Page 24 of The Fate of Black Hearts

Roman crept in, clinging to the wall for support. The child’s left eye had swollen to the point it was almost closed. Bruises covered his chin, which meant the injury was recent. Even though he was young, Roman should heal rapidly. How distasteful for a male to do that to his son for no reason other than his own frustrations.

Evie shot forward and punched Willem so hardhe crashed backward. Four more successive hits threw him onto the floor.

The fierce matriarch had awakened. He smiled, not that anyone other than her could see.

She kicked Willem in the stomach and yelled, “Surprised to see me? Get up, coward.”

Dom compressed his lips to suppress a snicker.

With a glance his way, she motioned aget on with itsignal.She handed the baby to Roman and ordered, “Protect your brother. I’ve decided to name him Flynn, in honor of his mother’s family name.”

Roman shuffled backward with the baby in a protective hold.

Dom uttered the words to bind demon magic. He said them three times and signaled to her.

“I choose Willem to take mymhis,” she said out loud with a foot on his leg. Then she put on the pendant he’d given her, which had been bespelled by the most powerful protective magic known. She threw back her shoulders and trembled for a moment as if a ghost had walked through her.

Willem grabbed her leg to pull her down. She stumbled. Dom jumped forward to catch her and simultaneously kicked Willem in the balls.

Willem rolled into himself, moaning.

Dom whispered, “Are you okay?”

She glanced back to whisper, “I feel…different. Is it gone?”

He looked beneath the hair on her neck to find the mark gone. “It worked. Remember, you’re talking to nothing. They can’t see or hear me. They’ll think you’ve lost your mind.”

“As if I care,” she muttered.

When he stepped away, he blinked and blinked again. She glowed. Like she had when her hood fell next to the river. Without glamour, an inner blaze blasted from her as if she were a divine entity. He threw out a hand to ground himself with the solidness of the wall and prevent his knees from buckling. Her inner radiance was so bright.

She smiled gratitude up at him.

Warmth filled his chest. This was not good. His dick was one thing. Anything north of it was something else entirely. He needed to establish rules between them. Rules for himself. Starting with a big “no” when it came to feeling whatever the hellthismay be.He refused to feel like this, refused to feel anything close to love ever again.

Willem and Roman stared at her as if in shock to the point of horror.

She ran her hands over her chest. The wide rings of her irises met Dom’s. “I’m healed. All the pain is gone. I forgot healing is supposed to work like this. Incredible.”

Incredible, like you.Dom nodded.What am I thinking?He took a step forward without meaning to. She didn’t step away from him as her gaze fell to his lips. This magnetism between them was a calamity waiting to happen.

“Mom? You’re…” Roman jostled the baby against his chest, but kept a shoulder against the wall. “You’re glowing and…different.”

She stepped away, the bond between them broken.

“Evie?” Willem rose and reached out as if to touch her, but she stepped out of his reach.

“Efrem! Roman, tell me he’s okay,” Evie called out.

“Here,” Efrem called from the doorway to the kitchen.

“Get out here.”

Efrem’s mouth dropped. “You look more you.”

“I had a demon curse on me.” She shook her head to dismiss it. “We can talk about it later. Prepare the carriage for Willem’s departure.” She approached Willem. “Did you put the demon spell on me?”

“What? No.” Willem took a step away from her but wouldn’t meet her gaze.