Chapter Twenty-Six #3
Fresh pain tore through my heart. The temperature in the tiny hut plummeted.
Frost raced across the metal walls, shoving aside the chill from the glacier and replacing it with coldness far more dangerous.
Ice bloomed beneath my feet, spreading outward in a glittering, jagged starburst. The overhead lightbulb flickered as my power surged, uncontrolled and desperate, devouring what was left of me.
Whisper snarled as snow started to fall.
I tried to pull the winter back—to stop it from killing me any faster than it already was, but...I couldn’t. The drain of wielding something I should never have been given hit me like a hammer. My knees buckled. The world tilted.
Lucien caught me instantly, strong arms wrapped around my waist. “I’ve got you. You’re okay.” Before I could catch my breath, his hand slid up to cradle the back of my neck and his lips met mine.
He kissed me—hard and deep.
The second we touched, his fire poured into me—golden and warm and achingly intimate. It flooded my mouth like liquid sunlight, chasing down my throat and spreading through my chest like a hearth flaring to life in the middle of a blizzard.
Everywhere the ice entombed, his fire caressed...melting me, warming me, dragging me back from the grave once again.
He stumbled as it cost him, giving up what meagre strength he had left.
His pain became my pain. My pain was his pain. We were one. A perfect circle. Not whole unless we were shared love and touch and energy.
I moaned into his mouth, clutching fistfuls of his shirt as I kissed him back. Smoke poured from his collar and frost coated my hair. I tried to feed him energy back. To patch up the holes his fire left behind. To balance him so he didn’t burn up and leave me.
For a few precious seconds, the rest of the world disappeared. There was only Lucien. Only us. Only this.
His other arm tightened around my waist, pulling me flush against him as the kiss turned deeper, desperate. The edges of my mind began to feather into darkness as the dreamscape tugged us—begging us to fall and heal.
Someone cleared their throat. Loudly.
We broke apart.
My cheeks burned for how quickly we’d lost ourselves. How desperate we were for more because we knew our time was swiftly running out.
Frank looked equal parts stunned and deeply uncomfortable.
“Well,” he said, clearing his throat again, “that gave me answers I wasn’t aware I needed.”
“It’s not whatever you think it is. It’s not scientific.” Dillon snorted from the lift. “It’s forces far bigger than us.”
“Quantum forces are bigger than us,” Frank muttered. “Science is making leaps and bounds in this field every day.”
“Science can’t explain what I’ve seen them do.” Dillon crossed his arms.
“Well, I hope it can.” Frank scowled. “Because science is what will hopefully save their lives.”
“What? Like it saved all the others?” Dillon rolled his eyes. “You need to think outside the box, Frank. What if this is far bigger than quantum whatever and on an entirely different stratosphere?”
“Then we’ll figure it out and—”
Lucien staggered, crashing against me.
“Lucien?” I supported him as he found his feet. “Ugh, you shouldn’t have helped me. You’ve hurt yourself in the process.”
I told you I will always help you. No matter the cost. He gave me a wretched smile.
But...I can’t deny I need you. Stepping closer, he pressed the softest kiss to the corner of my mouth, drowning out Frank and Dillon’s argument.
I’m going out of my fucking mind feeling you hurt.
I’m moments away from passing out, and if we don’t find a room soon, these people will be witnessing a lot more than a kiss.
Falling into his arms, I hugged him hard, hoping body contact would keep us alive for a little longer. There are rooms below. The moment we can extract ourselves from Frank, we’ll heal.
His thoughts bled into me, wondering if he had the lifespan to wait, but then he pushed me away and nodded. I’ll be patient.
Thank you, Lucien. For everything.
Always. Giving me one last smile, he turned to face Frank and any softness in him vanished. His mind returned to what Frank had said as he asked, “What does Rook mean...we met before she was even born?”
Frank stopped squabbling with Dillon. Exhaling slowly, he rubbed a hand over his jaw as he studied the still twinkling frosty walls. Fear etched his eyes. “It can’t have gone that far...can it?”
“Can’t what have gone that far?” Lucien scowled. “Answer my question. How did Rook and I meet when—”
“Stop.” Holding up his hand, Frank looked a million years older. “I’ll tell you everything. I vow on my children’s lives that I’m on your side and I will do whatever is necessary to help you, but first...I need to understand how to help you.”
Studying us with a sharp, clinical inspection, he balled his hands as if he wasn’t prepared to hear our answer. “Can either of you eat? Drink? Please tell me you can still share a meal and digest it.”
My face fell, knowing exactly where he was going with this.
Sucking in a breath, I admitted, “Nothing stays down. Not even water.”
“Shit,” he cursed under his breath. “Shit. In that case, we need to hurry.” Marching into the lift, he stabbed one of the buttons far harder than necessary. “Get in. We don’t have much time.”