there is my undoing. I grab his face between my hands. “I want to make something clear, Saxon Hellström. You’re the male I love; you’re my mate. I won’t go without you. If you need to stay here for a while to help the king and your friends, I’ll stay too.”
“But what about the training? You’re part of the warlocks’ creed now.”
“They can wait. I’ll be here as long as you have to be. And when the time comes for me to head to Scotland, you’re coming with me.”
“Damn straight I will. It doesn’t matter where we end up, Rora. Home is where you are.”
I’m on the verge of bawling my eyes out again. “Even hell?”
“Even hell.”
Saxon
Life gives me and Aurora exactly twenty-four hours of uninterrupted bliss before it decides we’ve had enough. Lucca is the one who comes to burst our bubble. He’s alone, looking somber as hell for the first time since his curse was broken.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you more time to rest,” he apologizes, then glances at Aurora.
“It’s okay. We didn’t expect our problems to simply disappear,” she replies. “If it hadn’t been you, it would have been Solomon or my mother.”
“Actually, she asked me to tell you that she’s spoken to the elders. You and Saxon are cleared of any charges.”
I snort. “Yippee-ki-yay. Aren’t we lucky?”
“Not so much. It’s possible we might have lost half the support of the magical community.” Lucca links his hands together, resting his elbows on his knees.
“I’m not surprised by that. Their ways are archaic. They’re the type to cut off their noses to spite their faces,” Aurora remarks.
“The High Witch still supports the king, but the issue now is that since you are a warlock and mated to a vampire, you can’t be the next in line for that position.”
“I knew that. It should be Miranda, but I was hoping to spare her or Niko the burden.”
“That’s the problem. Neither wants the role and your mother supports their decision. I think it’s what pissed off the Council of Witches the most.”
I watch Aurora closely, noting her surprise. “I can’t believe she did that.”
“She seemed remorseful for the things she put you through.”
“And you know what she’s done to me?”
Lucca looks sheepish. “Vivi might have mentioned a few things.”
She glances away, but she can’t hide the distress in her heart. Our connection is only getting stronger, and I can read her like a book now.
“Where do we stand with the dragons?” I ask to change the subject. “And what happened to that outsider pack?”
“I haven’t heard anything from Karl or Cheryl about the wolf business yet, but Larsson has managed to appease his people for now.”
“And Jacques?”
“We believe he’s no longer in Salem. We have searchers looking for him, though.”
Glancing at Aurora, I ask, “Do you think Elena was working with Jacques? The timing seems too convenient to have been a coincidence.”
“I don’t know. It’s possible. She knew that the king would eventually succumb to the disease afflicting the first generation.”
Lucca’s posture changes, becoming more rigid, and his eyes are guarded.
“What are you going to do about your uncle?” I ask.
His shoulders sag forward as he lets out a heavy sigh. “It’s the absolute worst time for him to abdicate from the throne, but he has asked me to take a more hands-on role in his court. My time here at Bloodstone is over.”
“Which means our time is over.” I can’t say I’m unhappy about leaving this place, but there’s Aurora to think about too. “You don’t have to stay here anymore, do you?”
“No. It was only a requirement because I was the future High Witch.”
“Good. When are we moving out?” I ask Lucca.
“As soon as possible. Before I forget.” He pulls out a small box from his jacket pocket. “This is for you.”
“What is it?”
“A gift from my uncle.”
I open the box, finding a red rose pin inside. The pin soldiers from the Red Guard wear. “I don’t understand. Why did he give me this?”
“He wants you and Ronan to officially join the Red Guard.”
My throat closes up with emotion, and I can’t think of what to say. I’ve trained with those soldiers, but I never in a million years expected to join their ranks. I didn’t think I would be worthy of wearing this badge of honor, considering who my father was.
“This is surreal, but I can’t accept it,” I finally say.
“Why not?” He stands straighter.
“I’m the reason Boone was able to wound you with the vampire’s