by Rivi Jacks
“He wanted to have you join us, but I didn’t want to wait.” My voice is heavy with tears.
“It wouldn’t have mattered,” Max says from across the room where Sam stands with him. “Taylor’s right. I’m certain the spell was cast to impact any supernatural going into that cave.”
Their words, meant to comfort me, do little to alleviate the guilt I’m feeling. Although I still feel as if I did the right thing—as far as moving quickly to get in and get Diane out—there’s still the simple fact that Christian might die. And I can’t shirk the responsibility for that.
I stand, and Taylor does too, gently smiling down at me. His and Max’s lack of animosity toward me when I was expecting just the opposite, leaves me astounded. Mostly because right now… I feel I don’t deserve their compassion.
I reach out to touch Taylor’s arm and then step around him, moving to the couch. I lie down because I can no longer remain upright. I try to keep my eyes open, but they soon close, and with my last conscious moment, I hear Max as he says, “Tell me everything that happened.”
The bright light of the sun streaming into the waiting room brings me awake with a start. I lie there for a moment feeling confused as to why I have this overwhelming feeling of sadness.
I sit up, and I’m shocked to see Lucas in a chair that sits close to the couch. He’s slumped down with his head resting on the chair back and appears to be sleeping. His face is turned my way, and I use the moment to study his relaxed expression. His hair is in disarray as if he’s repeatedly run his fingers through it and dark scruff covers his jawline. Just looking at him makes my heart ache.
His eyes open looking right into mine.
“How long have you been here?” I ask in a hoarse whisper as he sits up and leans forward.
“Just before dawn.” His eyes move over me.
I’m hesitant with the uncertainty I feel as I run my fingers through my hair wondering what’s wrong. I look around the room noticing that it’s just the two of us. The absence of everyone else suddenly scares me.
I come to my feet, my heart pounding. “Christian! Is Christian okay?”
Lucas is quick to catch my hand and pull me back down. “He’s resting. It was touch and go for a while, but he’s going to be okay.”
I exhale a ragged breath of relief. “I need to see him.”
Lucas shakes his head. “Lewis isn’t letting any of us in to see him. Not right now. He said he’d let me know as soon as Christian wakes.”
“Diane?”
“She’s fine too. Sawyer took her to the house. She knew you’d want to see her when you woke.”
Why did they let me sleep? “Where’s everyone else?”
“Lewis made them leave to get some rest.”
I nod. I feel groggy, still not fully awake. Oh, how I hope I’m dreaming, and I’ll wake to find that last night was just a horrible nightmare.
“Did they tell you what happened?” I ask, uncertain of how much I need to explain. He’s acting too calm. I know his attachment to his men goes beyond him simply being the one in charge of their elite team.
“Sam did.”
I suck in a shaky breath. “Are you mad at me?”
His eyes shift back to mine. “No,” he says softly. Leaning forward he reaches for my hand. “Come here, baby.” He pulls me over onto his lap, his arms wrapping around me and it’s all I can do to maintain my composure and not cry my heart out as I relish the strength and comfort of his embrace.
“I’ve missed you so much, Lucas,” I say, my voice thick with tears. He presses his face into my hair and inhales deeply. “I’m so sorry,” I manage to choke out before his arms tighten around me as if he can absorb some of my pain.
“Sofie,” he says gently, “you did what you thought you needed to do. I can’t fault you for that.”
I turn in his embrace, my arms wrapping around his shoulders. “I know I did what I had to—to get Diane out of there—but I feel as if I did everything wrong,” I murmur against his neck.
“We all make mistakes, my sweet.”
And someone else paid for my mistakes.
“It’s not your fault Christian was hurt.”
“I feel like it is.”
He sighs deeply. “Now you know the dilemma I constantly live with.”
I lean back and look up in surprise. Lucas rarely talks about or shares information concerning the position of power he holds. I can’t imagine having to deal with the incredible responsibility he must handle every day and the burden of guilt he has to cope with if anything goes wrong. The sheer number of people who depend on him and his decisions must weigh heavy on him.
I settle back within his arms for several minutes before he breaks the silence.
“You know I’ll do anything I need to, to keep you safe.”
I look up to search his eyes. “I know—but I don’t think I want you to.” He tilts his head, frowning at my words. “Not if it means you or any of your men might be hurt—or killed,” I add softly. He smooths the hair off my forehead. “You ordered Christian to watch over me.”
He tucks my hair behind my ear before meeting my gaze. “All my men have orders to watch over you, my sweet. I told you that.”
I frown and lean forward on his lap, looking up at him. “But what exactly does that mean?”
He hesitates before answering. “It means—they will protect you no matter what.”
I swallow uncomfortably. “No matter what—” I have a sudden, very scary thought. “What does no matter what mean, Lucas?” I hold my breath, searching his eyes.
His, take on the familiar gleam that says he wants no argument over what he’s about to say. “It means, no matter what, they will protect you—even with their lives.”
My eyes widen. “No!” His revelation shocks me even though I suspected that’s what he meant. Hearing him say it though, makes it inconceivable. “No.” I slide off his lap and stand before him as he warily watches me.
“Sofie, in a week’s time you have been attacked by the Kihn—”
“I wasn’t attacked last night,” I firmly deny. “They took Diane—”
“Which was an attack on you,” he says his voice sharp. “Now we are not going to discuss any further your need for protection, and that’s final,” he snaps, and I know he’s been pushed to his limit. But so have I.
“Lucas, I couldn’t stand it if someone—” I can’t even say the words. I shake my head, adding in a choked whisper, “It would destroy me.”
