Page 116 of Love & Heart Braking

No kidding. “You got to see your family tonight?”

He dipped his head. “Walking past the twelve was uncomfortable, but I feel bad for enjoying seeing my family now I know what happened to Fenton. My mother burst into tears at the sight of me. The Cinereses must’ve been spinning all kinds of stories to my parents and grandparents.”

No doubt they had.

“What’s next?” Austin asked quietly.

We’d discussed this part before embarking on our rescue mission, but in those discussions, Fenton was still here. No matter what fun we’d made of him, Fenton had been the one to organize the meetings and smaller details.

I was rattled. A glance at Austin told me I wasn’t the only one. How many missions like tonight could we survive? If we lost one person each time, then how long until I lost Devereaux and Soleil? Tonight, it could’ve been my best friend sinking to the depths.

“We can’t do something like this mission again,” I said. “Gug made a deal with Fenton. Maligni is free, and now we get her evidence. We gather our evidence, too, as much as we can. And when we have enough to take them down, we go for the throat.”

Big words. They didn’t feel like much because, well, that job was huge—one that countless descendants had failed to do before us.

“Once we have all that, we need a judge who will put their life on the line too,” Devereaux said quietly.

Were we in over our heads? The overall vision of our rebellion hadn’t changed. But tonight, the risks felt very real.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m pooped.” It was nearly 3:00 a.m.

Grabbing Austin a pillow and blanket from the storage cupboard next to the desk, I set him up, pulling back the coffee table to give him more space.

Austin unlaced his shoes and loosened his bow tie. “Thanks for letting me stay. After everything, I appreciate you doing this.”

I’d decided to give friendship with him another whirl, and I would let a friend stay on my couch. “Don’t mention it.”

When the phoenix started unbuttoning his shirt, Devereaux coincidentally called me from the bathroom.

I smirked.

Padding in, I didn’t say anything, simply grabbed my toothbrush to brush my teeth alongside the berserker. I reached over for my black eyeliner, then remembered Austin already knew too. Handy.

Devereaux perched on the edge of the tub and watched as I brushed my hair and braided it, then washed my face. I cocked a brow at him, and he smiled, then crossed the bathroom toward me. Making sure not to otherwise touch me, he kissed me softly. “Beautiful.”

I kissed him back. “Back at you.”

I had a feeling my ass-revealing pajama set may not be the wisest choice tonight—or Devereaux really would end up lodged in the ceiling. I was in the mood for flannel warmth anyway. Stepping into my wardrobe, I changed into long, pink checkered pajamas and a camisole.

I paused there in the dark, taking a moment to appreciate that however weird the shituation, a man was about to sleep in my bed. With me.

Two men were about to sleep in my apartment.

Cerys, you horn dog.

Devereaux had taken my usual sleeping spot closest to the door, and I chuckled low as I crawled into the side of the bed farthest from Austin.

“Are you laughing at me, Cerys Concordia?” my berserker mumbled.

I thought about that. “Yes.”

Blue eyes peered at me through the dark. “I haven’t gone through the ceiling yet.”

“Count yourself lucky.” My eyelids grew heavy.

I didn’t dare take his hand, so I just stared at him until my eyelids grew too heavy to ignore.

“Sleep, sweetheart,” he said. “I’ll be here in the morning.”

---