Page 135 of Devoted

“I know, love,” I murmured into her hair, lifting her up into my arms and heading back toward the villa. “I know.”

She never cried like this. Never.

Not this full-on disintegration of self. And this…

This wasn’t crying.

This was the sound of someone’s entire world collapsing in slow motion. And her entire world had, I realized with a jolt of horror.

Emberline had no real home. Her family had been systematically torn apart. The future she’d spent her life preparing for had slipped through her fingers, and now Luca—the little brother she’d sworn to save—was slipping away, too. There was no miracle left to cling to, no bargain to strike, no enemy left to stab.

Just the unbearable certainty that, this time, her love wasn’t going to be enough.

My brave, beautiful wife folded in on herself as if every thread holding her together had finally snapped, raw, broken sobs tearing out of her with a violence that made my own chest ache. I’d never seen her look so small before.

“Luca’s still in there.” Her voice was muffled in my shirt. “You heard him, didn’t you? For just a second…”

“I heard him. Maybe… maybe there is still something to fight for.” I started up the path, balancing her carefully in my arms. “I love you, Emberline. Whatever comes next, I need you to know that.”

Luca might not be completely beyond our reach, but he was still a threat. And my job—my only job as her husband—was to keep Emberline safe, even when that meant breaking her heart even more.

She lifted her head, swollen eyes dark with worry.

“Luca is dangerous now.” It took everything to keep my voice steady. “That’s the truth. You can accept this and still fight for your brother. You can recognize the threat and still love him. But it’s time to face the facts.” I nuzzled into her hair, frowning at the deep lines of exhaustion etched into her face, wishing I could take away her suffering.

“Keeping Luca on this island endangers us all. And while I will always be by your side, tesoro, no matter what, there are innocent people to consider. Gia and the healers. The staff. Valeria. All of them in harm’s way, so long as your brother is here.”

I carefully set my wife on her feet just inside the villa, and for a long moment she was quiet, then, finally, she swayed toward me.

“You’re right,” she conceded. “I just…”

“You want to save him,” I finished for her. “And you will. We will find a way to bring your brother back, Emberline, and we will do it together. But it’s time to consider Severin’s offer. The fortress is the safest place for Luca. And everyone else.”

CHAPTER 52

EMBERLINE

Standing in the villa’s entryway with his arms wrapped around me, Dante smelled like woodsmoke, leather, and something that was uniquely, irrefutably him.

Gods, I was such a fool for believing I could save my brother single-handedly.

I understood now how desperate people grasped at straws—diviners and prophecies and love potions—when all other options had run out.

Right now, I would do anything to save Luca. Anything.

Hope was a dangerous thing, and Dante was right; it was time to stop acting selfish.

“The Draconi fortress, those cells Severin mentioned.” I pulled back just enough to look at Dante’s face. “He said they are secure. That the connection between Luca and Blackwood could be contained or even broken.”

“Emberline, I don’t want you to get your hopes up.” He smoothed his big palm down my cheek with impossible tenderness. “You heard what Emilia said. The corruption is all the way through him.”

“I’m not saying he can be healed.” My voice caught. “But if Blackwood’s using Luca to read our minds… we can’t be around him.” I swallowed. “I’m saying… the fortress might be the best place for him. So long as he’ll be safe. And cared for. Not a prisoner.”

Dante’s hands tightened on my arms. “We don’t have to decide anything right this minute.”

“Actually, I think we do. Emilia can’t help him. The healers are afraid of him, and if he did anything to…” I stopped and took a breath. “While Blackwood wouldn’t care who he hurt… Luca would.” My throat ached. “If my brother injured or killed someone, the guilt would break him, and I cannot put him in that position. And my brother can’t be close enough to read our minds.”

“Okay,” Dante said softly. “Okay. Nico will speak to Severin, and…”