Page 140 of Moonlight Hearts

Soyer sighed.“Narcissan.Can’t really do much about that.”

“Perhaps so, but we should have put failsafes in place.We’re going to do that now, which I realize is too little too late.”He hung his head.“I apologize.If there is anything that can be done—”

“It’s fine,” Soyer said.“All’s well that ends well.”He led me toward the elevator, but stopped after two steps.“However, if Sophie hurts Ella, that’s a different thing.”

Atkins straightened.“You have nothing to worry about on that front, Mr.Bennet.Sophie is smart and obedient without forgetting to use her own head.She might just lead the pack someday.”

“If you say so.”

Before Soyer could walk off again, I asked, “Jules is okay?Also, we’re going to need a spare key for our apartment.There was a little fire, and ours accidentally burned.”

“He is very sorry, Mr.Saintclair.He will apologize in person, of course.Hold on a moment while I get you that key.”

As soon as Atkins handed Soyer the key, he whisked me upstairs to our apartment.Everything looked normal.A blanket was slung over the back of the couch because I’d snuggled up there to read the previous day, and yesterday’s coffee was still in the thermos, waiting for me to drink it before heading to work.

“I had a shift today, and now the co-manager is…” I bit the inside of my cheek.“He’s going to be okay, right?The witch got him.After we ran from her.”

Soyer tossed his blanket into a corner.“I’ll check on them tomorrow.Rae can handle the shift.I sent Ben there.Someone’s probably going to tell them we’re fine.”

I gaped.“They don’t know?Well, it all just happened, but we should tell them.Uh, can you send Ben an email?”

Soyer rolled his eyes.“Wait here.Do not move.”

He walked off into his walk-in hallway closet and came back with the landline phone in hand, dialing.His eyes locked on mine as he waited for an answer.

“It’s me.I’m fine, Amory’s fine.Thaeros is injured.Might be out for a few days, we’ll see.You’re free to go home.”

He hung up, seemingly without waiting for a response.I wasn’t going to hold that against him.It had been a long day.

“Hey, was your trip okay?”

He stared at me with the phone in hand.“Are you seriously asking me that right now?”

“Yes.You came home after an out-of-town trip.Asking how it went is what a good fiancé would do.”I raised my left hand and frowned.The ring was still there, even if it needed cleaning.But my wrist was bare.“Oh, shoot.The watch.”

“I’ll get you another.You can have one for each day of the week if you want.”

I realized it then.Soyer, my firebird, had burned for me.I had been as close to death as he had been when I’d done the same, and he had been afraid.Still was.Behind the calm exterior, Soyer had been scared.

“Just the one will do.Hey, about today.I didn't answer when you called or when you texted, and I’m sorry.Echo said it would work out.”

He heaved a sigh.“Fucking Echo.Come here, my heart.Let me hold you.”

He took me into his arms, there in our hallway.I hugged him back, ignoring that my crinkly blanket had dropped to the floor.Before long, I was kissing him, and he was kissing me.He tasted of ash and gleaming coals, of sparks ready to meet breath and birth fire.

“I wanted to protect you,” I said.

“Don’t ever do that again.If you’d…if you’d…”

His breath hitched.I’d never heard him like that, never seen him so vulnerable, but I understood.Fire had bound us.A curse turned love had stitched our fates together, had made them one.I was supposed to hold him like he’d held me, and I was supposed to be strong when he couldn’t.

I also understood what Elias had told me about letting Soyer be my protector and provider.It gave him purpose, let the firebird know he wasn’t alone under the endless night sky.

I sank to my knees in front of him and watched his eyes focus on me, his lips parting on an inaudible sigh.

“What’re you doing, my heart?”

I touched him, his thighs, kissed the spot where his pubic hair started.“You know what.I want to.I probably won’t be good, but I want to try it.”