Raiden (Sons of the Fallen, #6)

by Jaclyn Osborn

“A T-Rex named Pete. In loving memory of my fallen friend.” Gray’s beloved dick-o-saurus statue—Dino-Pete—had been lost in the fire that took our home. Mason had found him another one online, which Gray had dubbed Dino-Steve. He had several more now, each varying in size. They lined a shelf in the room he shared with Mason. He’d also placed a few throughout the house, something Clara pretended not to notice, though her eye twitched when she’d spotted one poking out from her herb garden in the backyard. Another in the cupboard was holding her spices.

Gray told him about a dream he’d had about dinosaurs that could shoot lasers from their eyes and said he should put it in a book. The fallen angel nodded as he chewed, his thoughts written all over his face. Those thoughts being “no way in hell.”

People were like that too. Multifaceted with both light and darkness inside them. “Careful of which one you feed,” my father had told me once. “For we all have the ability to become beasts.” In the centuries I’d lived, I had fed them both. No one was completely pure of heart. We all had thorns hiding beneath our skin—some more than others.

“A nightmare. Even worse than the time I got excited to make pizza only to realize I didn’t have any cheese. You can’t have pizza without cheese. Not unless you like eating sadness and disappointment.”

“It’s called Greek Mountain tea,” I said, trying to control my breaths. I never got this nervous around people. So why was he different? “Comes from the Sideritis plant.” Raden slowly blinked at me as he chewed. “Iron wort,” I said. “Oh! I’ve heard of that.” That dimple flashed again. Goddammit. “It’s supposed to have medicinal properties, right? Daman talked about it before.” “Yes. Exactly. It can help with pain and strengthens the immune system.

“I’m awake,” Alastair projected into my head. His purple thread was vibrant. “Felt me poking around in your skull?” “I felt you searching for me,” he responded. “We are your first thought every morning.”

Aww

Food brought people together. It was also the only acceptable way to start the day. It gave you energy and made your tummy happy too. Win, win.

Raiden was like a burst of color on a gray canvas. His bright, sunny personality was wholesome. His smiles were genuine, never contrived.

The weight of the world can be on your shoulders, or maybe loneliness is crushing your chest, but being in the kitchen, working with the ingredients and transforming them into something else is therapeutic.”

I wish...it just stresses me out

All of you could benefit by acting more like me. Being a villain is more fun.” “A villain,” Bellamy said, using his fingers as quotation marks. He then caressed the collar around Phoenix’s neck. “You’re nothing but a softie.” “I’ll show you soft.” Phoenix swatted him with his tail. He then pushed Bellamy into the pool.

“Sparkly?” Vepar scoffed. He knelt on the branch and rested his sword on his shoulder. The weapon was completely white, from the hilt to the tip of the blade, and it emitted a low vibration, as if it was electrically charged. “I prefer the term ethereal.” “Sucks to be you, then, Sparkles,” Raiden said. “’Cause I don’t know what that means.”

moonbeam-sparkle dude

“Ray,” Gray’s voice projected into my head. “This is your conscience speaking. And your conscience wants you to make waffles for your adorable little brother.”

“Bring forth the offering of pizza, kind sir, and accept a kiss as my token of thanks.”

“Take tonight to enjoy yourselves. I intend to do the same shortly.” “By doing what?” Castor asked. “Reading a book? Come get shitfaced and party with the rest of us.” “Books are better than booze, and they last much longer,”

Maybe Al will have a mate by then, and they can visit museums together and, like, go to the library.” Castor spewed his beer. Alastair eyed Castor over his glass of spiced rum, unamused.