“You sure eat a lot,” Mac said.
The smallest smile quirked the corner of Grey’s mouth. “It’s for you. It’s been a long day.”
Holy crap, he had gotten me food.
“There’s one for Cordelia as well,” he said.
As soon as her name was called, the raccoon appeared, her masked gaze riveted to the stack of glass takeout containers. A toothy grin stretched across her face.
“You can’t do things like that,” I blurted.
His gaze flicked to mine. So did everyone else’s.
Heat flooded my cheeks. “I mean, we’re supposed to maintain our distance.” And doing thoughtful things like making sure I have dinner is a surefire way to get me to fall even harder for you.
I didn’t say the last bit, though.
“Of course.” His voice was slightly stiff, but there was a knowing gleam in his dark eyes. He stepped backward, clearly about to head home. “I am going to set spies on Anton’s casino. And I’ll search for his contact here—the one who finds the kidnapping victims. I will alert you if I learn anything new.”
“Thank you.”
He turned and walked away, his huge form graceful as he strode down the street. The moonlight gleamed around him, making him appear otherworldly. Something pinched in my chest as I watched him walk away, and I turned to Berat.
He handed over the containers, and I took them. “Thank you.”
He nodded, his eyes dark with confusion, then disappeared back into the restaurant, which appeared to be closed. Of course it was closed at this late hour, but nothing was really closed if Grey wanted something.
Silently, our group walked up the stairs to my flat. Normally, Cordelia would be literally jumping with joy at the sight of the kebabs, all but climbing my legs.
Even she was silent.
I walked into my flat and handed out the food.
Mac took it but didn’t open it. Instead, she just stared at me. “I don’t think your bond is really broken.”
I sighed. “It is. I can feel it. I swear to God, it was like a wire snapped. It is broken.”
“But there’s still something between you,” she said.
“I care for him. Like, really care for him. It’s emotions, not some magical bond.”
“And he cares for you,” Eve said.
“Yeah.” The word rushed out of me, and I collapsed on the couch. “I think we were maybe a bit too late in breaking the bond.”
“You’ll just have to stay away from each other,” Mac said.
“You’re right.” I leaned my head back on the couch. “I’m not in love with him or anything. It’s just that I like him. And I can’t help it.”
“Well, try,” Mac said. “Because your lives depend on it.”
That night, I dreamed. Maybe it was the kebabs that I’d scarfed down, or maybe it was the fact that I’d seen Grey right before bed.
But I couldn’t help it.
He appeared in my dreams, tall and strong, and so very present.
So present that it almost didn’t feel like a dream at all. I was in my bed, just like in the real world. It was his presence I felt first, powerful and comforting. I opened my eyes, spotting him on the other side of the room, standing in the doorway.