by Janie Marie
“I know.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m here, anyway.”
She chuckled, leaning away. “That was a pretty good line, Grimm.”
“I am pretty fucking amazing.” He grinned before kissing her forehead. “I wasn’t expecting us to make up. But I’m happy we did.”
“I thought you were through with me,” she whispered as he leaned his back against the sofa.
“Hood, I won’t lie, I don’t know how we’re going to do this. I haven’t even been able to admit this to myself until just now.”
She nodded, her smile fading as she reached for her sketchbook. “I said wait for me—we’re not ready. I choose Maura and Lorelei right now. When I’m ready, I want to say I choose you and your fairytale crew. But I’m not jumping into anything with you.”
“Damn, you’re hot when you’re firm like this.” He chuckled, watching her climb off his lap.
“Get used to it.” She tossed him a smug grin. “For now, my rules are simple. No talking about getting more serious until I’ve graduated and the threats to our family and friends are over, no other women unless you decide to stop this between us, no sex, no near sex. And you have to swear you won’t think for one second you have to let Janie go.”
Logan was well past happy, but he wasn’t ready to make a fool of himself and blurt out something that he knew was already happening for him. So he showed her his hand. “Please don’t tell me I have to break up with Hand-Tasha.”
She stared at him before laughing loudly. “Logan, that’s disgusting.”
He stared at his hand. “Don’t listen to her, baby.”
“Oh, Lord.” Kylie wiped away a happy tear. “I should demand you break up with that.”
“Fine, I’ll break up with Hand-Tasha, but I can’t promise I won’t hook up with Kylhand when you go to sleep. There’s a silent ‘h’ in there, by the way.”
“You’re hopeless.” Her face was red, but she looked happy.
“What were you sketching?” He needed to change the subject before he started thinking about the sex he would not have with her anytime soon.
“Oh. Nothing.” She held the book against her chest. “Just messing around.”
“Were you drawing me naked?” He grinned, adding, “I won’t even deny it—I’ve sketched you many times from memory.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I have a Little Hood book.” He wasn’t even embarrassed. “Show me what you were sketching, and I’ll give you my Kylie book. I already know you must’ve sketched me in that sketchbook you hit that girl with.”
“That’s cheating,” she said as her face flamed. “You know I can’t resist seeing that.”
“I know.” He tugged the sketchbook. “Show me.”
She squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds, but she let go. “It’s a fresh book. There’s not much in it yet.”
Logan smiled, flipping it open as he patted her leg. Then he froze. “Your family,” he said, observing the sketch of Lorelei braiding Maura’s hair, the hoodie clutched tight against Maura’s chest.
“Well, I’ve only just had new subjects.”
He could see that. The next page was an incomplete sketch of Ryder and Janie kissing in the pool and the chicken fight Logan had with her. Even Janie on top of her dragon float, except she had a sword in her hand. Logan smiled, sliding his fingers over the sword. “Fitting.”
“The next one was what I was doing before you came in.”
Logan flipped the page, his breath rushing from his lungs. “Hood,” he whispered, sliding his fingers over Janie’s face. She’d drawn her as a warrior angel wearing a red hood, roaring beneath a half moon. He was standing beside her, not preparing to fight as she appeared to be. No, he held an infant as he smiled at Janie, the same way she’d depicted Ryder on the other side, a bundled baby in his arms, too. That wasn’t the end. She’d also somehow recreated Hero, Janie’s beautiful amber wolf. She was in front of Janie, poised for attack, her fangs bared at a black shadow in the shape of a wolf.
“I don’t know what I was really trying to go for,” Kylie murmured. “Maybe just a world where she had all she was meant to. Her babies, her wolf. You and Ryder. Her being a warrior.” She shrugged. “It was heartbreaking to see her scream over that wolf. And I saw that weeping willow tree they buried it beneath. There are two headstones there. Sin told me they were for your babies, that she goes there a lot.”
