Page 62 of Devoted
But something was different between them, now.
Like something had irrevocably broken.
“I told you this was a bad idea,” I accused, my composure shredding. This was too soon for I told you so, but I was too furious to hold back. “You thought going into a different realm was safe? It’s not. The risks are just… different.”
Emberline kept glancing over at Nico, as if she expected him to do the talking.
Which was a first.
My wife was the one with the ideas, the one with the plan. The one who never held back from saying exactly what she thought… except for right the fuck now.
“Someone had better start talking, or…”
“I think we’re all on edge right now,” Gabriel—ever the politician—cut me off smoothly. “Let’s all take a deep breath and get a hold of our tempers.” He shot me a look that clearly said, I’m talking to you, motherfucker. “If you woke Emilia up in this dream state, then she woke in the real world, correct?”
Emberline dipped her head in a dazed nod. “She should have, yes. She seemed to indicate her first order of business would be… her sons.”
“Good. I hope those arrogant little fucks get their asses handed to them,” I growled. “So, we’re to assume that after you woke Emilia, that’s when things went wrong?”
Once more, Emberline practically begged Nico with her eyes to say something, but he took a shuddering breath and tightened his fists.
Unable to stand the strain of not touching her, I crossed the room in three strides and pulled Emberline into my arms, tucking her greedily beneath my chin. She didn’t stop trembling, sweat coating her skin, every breath shallow and quick.
I felt her forehead. Clammy.
“I’ve got you, tesoro.” I smoothed her hair back. “I’ve got you. You’re safe. Nothing can hurt you now.”
She made a small sound in the back of her throat, like a wounded animal, and Nico’s shoulders hunched in. “What is going on, Emberline?” I murmured against her ear. “You are freaking me out here. One of you had better start explaining, or I am seriously going to lose my shit.”
“I can’t,” she said miserably. “The important thing is that Emilia is awake. We succeeded in waking her up from stasis. That’s all I can talk about.”
“Did someone hurt you… after you woke Emilia up?”
“It’s not my story to tell,” she said softly, her fingers curling around my shoulders, and my eyes flicked over to Nico.
Who looked completely haunted, his face hollowed out.
Ruined.
Too fucking bad. He dragged my wife into a different realm, brought her back completely traumatized, and didn’t think he owed me an explanation.
He was fucking wrong.
“Even if Emilia’s back, she won’t sit on the council.” Valeria crossed her arms over her chest. “So, while this is good news, the Dynasty is still under Giovanni and Blackwood’s control. Which means I’ll be heading into the city tomorrow for that council meeting.”
My head snapped toward her. “That’s a mistake. We don’t know how Emilia’s awakening changes the dynamics. For all we know, she’ll be sitting at the head of council tomorrow, and Vincenzo will be floating face down in the canal.”
“As tempting as that idea is, Blackwood would never allow her near La Sala.” Valeria drummed her fingers on the table. “She’s a threat to him. Giovanni… Vincenzo… they’ll kiss his ring. Emilia won’t kiss a godsdamned thing. I’ve accepted his invitation, and I’m taking my place at that table.”
“You’re walking into a trap,” I said flatly.
“What invitation?” Emberline asked softly. “Blackwood’s?”
Valeria inclined her head. “He offered me a seat at council. My family’s seat. I accepted. This is our way inside. A way for me to help by gathering information.”
“I agree with Dante. This is too dangerous.” Emberline pushed herself up out of my arms. “You don’t understand what Blackwood’s like.” There was a note of raw panic in her voice. “If he invited you to come, then he wants you there for a reason. Don’t…”
“Oh, don’t stop on my account. It was all getting so interesting.” Rocco Demente leaned in the unlit hall outside the room. I had no idea how long he’d been there. Or what he’d overheard.
