For so long, Lucien commanded her heart, until his legs grew numb from half-kneeling on the seat at her side, fingers red with cold, but his palm was hot on her bare chest, beneath her sweater.
Her lids fluttered open, grey eyes blooming with stolen trust from their unnatural, unyielding connection.
Lucien swallowed. "You’re okay now, my V girl. I’ve got you."
Vesperin nodded, like he was worthy of her trust.
Slowly, he shifted to sit and pulled her between his legs, keeping a hand on her chest, forcing her heart to beat steadily.
"Go get the others. We can’t stay here any longer. She’s stable enough to be moved," Lucien told Cyrus quietly.
Cyrus nodded and left, calling for Rhyden and Auren.
Rhyden slid behind the wheel, eyes boring into Lucien. "Will she be okay?"
Lucien felt her heartbeat beneath his palm, in his very Soul. "Yes, she will be."
The vampire started the vehicle, and Auren took the passenger side, while Cyrus crawled into the very back, crouching among their things, his hands curled over the seats near Vesperin’s head as he rested his chin on the headrest.
Lucien held her the rest of the drive, his palm flat against her chest to ensure her heart did not falter—and it didn’t, not even once.
Rhyden turnedthe vehicle off the road and into Nullwood, where his base lay hidden. Nestled in the treetops, tiny red camera lights blinked.
Snow fell through the fucking gapingholein the roof. It was colder here in Lunar City, and goddamned quieter too. Almost too fucking quiet, as he sped down the bumpy dirt road. Nullwood was Rogue-infested, but his alarms and precautions kept them far away. No one knew that, though.
His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. His tiny wife rested against the doctor’s chest, his hand over her heart.
Something about them set his nerves on edge—the green glimmers, the slow, synced breaths.
She was out like a light, and the incubus was no better, the lazy, besotted motherfucker. Cyrus’s fingers were curled around Vesperin’s shoulder, arm dangling over the seat backs.
The gates groaned as they opened. Rhyden drove through, fingers tightening on the wheel as they fell shut resolutely behind the vehicle. The electric hum of the gates made him grin, and he felt the Soul Searcher’s stare hot on the side of his face.
His wife was back. Trapped on his turf. Finally, he felt at ease.
In the underground garage, he parked among his cars, trucks, and beloved motorcycle.
Rhyden cut the engine, and the sudden silence was deafening. "Home sweet fucking home."
As he got out, his boots thudded dully on the concrete. He swung open Vesperin’s door, finding the doctor tightening his arms around her with those damned glimmers in the air. Rhyden swiped his hand through them like clearing fog.
"Get out and get inside," the vampire ordered, red eyes dropping to Lucien’s hands, which disappeared beneath his wife’s shirt. "I’ve contacted the doctor under my employ, and he’s already prepared the equipment for her."
Lucien stood, keeping Vesperin cradled against his chest.
Rhyden led them inside, strides long and sure. The others followed, mumbling, eyes taking in the windowless halls and dark, drab decor. He may be living up to his namesake as a vampire with all the gothic architecture. Flames flickered as they passed. He felt the allure of the fire; it felt like driving into the wet heat of a woman.
There was a reason Rhyden’s base was windowless and littered with flame. No windows because, well, he was the leader of Noctis. Everybody wanted his head on their mantle. No windows meant no easy access for intruders—the concrete wallswere fortified, and his dwellings were tucked right in the center of his base.
And the flames? Rhyden twisted his fingers at his side, feeling them dance around his knuckles. The flames roared hotter as he passed, and he heard their steps falter behind him, pulses quickening.
Better safe than fucking sorry. He wouldn’t be bested again. Especially not by a tiny girl with a goddamnedmessof a love life.
He didn’t buy into her pitiful act for one moment. She was a fucking temptress. She had the others wrapped around her littlest finger, and they didn’t even seem to care.
Well. Not Rhyden. He’d never let her own his Soul. She might try, but his Soul was his own.
Rhyden crossed his arms,leaning his hip against a steel table.
