Page 58 of Once Upon a Curse for True Love
The room erupted into motion as officers and agents dispersed to prepare.
Donatello stood, still holding Andromeda’s hand.
“I wish they’d let me come.”
“I’m glad they aren’t.It’ll be much easier knowing you’re safe.”
“But—”
“Please.I can’t focus if I’m worried about you being in danger.”After last night—after having her in his arms, warm and alive and perfect—the thought of losing her was unbearable.
Andromeda studied his face, then sighed.“Fine.But only because you said please.”She paused.“Also because death by lich sounds like a horrible way to go.”
“Thank you.”
Before Andromeda could respond, Sarah Michelle approached them, eyeing their clasped hands with undisguised interest.
“So,” she said, a smirk playing at her lips, “I leave you two alone for one night, and you’re finishing each other’s sentences and holding hands during federal briefings?”
“Shut up, Shelly,” Andromeda muttered, too flat to sting.
Sarah Michelle raised her palms in mock surrender.“Hey, no judgment.I thought I was special for dating a former murder suspect.But it must run in the department.”She playfully punched Donatello on his upper arm.
“Speaking of your boyfriend.”Andromeda changed the subject.“Isn’t Lorcan mad with worry about this?”
“He’s out of town at a conference,” Sarah Michelle replied.“And what he doesn’t know won’t give him premature gray hair.”
An officer approached them, clipboard in hand.“Detectives Malatesta and Callidora?Agent Zane wants you on the eastern perimeter.”
They both nodded.
“I have to go,” Donatello said to Andromeda.
“But you’d better come back in one piece.Both of you,” she added, her voice softening.
“Please, I eat liches for breakfast.”Callidora smirked, sheathing a modified stunner gun and a containment net before strutting out of the room.
“Be careful.”Andromeda rose on tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his cheek.“I’m not done with you yet, detective.”
He thought of her in his kitchen, in his shower, in his bed.“I’ll be back.”
As he turned to leave, following Sarah Michelle toward the equipment room, that strange warmth ignited in his chest again—not pleasant this time, something uncomfortable and unfamiliar.It took him a moment to identify it.
Fear.Not for himself, but for what he might lose if things went wrong.
For the first time in years, Detective Donatello Malatesta had something—someone—he wanted to come back to.
Chapter Twenty-three
In Case of Undead Break Glass
ANDROMEDA
Andromeda sat powerless in a windowless control room while the people she cared about the most prepared to confront a monster who snacked on souls.She hunched forward in her chair, eyes fixed on the wall of monitors that displayed grainy feeds from helmet cameras.Her fingers dug into the cushioned armrests until her knuckles blanched.
“You look like you’re about to vibrate out of that chair, Miss Swan.”Dr.Oakheart’s voice held gentle amusement as she adjusted the monitor.The forensic witch’s silver hair was pulled back in its usual severe bun, but her eyes sparkled with the energy of someone half her age.“Breathe.Your anxiety doesn’t help them.”
“I’m breathing,” Andromeda muttered.She cracked her neck from side to side, but her gaze remained locked on the screen showing Donatello’s helmet feed.He was stationed at the eastern perimeter with Sarah Michelle.Neither moved—postures rigid, shoulders squared as they waited for the raid to begin.
