Page 5 of Love & Heart Braking

“I’m really not having a good night. The guy I’m into… I had to hurt his feelings.”

My hands bunched, but I forced myself to take a steadying breath. An echo imp’s magic only lasted a few hours if a person was silent. Unless the imp was super angry.

I cast Fake Desiree a look.

She was angry.

I started walking. I really was meeting Soleil tonight. The imp mimicked my gait and glower, half a step behind me.

Nox Street was always bustling, and tonight was extra so being hump day, but the passing descendants fell mute upon catching sight of the small type beside me. They extended looks of pity and amusement my way, splitting in two to allow us passage.

I groaned under my breath.

The imp groaned too.

Did I really sound like that?

“How about I organize you a real date?” I asked her.

“How about I organize you a real date?” She flipped me the bird.

Ha! Not mimicking me absolutely would cost her magic some of its hold, but I had a feeling the woman didn’t care.

Sticking to the main streets even though I was safer from attacks than ever before while negotiating with the twelve, I wound toward the Real Nepos Bank, the only bank in Nepos not owned by the Rippses. Following Soleil’s column in the Nepos Notice, there had been a surge of descendants switching to this bank. Great news. But I sure didn’t envy whoever ran the joint. They’d be triply watching for danger these days.

The imp drew the ends of her coat together a beat after me. When I hunkered down against the wind, she did the same. Couldn’t a girl be devastated about hurting the guy she loved in peace? Talk about kicking a descendant when she was down.

Up ahead, Soleil’s siren-red hair was a beacon.

“Soleil,” I called.

“Soleil.”

So damn annoying.

When my best friend peered my way, I held a finger to my lips. As the co-owner of Yearning Hearts, she had to be on the echo imp’s radar too. Soleil’s brilliant green gaze dropped to the small descendant. As we approached, she crouched before the echo imp, letting her fangs descend.

The echo imp squealed and sprinted off.

Oh to have fangs.

“Thanks,” I said.

She stood. “No problem. How’d she get you?”

“That’s Desiree BJ Dreams. She ambushed me outside Tiara’s.”

Soleil grinned. “For real?”

“Yep. She’s pissed about Olegh.”

“Okay. Stop talking about yourself for five seconds now. We’re late for our appointment.”

I was still in disbelief we’d made this appointment.

Soleil pressed the button beside the black double doors. “Soleil and Cerys Concordia.”

“Are you my spouse now?” I waggled my brows.

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