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Darien ignored him and focused on Loren, who was carrying a travel bag and?—

The vase of flowers and the enchanted box of chocolate-dipped strawberries he’d bought for her. Her hands were so full, she had to peek around the flowers to see where she was placing her feet.

Darien sprinted up the stairs and took everything but the flowers from her.

“Thanks,” she said, steadying the vase as it tipped in her hands. She didn’t say anything about his eyes, which likely meant the Venom was fully absorbed.

Good.

‘Doghouse, doghouse, doghouse,’Bandit sang quietly.

Darien ignored him. “I can take the flowers, too,” he offered.

“No, that’s okay. I’ve got them.”

“All right, Miss Stubborn,” he crooned. She gave him a saucy smile, her eyes flicking up to meet his. “But I’d better not see you smash that pretty face up on my stairs.”

Her eyes danced. “Are you quoting yourself?”

The smile teasing his lips spread. “You remember that?”

She broke eye contact. “How could I forget? It was only the most terrifying day of my life. No big deal.” She tried to hide hersmile from him, but he could hear it in that beautiful voice of hers. It was better than music, that voice.

“It was the best day of mine,” he countered. Their gazes collided, and her cheeks turned rosy, her eyelashes fanning out as she looked down. He gestured for her to walk in front of him. “After you, Miss Calla.”

“Setting yourself up for a view, are you?” She started walking, bracing her hand on the rail as she maneuvered each step. Everyone else was waiting in the foyer, ready to go.

“The best view I’ve ever seen or will see,” he said, low enough that only she could hear, his gaze dipping down to the view she’d accused him of setting himself up for. Even through her talisman, he could feel her aura glow with warmth. It was like a hug from the sun.

And gods, was the view incredible. She had the most beautiful ass he’d ever seen. His hand tightened around the box. He had to force himself to loosen his grip before he crushed it and the strawberries inside.

What he wouldn’t give to get on top of her right now.

When they got to the bottom of the stairs, Darien slid the box from Whisking Witch onto the glass table and placed Loren’s bag on the floor so he could put on his jacket. Loren surrendered the flowers to Ivy just long enough to get her own jacket and shoes on.

“Everyone ready?” he asked the group.

Heads nodded. Several people—Ivy, Tanner, Lace, Jack—were quiet and solemn. Bothered by the idea of being run out of their home, Darien would bet. He didn’t like it, either. But he’d do anything to keep these people safe, and leaving Hell’s Gate was a small price to pay.

He grabbed Loren’s bag, the strawberries, and the last of his own things as Arthur opened the door. Everyone filed out,Eugene so distracted by his video game that he nearly tripped down the front steps.

“Put that away until we get in the car,” Kylar grumbled.

Darien stepped over the threshold and got his keys out.

Loren lingered in the foyer, her eyes roving through the open space. But while she studied the home she was being forced to leave, Darien studied her.

Her long hair tumbled over her shoulders in soft, sun-bright waves, a few strands draped across the flowers in her hands. The light of the sunset streaming in through the windows caused the blue of her eyes to shimmer like a tropical ocean. And her freckles…Gods,her freckles.

An indescribable ache spread through his chest.

This woman right here washishome. His guiding light. As long as he had her, he would never be lost.

“We’ll be back,” he told her, even as that ache continued to sharpen, and he found himself missing two homes. The one named Hell’s Gate?—

And the one named Loren Elizabeth Calla. She may be standing right in front of him, but until he earned her forgiveness for his screw-ups, he’d always feel miles away from her.

She drew a deep breath. “I know.” She took one last look at everything, as if trying to imprint the image in her memory, before her eyes found his.