Logan noticed the willow tree behind them now. “Hood, this is incredible. I don’t expect you to give it to her, but she’d really love to see it.”
“It’s not that good.” She took the sketchbook back, staring at the drawing with a sad smile. “I really wish you’d had your baby with her, you know? I think about him or her a lot.” She chuckled. “That day on the elevator she told me you’d be a sexy dad, just like Ryder would be. And I hate every day that it isn’t so for her. For both of you. You’d be a great daddy. So would Ryder. I’d give anything to see y’all working together to raise your babies.”
“You really think this?” Her words stunned Logan beyond belief; she’d changed so much.
“Yeah.” She glided her fingers over the baby in his arms. “I think it would’ve been a girl.”
His eyes burned. “She was.”
She jerked back. “What?”
Logan swallowed, looking down at the baby. “Ryder told me yesterday. We sort of had a goodbye for them—both of them were girls. I didn’t even know they’d found out what they were having, but I guess they’d had genetic testing, and it was a girl. Mine, she’d known and only told Ryder because I refused to accept the baby.”
“Sisters,” she whispered, reaching for his hand. “Did you name them?”
Fuck, he was going to cry. “I had always wanted to name a girl Jane, after the stories, you know? Janie never wanted that. She said it was weird and it would make her think she was giving her pain to her baby. But we named her Jane last night.” He didn’t know how he was going to say this next part, so he blurted it out. “Ryder named theirs Kylie.”
She gasped, covering her mouth.
“Apparently, she used to write letters addressed to a Kylie when she was in therapy. She said they meant she was writing to a version of herself she’d never be, then part of herself she hated and everything bad, dark about herself, plus everything that made her that way. She pushed all of herself and all her demons into one person.
“Ryder told her she never hated her, and that she was also writing to her youth. If her daughters had been born, she’d guide them the same way she was doing with those letters. So they named her Kylie.”
He smiled, but it was painful. “You know the story about her . . . She—Jane—had a sister. She was raised in the dark by Darkness himself. The sisters destroyed each other before Light took them to have their second chance. Well, it was Jane who desired to see her sister glow. Light told her there was only one way—that she give her light.” He couldn’t keep the tear back. It slipped free, and he told her what broke his heart, “Janie thinks our babies were the price.”
Kylie’s lips trembled, and she touched both babies. “You really believe in these stories.”
“I’ve seen their magic.” He rubbed his face.
She sniffed, closing the book. “Do you think it’s my fault, then? That they died?”
“No.” He leaned over, kissing her head. “I don’t think my baby or Ryder’s was a payment or a sacrifice. Neither does Ryder. She just fears the worst all the time. One day, she’ll see the truth. Whatever it is.”
A shaky breath escaped her. “Okay, because I was about to tell you to go give her a baby right now. I’d hold Ryder down with some moves he taught me.”
“That’s sweet in the weirdest way.” Logan chuckled, hugging her. “Come on. It’s late—let me walk you to your room.”
“Okay.”
She let him pull her up, and she let him hold her hand all the way upstairs, and into her suite.
When she reached h
er bedroom door, she turned to him and touched his lips. “Night, Logan.”
He decided he’d try to be a gentleman and kissed her hand. “Sweet dreams, Hood.”
Twenty
THE INNOCENT
“Darling, are you sure about this with him?”
Kylie couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. “I didn’t plan it. I still don’t know how we suddenly made up—I guess it’s more we got closure. Then we realized there are strong feelings there. Real feelings. Like I see a different Logan. I think he sees me differently too.”
“You’ve both changed for the better.” Lorelei sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I just don’t want you getting your hopes up and throwing everything at him again. Lance admits Logan’s relationship with that girl has shifted to something healthier, but he says Logan still has a lot to work through.”
“I know he does—I do too. We’re not even considering this more than we’ve forgiven each other, and we know there’s something between us that isn’t going away. I told him I picked you and Maura, and we won’t talk about doing more until I’ve graduated and the threats are gone.”
