The lightbulb’s flickering grew more frantic.
A swift knock sounded on the door behind her. Again. And again.
Rin tried to move, grab the handle, but her feet were leaden.
Sweat dripped down her spine, and the suit suffocated her.
She drew in a shaky breath and?—
Pure white light rushed out of her like a storm.
The Rogue’s roar died, and she fell to her knees, barely registering the thud. The last thing she was aware of was the sense of utter peace andrightnessthat enveloped her.
Atlas knewthe Rogue would not harm a hair on her head, but that did not stop his fear at her vulnerability.
If Rhyden Valkar was not such an important piece—and important to Vesperin—Atlas surely would have killed him for this.
The Rogue dropped, killed by Atlas’s Nova inside Vesperin’s body.
He had seconds to act.
The Celestial blinked, and the small camera tucked in the corner exploded, sparking as the feed died. He stepped out of the shadows, his dark coat billowing as he sank to his knees beside her.
She lay on the ground, eyes closed. Atlas’s hand trembled as he reached for her, barely brushing the side of her cheek.
When his fingertips finally met her flesh, he felt such acute relief. A soft wash of white light flowed from his hand, into her body, as he stabilized her heart just enough until Lucien could come.
The door began to open, and Atlas sank into the shadows.
Rhyden droppedto his knees beside Vesperin, pressing a hand beneath her jaw to feel her pulse.
"Fuck!" he cursed, barely having enough sense to remember there was a goddamned Rogue in the room. He searched for it, only to find it in a heap, black eyes open and unseeing. It was dead.
Rin groaned weakly, drawing his attention. "Rh—Rhyden…" she slurred.
Rhyden lifted her; she was so fucking light. Her head flopped against his chest as he stormed out of the room, his feet thundering up the metal stairs. He laid her down on a chair.
Vesperin’s shaking hands tangled in the edge of his shirt. "There was… someone—here."
"Don’t talk," Rhyden ordered, hands pressed to her chest like he could will her heart back to normal.
Goddammit!
The door banged open, and he looked up, finding Lucien’s seething face standing there. He rushed to her side.
Vesperin looked weakly to him. "My shadow—he was here?—"
Lucien shoved Rhyden’s hand away, his controlled fingers searching for the zipper on her suit. When he couldn’t find it, he grabbed the collar and tore it roughly down the middle, exposing her pale chest and the tops of her breasts.
Lucien placed his hand right over her heart. Green glimmers began to fill the air.
Lucien felther heart as he steadied it and breathed a sigh of relief. While he’d forged the connection, he’d shifted to lie back on the chair, with Vesperin nestled on his lap.
He met Rhyden’s eyes, and it took everything inside him not to strangle the vampire for this—for putting her in harm’s way.
Vesperin shifted against him, slowly growing more cognizant. She would continue to do so as he kept her heart beating at the perfect rate, matching his own—until she grew drowsy and slept. The time between was fragile and short-lived.
Her ponytail was loose, stray hair tangled around her forehead, and he smoothed it away gently. "You’re okay now, my V girl."
