They were only sweet.
And this time, he did not speak them as promise.
He spoke them as vow.
“Until the sun falls from the sky.”
Tears filled her eyes and she pressed deep into his body.
Unlike his commanding declaration, when she spoke she spoke only to him.
In a soft voice, Leah repeated, “Until the sun falls from the sky.”
Cheers went up all around them along with happy sobs but Lucien processed none of it.
The only thing in his universe was the woman in his arms.
* * * * *
Lucien was running, Leah’s hand in his, he could hear her panting even though she had uncommon speed for a mortal, something else she’d picked up from him.
Even so, she was nowhere near as swift as him and he could hear them getting closer.
He wasted precious time, stopped and flung her over his shoulder.
Then he ran.
Their hunting meant that Stephanie had failed. As had Cosmo, Avery, Rafe, Hamish, Jordan, Duncan, Hermes, Orlando and scores of others. His army. His and Leah’s personal guard.
He would never have guessed their defeat. Their loss, which surely meant their deaths, caused a searing pain to slice through his gut but his legs didn’t falter.
“Lucien.” Leah’s voice was harsh, his name broken with his strides.
He didn’t reply. His focus was distance, escape.
“Lucien, let me down.”
“Quiet,” he grunted, his own breath coming fast and short, not from the effort, but from his dread.
“Let them get me.”
Silence, he commanded.
Let them have me, darling. You go.
Of course, being Leah, she wouldn’t leave it be.
We’re not discussing this.
He sensed their pursuers losing ground but he didn’t slow.
Let me go. You need to live to fight so other vampires can be free, she urged, her voice thick with emotion. So my people can stay free.
Not without you, never without you.
They’re counting on you.
I don’t give a f**k. They want it; they can fight for it on their own.