Page 165 of Devoted

“We have a trap to set.”

CHAPTER 62

EMBERLINE

Hours later, we found a quiet corner of the temple garden where the light filtered through the olive trees, a walled space with a stone bench and a stellar view of the lagoon between the ancient, twisted trunks. I was cradled against Dante’s chest, Gabriel was rubbing my feet, and Nico was in the grass, my fingers threading through his long hair.

None of us spoke.

Like me, they were going over every step of our plan again, looking for holes, for weak points, for the place where everything would fall apart.

But it was too late to turn back.

Valeria’s network was in overdrive, frantic rumors already filtering back to Emilia and Severin through their spy networks. All of Venice’s Underworld was abuzz with the gossip that the Basin was missing and there was a five million solid gold reward for any information leading to its recovery.

Actually, Rocco’s network had put out the reward in an official document signed by Rocco Demente himself, who I expected was doing a lot of fast talking right about now to save his worthless ass.

Served the fucker right.

“We’re actually doing this, aren’t we?” Gabriel asked finally, his fingers pausing their very important work.

“We are.” I wiggled my toes. “Too late for second thoughts, I’m afraid, now that we’re all in.”

“Gods, it’s a relief, I think.” Gabriel’s exhale was somewhere between a laugh and a sigh. “To finally be doing something, instead of talking about doing something. To finally end this.”

“For once, let’s hope he’s underestimated us,” Dante added roughly. “And not the other way around.”

The olive trees rustled in the breeze, and somewhere in the temple behind us, priests chanted in unison, Emilia’s voice rising over the hum.

“I need you to know something.” Gabriel turned his face to the sun, highlighting the new scar on his forehead. “Whatever happens next, no matter how this ends, I am glad it’s the three of you beside me. I’m glad we’re together. Lovers and friends, you all have my heart. You are the family I chose. The family I will always choose.”

I closed my eyes against the burn of tears, throat so clogged with emotion I couldn’t do anything but nod.

Here I was, in the arms of an enemy I’d married for revenge, crying because I couldn’t live without any of them. They didn’t just own my heart—they owned my entire soul. They were my everything, and this crushing pressure in my heart was so rare, so precious, I wanted to cherish it forever.

Dante’s arms tightened around me, and I let myself savor this one perfect moment.

We were here.

We were together.

Whatever came next, we would meet it the same way.

Then footsteps crunched on stone. Heavy boots. Military.

And I opened one eye.

I didn’t remember Romulus being so godsdamned huge. I didn’t expect the corner of his mouth to lift in a wicked smirk, emerald eyes bright with amusement. He gave me, Dante, and Gabriel only a passing glance before turning the full force of his attention on Nico.

“Hello, Niccolò.”

The male—Emilia’s spy—wasn’t at all what I expected.

I wasn’t sure what I had expected, exactly—two hundred years hidden inside Blackwood’s organization suggested someone more… corrupted. Tainted by his master’s dark magic, ruined, like everything else Blackwood touched.

Instead, Romulus carried himself with the bearing of a king.

Regal yet serene, with a Roman nose, high cheekbones, and an elegant mouth, that strong face was framed by a fall of silver-white hair. The male stood even taller than Dante, with an immense frame heavily layered with muscle, moving with a fluid grace that told me he knew his way around a sword, so light on his feet I realized those heavy bootsteps had been a courtesy.