Chapter Twenty-One #3
She found tenacity and strength to protect her family from whatever this was.
“I will. We’ll be good.”
Julian had no doubt.
Hanging up, he nodded.
“They are set. The medallion is destroyed, and Hailey can handle herself, if need be.”
That was good.
Avalon could feel the moment approaching, so she shared her plan.
As she did, she was reaching out to a sleeping Maura.
It was time to mobilize the people who would have to handle the human part of this.
“We need to trap him in the static, so Maura and Jagger can get to him at the Vanderbilt house. He’ll need to be distracted, and that means Genesis, Lucian and I are the bait.”
NO ONE liked that.
“Can you do that safely?” Tori asked.
She nodded, knowing that was a lie.
This was anything but safe, and three were going in, and Lucian might not be coming out.
Instead of sharing that, for Bishop’s sake, she lied her ass off for her friend.
“We can. It’s dangerous, but with the three of us, we can lure him to us. When he is focused on us, the Marines will be able to approach him. Then, he’s no longer an issue.”
Yeah, unless either part failed.
Then, he was everyone’s issue.
From where she stood, Honor sighed.
“I’m going to jail, the chair, and Hell. Is this what you guys do all the time?” she asked, “Or what you used to do?” she inquired, talking to the two people who had worked with Avalon before.
They both nodded.
“Great. You could have lied to me, partner,” she said. “Really.”
Oh, Bishop was too worried.
About Lucian.
Before she could say anything, Avalon spoke again.
“He wants me. Let’s give him me.”
Jesus.
How could this go wrong?
Only, she was to the point.
“He’s taken another, and by now, he plans on killing Genesis, and coming back here to live, so he can keep taking spirits and feeding. She’s for his revenge, and everyone else is for this demon’s feeding frenzy. We have no choice. We can’t let him win, or all of you will be next.”
Well, no one wanted that.
Only, she wasn’t telling them the cost.
If Fate was right, they were losing Lucian.
Tonight.
* * * L I T T L E M O O N * * *
Preparations Begin
Ten Minutes Later
As Avalon was getting Maura and Jagger ready, Lucian needed to do one thing.
Ridge already had him blocked, so there was no saying goodbye to him.
But Bishop was here.
Deep down, he knew that this might cost him his life.
What Avalon didn’t tell all of them was that holding Will Sinclair in the static as they trapped him there would take someone to actually do the task.
It would leave a very tiny window for escape from it, and if he was too strong, that person was gone.
As in dead.
Once that window closed, there would be no living soul to pull him out. Avalon would be drained, and Genesis was new at this.
If he couldn’t navigate his way out…
This was it.
This was how his story ended.
“I love you,” he said. “Don’t ever forget that, Bish.”
Bishop didn’t like the sound of that.
“Lucian, please don’t leave me,” she whispered. “Don’t leave us,” she said, meaning her and the kids.
He held her.
“I won’t, Baby. I’ll never leave you. Only, let’s be realistic. We know that any time I go into the static, I might not make it out. I’m just being cautious.”
Why didn’t she believe that?
Oh, and why didn’t that calm her at all?
And what he said next, didn’t help her out.
“If anything happens to me, get Ridge, and get the fuck out of here. Take all three children and run. Don’t look back, and don’t come back.”
That terrified her.
“Lucian.”
They had no choice. Avalon had to keep her job, and Genesis was just beginning in this journey. He was the logical psychic to do the dirty work.
To save his wife and kids, what wouldn’t he do?
Gently, he took her face in his hands.
“IF anything happens, I’ll find you from the other side.
You have to give life to our child and keep going.
If I die, take Ridge, and hide. Don’t stay here.
If you have to, go back with Avalon, and stay hidden for me.
If we fail in the static, of trapping him so Maura and Jagger can kill him, he’ll come for you.
He’ll come for my new child. She’s going to be psychic, and she’s going to be as strong as I am. ”
Her heart skipped.
“Lucian, I love you,” she whispered. “I’ve loved you for so long, since that day I saw you in the courthouse, and you hid from me.”
He kissed her softly on the mouth.
“My Beauty, you will forever be the one I love and cherish. Without you, the Beast has no point.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
“Take care of my daughters, tell them I love them, and raise them to remember me. You’ll be rich, and Ridge will protect you.
He’ll forgive me, and he’ll know that you are his new duty.
There’s no one I’d trust my wife with but my best friend.
Just go. Promise me that you’ll escape and keep our girls safe with him. ”
She nodded.
“He’ll never touch our children.”
Then, that was all he needed to know.
“I love you, Bishop. I’ll always love you. No matter what happens, I chose you.”
Her heart skipped.
“You’ll find me if you die?” she whispered.
Resting his head against her forehead, he told her the truth.
“I’ll always find you. No matter how hard it is, I’ll find your soul again.”
With that, he placed his hand over her belly.
Then, he walked away, knowing the cost of saving everyone…
It was him.