“Let her come with me and I’ll leave right now.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you.”
Whisper snarled as if he agreed with his slightly deranged master.
“See? That just confirms what I think of you.” Dillon narrowed his eyes. “What the fuck do you want? Why did you kidnap her? Who are you working for?”
“Leave!” Lucien trembled as he fought for control. “I won’t ask again.”
“I told you. Let her leave with me and—”
“She’llnevergo with you.”
“Ah see, that’s where you’re wrong.” Dillon smirked. “You’re playing with fire, asshole. I’ve already summoned backup and when they get here, they’ll—”
“You’re right.” Lucien cut in with a tight smile. “Iamplaying with fire. Want to find out what I can dowithoutbackup?” His smouldering fist came up. That scarlet ring of warning appeared around his pupils.
Okay, this had gone on long enough.
“Lucien.” Hugging his arm, I yanked his body toward me. “Calm down.”
He staggered a little, catching my eyes. “But he’s trying to take you away from me.” The scarlet ring around his pupils flickered and I saw what this was really about.
Fear.
Animalistic fear that’d rotted his soul, thanks to spending every day of the past two decades on his own.
His arm burned beneath my fingers as he whispered for my ears only. “I’ve finally found you. I finally have you,and I’llkill himif he tries to take you away from me.” Fire ignited around his collar as if he’d kicked the furnace door down inside him. The marble pavers cracked beneath his feet.
For the first time since I’d lost my pendant, I slipped into the icy ocean that now existed within my heart—a glittering lake that promised infinite power if I only asked.
And so, I asked.
I gave myself over to the overwhelming feelings that made me human—feelings that’d always granted such agony—and arrowed all of them into Lucien.
He shuddered as a web of ice enveloped him, lacing over his clothes, his hair, his face—swallowing his fire and stealing his rage.
For a second, he just stared at me with relief and awe, then snatched me into his arms and buried his face in my hair. “See? What the fuck would I do without you, huh?”
He didn’t seem to care Dillon was watching. Didn’t seem aware of anything apart from the bond as it yanked so,sohard between us.
My heart answered every furious throb of his and I shivered as his emotions bled into me. Hot spikes of jealousy. Sharp stings of loss. Powerlessness of being trapped for so long. All wrapped up in horror of what he was capable of if I wasn’t there to stop him.
“It’s okay.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and squeezed. “I’m not going anywhere, alright? He can’t make me do anything I don’t want to do, and I don’t want to leave you.” Pulling away a little, I reached up and cupped his cheeks, his skin so hot. “You will never be trapped again. And youcancontrol it.”
Whisper twined around us as Lucien slowly nodded.
But the moment was ruined as Dillon cleared his throat and Lucien stiffened all over again. His temper flared as he grabbed my wrist and jerked me behind him.
I scowled at his overprotection but as long as he touched me—as long as I touched him...we’d be fine. Cancelled out. Nullified.Normal.
Peeling Lucien’s hand off my wrist, he frowned as I wove my fingers through his and moved to his side instead.
I could tell he didn’t like it.
But...tough luck.
Dillon was here because of me.