“And he agreed?” Lorelei’s concern was honestly the best thing.
“Yes. I want to get to know this side of him, and I want him to really know me. Just like I want to keep finding myself.” She got up, grabbing her sketchbook. That’s when she noticed movement outside. It was Janie by the willow tree. Luc was with her, holding her hand as they both stared at the fresh grave. They looked like a beautiful couple, and it sent a ripple of warmth through the icy feeling that often came when she thought about Janie being Luc’s queen.
“I never had a pet,” Lorelei murmured, coming to stand behind her. “Kevin liked wolves—the animals, not the men. I don’t think it was him.”
Kylie nodded. “It was personal. Trevor is actually more insane than I am.”
“Hush.” Lorelei rubbed her back. “And don’t forget you’re in a mansion filled with people who believe this is Hell, and that those two”—she pointed at Luc and Janie—“are king and queen of it.”
“I guess that makes me sound less crazy.” Kylie watched Luc give Janie three silver flowers, which she put on the grave and two headstones.
“Was he already holding those?” Lorelei asked.
Goose bumps broke out on Kylie’s arm because she didn’t recall him holding anything. The uneasy feeling increased as seven horses slowly walked toward them. Four stood together—a white, chestnut, black, and pale gray—while the remaining three, two gray and one white, approached on the other side. They all tensed when a pack of wolves also came out of nowhere. They were huge. Not like the movies where they’re bigger than horses, but just big.
The animals bowed their heads to Janie and Luc. Of course, the silly girl bowed in return.
“What the hell?” Maura whispered, her face pressed against the glass.
Kylie chuckled as they watched the horses and wolves leave. “Well, maybe we really are in their fairy tale.”
“It’s sad.” Maura touched the glass. Ryder was walking out to meet them. “What it all means. She lost everything again.”
“What do you mean?” Lorelei asked Maura.
Maura glided her fingers over the glass. “I heard Ryder talking to Tercero. A second chance with Logan was the Little Moon’s greatest quest, and they lost their baby. Ryder was actually sad. He loved that baby too. Then his died. I think he blames himself for everything that’s gone wrong.”
Kylie watched Ryder stop short and stare at Janie and Luc as she leaned her head on his shoulder. Then Logan walked out, patting Ryder’s back before he walked toward Janie. He kissed her head before kneeling and leaning forward to kiss both gravestones.
“They would’ve been wonderful fathers,” Lorelei whispered.
Kylie’s eyes watered, and she nodded. “They’d be perfect daddies.”
Lorelei rubbed her back. “You already know what you want to do, darling. Be brave.”
She sniffed, darting her eyes down as Ryder finally joined the trio. He looked like he felt out of place as he crossed his arms and let Logan hold Janie’s free hand. It broke her heart to see the strong bad boy watching his girl without him. “He wants her to have her fairy tale.” Her throat ached, and she nodded to herself. “Maybe I can help them for once.”
✦✦✦
Of all the men available to escort her, it had to be Lykos Grimm.
“You do know they’re visiting Hero’s grave,” he muttered. It was a bored tone, but Kylie knew this guy had probably been a more active big brother to Janie than the Knight boys.
“Yeah, I have something I want to give her.” Kylie had taken one of the fancier archival bags Lorelei had packed and put her sketch inside. She wasn’t good with words like everyone here was, but she had some talent. Her art was the only way she knew how to show her feelings without hiding. They needed this.
Lykos glanced at it, but Kylie had it turned so the drawing wasn’t visible. “Well, it isn’t a bomb, so that is the only reason I’m bothering to take you out there.”
She barely held back from rolling her eyes. “I take it you think I’m the Daughter of Darkness.”
“You are.” He hadn’t even hesitated. “Not sure which version is worse, a mere mortal capable of ruining lives, or a powerful being none could stop.”
