He smiled so wide and bright, the sight sent warmth spreading through my body. “It does doesn’t it?” He spun us in a small circle. “You really are sentimental tonight.”
I missed a step, but Luka caught me, continuing to move us.
“If I’ve learned anything in the last three years, it’s that life is precious. Every moment we have with the ones we love should be treated as our last.”
I’d lost so much when my parents died. Not just them, but myself too. “I spent so long in the dark, refusing to let others into my darkness—now that I’ve let light in, I refuse to waste it for however long I have.”
“We’re going to make it out of this war, Lennox.” Worry etched his brow as he searched my face.
“I hope we do, but there is no guarantee, and I refuse to let fear control me.” I rose on my tiptoes and dusted a kiss over his lips.
“But promise me one thing Lennox, you won’t go and do any self-sacrificing bullshit.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but he continued—stopping me. “There are people who are counting on youcoming back. It’s not just you and Kara anymore—you’ve got a whole hoard of people who are counting on you to return.”
I took a deep breath. “I’ll try my best.”
He gave me a soft smile. “That’s all I ask.”
“We’re going to make it out of this war alive. All of us.” I met his gaze, staring into his deep blue pools. How had I managed to resist him for so long?
“Hey.” I raised on my tiptoes and dusted my lips over his again.
“Yeah?” He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.
“Thank you for pulling me out of the darkness.”
We all rose before the sun the next morning, despite only managing a few hours of sleep after we returned back to camp from the tavern.
Half of our group was leaving, I wouldn’t let them go without a proper goodbye. I’d even pulled Kara out of bed, much to her dismay.
I let go of Luce, my eyes lingering on the matching necklace hanging around her neck as I braced my hands on her shoulders. “Thank you for doing this, you’re going to be amazing.”
One side of her lip hitched up. “I think I will be too.”
“Do I get a hug too, L?” Nico came up beside us, brushing his moon-spun hair out of his face.
“Of course.” I threw my arms around him, and he squeezed me tight. “I’ll miss my bestie.”
His laugh rumbled through his body. “I’ll miss mine too.”
“Be kind to your family.” I released him so I could look at his face. “Zienna especially.”
“That’s like asking you not to stab someone.”
I shoved him away. “That’s different. I’m naturally stabby—you’re choosing to lock out your family.”
He rolled his eyes. “We’ll be in our wolf forms most of the time anyway. I promise I won’t take a bite out of my brother.”
“Good pup.” I let him go as I looked for my own brother.
Nol stood on his own at the edge of our group, the strap of his leather bag thrown over his shoulder as he watched everyone say their goodbyes.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me sending you back home?”
“Yes, Lennox. I was a captive for almost three years, I think I’ll be perfectly content sitting out of a war against my captor.” He readjusted the strap of his bag. “Besides, I don’t know how much help I’d be considering the little training I’ve been doing.”
He had been training with us every day, but he was nowhere near where his skills used to be before his death—capture.And no matter how hard we tried we couldn’t get him to harness his witch magic consistently.
