Page 14 of Love & Heart Braking

The door swung open.

Soleil joined me. “How did you know to do that?”

Because of the stupid door test at Flinitinatinitans. “I’m wise beyond my years.”

We entered, and I placed the gold token in my pocket, palming a curse ball. This place was super creepy—the exact hideout I’d expect Fenton to hole up in.

“You made it.”

I yelped and shouted, “Fuck you,” throwing the ball.

An explosion rocked the building, and I covered my head as wood and dust rained down from above.

It was followed by a heavy thud.

“You just cursed Fenton,” Soleil said in glee.

“He crept up on me!”

She cackled. We picked our way into the adjoining room and stood over him. The vampire was unconscious, as per the knock-out curse ball’s design.

“Oops.” I grimaced. “I’m a bit twitchy lately.”

“What happened? I heard a bang.” Bain walked into the sorry-looking space through the same doorway.

Soleil sucked in a breath. “What are you doing here?”

He glanced at me. “Cerys said to find Fenton. I did.”

Yikes. I wasn’t often on the receiving end of Soleil’s real glare. Right about now, she’d feel serious conflict about Bain’s involvement. I’d been so sure about mentioning Fenton to him at the time, but now things seemed far more dangerous. Telling him about the alliance perhaps wasn’t my best idea.

“I cursed him,” I said to the unicorn.

“So it appears.” Bain kneeled beside the vampire. “I had hoped to never touch his rotten soul, but he is important to this night.”

Bain placed both hands on him. A shimmer built over his skin, radiating outward as he ramped up his power. I squinted through the blaring light in the otherwise dim room, but Soleil beat me to a gasp.

A horn extended from Bain’s head. His body was hard to see through the shimmering explosion, but the horn was a beacon. The sharp point looked to be made of diamond and appeared roughly cut like one of Grandmother’s old crystal vases, not smooth like I’d always assumed a unicorn’s horn would be.

The glare grew too strong for my curiosity, and I closed my streaming eyes. I’d just seen a unicorn. Something most young girls dreamed about. And I had a feeling Soleil had been no different. I really wanted to see him in his four-legged form.

The light faded a moment later, and Bain stood. He glanced at Soleil, who was staring.

“Your horn is beautiful,” she whispered.

He bowed slightly. “I thank you.”

Fenton groaned. Opening his eyes, he glowered at me. “You fucking cursed me.”

I shrugged a shoulder. “Don’t walk so quiet next time.”

He got to his feet and shot a look at Bain. “Thanks.”

“If you weren’t necessary to the alliance, then I would have left you to deal with the curse by yourself,” Bain said. “Your soul reeks.”

Even Fenton looked mildly disturbed by that news. The vampire cleared his throat. “The others are already here. Come on.”

I walked behind the vampire.

---