Page 122 of Love & Heart Braking

His breath hitched and he fixed his entire focus on me. “She knows?”

“I told her this morning before she was taken.” And I was grateful beyond reason that I’d divulged the truth.

The unicorn appeared in danger of crying. “What do I do? How do I help her?” He gripped me. “I don’t know what to do, Cerys.”

I stepped forward and hugged him tightly. “You keep away from law enforcement. Is there anywhere you can go?”

He released me. “Yes. I have somewhere.” The unicorn frowned. “But that isn’t where I’m needed. Hiding won’t help her. I can’t stand by while my true love needs me.”

“She can fight this battle.”

“She doesn’t need to fight this battle alone.” He turned from me. “I’ve been hiding since I got to Nepos. Hiding from myself. Hiding from the truth. My herd.”

Bain Lecosta faced me again, but it was as if he barely saw me. “I cannot hide any longer.”

I needed him to be on board with staying out of sight. Now more than ever, we had to go at the twelve. Bain was a huge part of that effort. “The alliance needs you.”

He gripped my upper arms. “Exactly. They need me, and I’ve been neglectful. I just didn’t see it.”

“I need to ask if whatever epiphany you’re having is going to hurt my friend.”

“I would never hurt her. I was a fool and a coward. I must be the man she needs me to be. I must prove my worthiness to her.”

The unicorn released me, and his rainbow eyes burned bright. “Cerys, I must return to my herd.”

I gaped at him. “You…”

He nodded several times in rapid succession. “That’s what I must do.”

Bain shoved his hand into the pocket of his leather jacket, then drew out a white box. “Please take this to Soleil. Tell her I love her. That I’ll come for her.”

“Bain—” I said, taking the box. But the unicorn was leaving the printer room and striding out of Yearning Hearts.

I nearly ran after him. How did I even get in touch?

Fuck.

I straightened, clutching the white box. Get it together, Cerys. Soleil was in a damn jail cell. And for now, I had love to spread. For her. Because I’d be damned if the twelve took Yearning Hearts away from us too.

I forced a smile, approaching my client. “Thank you so much for waiting. Please come this way.”

27

I pressed my fingertips against my eyelids. I was exhausted after making calls all day and answering questions from Austin. I’d had one update from Devereaux this afternoon to say the interrogation had just begun and Sintin was in with Soleil.

And that was about when I’d remembered that I couldn’t take Soleil a triple-chocolate mud cake after work. I had a contract with the twelve to uphold tonight.

“Got it,” Rolli said, holding up the cake box as he entered Yearning Hearts.

“Thank you so much.” I hurried to him and tucked an envelope into the box. “Please ask for Detective Vincori. He’ll get everything to her.”

The cupid touched my arm. “Don’t you worry. I’ve got this.”

I fucking loved my type. “Could you let Detective Vincori know that I’m getting charcoal chicken for dinner and not to wait up?”

“Sure.” Rolli left, and I lowered into Soleil’s chair, opening her desktop. I seriously hadn’t found one moment to get on here today.

My hire carriage rolled up outside at that moment, and I swore, but clicked on the file anyway, typing shithead into the password box. The file unlocked to reveal twelve folders, each labeled after one of the rich families.

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