Page 60 of The Fate of Black Hearts

“There are some things I don’t discuss. Dom is…he’s on our side.” If she tried to talk about Dom, she’d fall apart.

“Does Efrem know why Dom would help us?” Flynn was clearly going to run to him to get more details.

“You will leave Efrem alone. He’s in a world of hurt. You know how much he loves each of you.” She compressed her lips. “Collect yourselves and meet me down there to help move Jonas to the pyre. Flynn, button up your shirt. You look like a gigolo. Ky, pull your hair up or something. You look like you haven’t taken a shower in a week and slept in a horse stall.”

Flynn asked, “What happened at the meeting with Willem?”

She held up a hand. “I told Roman. Get the story from him later. We’re going to honor Jonas and release his spirit.”

All her sons had departed. Efrem had finally conked out on a sofa. Apparently, even lycans could drink enough to pass out. Surprising, since most of the time their metabolism processed alcohol too quickly to even get a buzz. But drinking two cases of vodka eventually worked for Efrem.

Alone, Evie sat on her bed. Silence closed in on her like a tomb. She allowed the grief to consume her. Tears slid down her cheeks. She didn’t move to wipe them away. Her beautiful, powerful baby was gone. Nothing was going to bring him back. She reviewed her memories of Jonas when he was little and as he got older.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t save him,” Dom’s voice emanated from the darkness.

She jumped. “Shitfire. How long have you been here?”

He shrugged. “All day. I watched Efrem get drunk, Ky and Flynn get high, and Roman and Shane shut down. Then the pyre.”

“Invisible even from me. I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“For what? That everyone around you shut down and forced you to handle it all on your own?”

“I was short with you when you dropped off Flynn. I’m sorry. I should have treated you better than that considering all you’ve done for us.” She blinked at him. “I didn’t know you watched out for the boys. That you helped them from time to time.”

He grunted. “Do you want to come to my place for a bit? Maybe have a drink?” He held out his hand.

She took his hand. “Where is your place?”

“I have several places.”

In a heartbeat, he transported them through the in-between to somewhere it was raining.

“We’re in Spain,” he said. Rain pitter-patted against the roof and windows. The stone cottage was between cozy small and moderate sized, with rooms downstairs and up. Warmth from a wood stove blasted her.

“I’ve never seen this place in a dream walk.” She reached out to touch a carved alabaster statue of a cat.

“Don’t.” He caught her hand. “Most items here are things that no one should touch. They’re magical items I’ve collected to keep them safe from people who want to use them.”

“Your life is restricted, and you live in a house where you can’t touch anything.” She touched the base of her neck and twirled around.

“Tea?” he asked.

“I thought you didn’t drink tea.”

“I don’t do caffeine. This one’s herbal from Thailand. It has medicinal healing properties. Or so the man who sold it to me said.” He poured water into two teacups. “I think I feel better after I drink it. Could be bullshit.”

She didn’t want tea. With a turn away from him, she gazed at an intricate painting of a water scene where it seemed as if the boats moved on the water. She wanted him to make her feel beautiful. She needed to feel alive and desired.

He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her ass into his erection. He moved her hair and buried his face in the back of her neck, kissing over the sensitive skin. “I can do that, but we shouldn’t.”

“Why can’t we?”

“There’s a reason the Conclave put restrictions on me, a reason I live alone.”

Her heart pounded hard. Finally, he’d tell her why?

“A crazy witch long ago said my child would end the world. I have avoided women…sex since then.” He placed a kiss next to her ear. “I shouldn’t get involved or be with you because of the prophecy.”