“Just hear him out, Quen,” Ig implored, rubbing my back. “And then if you want nothing more to do with him, I’ll evict him from your house myself.”
* * *
The heavinessthat plagued me throughout the day amplified until I could barely lift my feet to walk to the door. Not a single cell in my body wanted to leave Larkin alone after her admission. She had carried so much on her shoulders and felt the need to share to save me from potentially making the same mistake. She wanted to help me escape, and I wanted the same for her.
The second unexpected conversation with Ignacio hadn’t helped my mood. He declined the invitation to join me, unravelling the ruse and uncovering the truth that I didn’t want to be left alone with Grayson.
I leaned against the front door after I stepped into the house. The lights were off and I closed my eyes, becoming part of the darkness that surrounded me. In the stillness of the house, something rippled through me. The sensation of relief washed over my body, causing my knees to buckle. Something solid held me in place, but I refused to open my eyes, and the warmth of Gray’s body enveloped me as he stepped into my space.
“You’re home later than I expected,” he said, breath fanning across my face.
“I had a lot to do in the lab.”
“Have you eaten?”
“I’m not hungry,” I whispered, voice breaking.
A wave of sadness ran through me as my conversation with Larkin swirled in my mind. There was no chance of appetite when I was so full on the injustice of her situation. It pushed its way to the front of my mind, jumping to the top of my priority list. The mortal avenues of police were pointless. The council was the law and Hunter was the head. It made me want to scream.
Gray’s hands cupped my face and my eyes snapped open to find him staring at me with concern written over his features.
“What’s happened?” he demanded, gaze flicking over my body as he attempted to find the source of discomfort.
“Nothing.”
“Do you think I can’t sense everything running through you right now? Tell me. I knew I should have come to the lab with you.”
That was the last thing I wanted. I was in a strange position where I needed space from him, even if my heart kept yearning for the opposite.
“We’re soulbound,” I blurted out into the darkness.
Grayson’s hands dropped from my face. “How did you find out? Which one of them told you?”
“It’s not important.”
“Who told you?” His aura darkened the hallway until I couldn’t see anything in front of me.
“Larkin,” I admitted.
“I should have known.”
The darkness faded as he controlled his aura and walked away into the living room. I kicked off my shoes, dropped my bag, and followed him.
“Is it true? Are we?” I asked.
“You need proof,” he said, huffing a laugh. “You’ll never be able to take anything at face value. Will you allow me to bring Erik here?”
I nodded and watched him disappear from my sight. The house felt empty without Gray’s presence, and I wondered if this was how it would be. If Gray and I separated, I would live here in a silence that consumed every moment instead of the love and chaos I’d grown used to.
Dropping onto the sofa, I ran my hands over my face, trying to find something—anything—to anchor me in the madness that constituted my life. There was little to cling to when everything pushed against the boundaries of reality.
Before long, Gray returned with Erik by his side, lighting up the room in red.
“Quentin.” Erik beamed, but I raised a hand to stop him.
“This isn’t a social visit. I need you to tell me if Gray and I are soulbound.”
Erik’s smile faltered, but he kept it in place. “Would you like me to show you?”
