Page 30 of Devoted

“Here. Let me take a look at that,” Gabriel reached for him, but the kid jerked away. “You’ve been rubbing it for the last five minutes.”

“I’m fine, just a scratch. Nothing serious and I’m already healing.”

“He wouldn’t let me look at it, either.” Her eyes found mine, filled with worry. “He’s spooked, is all. I can’t say I blame him.”

“You’re sure you aren’t injured?” I threaded my fingers through hers, loath to let her go. “You look remarkably unscathed for fighting your way out of the palazzo.”

“I’m fine, just,”—she chewed her bottom lip—“a little shaken up by what we saw inside. And by Blackwood.”

Fear bloomed beneath my ribs with sudden heat, instinctively drawing her close against me.

“You saw Cesare Blackwood?”

“In the flesh. He was waiting for us in the council room.”

I could barely fucking breathe. “Why the fuck was he…”

“Dante, we need to get out of the city before those guards track us here or my uncle closes the canals down,” she said gently. “Once we’re back on the island, I’ll tell you everything… but I don’t think Valeria should know what we saw tonight… not yet.”

“She’s right,” Gabriel squared his shoulders. “We keep this information close to the vest until we understand how involved Blackwood is and what the fuck those things were.”

11

EMBERLINE

There were too many Demente soldiers packed onto the boat for us to speak freely, so after a nearly silent return trip, we arrived to find Rocco propped up like a king against silk cushions in the villa’s main living area, Valeria by his side.

A very angry king.

His missing hand was wrapped in fresh bandages, brutish face pale from blood loss, and when he saw us, his entire being radiated contempt and pure, unbridled fury.

Luca paused beside me, his face even whiter than Rocco’s. “I’m exhausted, Em. I’m going to bed.”

Are you okay? You haven’t said a word since… Blackwood.

I’m fine. Just tired, and besides, what is there to say? His lips tried to form a tired smile. That was… fucking intense. Just… give me some time alone to think everything through.

I frowned, but finally nodded. “I’ll come check on you later, okay? Make sure that wound is healing properly.”

Without another word, Luca disappeared toward the guest quarters, rubbing his arm before vanishing around the corner.

I watched him go, instincts prickling.

Something wasn’t right. He’d been acting strange ever since we’d escaped, and I still couldn’t pinpoint when he’d hurt his arm… on the dock by one of those spiders, during our race through the palazzo, or when we’d escaped Blackwood?

Nico stood apart from the rest of us, hands in his pockets, expression hollow as he gazed out the window at the sun rising over the breaking tide. Dante kept brushing his hand over my skin, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, making any excuse to touch me.

I leaned into his touch as Valeria’s healer knelt in front of me and unwrapped the fabric Gabriel had wound around my upper arm. The gashes had finally stopped bleeding. With a click of her tongue, she laid her palm over the wounds, the pain fading as her magic sank in, skin knitting back together, muscles and tendons healing. Dante waved her away, but one by one she went to Gabriel, then Nico, checking us over for injuries.

We were all clearly rattled and needing to talk about what just happened—especially those fucking spiders—but first, we’d be dealing with Rocco, apparently.

“You kept your word.” Valeria gently squeezed Rocco’s shoulder, her warm smile that of a daughter, happy to see her father safely returned. “You brought my father home, at great cost, it seems. Thank you.”

Gabriel inclined his head. “I never break my oath, especially to my ally.”

“You have my thanks.” Valeria’s bottom lip trembled, and honestly, if I didn’t despise her so much, I would have found the reunion heartwarming.

At least until Rocco snorted, glaring up at Valeria beneath bushy brows.