Page 32 of Love & Heart Braking

This was his dad’s? I handed the pendant over.

I could say with certainty that the pendant hadn’t been here on the way in. One of the krakens had dredged it up from the deep to place in Devereaux’s path. That sadistic bullshit made me sick to my stomach.

This pendant wasn’t just intended to punch him in the gut. It was a warning too.

What the hell did Furoras uncover all those years ago?

8

“What’s Dev going to do next then?” Soleil asked as we left my apartment.

I heaved my tote higher. “I have no idea. How do you go about digging up information that’s so old? And while so many people want it to stay buried too. The twelve are pros at this. That’s what makes taking them out so difficult.”

Translucent white caught my focus, and I stopped talking as Rodney flew through the stairwell door. Dang. Hope he didn’t catch any of that. We hadn’t put up a no-gossip charm yet.

“Evening, Rodney,” I called.

He gnashed his teeth, floating past. “Club. Grind. Bones. Hate.”

“No kidding. I hope your night is productive.” I waved.

Soleil smiled. “Nice guy that Rodney.”

“Sure is.”

We exited onto Ceres Close, heading for Juno Park. The night was crisp but lacking the wind and general misery of the last two weeks.

We were about to do something that was probably stupid.

Soleil chatted as we reached the park gates. “Builders are booked for this weekend at the new location. Painters next Wednesday. Furniture and computer deliveries on Friday. People who understand computers on Saturday. I have signage drawn up and I’ve booked a few advertising slots to announce the opening.”

What we planned for Pick Up was a first. And with it being a first, we risked a big chance of failure.

But with Soleil behind the wheel, and me asleep in the passenger seat, I had a feeling our idea would go off with a bang.

We cut through the human corner of the park, then hiked into the tree line, shoving through branches, and wading through soggy leaf litter until the descendants enjoying the nice winter’s evening were just visible through the last couple of rows of oaks.

“Got any company?” I murmured.

Soleil tilted her head. Her hearing wasn’t as good as Devereaux’s—sirens were more about their eyesight, but she said, “No one’s close by.”

She extracted a no-gossip charm, whispering against the ball before tossing it to the ground. Following that, she tossed a second charm to the ground. Gray smoke poured out from it, cocooning us in its mist before becoming translucent.

The shroud charm allowed us to see out and no one to see in.

Soleil planted herself in front of me and narrowed her eyes. “Summon your weapon, soldier.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” I lowered my tote and called my bow, standing to attention.

My friend circled me. “The power of Venus has decided that you are ready for the next step. But no skill can be perfect without practice. Perfect practice. Let us embark on this training that will allow you to access your full potential. If you have what it takes.”

“Are you having fun?”

“Yes. Please refer to me as wise one.”

“That’s a strong no. Sir.”

Soleil ignored me, spreading her arms wide and tilting back her head. “Peer through the trees. Tell me what you see.”

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