“Next is your mate.”
The words caused my stomach to twist. What is that supposed to mean? I turned the card over, looking for any more information—a name, a signet,somethinghinting as to who it was from, but found nothing. I placed the card on the table before reaching for the silk covering the package.
I screamed, covering my mouth with my hand as I scrambled back from the table, the cloth falling to the ground.
“What is it?” Luka rushed toward me, his chair scraping against the floor. I tried to grab him—to stop him, but I wasn’t fast enough.
“Luka.” I grabbed his hand, attempting to pull him from the box, but he wouldn’t move, his feet cemented to the floor as he stared at the contents of the box.
At the severed head of his grandfather.
“Luka,” I pleaded, pulling at his hand again. “Someone get that out of here. NOW.” I couldn’t keep the emotion from my voice. I didn’t care deeply for Arlo, but he had been kind to me. Kind to Luka. He was like a second father to him after his father died. Seeing his grandfather like this?—
Declan swept in. “Fuck,” he swore. He put the cover on the box before looking over his shoulder at Luka.
“What is it?” Luce asked tentatively.
“It’s my grandfather’s head.” Luka still didn’t move as Kara’s gasp filled the room.
“Declan, go find Gulia, and see if you can get any information on who sent that package.” Luka’s gaze followed the box Declan held in his arms even as he left the room.
“Luka.” I tugged at his hand again, but he still didn’t budge. I looked at our friends—they stared at Luka with shock and sympathy in their eyes. “Will you give us a minute—alone. Please.”
Without a word, they left the room, closing the door behind them.
I wrapped my arms around Luka, resting my head on his chest. “I’m so sorry.” I squeezed him tighter. “He was a good male.”
“Don’t lie because he’s dead.” He pulled out of my arms, running his hand through his hair as he turned from me.
“I’m not lying.”
“You never liked him!”
“So? You did. He took care of you. He loved you. He was there for you when no one else was after your parents died. He might not have meant a lot to me, but he meant a lot to you. He was good to you. He was your grandfather.”
He sat in one of the oversized chairs, resting his head in his hands as he breathed heavily.
I kneeled in front of him, sliding my hands up his thighs. “I mourn his death because I love you.”
He was silent, his breath rattling in the room.
“Why does everyone I love always leave me? Why do they always die?” His voice was strained, thick with emotion as his shoulders shook.
I felt my entire body cave in on itself.
“I don’t know.” Emotions clogged my throat. “I don’t know.”
I wrapped my arms around him, this time he let me, shifting so he could embrace me in return. He pulled me into his lap and I rested my knees on either side of his thighs as I held him. I don’t know how long we sat like that—holding each other in silence. I hated seeing him like this. Hewas always so strong, he was the person I leaned on, but now—now he needed to lean on me.
“Thank you,” he finally whispered into my shoulder.
I stroked a hand down his face. “You’ve comforted me enough times, it’s the least I could do to return the favor.”
He smiled—it was small, but it was there. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine. “What would I do without you?”
“I think your life would have a lot less spark.”
He shook his head and chuckled, his eyes cast downward. “You got that right.” He dipped his head and brought his lips to mine, kissing me in earnest this time.
