Chapter 55 Lennox
LENNOX
Tomorrow, Luce and Nico would depart to meet Caterina and Nol would travel back to Alethens. Our group would be separated. Unsure when we’d all be together again.
If we ever would.
So tonight, we ventured out and found a small tavern in a neighboring town.
One last hurrah before this war truly took over our lives for the foreseeable future.
“What do you have planned for us tonight, L?” Nico slung his arm around me, Luka at my other side as we squished around the booth.
“Nothing. I just wanted a night with all of you.” I surveyed the group sitting around me. “With my friends.”
Nico elbowed me, his brows waggling. “Look at you, Lennox.”
“Are you being sentimental?” Kara chided.
I reached for a glass of ale. “I wanted to spend a night with you all before everything goes to shit. We might not get another one of these.”
“Now there’s the Lennox we all know and love.” Luce raised her glass.
I bit back a smirk. “But let’s not think about that tonight. I wanted to spend a night relaxing with you all. Having fun amongst all the shit that’s gone on lately.” I ran my finger along the rim of the glass.
“I mean, the last fun night we had like this was back in Cel Nox. Before Luka and I were married. A lot’s happened since.
I was taken captive, I was mated, we’ve been reunited with Nol, many have died, and we’re in a fucking war.
So, I want to take a moment to just be. Pretend all that isn’t our problem right now.
I don’t care what’s happening beyond these walls.
For tonight we’re a bunch of fucked up idiots having a good time. ”
It took everything in me not to stress about what was going on back at camp.
What if there was a Dhampir attack? What if a group of Blood Court soldiers were marching on our camp?
I knew the likelihood was slim, and I couldn’t block out the fear, but I could rationalize it now. I was getting better at it.
We had things in place in case of those situations. Declan had made sure of it. The generals would handle anything if it did arise and send word to us immediately.
I would not feel guilty for having a night with my family.
I’d spent too much of the last three years worrying about how my decisions would impact others.
I still couldn’t let it all go, but I could try my hardest to enjoy tonight.
“I’m proud of you.” Luka’s arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me to his side as he kissed the top of my head.
“I’m proud of me too,” I admitted quietly.
“I’m proud of all of us.” We had all overcome things to get to this point. We still were getting over so much, but we were living. Or trying to. I was no longer surviving.
I was living.
Three years ago, all I had was Kara. The two of us coexisting as we drowned in our grief.
It was just the two of us. Luce was busy back in her court—I hardly saw her. I didn’t reach out to her. I let us drift apart after my mother died.
I was terrified of opening myself up to others.
But here I was—opening my heart not just to Luka but to Nico and Declan too.
I loved them, I love them all. They completed different parts of me in ways I never knew I needed.
“If I say something, can you all promise to never mention it again?”
“You think we’re all going to die anyways.” Declan took another sip of his drink. “Why does it matter if we keep your secret anyway.”
“I don’t think we’re all going to die! And it’s not a secret,” I huffed.
“Just spit it out, Len.”
“I’m just—I’m fucking thankful for you all.
For everything you’ve given me. I know I’m not an easy person to be around—especially a year ago.
Thank you all for never giving up on me.
And for telling me off when I needed it.
I—I truly don’t think I’d be here without you—all of you.
” Where would I be today if Luka hadn’t shown up in my life a year ago?
I took Luka’s hand in mine and squeezed it three times. “Anyways, there’s the one emotional speech you’ll ever get from me. I wanted you all to know I love you if we die.”
“Awe, I love you too, L.” Nico threw his arms around me, squeezing me tight. “I, for one, will never let you forget you said all this tonight.”
“If you know what’s good for you, you will,” I grumbled.
“To friends who became family.” I shared a look with Luka as he raised his glass. Who knew losing my family would lead me to discover the family I never knew I could have?
“To friends who became family.” We all echoed as we clinked our glasses together, drinking as we cheered.
“Now let’s get this party started.”
The ale flowed freely as we sat and talked.
I had no idea how much time had passed—certainly hours, but it didn’t feel like it. The minutes blurred past.
A band had started playing at some point, a local group who had set up in the corner.
Luka stood and reached for my hand. “Let’s dance.” My gaze flicked to the empty dance floor.
“You’re not serious.”
“I’m very serious, Sweetheart.”
“But no one else is dancing!” There had been patrons who had been on and off the dance floor, but now no one danced, leaving the floor empty.
“Then let us start the party.”
I let him pull me toward the empty dance floor, dragging my feet as I fought a smile.
My head felt light from all the drinks, so I let him pull me against his body as the band started an upbeat tune.
Luka spun me around, my body following where he led me with my arms wrapped around his neck.
Laughter spilled from my lips as we danced.
