I slammed to a stop, awed and so fucking grateful. Wrapping my fingers around her nape, I dragged her into me and kissed her again.
I kissed her deep and slow—not because I wanted her ice but because I wanted to show her just how much I fucking loved her.
When we pulled apart, she cracked a smile. “Tell me honestly, though...do you really think the mountain iseatingpeople?”
“Of course not.” I jerked her back into a walk. “But I do think Marcus wouldn’t stop at just breaking me. And if I find out he’s hurting others. If he’s trapped and tortured others like us? Well then, I’m going to hunt down every bastard involved and make them wish they’d never been fucking born.”
* * * * *
Whispering Dragon welcomed us home as we drove back to Ashfall Cliff.
The huge stone dragon seemed to shift—its scaled sides and thick legs tensing for a battle that’d been brewing for two decades.
I never let go of Rook as Uncle Wen went to park the jeep and we marched over the threshold into the Dragon Courtyard, Whisper at my heels.
Dillon quickly ordered the Snowflake Corp guards to find something to do before scurrying after us.
I was burning and short-tempered.
I didn’t want to delay my fight with Marcus but...I also felt blind to what he’d truly been doing.
All those bags of blood he’d taken from me.
All those years he’d kept me trapped.
For what?
Why did this feel bigger than just taking over my family’s company?
“Lucien?” Rook squeezed my hand, her frost reacting to my blazing heat. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Even her calming presence couldn’t stop my racing mind.
I had to know.
Had to find out.
This was going to end with Marcus in pieces, but how many other people did I have to kill to make things right?
Slamming to a stop, I turned around so fast, Dillon almost crashed into me.
“Fuck’s sake, a little warning would be nice.” He rolled his eyes, rocking back on his heels.
I’d reached my limit where Rook’s bodyguard was concerned, but—
“Can I trust you?” I narrowed my eyes, yanking Rook close and shivering with relief as her cold body pressed against my very hot one.
He scowled. “I don’t care if you trust me or not. As long as Rook is with you, then I’m going to be hanging around like a bad smell to protect her.”
“Fine.”
“Fine?” Rook shot me a look. “What’s fine?”
Turning to face her, I cupped her cheeks, planted my mouth over hers, and kissed her deeply, desperately.
Dillon wisely didn’t stop me as I used her to control myself.
