Page 132 of Burn Falls

Draven’s gaze met mine, and he smiled before picking me up and twirling me in his arms.

“You did it!”

I was still stunned, and apparently, Athan was too because he was staring at Renzo’s headless and bloody body. I heard his thoughts as reality hit him.

“Holy shit.”

“You fucking did it!” Draven shouted again with a smile in his voice.

“I … did.” Draven kissed me—hard—after setting me on my feet. “Selene was right,” I whispered.

“Yeah, sweets. She was.”

He kissed me again and then we stared back at Renzo. I wasn’t sure how long, but then Athan spoke.

“I’m going to go burn his body.”

“Where?” Draven asked.

“I don’t know. I’ll figure it out. I’m sure there’s a funeral home—” Athan’s gaze met mine. “Sorry.”

I smiled tightly, knowing he was apologizing because bringing up a funeral home made me think of my father. “It’s okay. Either way, I would have lost my dad. I don’t know what I would have done if he would have just left my family, and right before Christmas.” Draven pulled me tighter against him and kissed the top of my head. “Right. So, you two go celebrate with a fuck or something, and I’ll handle this asshole.”

“Athan.” I reached for him. “I think you two need to talk.”

Athan’s gaze flicked to Draven’s. “Nothing to talk about.”

“There is,” I insisted.

“It was a long time ago,” Athan stated. “I don’t feel that way anymore.”

I looked up at Draven as he still held me in his arms. “You two need to talk.”

“She’s right,” Draven said, looking back at Athan.

“It doesn’t matter, D. You’ve found your soulmate, and I’ve moved on. We’re friends and nothing more. End of story.”

“Athan,” I pleaded. “It’s okay if you still do.”

“I don’t, Calla,” Athan snapped.

“Just let him go,” Draven said. “We’ll talk eventually.”

“Whatever.” Athan rolled his eyes. “Can I burn this fucker now?”

Athan picked Renzo’s body up in a fireman’s hold, and Draven handed him the head before he rushed off into the night not saying anything further.

“Well?” I asked, staring at the monitor of the black and white image.

“Since it doesn’t have a heartbeat, I’m not sure. But …” Draven said, hitting some buttons, “I think it grew some.”

“How much?” I wasn’t showing yet, but that was probably because of the fact I was still thick even if I was all muscle now. I’d heard that strong was the new skinny once, and I was definitely strong now. I wasn’t complaining.

“Not much. If my calculations are correct, I think you’ll have it in about five or six months.”

“Not nine?”

“No.”