“This puts a bullseye on your back,” he growled.
“Iput a bullseye on my back when I joined the Alliance. It’smychoice to be here, and I’m going to do everything I can to stop these monsters from hurting more people and vampires. This sword belongs to me; I can feel it. I have no idea why it chose me, but it did, and Iamgoing to protect it and use it to kill them.”
Declan tugged at his hair as he tried to get the volatile sway of his emotions under control. Taking a deep breath, he lifted his gaze to meet hers before crushing her against him. He would give anything to lock her securely away where no one could ever harm her again, but that was impossible. He could only do everything he could to keep her safe, and he would.
The color eased away from Declan as his body relaxed against hers and some of his hostility ebbed. When he finally released his death grip on her, Willow turned to find Ronan eyeing the sword before his gaze shifted to her and Declan.
“We’ll have to find a sheath to fit it so you can keep it strapped to you,” Ronan said.
“I… I can keep it?” she asked, still a little afraid someone might try to take it from her.
“It’s a lot more lethal in your hands than ours. Just don’t stab one of us with it.”
“I’m a little scared of nicking myself with it.” She regretted her words when Declan’s lips curled into a sneer that revealed his fangs.
“What exactlyisthat thing?” Logan asked.
“I don’t know,” Ronan said. “But I have a feeling we’ll find out.”
Chapter Fifty-Six
Willow woke slowlythe next morning and smiled at the sensation of Declan’s body enveloping hers. He nuzzled her neck before lifting his head to prop it on his hand. Willow rolled over to look up at him. Her smile faded when she saw the uneasiness in his eyes.
“I’m not going to stab myself with the sword,” she said.
Her words coaxed a smile from him. “I know.”
“Then why do you look so worried?”
“Because there’s a lot of power in that sword, and it’s been given to you.”
“And you don’t think I’m ready for it?”
He skimmed his fingers up and down her arm. “I think you’re more than ready for it, but the demons are going to want their weapon back, and they’ll come after you with everything they have.”
“Are you so sure it’s a demon sword? Maybe the hunters or Savages orsomeonenot demon forged it on earth.”
“Maybe,” he allowed. “But I don’t think so, and neither do you. Those Savages were as surprised as us when they saw what it could do. If Kirkau kept that information from them, it’s because the demon didn’t want them to know about its power. Which means it can probably be used against demons too.”
“Oh,” she breathed as the full depth of her responsibility with the sword settled on her shoulders.
She hadn’t asked for this, but she wouldn’t shy away from it either. She was more than ready to protect the sword and meet whatever challenges lay ahead of them.
“Yes, oh.”
“Easy,” Willow whispered when his eyes turned red and the color returned to the corners of his eyes. She now knew she wouldn’t lose him when that color emerged, and it did make him stronger, but she didn’t like seeing him so immersed in his demon side. “We’ll get through this together.”
Declan rested his hand on her hip. “We will.”
“And the sword will come in handy while we’re searching for Lucien.”
“How is that?”
“It will destroy anyone who gets in our way.”
The smile curving his lips didn’t reach his eyes.
“We’re going to find him,” she insisted.
