The connection bridging our hearts and souls only fed us how exhausted we were, how much agony we endured, how quickly we slipped into that gaping hole of a grave.
And as we got weaker, the power got stronger—completely overriding us if our emotions spiked.
My frustration at the node-cap covering my scalp caused ice to flash-freeze the entire machine. The pain of yet another blood draw made Lucien’s fire scorch an entire shelf of beakers.
Whisper wisely stayed by the door, ready to bolt if we lost control, and Dillon sourced a flame-retardant suit for Frank to work in...just in case.
By the seventh day, we couldn’t take it anymore. All of us were hollow-eyed and exhausted. Frank’s entire team had worked around the clock, trying to figure out what would keep us alive...but we all knew...we’d finally run out of time.
As Frank stood in front of us with dark circles under his eyes and a stack of scan results in his hands, I almost burst into tears.
Looking at both of us, he hugged the data as if begging it for a miracle. “I’m so sorry you two.”
My knees buckled and Lucien cradled me close. Whisper shot to my side, giving me his bulk to press against as Dillon hovered nearby. “It’s fine.” I forced a watery smile. “At least we tried, right?”
Lucien kissed my temple, his energy barely tangible anymore. “It’s not over yet. We’ll keep trying.”
I nodded because...what else could I do?
Lucien’s despair wrapped around my heart with stark refusal of losing me.
His pain punched me right in the soul, cursing the few hours we had left together.
Stop.I begged silently as tears ran down my cheeks.I won’t be able to keep it together if you don’t.
I can’t fucking lose you.He kissed my temple again.I won’t.
Sniffing back his grief, Frank’s spine snapped straight. “What am I saying? There’s still time. As long as you’re still breathing, there’s time.”
Wafting the paperwork at us, he commanded, “Go. Connect. Slip into the source and stabilise yourself, alright? Buy me another few days.” Tripping closer, he added, “The deeper and more complete your union, the longer you can fight the necrosis so...get imaginative. I’m talking porno-level. Unleash your inner freak.” He winked but none of us had the energy to laugh.
“Go.” He sighed heavily. “I’ll keep fiddling with the latest batch of blood. Perhaps a full transfusion could work. We could flush it out of you that way.” Eyeing up Dillon, he nodded with new hope. “We’ll try both our blood and see if that works. If it doesn’t, we’ll try Whisper’s.”
The panther’s eyebrows rose in shock, his lips peeling back to show a hint of fang.
The fact that he could actually understand was yet another reminder that he wasn’t normal...just like me and Lucien.
And we’re leaving him...
Don’t. Lucien pulled me out of the room and down the corridor.I can’t...
Choking down the sorrow that was a constant ache in my chest, I let Lucien take me away without a backward glance.
He supported me all the way to our room, then kicked the door closed. The second it locked, he swept me into his arms and carried me to bed like his bride.
His strength gave out just as we reached the mattress.
We fell together onto the blankets. His lips found my ear, his breath harsh and shallow, rattling with death. “How cruel is fate that I’m not even allowed the chance to marry you?” Kissing his way down my jaw, his voice caught. “I wanted a wedding with you, Rook. I wanted to go on a ten-year honeymoon, just the three of us. Fuck, I even thought of starting a family...” He hovered over me, his eyes glossy with unshed tears. “You’re the only thing I ever wanted, and it makes me fucking rage that I’m about to lose you.”
Wanted...not want.
Past tense. Acceptance.
If this was the last time we would ever be together, I wanted it to feel good not sad.
I wanted to die in his arms as pleasure ripped through me, not pain.
Reaching up to cup his handsome face, I ignored the gauntness, the bruises, the dark fatigue. “Kiss me, Lucien.”
