Page 59 of Incurably Cupid

Felix stood in the entryway, his top hat in his hands, looking miserable. “May I come in?”

A prickle of unease ran down my spine.Oh no. Had something happened to Yvette?

“Of course!” I jumped up, waving him inside.

Felix stepped in, his movements tense. He took a seat at our table while Mesmer and I settled back on the bed. Mesmer’s hand found mine, his grip firm.

Felix exhaled heavily. “I’ve come because you helped us, Indie, and I always repay my debts.”

“I didn’t really—” I began, but he lifted a hand, cutting me off with a shake of his head.

“No, you did. Without you and your good parents, we four would still be blindly stumbling along, trying to find love.” His fingers fidgeted with the brim of his hat. “And I needed time—to be sure of my own thoughts and feelings before coming forward.”

Something in his expression shifted, darkened, and my heart dropped.

“I know who’s after the king.”

Mesmer’s posture snapped from relaxed to razor-sharp. “Who?”

Felix hesitated, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his hands. “I debated coming forward because my information is secondhand. But I have contacts. It’s how I’ve kept up with our kind.”

“Vampires?”

He nodded. “The one after the king is old. Charismatic. Powerful. He believed that when King Draven took power, it should have been him.” His laugh was bitter. “They all think that. But this one—he had followers, even then. He’s based in Italy, same country our sire hailed from.”

“Leo’s been tracking the assassin who just targeted the royal family,” Mesmer murmured. “They’re based in Italy.”

Felix nodded grimly. “It’s him. His name is Selio.”

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating.

“I hesitated because—” Felix swallowed hard. “I knew him. I trusted him once.”

My stomach twisted. “What changed your mind?”

Felix’s smile was faint. “You. Your mum and dad. Mesmer. You see, Selio has been telling anyone who’ll listen that King Draven is ruthless. Depraved.” His hands clenched together. “But then I heard what happened the night Mesmer was shot.”

I stiffened.

“They told me how the king refused to leave for the safe room until Mesmer was in an ambulance. That he knelt, hands bloodied, trying to save him. That he’s gentle with his consort,his friends, his people.” He shook his head. “I knew then—I couldn’t stay silent.”

His next words were whispered, raw. “I loved Selio like a brother.” His gaze lifted to Mesmer. “I’ve known for a long time what kind of man he truly is. I’m just sorry it took me this long to do something about it.”

He slid a piece of paper across the table. I'd bet anything it led to a castle in Italy.

Felix’s expression hardened. “Selio knows the king and consort are on one of Sebastian Solace’s ships. He’s sending a team to kidnap Consort Mia and use her as leverage. He’ll exchange her for the king—then kill him.”

“When?” Mesmer was already shifting, ready to act immediately. I pressed a hand to his arm, grounding him. We needed a plan.

Felix exhaled. “I don’t know. But they plan to take her straight from the ship. And they don’t care who gets in the way.”

Mesmer stood, shaking Felix’s hand. “Thank you. You know the king will want to speak with you?”

“Yes. Yvette and I are ready, should he call.”

I stepped forward, hugging Felix. “You may have just saved their lives.”

Felix swallowed, voice thick. “I only hope it’s not too late.”

---