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But Arthur said, “In the snack cupboard. I told her to hide, and she listened.”

Roman’s brows shot up his forehead.

“I know,” Arthur said, reading his reaction. “I was surprised as well.”

Ivy said, “How’d they get past Itzel’s spells?”

“She’s young, she’s still learning,” Kylar responded. “We use regular spell systems on the house.”

“Has Tanner been here?” Lace asked Arthur.

“Tanner?” He peered up at her, squinting in the light. “No. Why would Tanner be here? I thought he went with you.”

“He did,” Darien confirmed. “We lost him during the blast.”

Loren suddenly moved to the end of the couch that didn’t have debris all over it, extracting her hand from Darien’s grip as she went, and sat down.

The Devil was already shadowing her. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, I just need to sit.” But she was short of breath, and everyone could hear it.

Darien’s next question was for Arthur. “Is everything in the house still working properly?”

“As far as I’m aware.”

He was already turning toward Loren. “I think you should try recharging before we leave.”

“We don’t really have time for me to take a swim right now,” Loren breathed, rubbing her chest. Her heart.

Darien noticed, of course. And he looked so livid at the abrupt turn in her health that Roman was surprised when he didn’t punch anything.

Ivy said, “Take a shower and use the sauna.” She shifted her focus to Darien. “Water and heat. And on the way out she can walk barefoot in the grass.” Her steel-blue eyes flicked to Loren. “Sound good?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Sounds good to me.”

Darien didn’t look convinced that it would be enough, but he was already reaching for her hands and helping her up. “Come on. Let’s see if we can get that suit off.”

26

Roman’s House

YVESWICH, STATE OF KER

Loren stoodwith Darien in one of Roman’s bathrooms, the steam from the running shower fogging up the mirror. Her back was facing him, his hands carefully shimmying her suit down just far enough for her to get the rest off by herself. The magic in the ring wasn’t working anymore, so they had to remove it manually.

Gods, the melted material was so stiff it felt like it was glued onto her body. Without the magical enhancements that made them so indestructible, the suits were utterly useless. To make matters worse, this model didn’t even have a zipper down the front like the last one.

“I might have to cut this thing off you,” Darien growled.

She looked sidelong at him in the mirror, but the glass was too foggy to see much of him apart from a blurry, black-clad figure towering over her like a dark guardian angel. The longer he struggled, the more she wondered if it was because his right hand was bothering him.

She should be doing this herself. He already did too much for her.

He exhaled through his nose, his breath ruffling her hair. “You bruise like a little peach.” He brushed his thumb across aspot on her right shoulder. His touch—even through his glove—sent a shiver of pleasure and longing down her spine. “I’m going to have to take better care of you.” As if he wasn’t already doing a stellar job of that.

“You didn’t give me these bruises, Darien.”

“Doesn’t mean I like to see them,” he said, gently tugging one sleeve at a time down her arms.