"Is that not what I'm doing?"
"No. You're upholding your honor and that's not what I want."
"Then what do you want?"
"I want you to stand by my side and never, ever fail me again."
Sincerity burned bright in that swirling silver gaze of his. "I would never fail you."
"Swear it on your life."
His gaze hardened. "That I can never do."
She pressed the point in until it drew a bead of blood. "Why can't you?"
"Because you are my life," he said, his voice cracking. "And I can't live another day without you."
She dropped the sword to the floor. "I despise you for what you make me feel."
He pulled her into his arms until she was kneeling on the floor in front of him. "And what is that?"
"Weak and vulnerable. You are my soul, and I will never forgive you if you take that from me again."
He smiled at her. "Have no fear, love. I will always be right here with you."
As he dipped his head to kiss her, the door behind him crashed open. Angry at the interruption, he turned to growl at Davyn.
However, the words died on his tongue as he saw the man's face. "What's happened?"
"We can walk in daylight."
Stryker's scowl deepened. "What?"
Davyn nodded. "I was caught out in the dawn while trailing after the gallu. I thought I was dead, but I'm not. For the first time in centuries, I saw the dawn and I lived. I lived!"
Stryker exchanged an amazed look with Zephyra.
"The gallu are immune," she whispered. "I never dreamed that their blood would allow us to walk in daylight, too."
"You never tried?"
She shook her head. "I didn't dare."
A slow smile curled his lips. "We have our freedom."
"The dawn of the Daimon is here and the end of mankind is beginning."