Page 118 of Broken Souls

I suck in a breath.

“But I probably would’ve figured a way out of it. I always do. Quinton just happened to be the easy option.” His eyes narrow. “In fact. I’m sure of it.” As he starts to go off about all the different ways he could’ve saved himself, I struggle to breathe.

I would’ve lost my best friend if it wasn’t for Varius.

He’s been watching over Dayne all this time...

For me?

“I need to go do something real quick,” I say, jumping to my feet.

He sits up. “Want me to come –”

“No. I’ll be right back.” I wave as I head for the door, but I don’t feel relaxed at all. All my nerves are fried, and they wind tighter and tighter as I make my way up to Varius’ office. I knock on the door. He doesn’t answer. I knock again. Still silence. Shifting on my feet, I call, “Varius?”

“Come in.”

I step inside. As I shut the door, he shuts his laptop, giving me his undivided attention.

I stand in front of his desk, confused by all the different things I’m feeling. But even if I mostly seem to hate him right now, he saved my friend. Dayne is like the other half of me. The brother I always yearned for. If I lost him, a large part of me would’ve died. So Varius saving him is like he saved me.

“Thank you for saving Dayne,” I say.

His eyes soften. “He matters to you, Micha, which means he matters to me. There are no thanks needed.”

“But you saved his life. I owe you –”

“You owe me nothing.”

“But –”

“You don’t owe debts for saving family.”

“But he’s not your family.”

“He’s yours, Micha. Which makes him mine.”

I look at the painting behind his desk as I swallow hard.Fuck.“Well...I guess, maybe, I will marry you then.”

A small smile tugs at his lips. “I would like that.”

I clear my throat, then nod. “But I’m still mad at you.”

“I know.”

I hike a thumb over my shoulder. “And I’m going back to talk shit about you to Dayne. So I’m going to get all riled up again over what you did.”

“I expected as much.”

“And you still brought him here?” I ask suspiciously.

“You needed him.”

My mouth drops open.

Fuck.

I really did, still do.