Page 93 of Love & Heart Braking

Lerome and Gug filed out, and Fenton removed my blur charm.

Devereaux leaned in close to the vampire. “You fucked up.”

The vampire audibly gulped. “Yes. I apologize. I—”

Devereaux walked out, leaving the babbling Fenton behind.

“Bye, Fen,” I said brightly, following my berserker.

Soleil was hot on my tail, but she paused at a soft call from Bain.

“Soleil,” he said. “Wait. Please.”

The rest of us waited for her response. The stiff, hand-on-hip posture she’d automatically assumed drained away as the leaden moment extended. She glanced at me, but I didn’t give her anything. She knew me well enough to gather that was on purpose.

That she was on her own.

One day, this would make sense to my friend. I hoped. Because if their relationship didn’t work out, I was starting to wonder if she’d blame me for staying mute.

“What do you want to talk about?” she hedged.

Bain clenched his jaw. “Us.”

Us.

The word sounded so final—a fact that seemed to defeat the unicorn while achieving the opposite with Soleil.

“Too many feelings.” Fenton shuddered. “I’m breaking out in hives.”

He eased past Devereaux and squeezed out the front door.

I touched Soleil’s hand. “See ya tomorrow.”

She frowned. “I don’t know if I want to stay and listen.”

Please do.

Bain stepped closer. “I was wrong to hurt you. I did so out of fear. Turning from the hard path was a cowardly choice, and one I hope you’ll forgive me for.”

“You said I wasn’t worthy of you,” Soleil whispered.

I edged in Devereaux’s direction.

The unicorn—the prince of some important herd if Gug was to be believed—closed his eyes briefly as if in pain. “I lied.”

“You said you couldn’t lie.”

“I focused on the literal truth. I am a prince. In the culture of my type, you aren’t worthy of me.”

Ugh. I was aware of what he meant, but the guy just didn’t dress his words up at all.

Soleil bunched her fists. “So not only am I a piece of shit, according to you, I don’t even have the decency to be a princess.”

Her voice climbed.

Devereaux whispered to me, “Come on. They need to figure this out.”

He squeezed my hand. He was right. I hated it, but he was right.

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