Page 114 of Love & Heart Braking

The kraken screamed again, weaker this time.

“They’ve already won.” Blue eyes glowing in the dark, my berserker began to run.

I closed my eyes against the blurring surroundings, holding on for dear life.

25

A knock sounded at the door, and I leaped up, shoving my still-wet hair out of the way.

Devereaux got to the door first and swung it open. “What are you doing here?”

Austin entered, still in a black tux. “I had to leave Soleil’s.”

I gripped his forearm. “Why?”

“Because she and Bain are having the loudest sex ever,” he half snapped.

I wasn’t offended by his irritation—I’d flatted with her for years. His mood was warranted.

My shoulders sagged. “She’s okay.” I frowned. “She didn’t call.”

“She’s preoccupied,” the phoenix said. “I heard things I’ll never fucking forget.”

“I need to call her.” I rushed to the phone.

“They won’t answer.”

Devereaux flicked me an amused glance. “Perhaps give them an hour?”

I lowered the phone, sighing. “They’ll need longer than that.”

On the brighter side, they were having sex. Yay! A gory fight and some unspent adrenaline had been all they needed.

“Can I hole up here?” Austin asked, sounding pitiful.

Devereaux’s gaze narrowed.

The phoenix held up his hands. “Hey, I’m happy to go back to your place with you. I just need somewhere to crash until the libidos level out.”

They would never, ever level out.

“Fine by me, but you’ll need to clear it with Dev as well. This is his place too. For now.” Maligni and Gug had reached his apartment. They’d phoned not long ago to say they arrived safe and sound. As sound as anyone could be after that experience. I had a feeling that I’d have nightmares for the rest of my life. Each time I closed my eyes, a bloodied, shocked, and dead Fenton flashed in my mind.

“Fine by me too.” Devereaux glanced at me. “Just for now, sweetheart?”

Oops. That had slipped out. Though this did seem like the perfect trial to see how we lived together without pressure. Gug and her husband needed a temporary hideout, and Devereaux and I could test things out in the meantime.

I couldn’t deny that having him around all the time sent a massive thrill through me. And he was right, loosening the curse full time made far more sense. Moving in together was still a big step, however, and even if my apartment was slightly bigger than his, it felt too small for two people. Something was just niggling me about the situation.

I swept up mine and Devereaux’s ruined clothes and didn’t bother throwing them in the laundry hamper. These were heading straight for the bin.

“Take the couch for tonight,” I said to Austin.

That meant Devereaux would need to jump into my bed, which would be a test, but if we kept to opposite ends, it might be fine.

Devereaux cocked a brow at the ceiling above my bed, and my lips twitched. Yeah. Last time a man touched my bed, he’d ended up half in the apartment above.

I put on the kettle and made everyone a hot chocolate—a small one for Devereaux because he had to watch his sugar intake being what he was—and passed them to the guys.

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