As the song finished, he dipped me dramatically, with one hand on my waist holding me as his lips found mine.
When he pulled me back to standing, cheers roared around us from our friends as they hollered from the corner of the bar.
Nico stood on a chair, one leg propped on the table with his hands cupped around his mouth.
Kara raised her fist in the air repeatedly, a wide smile spread on her face.
Declan and Nol huddled in the corner, snickering.
Luce sat, slapping Nico on the thigh and pulling at the leg of his pants, trying and failing to get him to sit back down.
“Why don’t you all come join us?” I jested as I swayed on my feet.
“We’re fine here watching you two!” Luce hollered back.
A retort was on the tip of my tongue, but it died as Luka wrapped his arms around my waist, pressing his front to my back as he rested his chin on my shoulder.
“If they want to miss out on dancing, that’s their loss.” His lips dusted over my shoulder as the music changed into a slow song.
I spun in Luka’s arms, facing him as we swayed to the beat.
“You know what this reminds me of?”
He raised a brow. “What?”
“Our wedding night.”
He smiled so wide and bright, the sight sent warmth spreading through my body. “It does doesn’t it?” He spun us in a small circle. “You really are sentimental tonight.”
I missed a step, but Luka caught me, continuing to move us.
“If I’ve learned anything in the last three years, it’s that life is precious. Every moment we have with the ones we love should be treated as our last.”
I’d lost so much when my parents died. Not just them, but myself too. “I spent so long in the dark, refusing to let others into my darkness—now that I’ve let light in, I refuse to waste it for however long I have.”
“We’re going to make it out of this war, Lennox.” Worry etched his brow as he searched my face.
“I hope we do, but there is no guarantee, and I refuse to let fear control me.” I rose on my tiptoes and dusted a kiss over his lips.
“But promise me one thing Lennox, you won’t go and do any self-sacrificing bullshit.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but he continued—stopping me. “There are people who are counting on you coming back. It’s not just you and Kara anymore—you’ve got a whole hoard of people who are counting on you to return.”
I took a deep breath. “I’ll try my best.”
He gave me a soft smile. “That’s all I ask.”
“We’re going to make it out of this war alive. All of us.” I met his gaze, staring into his deep blue pools. How had I managed to resist him for so long?
“Hey.” I raised on my tiptoes and dusted my lips over his again.
“Yeah?” He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.
“Thank you for pulling me out of the darkness.”
We all rose before the sun the next morning, despite only managing a few hours of sleep after we returned back to camp from the tavern.
Half of our group was leaving, I wouldn’t let them go without a proper goodbye. I’d even pulled Kara out of bed, much to her dismay.
I let go of Luce, my eyes lingering on the matching necklace hanging around her neck as I braced my hands on her shoulders. “Thank you for doing this, you’re going to be amazing.”
One side of her lip hitched up. “I think I will be too.”
“Do I get a hug too, L?” Nico came up beside us, brushing his moon-spun hair out of his face.
“Of course.” I threw my arms around him, and he squeezed me tight. “I’ll miss my bestie.”
His laugh rumbled through his body. “I’ll miss mine too.”
“Be kind to your family.” I released him so I could look at his face. “Zienna especially.”
“That’s like asking you not to stab someone.”
I shoved him away. “That’s different. I’m naturally stabby—you’re choosing to lock out your family.”
He rolled his eyes. “We’ll be in our wolf forms most of the time anyway. I promise I won’t take a bite out of my brother.”
“Good pup.” I let him go as I looked for my own brother.
Nol stood on his own at the edge of our group, the strap of his leather bag thrown over his shoulder as he watched everyone say their goodbyes.
“Are you sure you’re okay with me sending you back home?”
“Yes, Lennox. I was a captive for almost three years, I think I’ll be perfectly content sitting out of a war against my captor.” He readjusted the strap of his bag. “Besides, I don’t know how much help I’d be considering the little training I’ve been doing.”
He had been training with us every day, but he was nowhere near where his skills used to be before his death—capture. And no matter how hard we tried we couldn’t get him to harness his witch magic consistently.
He shook his head, his dark hair falling across his forehead. “I should feel ashamed I’m not fighting alongside you all, but if I’m being honest, Lennox, I’m relieved. So fucking relieved.”
He let out a huff. “I know it makes me selfish, but I just got my life back, I’d like the chance to live it.”
“I’d like you to live it too.” All of it, I wanted him to have all of it. Whatever future he wanted.
I threw my arms around him. “Which is why I’m going to win this fucking war for you, Nol.”
“Can you promise me two things, Len? Make it back from this war—you and Kara—I want to live my life with my sisters. And two, when you kill Adreona, make sure you make it hurt. Make that bitch pay.”