Page 110 of Break Out the Girl

He nods. “I’m just so happy I saved all my kisses for you. That was the one thing I’d never give them. So now it’s the one piece of me I can tie with a bow and put under your Christmas tree. I’m sorry it’s not all of me that’s pure and good.”

Wump-wump.

I stroke his face. “I’m not quite sure what you mean by that, but I do know one thing, emphatically. There is not a single molecule in your make up that isn’t perfectly how it’s supposed to be.” I kiss away the tears on his cheek. “At some point we need to get to the bottom of all this, but right now, can you just believe me, London? That you’re my beautiful English faun, with heavenly lips and a wonderful, original mind.”

He flutters his eyelids, looking so young for a moment.

“And a steaming hot body on top of all that,” I add.

That brings the grin back to his face. “Did you know we’re in Burt’s bedroom? Can you imagine a little Burly in here?”

Tally’s bedroom? My eyes move around the plain room. There’s a long shelf full of books, a few photos, but nothing that screams ‘Taliesin’.

My wolf.

I need to see him and François. See with my own eyes that they’re both whole. Gently displacing the bedcovers, I try not to disturb Sky, but she wakes anyway.

Her eyes snap open, wide and panicked. “Rory?” she croaks, her voice raspy and thin.

She tries to push herself up onto her elbows, but winces as her bandaged fingers touch the mattress.

“Easy, babe,” I murmur, tucking the covers around her shoulders. “Don't rush. You're completely safe. Apparently, we're at Tally's parents' home.”

For a moment, she relaxes, letting out a long, shaky breath, but then her brow creases into a frantic frown. “Immy! Rory, you got out, did you bring Imran too? Is he here?”

Oh fuck.

My heart drops straight into my stomach. I can feel London’s hand freeze on my back.

“Rory?” Sky’s voice trembles, tears welling in her bloodshot eyes as she reads our faces. “What’s going on?”

I pull her into my arms. “Sky… Imran made it out of Quo with us, but he was so sick. So weak. But he got to experience freedom under the stars. He felt magic in his veins.” My throat goes hot and tight.

She just stares at me.

“Immy shifted, Sky. It was so beautiful, we watched him fly as a gorgeous owl. He was magnificent.”

“Was?” Tears start to run silently down her cheeks. “He’s dead?”

“I’m so sorry, honey.” I try to hug her closer but she wriggles away, rolling over and turning her back on me.

“Sky?”

“Leave me alone, Rory. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Shit. I wish I had the right words, but maybe there are never any ‘right’ words for someone who has lost a loved one.

London stands, reaching out a hand to me. “Let her be, Kitten. She needs time.”

Time isn’t going to change the facts.

Fuck. I hate this. I hate it all.

But, following my faun’s advice, I slowly get to my feet. “I’ll come check on you in a while,” I murmur. “I love you, Sky.”

She doesn’t reply.

I feel absolutely terrible as London supports me down the narrow corridor and into the warm kitchen.