Page 120 of Love & Heart Braking

“—to apprehend Soleil Hucs on the charges of murdering Develin Dethnel and Imosae Dethnel.” A large earth mage stepped between the men, and they parted to let him pass.

Devereaux looked at the man. “Chief. Who laid the charges?”

“The family. Devereaux, there’s camera footage.”

My hands are tied.

Soleil and I exchanged a long look. The fear in her eyes was swept away just as fast as it had appeared. She rose in a smooth movement, the eyes of our employees, clients, and law enforcement on her.

She approached the chief. “What do you need me to do to lay these preposterous allegations to rest?”

Rion shifted his focus to her. “You’ll need to come down to the station with us, Miss Hucs.”

“Soleil is fine,” she told him. “And I’m happy to do so.”

I felt sick. Soleil had to feel the same, but she turned to me. “Cerys—”

“I’m fine to run things here. I’ll be with you as soon as I can. Would you like me to make a call to Sintin?”

She nodded. “Yes, and—” Soleil blanched.

Yeah, I’d just had the same thought. Bain couldn’t go into the station. They’d have footage of him too.

Rion flipped open a notebook, and it was so like the gesture Devereaux often made that I would’ve smiled if I didn’t feel sick to my stomach.

“Soleil,” the earth mage said. “What can you tell us about the whereabouts of one Bain Lecosta?”

Lecosta. I heard some of the officers passing the name around.

“You were last seen with him at the scene of the crime,” the chief continued.

She lifted a shoulder. “Haven’t seen him since.”

The chief didn’t look surprised at her denial. He didn’t appear like he wanted to be here at all. “If you’d like to grab your things, then please join us outside. I don’t think handcuffs are necessary. Please be informed that we have secured a warrant to search your home and some of my officers will head there directly.”

Devereaux stilled.

So did I.

Bain.

“I’m willing to cooperate.” Soleil walked to her desk.

I followed her. “I’ll make a few calls straightaway.”

“I know you will. Cerys, don’t worry. This will go away.”

Allegations of murder? Really?

I was nowhere near as hopeful. Not with who she was up against. Our legal system—for the most part—was one that could be influenced by the rich and powerful. She wouldn’t have a fair trial. “It will, Sol. I don’t want you to worry about a single thing here, okay? The event and Yearning Harmony, I’ve got them sorted. You just focus on you.”

Her throat moved as she swallowed. Reaching under her desk, she grabbed her handbag, then quickly clicked her mouse on a file on the desktop of her computer. A password box popped up. “Shitheads,” she muttered just loud enough for me to hear. “Take over.”

Straightening, she said louder, “Everything is sorted for the event. It’ll just be set up to handle on the day.”

“I’ve got it. Seriously. I’ll pull in Rolli to help out.”

Soleil looked me in the eyes for the first time. “I love you, Cerys Concordia.”

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