My heart pinched with loss all over again.Fuck, I can’t lose her.
You won’t lose me. She squeezed my hand.And I won’t lose you, got it?
I wanted to tell her so many things. Nonsense, silly things that I needed a lifetime to say. In the end, I settled for silence as we headed deeper into the lab and spilled out into a vast chamber.
I sucked in a breath at the size. An entire section of the glacier had been hollowed out like an ancient cathedral, the roof touching the thinnest crust of ice above, allowing natural light to glow.
Frank caught me looking. “This chamber supports the energy grid for this level. What you’re seeing is only ten percent of the facility. The rest is deeper.”
I squeezed Rook’s fingers.
Idespisedthis place.
The fire in me felt trapped and angry, hissing to get free.
I needed to be alone with her. To touch her, kiss her. To find a way to stop the migraine driving daggers into my skull and erase the ever-present nausea.
The longer we went without connecting, the sicker I felt. My heart stumbled over its beats. I could barely stand or take a satisfying breath. My body temperature rose from my usual scorching baseline, threatening to boil the tarry blood straight out of my veins.
Whisper came to my side, sensing my descent into agony. With a knowing look, he pressed against me, taking his usual place as my crutch.
My heart fisted with affection.
I didn’t know what I would’ve done without him during all those moments when he’d helped keep me upright in Cinderkeep. He’d supported me each time my emotions spiked and the vitalsync core delivered pain.
Fuck, knowing he was tailor-made for me? That he’d been genetically tampered with so his lifespan could reach sixty...I wanted to stick around for that.
I didn’t want to die and never see him again.
I didn’t want to leave him on his own.
Fuck...
I struggled to catch a breath. Weakness crawled through my body as we trailed down another twisty corridor before Frank finally stopped in front of a heavy steel door.
Pressing his palm to a scanner, the door slid open with a softhiss, revealing a large, minimalist room with floor-to-ceiling glass on the far side. A glowing turquoise crevasse lit up the space with eerie light.
The other walls were lined with metal and shelving. Every inch of space was covered in apparatus that I was too fucking tired to care about. Everything gleamed far too white and sterile and I hated it because it reminded me of how I’d been forced to siphon my blood, giving it to men who’d turned around and used it to torture others.
Frank headed straight to a cabinet and snapped on a pair of latex gloves. Grabbing a few things, he headed back toward us. Pointing at the metal chairs ringing the table, he ordered, “Sit. I need a blood sample from both of you.”
Yet another man wanting blood.
A crackle of flame danced around my fingers, costing me.
Rook shot me a worried look. “It’s alright, Lucien. We’re fine.”
“Frank won’t hurt either of you,” Dillon said from where he’d parked himself in the corner, his arms crossed but hand conveniently resting on the holster of his gun. “I give you my word.”
Whisper placed himself beside Rook’s bodyguard. He sat tall and proud, almost as if he’d labelled himself asmybodyguard. Dillon didn’t flinch at the panther’s closeness—revealing the journey from China together had ensured they might not be friends, but they were no longer enemies.
“Dil’s right.” Frank nodded, laying the tools he needed on a stainless tray. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep you alive, but...we need to hurry.”
Are you sure you trust him?I didn’t look at Rook as we sat down.
She kept her eyes on Frank as he bustled about, preparing what needed to be done.I’ve loved him like my favourite uncle since before I could remember. Without him taking over the company, I doubt I would’ve survived after my parents died. So yes...I do trust him. Or at least...I want to.
Frank leaned over the table and placed his tray in front of Rook. Grabbing a syringe, he winced as if he genuinely hated the thought of hurting her. “Just a tiny sting. I’m sorry, little snowflake.”
