Page 174 of Glitched Fates & Stolen Mates

“You’re joking.”

“You’re right, that’s impossible. But three times worse, at least. God, they made a right pair. Seb had to stop teaming them up—they caused too much carnage.”

Felix snorted. “I can only imagine.”

An hour later, we reached Killigrew Street, slipping through the bookcase entrance, Felix agreeing to brave the tunnels since I was with him.

We burst into the basement, where everyone else had already gathered. They cheered as we appeared.

“Sorry we’re late,” Felix said, slightly breathless. “Kit was convincing my mother she doesn’t need to disown me for being an embarrassment.”

“Cheers to that,” Priya called out, raising her glass. Behind her, our corkboard had been decorated with photos of Issac. “Now come get some wine.”

“Is it normal to get absolutely trashed at a memorial event?” mumbled Felix, eyeing the collection of alcohol across the coffee table and side table.

“For this lot? Aye, absolutely.”

Flynn spotted us and immediately vacated his spot on the sofa, gesturing dramatically. “Your throne awaits, Your Majesties.”

Felix rolled his eyes but settled beside me without argument. I wrapped my arm around him, pulling him against my side. It had become automatic—this need to touch him, to confirm he was still there, still safe, still mine. Four months since Switzerland, and the separation anxiety hadn’t budged an inch.

The others had stopped commenting on it months ago. They’d had to adjust.

Even Rory had only cracked two point five jokes about our sex life so far, point five because Priya had whacked him on the head with a heavy book midway through the last one.

“Right,” Rory said, raising his glass. “To Issac. Who would absolutely hate this sentimental bollocks.”

We all drank. The wine was good—probably something expensive Seb had been hoarding. Felix screwed up his nose at the taste, and I suppressed a laugh.

“Remember when he tried to convince that vampire he was already dead?” Priya said, settling into the armchair. “Walked right into the nest covered in flour.”

“Worked, didn’t it?” Rory grinned. “Though I still think my plan was better.”

“Your plan involved actual explosives.”

“Exactly. Much more efficient.”

I felt Felix’s silent laugh against my chest.

God, I was grateful for this. For him curled against me, for these ridiculous stories, for the certainty that we’d go home together tonight. That every night from now on, I’d fall asleep with Felix in my arms and wake up to him stealing the covers and muttering about code in his sleep.

He’d moved in the day we got back to London—literally straight from the airport to my flat. I’d held him all night, whispering promises against his hair. He wasn’t leaving. Not ever.

The next morning, he’d gone back to clear out his tiny Battersea place. My second bedside table now housed a chaotic collection of Felix’s knick-knacks, three different phone chargers, and most importantly, Princess the plant.

I hadn’t quite realised just how lonely I’d been, living in my flat alone. Now, I relished all the tiny things—Felix’s books scattered across my kitchen table, his quiet presence filling spaces I hadn’t realised were empty.

Flynn elbowed Seb, who was scrolling through something on his phone. “Oi, boss. We’re sort of mourning here.”

“Sorry.” Seb slipped the device away, looking sheepish. “I was just reviewing something from White.”

My stomach tightened. White had been feeding us updates about Moira’s situation—currently locked up in some underground German prison while White worked to dismantle what remained of Greywatch. According to Seb, White wanted to move Moira somewhere closer to home. Something about concerns over a potential jailbreak attempt.

The Switzerland branch’s destruction had sent shockwaves through Greywatch’s network. It had been a tremendous blow to their operations, the Swiss facility having held not only the bulk of their research and development, but also most of their assets. Plus, Felix was able to hand over to White an incredible amount of data he had from hacking into their systems.

It was surely only a matter of time before White called Seb with the news that it was completely over. We hoped.

“Speaking of…” Rory said, turning to Priya. “How’s Isla settling in?”