“If you have nothing nice to say, shut the fuck up.” He looked peeved at being told off but wisely did as he was told.
I took the laptop and looked at the web page open on the screen.
“Um… what is this?”
“I bought you a star. Well, named a star after you. It’s impossible to buy a star. They can’t be owned by anyone,” he explained in a rush.
“You named a star after me?” I repeated. Nobody said anything derogatory, which was just as well as I’d have legit stabbed them.
“Yes.” Milo smiled proudly. “Once we move, I’ll order us a telescope and we can look at your star in the night sky.”
I was speechless. Two rings, a butterfly pendant, a mega mansion, and now a star. This was officially the best day of my life.
“Milo, that’s…” I burst into tears, finally overwhelmed by too many feelings. It was official. I’d lost my mind.
“Oh, you hate it.” Milo’s face fell as he tried to take the laptop back.
“No!” I scrambled over the coffee table, not caring that I’d knocked a glass over. “I love it!” Before he could protest, I kissed him, pouring all of my love into the kiss. “And I love you.” Tears spilled down my face. Snot too. I wasn’t a pretty crier.
“For fuck’s sake, now you’ve made my kitten cry,” Kyril grouched.
“We need chocolate!”
“And tissues.”
Truthfully, I didn’t need any of those things.
I had everything I needed right here.
Five perfectly imperfect men who loved me and would kill for me.
Some of whom alreadyhadkilled for me.
I loved them all.
To the stars and back.
In the end, only Kyril and I went with Cassian to bring his mother back to the hotel. Kyril had wanted me to stay behind, but I insisted on going. Cassian had been through hell thanks to Lucian. If I couldn’t be there for him, what was the point of us being in a relationship?
The medical team who’d overseen the clinic raid had taken Ophelia to a private hospital, where a team of doctors examined her and apparently decided there was nothing actually wrong with her, apart from the fact Lassitor had sedated her to keep her quiet.
When we arrived at the hospital, there were reporters waiting outside the wrought-iron gates. They tried to take photos of us, but our car had blacked-out windows, so they saw nothing.
Someone must have tipped them off because I heard several people yelling Cassian’s name. His face remained blank as the driver maneuvered through the gates.
I squeezed his hand as we reached the main reception, where a tall man in a tweed jacket waited.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Forsyth. I’m Gerald Stone. We spoke on the phone earlier. You just need to sign the release forms and then your mother is free to go.” He looked warily at Kyril before wisely stepping aside to let us pass. “Please follow me.”
Stone led us down a pale green corridor. Calm landscapes painted in pastel colors adorned the walls, and the scentof disinfectant filled my nose. I shuddered. Hospitals always invoked fear in me. My body associated them with unbearable pain.
We passed through a door and into a small but pleasant room with comfortable chairs and large windows overlooking a garden. A tall blond woman sat on a sofa, her hands folded in her lap. She wore pale blue sweats and a matching top. I guessed she’d left the clinic with nothing. Knowing Lucian, he’d ensured all her personal belongings were stripped from her the moment she arrived at Highgate. It was the sort of demeaning shit I’d expect from a monster like him.
“Mom.” I fought back tears as Cassian rushed over to embrace his mother. She looked numb. Like she had no fucking idea what day it was, let alone that this was her beloved son.
“Cassian?” I had to strain my ears to hear Ophelia’s whisper. There was barely anything on her slender frame. Had Lassitor starved her? It sure looked like it.
“Yes, Mom. I’m here to take you away.”