Page 55 of Until the Heart Stops
“She will be just fine,” Callum soothed.
“If she wasn’t, he would not have written,” Mateo agreed, rubbing a hand between my shoulders.
Seth hummed his agreement and, before long, I quieted, drawing back in horror as I took in Callum’s bloodstained shirt. But he only grinned, touching a knuckle beneath my chin and wiping away my tears with his thumbs.
“I assume tonight will be the night, then?” Mateo asked as Callum turned toward our small wardrobe and shucked off his shirt.
“The night for what?” I asked, unable to keep the longing out of my voice as I eyed Callum’s bare torso.
Henry fanned me dramatically. “Down, girl.”
Mateo gave my shoulder a nudge as he winked. “More likedown, boy,huh?”
My mate turned back around in a swirl of white-blond hair. “Yes, tonight is the night.”
His brothers chuckled good-naturedly, both slinging an arm around my shoulder. It had been a comfort these last few weeks to have them. Noah, too, had spent a few nights holed up with us before having to return to the hunt. I’d all but abandoned Risqeu lan Serang, but according to Noah, Liam had taken up the mantle and my grandmère’s wards had taken a liking to him after his years of service.
“If they return and you are not here, one of us will retrieve you immediately,” Seth said, moving forward to assist Callum as he tugged on his jacket.
Seth had become something like a surrogate maker to Callum and the two males beside me, though Callum hadadmitted their bond had begun to form the very moment he exhumed Seth from his self-imposed grave. Each night he gave all of us his blood to ensure we were strong and as we drank he spoke to us of the goddess, of her lover Deimos, and the compassion we must keep in our hearts.
My transition into this new life had been more seamless than I could have dreamed, but I credited it to Callum and his constant affection and companionship. Even now, as he tugged a traveling cloak over my shoulders, there was a rumbling of joy in our bond. His contentment tangled with mine like a harmony.
We exchanged our goodbyes before hopping from the window and out into the sky. Callum held me close. It would be months or years until I had the gift of flight. He’d told me one night as we waited for the sun to die about how he’d been taught. Never once was Mael’s name spoken aloud, but the more I learned about their upbringing in this new life the more I wished we could have made him suffer more for his crimes.
Our landing beside the Rachay River was soundless and Callum tugged me through the bustling crowds of the market. Without a new leader and a proclamation of change we could not yet put things to rights, but it was coming. Callum tucked me under his arm, content to walk at a mortal speed.
“Where are we going?”
A lock of his hair fell across his face and I pushed it back, tracing the curve of his smile. He stared straight ahead, toward one of the beautiful streets that ended at the river.
“Home,” he answered simply.
I frowned, reaching through our connection but coming up empty of any answers. He was only focused on the street, the flower boxes spilling with springtime blooms,the gleaming cobblestones. I’d asked a few times where we would go after Adrienne had been found, or if we would remain at Eamon’s permanently. He’d offered a house in the city if I wished it, and I’d admitted I liked the idea of having our own space as we learned more about one another.
Now I knew his favorite color was green and that he played the piano—a skill taught to him by Eamon back in the early days of his transformation—though he hadn’t touched the instrument in centuries. I knew around those he did not know he was quiet and contemplative, but around our family he had a playfulness I’d only seen in our letters. He was patient but quick to anger if he perceived a threat toward those he loved.
I counted myself lucky to be one of those individuals.
“You have a house here?” I asked.
We turned the corner and I froze, finally realizing where we were. There was the familiar door with its ornate carving of the moon and stars, the tall windows on the second floor with a perfect view of the river. The bridge of my nose burned and the world turned a hazy pink as I gazed upon my family home that I’d been unceremoniously evicted from the day of my mother’s pyre.
My hair was brushed back from my shoulder before lips pressed against the juncture of my neck and shoulder.
“Wehave a house here,” Callum answered, sliding a hand up to hold the nape of my neck.
He gave enough pressure to encourage me forward but I couldn’t move, only stare. I’d avoided this area since that day. It was too painful to imagine others living here where my family had resided for centuries.
Metal clinked and an iron key was pressed into my palm. “Take your time, love.”
“How?”
A furrow appeared between his brows. “Breathe, there’s no rush.”
I shook my head and gestured to the townhome, turning to face him fully. “No, how did you do this? When?”
His thumb rested across my throat and he stroked down absently until he found the line of my collarbone. Those silver eyes watched the path of his hand rather than me.
