When the light was gone, only four crystals remained.
The one in the center had vanished.
But no, that wasn’t quite right, Darion realized.
It still glowed, but now it did so from inside his father’s chest. The wounds that had nearly destroyed him had vanished.
Lucan inhaled a sudden gasp of breath.
He opened his eyes. The molten amber of his Bloodlust was gone. His irises had returned to their normal steely gray hue, except for the outer ring. It glittered with pure, silvery light.
That same iridescence rode the edges of hisglyphs, which now flooded with healthy color.
His gaze sought out Gabrielle.“My love.”
She let out a ragged, joyful sob as she threw her arms around his neck.
CHAPTER 48
Selene collected the four crystals as Lucan and Gabrielle’s joyful reunion sent them scattering. She slipped them back into her pockets, watching the couple embrace and kiss as though they had been away from each other for an eternity. Their love was so pure, she couldn’t help but share their unabashed joy.
A glance at Darion told her that he, too, was swept up in his parents’ obvious love for each other. His gaze lit on Selene with a tender warmth and awe that was worth a hundred crystals.
Lucan still had Gabrielle locked in his embrace as he turned a solemn look at Selene.
“Thank you seems like a damned inadequate thing to say, but . . . thank you. Both of you,” he said, glancing at Darion with pride and gratitude beaming in his silver-ringed eyes.
He let go of Gabrielle and took his son into a fierce hug.
To Selene’s utter shock, Gabrielle did the same to her before taking her turn embracing Darion.
Lucan was staring at Selene as she watched Darion and his mother exchanging tender, private words. “How can I ever repay you for what you’ve done for me?”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t have done anything at all, if not for Darion. The rest of the Order as well, including you. I’d say we’re more than even.”
Lucan glanced down at thedermaglyphson his muscled arm. The skin markings were lit with the same luminescence as his irises. He touched the center of his chest where the glow from the crystal was no longer visible. “I feel different somehow . . . changed.”
Darion and Gabrielle rejoined them, she taking shelter under her mate’s arm, while Darion stepped beside Selene.
“You are changed,” Selene said. “You’re as indestructible as the crystal that now lives inside you. You’re immortal, Lucan. Not even the sun’s rays will harm you now.”
Gabrielle inhaled a breath, looking up at him in amazement. “Lucan.”
Selene had more good news for them. “Because of the blood bond you share with him, Gabrielle, the crystal will protect you too.”
“How did you know it would work?” Darion asked, his deep voice quiet with wonder. “No one but an Atlantean can touch the crystals, so how could you be sure?”
“Because of something you said to me. You reminded me that Atlantean blood runs in the veins of all the Breed. That we are connected. I wasn’t certain the crystal would help Lucan . . . but I had enough hope to try.”
Darion pulled her close and kissed her.
At that same moment, other Order members entered the room. They packed inside, upwards of a dozen concerned Breed warriors who greeted Lucan with open awe.
A huge, tawny-haired male with green eyes was first into the chamber. He stared at Lucan for a long moment, then grabbed him into a tight hug. Both big males had raw emotion in their eyes as they parted.
More warriors followed suit, all of them gritty from the battle they’d fought alongside Selene’s men. A dozen deep voices rose to a happy din as each of Lucan’s comrades expressed their shock and relief at seeing him on his feet, whole and hale.
Selene and Darion took the opportunity to slip out of the room while the reunion continued.
