Fine. Turned out, I kinda did.
Rook wrapped her arm around me, and I wrapped mine around her.
We started walking to the closest 4WD, but Whisper shoved his way between us, ensuring he took part of our weight.
I shot him a grateful look as we reached the vehicle and clambered in.
The panther took the middle seat, his internal heat combating the insidious chill creeping through my heart. Rook never let go of my hand as the convoy doors slammed shut and engines roared to life.
Leaning back against the headrest, my entire body felt as if it was moments away from shattering. Everything hurt. Everything ached. Yet I locked it all down so Rook wouldn’t feel it.
Rook sighed heavily, sagging against Whisper’s bulk. Even exhausted, pale, and streaked with soot, she was still the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
She met my eyes, giving me the smallest, saddest smile.
And as Dillon took the front seat and we headed toward the airport, the decades of hatred, vengeance, and fury finally fell away.
No matter what happened from here, I was free.
I would never be hunted again.
Never be trapped.
Rook was mine and I was hers.
And even death couldn’t break us apart.
Chapter Twenty-Five
THE BLACK SAND OF ICELAND’S SOUTHERN coast stretched out like charred bone beneath the cloudy sky. Wind whipped across the barren plain, carrying the sharp scent of sulphur and distant sea.
My head pounded from the plane journey. My ears rang just because. And every hour that passed, I grew weaker.
Lucien and I hadn’t been able to eat or drink anything on board and even though the plane had a bedroom—similar to the one we’d used on our flight to China—we didn’t dare use it with Dillon there...listening.
I was in enough trouble with my bodyguard without adding more to my list of crimes, and I had no idea what happened to our physical bodies while our spiritual ones connected.
What if the ice and fire erupted while we were deep in pleasure? What if we made the plane crash with whatever energy we shared? What if we were loud when we came—?
Can you stop thinking about what happens in that dreamscape?Lucien groaned.I’m exhausted and starving and really, really need to be alone with you.You’re severely testing my self-control, woman.
Whisper lay across our laps like a giant, dangerous blanket, his soft snores making my heart ache with affection. Abandoning the view whipping past the 4WD window, I twisted to catch Lucien’s gaze.
No scarlet ring glowed around his dark pupils, black circlesbruised under his eyes, and his cheekbones seemed extra sharp.
Then again, I probably didn’t look much better.
“You’re gorgeous,” he murmured. “Always will be.”
I snorted; grateful I could still laugh. “Yeah, okay.”
“It’s true.” He frowned as if I’d offended him. “I find you the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen...even while walking into a grave.”
Butterflies sprouted. “How did I never notice you’re such a smooth talker?”
“Because I never spoke to anyone before I spoke to you.” He grinned. “Besides, I didn’t need to rely on spouting cheesy one-liners to steal your heart.”
“Ha! I hate to tell you, Lucien Ashfall, but most of the things you’ve said to me—especially that night we drank on the terrace after...you know...” I flicked a look at Dillon as he stiffened in the front seat.
