“Dislocated,” he muttered, his brow furrowing. “So many cuts and bruises. Andthis.” His fingers moved to her upper arm. “This was Claudio?”
Her eyes skated off of his. She couldn’t say anything, but that was answer enough.
Angelo’s expression darkened, and Emerson’s fists clenched, but they both reined it in when Seri flinched. Giving her a small smile, Angelo touched his fingers to her hand and flooded her with golden light.
“There,bambina. All better.” Then, frowning, he leaned closer to her, their faces almost touching. “This whisperbind, though.”
Her whimper had Cas dragging Seri’s chair back and stepping in front of her.
“Back. Off.”
“Whoa, easy there, brother!” I cut in before claws came out, wedging between them. “He’s just doing what we asked him to.” I offered Angelo amostlysincere apologetic look. “We’re still adjusting to having a beloved.”
“I understand.” Angelo straightened, his lips quirking in a rare smile. “It was the same for Emerson and me in the beginning. You want to put yourself between her and the world.”
“True enough,” I agreed. “As for the whisperbind, tell me it’s something low tier you can unfuck.”
“Not without killing her.” Angelo’s glare softened as Seri curled in on herself. “Scusa, piccola. Silence shackle, Z. I wouldn’t even dare to touch it.”
“We’re burning that bitch to ash.” Koa’s fist hit the pergola support and showered us in leaves.
Picking Seri up, Cas cradled her like a baby, and she nestled into him, her cheeks flushed, but her eyes bright.
“Thank you, Angelo,” she whispered, and her sigh of relief was like music to my ears. “I can’t remember the last time I didn’t feel stitched together by pain.”
Cas inhaled sharply, kissing the top of her head over and over. Ko made a hurt sound in the back of his throat and rubbed her knee. Blinking my stinging eyes, I brushed my fingers through her curls.
For a moment, it felt like the world had shrunk down to just the four of us. Well, seven, if you counted Angelo and Emerson hovering nearby like overgrown bodyguards and Brumous on alert.
“There’s something else.” Angelo’s words were sharp with anger. “Her magic’s been siphoned. Recently.”
“We know. Can you fix it?” Koa asked with a scowl.
“The side effects?” Angelo shook his head. “No. That’s something only time can heal.”
“Do you have any recommendations about removing the silence shackle?” Cas’ voice could’ve frosted hell.
“Far as I know, only the caster can do that, but you could ask your father.” He held up both hands, palms out, when Koa’s fangs dropped. “Like him or not, he’s been around a lot longer and seen far more shit than any of us. He might have an idea.”
I groaned internally. Of course it came back tohim, a man who could make a thunderstorm look cheerful and thelastperson I wanted to involve in this mess. But one look at Seri, her wide gray eyes and theway she snuggled into Cas like she was afraid someone might snatch her away, and I knew I’d do it.
For her, I’d call the devil himself.
“He could stay with her while you take care of Claudio,” Emerson suggested, earning him three glares.
“I’d like to meet your father,” Seri said hesitantly, fiddling with a button on Cas’ shirt, her eyes on her fingers. “And your brother, Prince Sebastian.”
“See?” Emerson smirked. “Bodyguard and whisperbind expert, all in one.”
Cas’ face twisted with indecision, and Ko’s wasn’t much better.
Guess it’s up to me. Zane to the rescue. Again.
“Fine,” I said, forcing a grin. “I’ll give Daddy Dearest a ring later. Maybe he’ll be so busy yelling at me, he won’t notice we’re asking for a favor.”
#
During breakfast, Seri sat between Cas and me, eating quietly and listening with wide eyes as Ko and I traded stories with Emerson. Angelo, meanwhile, was on his phone, his brow furrowed.
