Page 27 of Inevitably Yves

“We feel it,” Eros says, softly, “but we feel something else too. Something foreboding. Perhaps your love blinds you. We are here to be your eyes.”

“He would never hurt me,” I insist.

“Maybe he wouldn’t on his own,” Raphael says. “Maybe he’s influenced.”

“No! I refuse to believe it.” I pace for a moment in front of the windows. “I finally found the one man who defined love for me, and you’re defensive. All of you have looked me in the face and shared your intense desire for me to find the love you have, yet when it is in my grasp, you deny me?”

“That’s not it,” Syn says. “Not at all. You know this, but none of us ever want to see you torn apart again. We don’t know Damiano, and frankly, you don’t either. You said so yourself.”

“Almost six hundred years,” Thorn says. “Come on, Yves. That’s a long-ass time.”

I shake my head. “It’s him. The same man…”

“The same man who walked away from you,” Raphael says, drawing my hardened gaze to his face.

“You have no idea what either of us faced with Hadrian. Yes, he left me, and that pain lingers, but I have to believe he was made to. Hadrian wanted our total devotion and admiration, and when he didn’t have it, he acted. Hadrian has killed people for less.” I straighten my shoulders. “You may keep your doubts and suspicions, but I expect your support. What we’re going to face is like nothing you’ve ever even imagined.”

“Of course we support you, Yves,” Syn says. “Each of us wants Damiano to be everything you say he is. Gods, how we want you to be happy and loved.”

“But Marcello—” Thorn begins, but I spin to face him.

“Do not say that fucking name in the same breath as Damiano’s again. Are we clear?” My brothers nod, clearly shocked at my outburst. Reason finally pushes through the fog of my emotions. “I know you care, and I appreciate it. Please…” I close my eyes for a second. “Please continue to be my eyes when I can’t.”

Thorn approaches me first, placing his hand on my chest as he leans in to kiss my cheek. The others follow his lead, and I accept a kiss on the cheek from each brother, their love and concern for me so thick it’s almost overwhelming.

“I’ll let Hale know to prepare a room at Lair for us,” Thorn says, grinning. “You said so earlier. Tonight we celebrate.”

“I’ll check on Paolo and make sure he’s ready to join us,” Syn offers.

I leave my brothers in a daze, but my feet move as if on air, drawing me closer to my love. I find him on the roof, leaning over the edge and gazing out over New Onyx. He twists to face me when I join him, a stunning smile on his face.

“You blocked me,” he notes. “I do hope the day comes when you no longer want to.”

“It’s not personal. I just wanted to hear what they had to say privately.”

“In case they hated me?”

I nod. “Other than their mates, my happiness is their priority.”

“You are everything Hadrian wishes he could be. He must be so envious of you.”

“I hope he chokes on his envy.” I take a step closer, lowering my guard.

Damiano tilts his head, a fresh smile tugging at his lips again. “Yves…?”

“Do you remember the seer we visited in Greece?”

Damiano frowns. “Yes. Hadrian was offended by her vision and slashed her face.”

I nod. “He never told us what she said that upset him, but I remember what I hoped it was. That I was not intended to be his lover, and nor were you. The harem of devoted lovers was not to be, because…”

“Because we were fated for each other?”

I nod. “I believed it once. All those clandestine nights in each other’s arms felt right. More right than I ever felt when Hadrian touched me.”

“Yes.”

“But then it fell apart. Or maybe it was torn apart. You were gone and I was left with him. I convinced myself that we couldn’t have been so easily separated if we were intended for each other.”

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