Chapter Twenty-Six – Lucian
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
LUCIAN
Her soft breaths and her warm, soft body curl into me as she sleeps.
Her dark, silken hair is splayed behind her as I trail my fingers lazily through it.
I don’t look away, my gaze solely fixed on her, not wanting to forget a single part of her.
I curse the world, curse those in charge of fate for not bringing her to me sooner.
Why couldn’t we have met hundreds of years ago?
Even ten years ago. Instead, I’m given mere weeks, days of knowing her, loving her.
Needing a drink, I carefully slide out from beside her, placing a soft kiss on her temple.
Her soft moans of protest bring a smile to my lips.
I slide on a pair of sweats and head out to the bar.
I pause when I see Silas sitting there, nursing a bottle and staring intently into the burning fire.
He doesn’t turn around, simply holds out the bottle for me to take.
I grab it, taking a seat in the chair opposite him.
“Unable to slumber?” I ask, although the answer is obvious.
His blackened gaze flicks to mine. “I don’t see the point if it could all be over tomorrow,” he shrugs.
I take a long pull from the bottle, the alcohol-infused blood warming my throat. “No, I guess not,” I agree.
He sighs. “Look, I need to apologize for what I said to Evelynn. It caused a world of shit, and I was way out of line.”
I stare at him. “It gave us answers, so I cannot be mad,” I tell him truthfully.
He shifts awkwardly in his seat. “And the fact I wanted to fuck her.” He pauses.
I can’t contain the possessive growl that vibrates from my chest. “I think it’s best you don’t talk about that, or I will rip your head from your shoulders and throw it in the fire,” I threaten, pinning him with my furious gaze.
He nods once, his lips curling into a smile. “So, we’re good?”
“We’re good as long as you keep my woman out of your thoughts and mouth,” I bite back.
He laughs, shaking his head. “Noted.”
“You speak to Lilith?” I ask. His smile fades instantly, and he shakes his head.
“No,” he answers firmly.
I exhale. “If there was any time to tell her, it was last night.”
He shakes his head. “I ain’t about to flip her world upside down, plus she won’t believe me. Some things are better off dead.”
“You’re a smart man, but fuck, sometimes you can be stupid,” I say before downing more of the blood.
I place the bottle down on the table, staring at it.
“If by some miracle she survives after I’m gone, you look after her.
You, this club, all of you watch over her.
Protect her.” My voice cracks with the pain that weighs so heavily on my chest as my gaze meets his.
Silas nods. “You have my word.”
I stand, stopping beside him, my hand clasping his shoulder, squeezing it; a silent thank you, an emotional goodbye.
“It ain’t a goodbye,” Silas yells over his shoulder. “I’ve been by your side in this life, and I will be by your side in the next.”
I walk down to Hex’s room and knock, waiting for him to answer. He swings the door open. Various charms and markings cover his walls. “I need something that will make her sleep,” I state.
He nods, opening the door further and gesturing for me to enter.
I’ve never entered his room before, and knowing how Hex is, I shouldn’t be surprised by what I see: a goat’s skull centred on the wall, surrounded by some ritualistic markings.
He unlocks a chest filled with miniature bottles and rummages through them, taking one out.
He turns to me, holding it up. “This is strong. Too much and she will never wake. She will be eternally in a coma.”
I nod. “Like Snow White and Sleeping Beauty?” I ask, trying to make light of the situation.
He shakes his head, his expression grim. “Those crazy bitches couldn’t handle the power given to them.”
“Right.” I nod. “So how much is the right amount just to make her sleep until this is all over?” I ask.
“The size of a newborn baby’s fingernail,” he states.
I frown. “Hex, how the fuck will I know what size that is?” I ask.
He huffs and rolls his eyes. “Size of an antihistamine pill?” he suggests. When I stare at him blankly, he continues, “Contraceptive pill?”
“Fuck, Hex, do I look like I suffer from allergies? And have I ever needed to take the contraceptive pill?” I sigh, frustrated.
“Some people are never satisfied,” he mutters, turning back as he writes something on a small piece of paper, then hands it to me. I look down and see a small circle drawn on it. “That is the size you want,” he nods.
I nod. “Thank you.” As I turn to leave, Hex calls out, halting me in my tracks.
“I know you think keeping her away is best, but her soul belongs here with us. With you. Black Beauty told me,” he states.
I swallow, my shoulders tensing. “She will always be here with us,” I say through gritted teeth.
Entering my room, I find her on my side of the bed, curled around my pillow like it’s the last piece of me she can keep.
