Page 147 of Love & Heart Braking

I blew him a kiss, entering Yearning Hearts.

Annya and Enzo had been watching from inside. They sighed happily as I entered.

“Everything okay?” I asked, lips curving.

“Just basking in your love,” Annya said, a dreamy expression on her face. “Makes me all warm and fuzzy.”

I peeked over my shoulder to watch Devereaux crossing the street. That was my man. An excited thrill raced through me. “He just moved in.”

Enzo bounced on the balls of his feet. “How’s it going? What’s next? Marriage?”

I laughed. “Give us five seconds to be together first.”

“Never!” they chorused.

“Get it, get it, get it, get your paaaaaper! Get your fucking paper!”

Digging for some coins, I hurried out and bought one. I didn’t want any more surprises like Austin’s wedding. Sure enough, as I flicked open the paper, a picture of Soleil in the black ball gown from last night took up the majority of the second page. She was arm in arm with a smirking Austin.

Soleil Hucs Takes the Lead

The story was about a racing event last night where Soleil Hucs—infamously returned from the slums—had snubbed Smolder Cineres and flirted with her fiancé. Smolder was visible in the background clearly furious, and I grinned at my friends before worry gnawed at my ribs. Soleil and Austin would pay for that snub. Even if no snub occurred, the two of them would pay for this article being written.

And if the Yearning employees saw it, they’d wonder what the hell was going on too.

I flipped through the rest of the paper, but I didn’t find anything else in it about the twelve, Soleil, or Austin.

Going through the motions, I turned on my computer, then Soleil’s, despaired at the influx of emails, made a coffee—I was back on that train—then walked across the street to pop the message to the Cinereses in the letter zinger.

Taking a steadying breath, I returned to Yearning Hearts, and forced myself to answer three emails before the bell rang and our first clients entered.

It was the most normal morning since Soleil was arrested. Only one of my clients asked if the article on her was true. The others wanted to know if Soleil and Austin were really having an affair behind Smolder’s back.

Their attitudes bugged me on a new, more cynical level. What if I told them that there was Shade in their food? Would they be horrified for a day before an article about Shade saving a woman’s life was published? Then would they race to buy all the cans of corn in Nepos? No wonder the twelve had such a foothold when the everyday person was so trained to believe what they were told without question.

Though, I should try not to be so judgmental. A lot of people were afraid. A lot of people didn’t have the space to do anything about this. But if every person asked one question to challenge what they were told… wouldn’t that be enough?

“I’ll pass you to Enzo to complete the subscription process.” I beamed at the mermaid in her wheel tank. Enzo had finished early with his client. Maybe, somehow, we could all find a rhythm until Soleil was back.

“Thank you,” she said, using the lever on the control panel to direct her tank to the next desk.

A vampire blurred into Yearning Hearts. “Cerys Concordia?” he said loudly.

“I’m she.” I accepted the letters with no small amount of trepidation. My message couldn’t have reached the Cinereses yet, surely.

The two envelopes were made with a glittering silver paper covered with an embroidered white sheet. Nice. I set the second envelope down and slipped my finger under the white wax seal. A gold holder contained the letters within.

Smolder &

Austin

I pried open the holder and flattened the top letter. An emblem—a phoenix surrounded in shimmering gold flame.

It was an invitation.

Cerys Concordia & Devereaux Vincori

I exhaled slowly.

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