“We should probably clear the living room out first—” Darci broke off at the knock on her front door. “Excuse me for a sec.” She spun back to answer.
But at the sight of the woman on her porch, her heart jolted, pain bleeding through her like a broken dam.
Nora, the friend she’d once loved and trusted, who’d played a big part in her almost losing Blaéz, stood there. If she hadn’t been frozen by shock, she would have slammed the door shut. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Darci, please…” Nora lifted a hand toward her. “Let me explain—”
“Explain what? You not only deceived me, you used me and nearly got the man I love killed! I’ll never forgive you for that.”
“I protected you,” Nora said fiercely, a crimson glow appearing in her brown irises, revealing exactly what she was. “I know my methods were unorthodox, but it was the only way I could keep you safe from Maloch.”
Darci cut Nora a rigid glare. She didn’t care she’d unknowingly befriended a demoness. She’d treasured their friendship, only to be hurt and betrayed.
Echo and Shae appeared, flanking her.
“Darci?” At Shae’s quiet tone, she knew what she was asking. Should she get rid of Nora?
A fight would ensue, and Shae could temporarily drain Nora of her powers. It would be fitting considering the raw betrayal Darci had suffered at Nora’s hands, but she shook her head. “It’s okay, I have this.”
After a second, both women retreated, and Darci remained in the doorway, refusing to invite Nora inside. She wouldn’t be able to enter anyway with the new protection wards Hedori had put in place. Keeping her expression even, Darci slid her shaky hands into her jeans’ pockets and waited.
Nora sighed, her features appearing heavy with regret. “I don’t blame you for hating me. Revenge drove me. I loved my baby brother. He was so young, and Maloch had him killed. I couldn’t live with that. He…” She rubbed her fingers over her fatigued features, her brown eyes bleak with pain. “I had to destroy him. He was a sadistic son of a bitch who thrived on torture and pain any way he could get it.”
Blaéz had told Darci about his imprisonment and what the bastard Maloch had done to him. Deep down, she realized there was probably much, much more he hadn’t revealed. A part of her understood why Nora did what she had. Darci wanted to tell her it was okay. But she’d destroyed their friendship and put not only her but also Blaéz in danger.
“Darci, look, I know what I did was wrong, but I couldn’t take the chance of telling you anything. If Maloch found you, he’d have known that I cared about you and would have hurt you just because he could.”
Hell, she’d been there. Malochhadhurt her because he’d wanted Blaéz as his lover, and was prepared to kill Darci to get him.
She exhaled roughly. “I can’t…I just can’t. I’m sorry. Too much has happened, and it’s all still too fresh.”
Nora lowered her gaze to her scuffed boots. She didn’t say anything for several seconds, before she looked up again. “I set up an antique shop in town. It’s called Bygones. I’ll be there. I thought it was a good way to sell off Maloch’s ill-gained goods. Therapeutic for me, really.” She glanced up the road then back down. “Just be careful, okay? You’re still my friend. And if you ever need me...”
Call her? She didn’t think so. Darci remained silent as Nora walked away, her heart hurting. It was better this way, a clean break. She’d considered Nora her dearest friend, and what she’d done had wounded Darci too deeply.
* * *
Later that afternoon, Darci wandered the aisles inSuddenly Flowers, the florist she’d chosen to do the arrangements for the wedding. The wonderful fragrance of the colorful blooms surrounded her, yet nothing could ease the ache inside her.
Was it wrong that she found it so hard to forgive Nora?
Sighing, she put those thoughts aside to deal with when it didn’t hurt so much and walked around the workroom where several arrangements had been prepared for delivery.
“Are you okay?” a low voice asked.
She glanced back at Hedori and forced a smile. “I’m okay. So, what do you think?” She nodded at the pink baby roses and creamy tulips bursting the glass walls of the short, square vase.
He studied the centerpieces, a hint of a smile softening his stern features, making him appear years younger. “I think it’s best you ask Blaéz that, m’lady—”
“Hedori, please.” She sighed, wishing he’d call her by her name. He did with the Guardians. Unless he wanted to rattle them, then he went with “sire.”
“My pardon, Darci—” He broke off as an older woman with curly, bobbed hair hurried over, pushing up the sleeves of her purple sweater.
“I’m so sorry for the delay,” Briony Langton breathed. “Things get a little hectic around this time.”
“I’ll wait outside,” Hedori said, leaving her with the owner, who cast him an appreciative look as he walked out. Nope, their butler wasn’t like those stodgy old English ones the movies depicted. He was probably centuries older than the Guardians, even though he appeared in his late thirties or early forties. He sported the same good looks, but in a more rugged sort of way with his lean, hard features and steel-gray hair. But he was just as deadly. She’d seen him train with Blaéz once.
“That is some man—oops! He’s not your fiancé, is he?” Briony’s dark, apologetic gaze darted back to her.
