“Then you should just marry her, shouldn’t you?” Dillon smirked.
“Oh, I intend to,” Lucien replied. “The moment we figure out how to stay alive she’s becoming my wife, and you’re invited to watch.”
“What’s with you and wanting me to watch?”
“Thank you for turning the cameras off, Dil,” I cut in, rolling my eyes, then gasped as a brutal spike of pain exploded through my chest. A wet, sickening crack echoed deep within my ribcage as a bone gave way under the strain of my failing body.
I doubled over, black blood spraying over the floor.
“Shit.” Lucien clutched me close.
I sucked in a breath as yet more pain cut through my organs almost as if they were cannibalising themselves. Ice responded, coating my bones with throbbing frost.
A bolt of heat shot into me as Lucien held me tight. His fiery energy wrapped around all the pieces that were breaking, soothing my pain at the cost of his. The scent of his spirit—heady rum and smoky sunshine—shot up my nose just as more warmth soaked into my blood.
“Don’t.” I tried to push him away as an echo of his agony fed down the bond. “Don’t hurt yourself for me.”
“I’d kill myself if it meant I could save you, you already know this.” He inhaled my hair, his heart pounding against me. “Better?”
I nodded, sagging in his embrace. “Thank you.”
Thank me by having sex with me.His lips quirked.
I wrangled enough strength to smirk.You drive a hard bargain, but I suppose I can oblige.
He chuckled, pushing away yet more pain.
God, I hated all of this.
There was no denying Lucien had the gift of healing me.But...like all medicines, his potency decreased the closer we got to our expiry date.
I could feel it.
Feel how his fire was no longer a blazing bonfire, but a single match trying to hold back a blizzard.
“We should go,” Lucien said softly, cutting into my morbid thoughts...probably deliberately.
I forced a smile and nodded.
As we turned to enter the room, Dillon asked, “Do you think you and Frank will be okay?” He flinched. “After what he just told you...about your parents.”
My heart hitched, still far too tangled with love and hate to think rationally.
When Frank admitted he’d basically murdered my parents, I didn’t know if I wanted to kill him or thank him. I hated my parents for the massacre they’d caused, but...I loved them because I was their daughter.
I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to move past the monstrous things they’d done.
Dillon rested his hand on Whisper’s head. “They loved you, Rook, but in all honesty, they didn’t deserve you.”
Whisper chuffed, flaring his whiskers as if he agreed.
“I know.” I nodded.
“We’ll talk about it when you’re ready. But for now.” He arched his chin at the room. “Do whatever you need to do to stay alive. I’ve got the cat and I won’t leave this door.”
“Thanks, Dil.”
“Don’t mention it. You’re finally allowing me to do my job. I’m happy.”
