Page 15 of Winterfall Destiny

My gaze travels back to the attic. Again. "Has anything changed in Andrei today?"

"He hasn't moved," says Tobias quietly.

I moisten my lips. "No—has he slipped further from us? I still can't feel him."

Tobias crouches and takes both my hands. "Look at me. Andrei hasn't changed—his heartbeat hasn't changed."

"I know that. I hear him."

In the dark hours where I lie awake after the others manage to sleep, I count Andrei's heartbeats until I fall asleep too, reassured. And when I open my eyes, I instantly hear that he's still with me—Andrei's lost, not gone.

But nobody has discussed what Andrei will be when he returns.

And nobody dares say "if".

Ash groans and points behind me. "When you said Dorian wanted to come here, I presumed he'd wait for the okay from all of us."

We both look at Ash with the same expression—as if.

I turn. The imposing blonde guy walks with the slender and deceptively gentle Eloise, along with Zeke, flanking her. Despite the ordinariness of their clothes and the vastness of the world around them, their potent energy shoves away everything. Not a barrier, but a defence pushing outwards to engulf their surroundings. Ash watches Mia warily as the long-haired toddler breaks away from her parents to sprint across the garden into the woods, closely pursued by Zeke.

"Hello, Dorian," says Tobias wearily. "You could've waited for an invite."

The hybrid slants his head and looks at me. "Oh, dear. You look like you need cheering up, Maeve."

"Dorian..." warns Eloise in soft tones.

"What? I'm about to tell Maeve that I've brought her a gift." He smiles, turning up the charm that never works on me.

"Technically Ethan did," says Eloise and gestures towards the house. "In there."

"Gift? A magic antidote for Andrei?" I ask semi-sarcastically. "The First in tiny pieces?"

"Ha. No. Ethan took him to the study. They won't let me play anymore." Dorian pouts.

Him?

"Dragging a vampire through the sun when he knows where Gabriella is? That is not 'playing' if the guy dies before he tells us!" Eloise shakes her head, but Dorian brushes hair behind Eloise's ear and whispers something. She rolls her eyes as he saunters off.

"You have one of Gabriella's people in the house?" asks Tobias in disbelief.

"Yes."

"This person knows where she is?" I ask, already crossing the pavers towards the doors.

"Yes, but Dorian's persuasive tactics aren't working," she calls after me. "Don't go into the study."

I'm unimpressed that the group basically broke into our home while we were distracted, even more so when I catch sight of Dorian heading upstairs, the guy too at home as usual. "Where are you going, Dorian?" I ask curtly.

"To visit Andrei."

"He isn't very welcoming right now," I step after him, irritation flaring. "Please stay away."

Dorian pauses halfway up the stairs and rests against the wall. "I won't touch him."

"I'll take Dorian up. Jamie's with Andrei," says Tobias from behind me, as Dorian resumes his walk upstairs before I can respond. "Why don't you talk to our gift, Maeve?"

"Maybe not a great idea," says Eloise cautiously. "The guy's a bit of a mess."

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