Page 164 of Glitched Fates & Stolen Mates

“For running off to Switzerland without your permission. Rory might have followed me, but it was all my idea.”

“Yes, well,” Seb snapped, his glare sweeping over Flynn and Priya, who were still passing their flask between them with conspiratorial grins. “It appears my orders are more like guidelines anyway.” His voice lost some of its sharp edge. “I’m glad you did it. And I want you to know, Kit, that my hesitation in not immediately coming here…” He trailed off, mouth pressing into a grim line.

“Sebastián,” I said, meeting his gaze, “it’s okay. I understand completely.”

Because I did. It was Seb’s job to protect all of them, all of us, and it would have killed him inside to do nothing while also knowing that rushing in blind could get everyone slaughtered.

Seb nodded, relief flickering across his face.

Theo pressed a gentle kiss into Rory’s hair as he stirred slightly in his sleep, mumbling something unintelligible before settling deeper into Theo’s chest.

When were the others going to leave our chalet to return to theirs? I was beyond grateful to see them all, but I quite wanted Felix alone. To talk to him properly. To lay him down by that rug Priya and Flynn were currently occupying and show him exactly how—

Theo suddenly cleared his throat, making eye contact with me.

Fuck. He’d read my mind.

“We should all get some proper sleep,” Theo said diplomatically, shifting Rory more securely in his arms.

“But the fire’s so lovely!” Priya protested, gesturing dramatically with the flask. “And my chalet is miles away through all that snow!”

“Your chalet is fifty metres away,” Seb said dryly.

“That’s like fifty miles in a blizzard. We might get lost,” Flynn added solemnly, which sent Priya into another fit of giggles.

Theo and I exchanged a look. This could go on all night.

“Come on,” Theo said firmly, standing with Rory still cradled in his arms like he weighed nothing. “Everyone out. Kit needs rest.” He had the cheek to wink at us. “And so does Felix.”

“Fine, fine,” Priya huffed, allowing Flynn to haul her to her feet. “But if we freeze to death in the snow, it’s on your conscience.”

They bundled into their coats, still bickering about the weather and the injustice of being evicted from the warmest chalet.

Then they were gone, disappearing into the swirling white darkness, leaving me alone with Felix.

The sudden silence felt deafening after the chaos of voices and laughter. Just the crackle of the fire and the wind howling outside, wrapping us in perfect isolation.

Felix’s heartbeat spiked—sharp, rapid thuds—and I pulled him properly onto my lap, pressing my hand flat against his chest.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” His voice came out breathless, wonder threading through each word. “Everything’s… everything’s perfect.”

Felix slid off my lap with sudden purpose. The fire crackled behind us as he crossed to the corner of the room where he’d dumped his rucksack hours ago. “I have something for you,” he said, rummaging through the bag.

Like some sort of magic trick, he pulled out a small terracotta pot, cradling it like precious cargo. The plant inside was impossibly delicate—heart-shaped leaves gleaming with distinctive pink streaks against dark green in the firelight.

“It’s a Philodendron Pink Princess,” Felix said, approaching me with shy steps. His cheeks had gone pink to match the plant’s variegation. “For you. Some of her leaves might be slightly crushed.”

I stared at the offering in his hands, something warm and tight rapidly expanding within me.

“Felix…”

“She’s called Princess,” he added quickly, thrusting the pot towards me. “I think she’s going to be a diva.”

I turned the pot in my hands. Princess sat there looking regal and completely unbothered by her ordeal, pink streaks catching the light.

“Is she now?” I looked up at Felix’s anxious face. “And this was in your bag the whole time?”