measured breaths in hopes I’d get my shit together.

“Can we just get back to work and get your mom down here?” I asked, turning to Drake, pleading with my eyes for him to listen. Roman squeezed my hand before letting go.

Standing here for another moment, doing nothing, would have me dwelling on the fact I was contributing nothing to this fucking war.

I’d barely seen Kol and Monty since things blew up, and I wanted my fucking men and my life back.

“Why don’t you go down to the courtyard and tell Kol what happened first,” Drake said. “We’ll wait until you get back.”

The gargoyles were using every moment of the day to fight back the demons and needed to know. Even Stravos had gone back to his ranks since the floor was warded and we were supposedly safe.

Drake opened the elevator again and stepped inside. I followed and the doors closed behind us, leaving Roman with the others after he brushed a kiss across my forehead.

Drake wasn’t one for words or false assurances and I appreciated that about him.

We rode down to the first floor in silence and he followed me all the way to the courtyard. When the doors closed behind us, he let out a shrill whistle.

A gargoyle dropped to his feet in front of me. I’d seen him before but only knew a few of their names.

“Can you please get Kol for me, it’s important,” I asked. He nodded once before taking off again, flying up to the roof and disappearing.

Kol must have been nearby because he was dropping to the ground in mere seconds. He swept me into his arms, and I let out a startled laugh.

Having his strong arms squeezing me gently was enough to melt away some of the guilt and self-doubt creeping in. He never gave over the top affection or let emotions get in the way.

Kol was closed off and hard to read but we were slowly blending into something that made sense. He was hard to my soft, harsh to my gentle, and it worked in its own strange way.

“You came to me?” he asked. His expression was a mix of shock and happiness. It was almost as if he were touched by the gesture. Maybe my stone man did have a heart after all.

I nodded when I couldn’t find the right words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to bug you, and I know you guys already have enough on your plate. But another body showed up in the elevator when we tried to head out. It resembled Hiro,” I explained in a rush.

“The little human?” he clarified.

“Yes.” I laughed. “The little human.”

He didn’t like the other guys at first, but it was as if he had a soft spot for Hiro. Then again, Hiro made you want to wrap him in a blanket and protect him from the world.

My hand rested on his cheek, and I could see how exhausted he was. Even for a supernatural being there had to be a breaking limit and he was swiftly approaching it.

They’d been fighting nonstop. Demons were coming out of the portal at insane rates. It was so frustrating, especially when Hel sat by and let it happen.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked.

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