“You mean up to Luxe? She was pretty clear.”
“Pretty clear, and right. Remi is just a kid who's been stuck in a basement for who knows how long.” Jackson shook his head.
“We need to call Madeline and Kingston,” Leo commented.
“Who?” Flora asked, her head still tucked into Dylan's chest. He wouldn't let her go, wouldn’t move until she did, that much he knew. He couldn’t unwrap his arms from around her even if he wanted to.
“Madeline is the Vampire Council Member, and Kingston is the Shifter member,” Ryder said. “Can she hear us? Remi?”
“Yes,” Dylan answered. Vampire hearing far surpassed Shifters'. If she was paying attention and Luxe wasn’t talking her ear off, she could hear every twitch any one of them made.
“They won’t hurt her, will they?” Willow asked, worry etched on her face.
“No, Kingston won’t. Madeline…we won’t let her.”
“We starting a fight with the vamp of all vamps?”
“Not if we don’t have to, but you know how this Pack rolls. We protect those who can’t protect themselves,” Jackson said, his decision final. “I’ll call in the morning. For now, everyone goes to bed. Thankfully another bed for one of the guest rooms just came in.”
Everyone said their good nights. Flora gripped Dylan’s hand. A sign of forgiveness for failing to keep her safe from Cassandra and Romeo. “Let’s go,” he whispered, guiding her to his room.
The door shutting was the beginning tick on the timer on his apology and the limited time they had left.
“Flora, I’m so sorry,” he started, turning to face her and grabbing both her hands. She just stared at him, breaking when a single tear slid down her face, and yanked him into an undeserving hug.
“Babe, you don’t have anything to be sorry about —”
“No, I do. You hired me to protect you, and I failed. They were never even supposed to touch you, yet they got past me. I’m so sorry.”
“Dylan, that was bound to happen. Were you supposed to be my bodyguard for the rest of my life? Do you think they would’ve stopped? Found another panther, kidnapped her, no — it’s not just about me anymore,” she ranted, her brown hopeful eyes peering into his.
“My job was you.”
“This wasn’t even a job, Dylan. You wouldn’t even let me pay you.”
“I need it to be. I need to have just failed my job because it breaks me to think that I failed you.”
“You saved me, Dylan.” Her voice was desperate. Her eyes bled with worry as she gripped his shirt.
“No, you saved you. Willow saved you. Not me.”
“You saved me, Dylan. You came for me.Youprotected me before I knew how to protect myself. You taught me how to fight for my panther. You’ve done your job and more.” Her hands ran up and down his arms, comforting him for what he hoped wouldn't be the last time.
* * *
Flora was safe.In the comfort of his home, in his arms. She laid her head on his chest, watching mindless TV while he watched her. She didn’t say anything about his racing heart or his clammy skin. Maybe she was afraid of ruining the moment just as much as he was. Maybe she knew what was coming and was uncomfortable bringing it up. It was time. Time to let go.
He knew this wouldn’t last. It was time to let the bird free of its protective cage. Let her fly free and find where home is. He hoped she’d come back to him, but why would she? He didn’t know if this was the last time she’d ever cuddle with him, the last time she’d kiss him, the last time he’d see her. Turning his head away, the heartache in his chest brought a single tear down his face, which landed in Flora’s hair.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, turning her body to face him, still sitting between his legs. To finally say the words out loud solidified the fact she had to leave him. She was going to leave him, and there was no guarantee she’d ever come back. He traced his pale palm across her cheek. The smoothing action helped him and hurt him all the same.
“Flora, I think...” He could hardly breathe, tears he wished he could hold back fell down his face more freely. “I think you should leave with your parents today.”
“Like I should spend some time with them? I mean that’s fine, they must be tense with their daughter being kidnapped…so a few days here and there —” she paused, her eyes searching his. “You…you’re breaking up with me?”
“We’ve spent so much time together, time spent in dangerous, emotional-heightening experiences, and I loved playing hero but —”
“But what, Dylan? You think I can’t decipher my own emotions?” She pulled away, her voice turning tense and her eyes glared up at his.
