Page 131 of Love & Heart Braking

The phone rang again, and I mentally pulled my hair out. I just wanted everyone to go away for a day. I also couldn’t break my promise to Soleil. Look after our Yearning babies.

I answered. “Welcome to Yearning Hearts. You’re speaking with Cerys.”

“Cerys, it’s Rolli,” the cupid rushed to say.

I stilled, hearing the fear in his voice. “What’s wrong?”

“Austin just walked out.”

“What?” I hushed. “Why?”

“He was on the phone, and he looked at me. Said he had to go to his family. To tell you they had him.”

They.

The Cinereses.

My mouth dried. Mistress Cineres and her damn scratching quill. Whatever was in that letter had been put into effect.

They’d killed Fenton.

They had Soleil.

And now they had Austin too.

29

The four of us sat in silence in Devereaux’s apartment. Five, plus Maligni.

How had our numbers diminished so much and so suddenly?

“We’re not going to win.” Gug glanced at her husband in Devereaux’s bed. “Maybe it’s time to call it quits while we’re able to leave Nepos. I’ve got to think of Maligni.”

Anger surged within me. “Like Fenton considered him?”

She paled. “Fenton isn’t here anymore.”

“But your deal was with the alliance. That stands.” I had no problem staring the goblin down, gen one though she may be. Running wasn’t an option for me, and she had what I needed to keep Soleil, Devereaux, and Austin safe.

“I’m in this until the end. I’ve got nothing to lose,” Lerome said, and I was grateful for the support.

Gug’s chin trembled. “I do have someone to lose.”

“We stay, my love,” her husband croaked, staggering into the room.

“What if they capture you again?” his wife said tearfully.

“They will never stop coming for me. Our freedom only comes when the twelve are gone.” He turned to face me. “I owe you that much for my father’s crimes.”

I held his gaze. “And for yours?”

His red irises flickered. “They told you.”

“They did. You threw me under the carriage. You knew what effect your words would have. Why?”

“Because they bartered my wife’s relative freedom. I would do it again.”

Most people would. I couldn’t say that my choice would be different if the options were Devereaux in a cage and Devereaux walking about Nepos. “How long until you can take me to the underworld?”

---