My undead heart fractures. I stand there for a moment too long, memorizing the way her hair spills across the sheets, the way her fingers clutch the fabric.
Leaving her will destroy us both. But it’s the only way, my only hope.
I cross the room and brush my thumb along her cheek. She stirs beneath my touch. “Wake up, Petal.” Her lashes flutter. She blinks sleep from her eyes, confusion soft.
“Is it time?”
I shake my head. “The sun’s about to set.” My throat tightens. “I want to take you on one last ride before—” Before I go to war. Before I don’t come back. The words rot inside my chest.
Sadness clouds her gaze, but she forces a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Okay.” She slips her hand into mine and presses her lips to my palm.
She lingers there, breathing me in. A single tear lands on my skin.
She sniffs, blinking hard, fighting it. Then she lets go.
The pain builds so fast it steals my breath.
She disappears into the bathroom. I pull on my jeans, shrug into my hand-stitched jacket, and slide the tiny bottle Hex gave me into my pocket. My hands shake. She returns dressed in skin-tight black jeans and a white tank top.
Across her chest, written in pen: Property of Lucian. My mouth curves into a dark, broken grin. I move to her too fast. She stumbles back, and I catch her, my arm locking around her waist. “When did you do this?” I ask, tracing the words with my fingertips.
She smirks softly, her hands settling against my bare chest beneath my jacket. “Earlier, before the bar.”
I exhale slowly, restraining everything in me. “If we had more time,” I murmur, “I’d fuck you and claim you while you’re wearing just this.”
“Use it as motivation to survive,” she whispers, her voice cracking.
“Come.” I take her hand and lead her outside as darkness bleeds into the trees, shielding us from the last dying light.
We ride. The warm evening air wraps around us.
The sky burns in deep pinks and fading oranges.
Her arms tighten around my waist, like she’s afraid I might dissolve beneath her touch.
I take us through town, around the back of Lilith’s Bar.
I kill the engine. Evelynn climbs off the bike, frowning. “Why are we here?”
“I need something that might help us.” I’d already called Lilith. She cursed me out, threatened to kill me herself. But after I begged, she agreed.
The bar is dark and silent when we step inside. Lilith waits at the counter, two bottles and three glasses lined up. Evelynn looks at me, confused. “She wanted to share one last drink,” I lie, the words tasting like ash.
“You’re cutting it close,” Lilith says.
“You know me,” I reply. “I live for dramatic timing.” I pour myself a glass of the blood before pouring Evelynn a whiskey.
Lilith pulls Evelynn into a hug, murmuring comfort into her hair.
That’s when I move. I slip the tiny bottle from my pocket, pour a drop into my palm, pinch the smallest amount, and dust it into Evelynn’s drink.
I swirl the glass once and hide the bottle again.
Lilith’s eyes meet mine, and my jaw tightens. I shake my head, just once. Please. I plead with my gaze. She steps back, forces a smile.
“A toast,” Lilith says, lifting her glass. “To one of the most arrogant, moody sons of bitches I’ve ever met. May he win this fight and may Evelynn keep his ass in line.” She winks.
Evelynn laughs, raising her glass. I watch in slow motion as she brings it to her lips.
Every instinct in me screams to stop her, but this is the only way.
She swallows and coughs. “Jesus, that bourbon is strong.” She sets the glass down.
I hear it. Her heartbeat stutters, slows.
She blinks. “Lucian, I... I don’t feel right.
” Her hand flies to her chest. She looks at me, terror blooming in her eyes.
“She drugged me.” She points at Lilith, stumbling back, knocking over a stool. I catch her as she collapses into me.
“No,” I rasp. “She didn’t.” Her eyes fill instantly with tears.
“No,” she breathes. “You wouldn’t.” Each word breaks her further.
“I’m sorry.” My voice shreds apart. “I have to keep you safe. If you’re there, they’ll destroy you.” Her devastation is unbearable.
“You die, I die,” she whispers, her eyelids growing heavy. “I want to be with you. Please. Don’t do this to me.” She’s sobbing now, her strength weakening. I lower us to the floor, cradling her against my chest.
“If there’s even a chance you’ll survive, I’m taking it,” I choke. “You are everything to me. Everything.”
I kiss her, soft, trembling, and final. Then I lay her down gently.
She fights the drug, crying my name, clawing at consciousness.
“Lucian!” The sound rips straight through my soul.
My undead heart collapses in on itself. Leaving her there, I ride away.
And her screams will follow me until the moment I cease to exist.