Page 86 of The Fate of Black Hearts

Marik shook his head.

“It’s gone.” Brik grinned. “That was exciting. It’s been many years since I had to pull that banishment spell out.”

Marik felt along the back of his neck. “Am I burned? Felt like it flayed my skin and then burned it.”

“Nothing,” Dom said.

“Why would you help me?” He wouldn’t make eye contact.

“You’re my brother. We may never have gotten along, but blood is blood.” Dom shrugged.

“Themhis. How long do you think it was there?”

“It was pretty attached. I’d say a long time.” Brik walked over to a bookcase and removed a book. “What’s next, Dom? Anyone else I can do that on?”

“You should work with Marik to examine everyone here. I have other business to attend to. I need to find the primary demon. I’ve got a pretty good idea where to start.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Evie staredat herself in the mirror. The one-of-a-kind modish Dior black cocktail dress had a sleek scoop neck and long sleeves flowing down to a gauzy, taffeta skirt. She buckled into strappy red heels.This is going to be the hardest few hours of my life.

Her hands shook as she removed a secret book from the shelf, one that was small and dark. Dom’s forget spell had made it impossible to remember how to open it. Until now. She’d transported the book every time they moved, which was every few weeks for the years since Lyra was born. Each time, she felt compelled to take the book with her by something she never understood, but someday hoped she’d remember.

“Black hearts at the Seine.” The miniature faux book opened on its own to reveal the recessed secret compartment holding the black diamond earrings.

Wear them when you want me to find you.

She wrapped her hands around them and doubled over to her knees. She needed him. Yet, at the same time, she dreaded facing him. The years he’d erased himself from her life proved she could survive alone. It’d been an existence, but not thriving. She couldn’t go back to the relationship in the shadows they had before. That wasn’t acceptable.

She wasn’t sure how to incorporate the mage intoher life, or if Dom even wanted more than to remain in the shadows. Her mind usually calculated a way to a solution. This time, she couldn’t see her way to the finale.

“It’s time,” Efrem called from the door to her bedroom. “Where are you? They’ve arrived. I gathered them in the meeting room.”

“Just the boys?” she called out softly.

“Yes. They’re downstairs. Are you…” His words trailed off as she pulled herself to a stand and wiped tears off her face.

“I’m not okay. but I’ll manage.” She fisted the earrings but didn’t put them back in their hiding space.

“They need to know about all of it.”

“I’ll tell them what they need to know now.” She threw back her shoulders and marched past him.

“Evie, please. You have to tell them.”

She didn’t acknowledge she’d heard him.

Once inside the meeting room, she signaled for Efrem to lock the door. Often, she met with her sons when the family gathered to review where they were on various missions and threats.

Roman and Ky watched her warily. They wanted to talk about Dom, of course.

Flynn and Shane argued about pancakes. How she wished she cared enough to address something so banal.

She stalked to the head of the table and waited until they all stopped talking.

“What the hell happened to your face?” She pointed at several scratches on Roman’s cheek.

“Dom, who I miraculouslyrememberedtoday,ordered us to get rid of a herd of goblins attacking a mage north of here. One of them got me in the face. You know their scratches take days to heal.”