“There’s no time for that. She can’t go through until we’re sure Liam’s through. As long as he doesn’t return, she’s good to go. In the mean time, you’re next.”
Reluctantly, Darius agreed.
We headed back to the portal, still blazing at the edge of the forest.
“Safe travels,” Ronan said, offering Darius a brief nod before stepping aside to give Darius and me some privacy.
I appreciated that more than he knew.
I took his hands in mine, looking up into his golden eyes.
“When you get back,” I said, “Tell Emilio—”
He cut off my words with a fierce, possessive kiss that left me breathless. When he finally broke away, he said, “You tell him yourself when you get back. We’ll have a big celebration, complete with browniesandwine. And then I’m taking to New York, just like we said. So you’d better get back home safe, Miss Desario, or you’re really going to screw up my plans.”
He touched his forehead to mine, stroking my cheek with his knuckles. Tears blurred my vision.
“To think I used to be afraid of you,” I said, smiling at the memory.
“So you’ve told me. Multiple times.” Darius grinned. “And now?”
I pulled back and met his eyes again, my heart thumping. For so long, I was convinced that loving someone meant giving up some precious part of yourself, something you’d never be able to get back.
I’d wasted so much time being afraid of it, even as it was wrapping me in its embrace. I’d been scared to tell Ronan how I felt about him. Scared to let myself fall for anyone else. Scared that loving more than one man at the same time meant I was confused or fooling myself or just plain weird.
But all those fears were for nothing.
Love made you stronger. It made you believe in things that shouldn’t have been possible. And even here, in the most desperate, hopeless place, it made you feel alive in a way that nothing else could.
“I love you, Darius,” I said. The words came out in a rush, leaving me as hot and breathless as his kiss, filling me with warmth.
I was no longer afraid of those three little words. Saying them had set me free, and as soon as we were all back on the same plane again, I was going to say them again, to each and every one of my rebels. To Haley and Reva. To all of the people who’d let me into their hearts, even when I was doing my best to lock them out of mine.
“Gray,” he whispered, the soft caress of his breath warm and perfect against my lips. “It seems I’m fallen in—”
“Gray! Move!” Ronan’s panicked shout shattered the moment, and before I could take my next breath, Darius had me on the ground, shielding me with his body as the creature trampled over us, bolting right past.
It was the size and shape of a wolf, with patchy, matted fur and a partial skull that caved in one side. Its stride was strong and powerful, but uneven. It left a trail of blood behind.
Dread pooled in my gut.
It couldn’t be him…
From the corner of my eye, I saw Ronan lunge for it, but the thing evaded him easily.
“Why isn’t it attacking?” Darius asked, pulling me to my feet and stepping in front of me protectively. “What the hell is it?”
“Shit! It’s heading for the pool,” Ronan said, sprinting after it.
“Ronan, wait!” I charged after him, Darius by my side.
The beast wasn’t just heading for the pool. He was heading for my rune gate.
“It’s Jonathan,” I breathed, all of the wind rushing out of my lungs. “Get him, Ronan! Don’t let him through!”
Ronan launched himself at Jonathan’s twisted form, Darius bolting after them with superhuman speed. They hit the beast at the same time, bringing him down.
I ran to catch up.
