Vivica said she felt fine, but she was still trying to get over the initial feelings that had come over her. She was scared, elated that Shane was there, all of those things, rolled up into one. Vivica didn’t know what to think or do. She just let him hold her for what felt like a very long time. Scott was getting up, but not coming any closer. Shane wasn’t going to let anyone touch her again and he made it clear to everyone there. Considering how scared Vivica still was, it was like music to her ears. She liked to believe herself an independent woman, but it was obvious that she needed Shane. He was fearsome to the world that tried to mess with her. Vivica knew that she was safe. Everything else felt like it was up in the air, but not that.
“I think we are okay, Shane. I am so glad you are here.”
“I’m not. I shouldn’t have had to ever come here again. Did you know what they wanted?”
Vivica agreed that she knew enough. She would hear more later, surely, but for now, Vivica didn’t need anything to be made clear. She got the gist of it and that was bad enough.
“Well, I want to know where this information came from. I’ve never heard about a prophet that I was involved with.”
“It just became clear who they were talking about, once your father came back with her. She even has the mark.”
“What mark?”
“It is said that the ‘true leader’s mother’ will have a crescent moon on her hip and that the father will have one in the same place. I am sure you have realized that, haven’t you, Shane? Your father says that you have that very mark too. Which means, this baby she is carrying, or another to come, is going to be special. It’s going to be ‘the one’ to bring us into the future and help us find our place in the new world.”
Scott was staring at Vivica like he believed every word of it. Why hadn’t she seen it before? This guy was crazy!
“Please, Shane, we need to get out of here before something happens. Please!”
He turned to Vivica and told her that he had to see it for himself. Vivica didn’t care what their child did or didn’t do in the future. He was her son and all she was worried about was keeping him safe and away from people like George and Scott. All of them.
“Nothing is going to happen to you, Vivica. I promise.”
“Something already has. I want to get out of here. I don’t like it here, all these people. You said they aren’t your clan. I’m your mate. Let’s get out of here!”
Vivica didn’t realize how loud she was talking, but Shane didn’t seem to mind. The others around did though. They’d seen Shane throw people, but Vivica wasn’t worried about him or his anger.
“Let me get the book and then we will leave.”
“I will leave without you then, Shane. I am not going to stay here a second longer. If this is what your people have to offer me and my son, then we aren’t going to stay.”
“Son?”
Vivica shrugged. She’d been dreaming about a boy and for some reason, she was convinced. She could be wrong, having no proof of anything, but she wanted to believe that it was true what she was seeing. Everything was changing and it had only been a short amount of time, but once Vivica knew he was there, it was like she didn’t see anything the same way again.
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Are you having dreams?”
She agreed that she was, though she didn’t like that Shane knew it somehow. Whatever was going on, Vivica was convinced that she didn’t want to be there to find out the rest.
“We have to get that book and read about the prophet. It could be important, Vivica.”
She didn’t want to hear it. She wanted out of there. It was just that simple. Vivica could feel something was off and she didn’t want to be there for whatever was going to happen next.
“Please, Shane, I’m begging you to get us out of here. I never want to come back to this place. The things they want me to do, I won’t be able to. I want to leave, please!”
Shane ordered Scott to bring him the prophecy book. Scott didn’t want to give it up, but no one was fighting Shane. He was known for his viciousness and now, too many people had seen it with their own eyes. Shane was fierce and everyone knew it. He’d been gone a long time, but the fire in his heart wasn’t forgotten. They were all convinced that he was his mother’s child.
Scott left to go get the book and came back rather quickly. Everyone was just staring at the pair and Shane had what he needed. Vivica watched him threaten them all, if they ever came after them again.
“I will burn this whole place to the ground, don’t think I won’t. You betrayed my family, the blood that runs your clan. Come at me or my family again, I will make sure that there is no Montauk clan left.”
His father was brought up and he scoffed. “He’s dead to me and shouldn’t come back. He won’t get the warm welcome he did last time.”
They were leaving and Vivica was able to breathe again. The knot in her stomach was loosening. She held Shane’s hand fiercely, never wanting to let go of it again.
Epilogue
