Malum

Madison leans closer to me, her elbows resting against the counter. “Stay here for as long as you need, okay? We will get her back. I promise.”

I smile. “Thanks, Mads. I appreciate it.”

She stands again, rounding the counter to take my hand. “Come on. I’ll show you into Daemon’s old room. You can stay there while you’re here.”

Pain slices me in the chest, but I swallow it down, aware of all the eyes I have on me.

I don’t make eye contact with any of them. I keep my head bowed low and let Madison guide me to Daemon’s room.

We stop outside the door, and Madison’s grip tightens in mine. “I know about you and Daemon, Tills.”

My head snaps up to hers. “What do you mean?”

She swallows, and then her eyes slowly open onto mine. “I know about you both, and what happened between the two of you.”

“Okay,” I answer because I don’t really know what else to say to her and I really, really hate lying to her. Out of everyone on this earth, she is the one person I really don’t want to lie to. I need to find a way out of this mess I’ve found myself in.

“I just want you to know that it’s okay to mourn him in here. I haven’t come into his room since it happened, mainly because I haven’t been able to stomach it.” She pauses and swallows. “But also because I felt like it wasn’t my place to touch.”

“That’s insane, Madz. He was your twin brother…”

She shakes her head, cutting me off without actually cutting me off. “I know that it seems that way, but I’ve always felt deep down that it wasn’t my place to touch. I know that it is yours. So please, take your time. Sleep in here, and when you’re ready, maybe you can help me box up his items?”

I let out a loud gush of breath. “I don’t know if I can do it. Sleep in here that is.”

She smiles, her hand finding the door handle. “You will. But if you don’t, you know you can jump in with Bishop and me.”

“Hard pass,” I mumble, smiling at her from the corner of my eye.

She chuckles, then twists the handle and pushes it open. “You know where I am if you need me.”