Page 188 of Love & Heart Braking

Don’t laugh at them.

Devereaux held the file in his hand up. “I quit.”

What?

Rion stared at him, then broke into a grin. “About time!” he roared and slapped Devereaux on the shoulder. “Your mother will be ecstatic. But why now when I’ve been trying to convince you to quit for years?” He sent the file a curious stare, then said to me, “Don’t get me wrong, Devereaux is my best detective, but his heart isn’t in the job.”

No, it wasn’t. Not anymore.

“I have something else to do,” Devereaux said. “My type needs my help.”

Warmth filled my chest as I took his hand, squeezing it tightly. Eight years of his life dedicated to finding his father’s murderers, and now my berserker had found his calling. In helping other berserkers and, no doubt, the wider community.

Rion shooed us onward, but we’d taken all of five steps before Maligni stood from the last row.

“Cerys,” he said.

I quirked a brow. “Remember me now?”

“Soleil was kind enough to help out.”

Did I want a daemon knowing what I was? Perhaps not the one who’d killed my father, but his son could be trusted. I’d taken my father’s words to heart. A strong heart would always prevail. Corruption didn’t stand a chance against it.

I couldn’t live my life in fear. Not that I’d be stupid about my type either, but I’d stopped Soleil from placing her thrall on our employed cupids. I had a right to be comfortable in my workplace. I’d trust a few people here and there with what I was.

“I’m glad,” I told him. “How is Gug?”

“Busy,” he said.

No kidding.

Gug had published her article on the twelve. The entire paper—all twenty pages of it—had contained the detailed and hugely incriminating story she’d been itching to write for the last two years. The Notice had reprinted her article three times after the citizens of Nepos were rocked to their very cores in a way they hadn’t yet forgotten. Shortly after, Soleil had been revealed as the author of the Toppling 12 Pillars column, which put a stop to the hate mail and cancellations flooding in on the wake of Gug’s story because Soleil was a “filthy Hucs.”

Yearning Hearts was doing better than ever.

Yearning Harmony had a waiting list.

And the tickets for our first friends-only event in Nepos had sold out in a day. On top of that, Soleil had informed me yesterday that we’d spoken three times about hiring new staff and she’d lined up interviews for next week.

Having been so close to losing everything, I was yet to get past the feeling of disbelief that we were somehow okay and thriving. Mostly.

Fenton.

Lerome.

Austin’s grandfather.

Unicorns.

Law enforcers.

Too many had been lost in the battle that never should have been necessary if people had just had a little more heart.

And now they’d be forced to grow one.

“I came to thank you for the use of your apartment,” Maligni said to Devereaux. “We’re all moved out.” He passed over the key, then faced me. “I also came to tell you that my power is restored. I can take you to the underworld anytime you wish. Now, even.”

Now?

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