“Oh, grow up. I’m doing the best I can to make things right.” She shoved open the door and marched out, hoping she was going in the right direction because she was certain Lykos would let her wander into the woods.
Logan’s voice drifted toward her, relieving her she was on the right path. “We kinda agreed we’d get back together, or at least talk about it, after she graduates.”
“You fucking moron,” Ryder replied.
Kylie stilled, her eyes already misting with tears.
“I’m not being stupid,” Logan said. “I didn’t even plan it. But I know what I’m feeling is real, and it means there was something real, even with the lies.”
“It means you haven’t gotten laid in six months,” Ryder said, laughing.
“I haven’t, but that’s not why.” Logan made a growling noise. “Stop smirking.”
It was Luc who responded, “Can one not smile in your presence?”
“Baby doll, you don’t think I’m being stupid, do you?”
Kylie held her breath. Janie had all kinds of power over Logan, over all of them.
“It doesn’t matter what I think,” Janie said softly. “I told you before—whoever makes you happy and loves you for everything you are, and I’ll be happy. But, like I said, it’s not what I think, nor is it my happiness you need to worry about.”
“Stop sounding so wise.” Logan laughed. “Just tell me what you think so these bastards will stop looking at me like I’m an idiot.”
“You are an idiot,” Ryder said. “If you can’t tell me to fuck off about your relationship, then you’re a moron.”
Janie giggled, but it was a sad sound.
“You asshole,” Logan said, followed by a punching sound.
“Bitch, I’m holding my girl.” A louder punch sounded.
“Are you going to stand here eavesdropping?” Lykos asked loudly.
“Oh my God, you’re worse than Ryder.” Kylie walked around him, rounding the stone wall that had hidden her.
The group was waiting for her, and Kylie realized there were four guards also spread out, though they seemed unconcerned with anything but scanning the area.
Logan approached her, holding out his hand. “Hood, is everything okay?”
She was a little startled by the sort of gentlemanly gesture, but she took his hand. “Yeah, I just noticed you guys out here, and I wanted to give Janie something.”
His eyes flicked down to the drawing, and he grinned. “You sure?”
“Yeah.” She let him see it first, and his smile widened at the finished product.
“She’s going to love it,” he whispered, kissing her h
ead before guiding her to Janie.
The girl before her wasn’t at all the same cheerful, bossy brunette she’d seen Saturday. Her hair was dull like her eyes, and tangled from the slight breeze, her skin a little paler than usual.
Logan squeezed her hand when it trembled, and she steeled her spine before giving Janie a smile that she always should have.
“I wanted you to have this.” Kylie held out the drawing.
Janie’s reaction wasn’t exactly what Kylie had hoped for. In fact, she wasn’t reacting at all as she studied the drawing. Ryder was staring at it, too, and his expression was just as blank as his girlfriend’s.
She was so stupid. Of course Janie wouldn’t want a picture of everything she’d lost. “I’m sorry,” she blurted. “I didn’t even know what I was sketching until I finished. I guess it’s just a world where you have all you should have.”
Janie handed the sketch to Ryder before focusing on Kylie. She smiled. “Thank you.” Then she flung her arms out, wrapping her arms around Kylie as she cried, “It’s beautiful.”
Kylie swallowed down the emotion choking her. “I’m so sorry you lost them.”
“Thank you,” Janie repeated before letting go. There was a pretty flush of color on her face now, and her eyes were brighter. It reminded Kylie of how Logan described her all those months ago. She was prettier when she cried.
“She’s almost as good as you,” Ryder said, smirking at Logan before dropping his gaze to Kylie. “That’s a compliment. Grimm’s too good. You’ll have to take lessons from him.”
“Okay.” Kylie knew Ryder wouldn’t give a totally nice compliment, but it was something, and true. Logan was masterful, what she aspired to achieve.
Logan gave Kylie a little squeeze before reaching for Janie. “I told her you’d love it.”
