Page 164 of Love & Heart Braking

Wasn’t one dungeon wing enough? “Is he okay? What happened to him?”

“The twelve weren’t happy about the Utatio and Boquit setups. They located him and he was at the Plorexes’ estate for a few days before they transferred him here. He’s in rough shape. I’ve been helping him where I can.”

I looked at the phoenix. “And doing so at risk to your family. Thank you, Austin. But please be careful.”

He nodded. “I will. Listen, I need to go take Lerome food and water, but I’ll be back when I can, okay?”

I shivered, hugging myself.

“You’re freezing.” He scowled. “I’ll bring you a blanket.”

“No, don’t. There’s no way to explain that. They’ll know you’re interfering.”

His jaw set, but he dipped his head. “Take care, Cerys.”

“And you.” I watched the phoenix until he’d disappeared from view.

Sleep had never been further from my mind as I sat on the bed again.

Devereaux would come to the wedding. And I had a sick feeling about what the entertainment for the event would be. Panic crawled up my throat, trying to sink its fingernails into my thoughts.

I had to think this through.

If Devereaux had been taken instead, I’d be losing my mind. I’d absolutely come to the wedding—even if I hadn’t received a threatening letter with proof of his capture. But I liked to think that I’d come with a plan. That plan would be to figure out the Arbintos’ role in all this and rescue everyone in our team.

My hands curled to fists. I could help them from the inside.

Austin couldn’t leave unless his family was free. Him marrying Smolder wasn’t an option, so he had to come with us, and therefore we had to free his family.

I was assuming if the Lanarays were at full strength, the tower couldn’t hold four of them captive. I puzzled over that, and when no solution came to mind, I turned my mind to Soleil’s predicament.

She’d only leave when this was over unless I could convince her otherwise. She’d leave to save me and Bain too.

That was all I could think of.

I rubbed my temples in frustration.

Maybe ideas weren’t forthcoming just now, yet I couldn’t just play the powerless torturee while here. I’d try to dig up more evidence and figure out a way out of this mess for all the people I cherished.

The Cinereses could burn me all they liked.

They’d regret it in the end.

36

Acribus stared down at me. “Summon your anti-love arrow.”

I closed my eyes.

“Bring him in,” she ordered, correctly interpreting my gesture.

“Yes, Mistress Acribus. At once,” the healer blurted.

I listened to his footsteps and the whooshing swing of the lab door. Then there were only her footsteps as she circled my bed.

“We have someone that you know,” she said conversationally. “A griffin that was part of your rebellion.”

Phew. For a moment I’d thought she meant Devereaux.

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