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And Roman’s fear that Donovan was heading straight to Hell’s Gate on his mission to find his youngest son.

While Darien listened intently to everything his cousin was saying, his gaze was fixed on the living room window and the beautiful blonde behind the glass.

Loren was deep in conversation with Sabrine. The two sat on the couch, sharing the same blanket. The one Darien had pulled from its spot on the back of the smaller sofa and draped across Loren’s lap before coming out here. Ever since the moment she’d walked downstairs, Loren had done everything she could to avoid looking at him, talking to him, acknowledging him inany capacity. Still no mention of the flowers, the strawberries, the note.

Whether Loren liked the card or not, he’d meant every word. He knew he’d screwed up. And while he could admit that she had every right to be upset with him, this—being ignored by her—was torture. Way too many hours had passed since he’d got to touch her outside of protection duty, and the distance was chewing him apart inside. He wanted Loren more than he wanted air, and right now she seemed intent on suffocating him.

He took a long,longdrag on the cigarette. On the exhale he told Roman, “I don’t want you to worry. About anything. That includes Travis. Just get here safely, and we’ll figure out where to go from there.”

Donovan was a concern, Darien wasn’t denying that. The fact that his psycho uncle could be heading to Hell’s Gate at that very moment changed things. They’d just made it home, and already the one place in all of Angelthene that was supposed to be safest for Loren and his family was jeopardized.

They would need to leave, preferably tonight.

Roman cursed. “I never should have let him stay at that hospital.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Roman had taken the news—or lack thereof—about Travis poorly, but Darien hadn’t expected him to react any differently. Roman was livid at his brother, for a number of reasons. Number one was for choosing to stay behind. Number two was for lack of contact. They had no clue where the hell Travis was, and until he called or made his aura visible, they would be left to wonder if he was alive. If Don had caught up to him—or if he was still trapped in Yveswich.

“Travis is an adult,” Darien added. “He made his decision. If the roles were flipped, and it were you who decided to stay behind with Shay,hewould be pissed atyou.”He took one lastpuff before putting the cigarette out in the ashtray they kept on the deck. Tobacco was hardly cutting it right now. He needed something stronger. Something illegal, he didn’t care what.

“I’m not taking her with me,” Roman declared. “To your house. She’s staying here.”

“Have you told her that?”

“No. I’ll be leaving tonight while she’s asleep.”

Darien chuckled—he couldn’t help it. “Good luck with that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Remember how you tried to get rid of her last time? That girl’s stuck on you like gum.”

“She can’t come with us. I won’t be responsible for her dying.”

“You can’t control everyone, Rome. Sometimes people do dumb shit. Sometimes they get hurt. That doesn’t make them your responsibility.” Roman was the worst for holding himself responsible for the people he couldn’t control. Worse than Darien.

“Okay, but she actuallyismy responsibility,” he argued. “Because I fucked around with her. I could have kept my dick in my pants while I helped her look for her sister, and I didn’t. Now Don’s got her in his crosshairs, and it’s my fault. I refuse to let her die because of me.”

“It takes two, Roman. She knew exactly who you were and who your dad was when she got involved with you.”

A pause, and then Roman swore. “I hate how reasonable you are sometimes.”

Darien gave a quiet laugh.

“She’s still not coming,” he growled.

“That’syourbattle—I’m staying out of it. Just keep me updated on what’s going on.”

Roman growled another sigh, but said, “Yeah, same for you. I should be there by tomorrow night, I think. Oh, how are your spells?”

“Tanner’s working on them as we speak.” Literally. He could see Atlas through the kitchen window. Without Mortifer here, Hell’s Gate’s security was jeopardized. It had been a while since Darien had needed to worry about updating the spell system, so the current one was shit. “We won’t be staying here, though. Not after what you just told me. I’ll be getting everyone to pack the minute we’re done talking.”

“Oh? You got a back-up house I’m not aware of?”

“Actually, yeah.”

Roman snort-laughed. “Hell’s Gate 2.0?”