He stands, and for a moment, I resist before he pulls me into his arms. He buries his face in my hair as he holds me close. “I will not let that happen,” he vows, his voice deep with emotion.
I’m shaking uncontrollably. Everything is so screwed up—and I can’t bear the thought of anyone dying to save me.
“Let’s go to the house,” he says, squeezing me gently, kissing the top of my head. “You need to see your friend, and you’ll feel better after you’ve eaten.”
I’ll feel better after I see Christian.
I do feel better after seeing Diane safe, and it does my heart good to see her with no apparent trauma from her ordeal. She remembers nothing but waking up in that cold, dark hole where they placed her. She doesn’t even recall seeing a Kihn. But I can’t help but wonder how many more encounters with the Kihn she can endure.
We’re sitting in the living room in front of the fireplace eating, and about halfway through the sandwich we share, Jake arrives. When he pulls her into his arms, they cling to each other, both with the realization of what could have happened. When Jake looks up, meeting my gaze, he holds out his hand, pulling me into their hug.
We sit back on the couch with Diane filling Jake in on the happenings, and I have to smile to myself, listening to her. She’s repeatin
g what Sawyer told her of the rescue mission and he embellished a bit. Quite a bit in Sawyer fashion for her benefit.
Diane looks over at me. “They took me to try to get to you, didn’t they?”
The room falls silent, and for several moments, I forget to breathe, catching Lucas watching me from the corner of my eye. I nod slowly.
Maryanne and Brit arrive, putting an end to the tense silence. Soon after, Jake and Diane take their leave, headed for her house. Her parents are away at a farm trade show in Kansas City until the middle of the week. Thank goodness they missed their daughter’s kidnapping.
Almost immediately, Brit starts grilling me about the previous night. She wants to know everything about Christian’s condition in the cave. When I first noticed something was wrong with him, how he acted, and how quickly his condition deteriorated.
“I know you’re feeling guilty, Sofie,” Maryanne says. “But if you hadn’t been the one to rescue Diane,” —she glances over at Lucas— “there’s no telling how many might have been hurt or killed.”
Brit nods in agreement. “It was a very smart plan to get in there and get Diane out I know the spell Ezra used in that cave, and the only supernatural it might not have worked on is Lucas and well with him being hours away,”—she takes an uncharacteristic pause— “you took them by surprise.”
I look up as Lucas stands to pace across the room. He stands in front of the fireplace with his back to us.
“So it would appear they are now on the attack,” Max says looking over at Lucas.
When I hear the front door open and close I turn to look that way. Taylor and Stevie appear in the living room doorway.
Taylor looks over at Lucas and then turns a quizzical look on Max before meeting my gaze. He gives me a quick smile before looking at Maryanne and Brit. “Ladies,” he responds in greeting.
I hear a noise coming from the back of the house, and within seconds Fisher and Hayden join us.
“Lucas,” Max says softly.
“Are Walter and Lucian back?” Lucas asks without turning. I glance first at Maryanne and then Brit before looking over at Max. When no one says anything, Lucas turns.
I gasp softly. The look of anger on his face is a dangerous thing, and that anger rolls across the room so intense I can feel it physically touch me.
“I asked you both a question,” he directs toward Maryanne and Brit, his voice dark and lethal.
“Sorry, Lucas. Yes, Dad is back,” Maryanne is quick to say.
“We are expecting Lucian this afternoon,” Brit adds. “I am sorry Lucas we did not realize you were speaking to us.” She gives Maryanne a quick glance.
“Max, I need you to make those phone calls for me,” Lucas says next, and Max immediately stands and heads out of the room. Next, he glances over to where his men stand. “You can wait in my study.”
And then he’s striding across the room toward me. I have to stop myself from shrinking back against the chair cushion. A force of intense energy precedes him, and it’s a little intimidating. He reaches down and pulls me to my feet, his arm going around my waist as he leads me from the room. We continue through the house without a word being said between us. I anxiously glance up at him as he leads me back to the kitchen where he grasps my waist and lifts me up onto the center island. Leaning down, his hands braced against the counter on either side of me, he looks into my eyes.
“I need you to go to the cabin. I will be there as soon as I can.”
“You’re having another meeting,” I state.
His lips quirk slightly at the corners as he holds my gaze. “Yes, I am.”
I nod slowly as I think about what that means. “Things are about to get worse with the Kihn, aren’t they?”
His expression sobers. “Very much so.”
“Okay then,” I answer softly.
His hand slides under my hair to the back of my neck as he leans in and captures my mouth with his. The hunger in his kiss arouses and excites me as my hands grip his shoulders. I moan softly when he ends the kiss, leaning his forehead against mine.
Whoa!
How does he make me want him with wild abandon even at the most inappropriate times? Because I know right now is not the time for this intense desire he’s set the spark to. Or—maybe it is. What is it they say about the thin line between passion and anger?
His arms pull me closer, folding around me as he buries his face in my hair, inhaling deeply. He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to—I can feel his anger, and it’s visceral in its intensity. My fingers weave through his silky hair as I press my face against his chest. I love the warmth and strength of his strong body, and right now, I can feel the tense rigidity of his muscles as he holds a tight rein over his self-control. There’s something so compelling about that restraint.
All too soon he releases me to reach up and cup my face in his hands, kissing me once more and then he lifts me down from the counter, his silver-green gaze holding mine. His hand clasps my wrist, his thumb caressing the vein as we walk back to the living room.
“Maryanne, Brit,” he smiles warmly at them. “Sofie wants to show you her cabin. You can walk or drive the Hummer,” he says looking at me.
My eyebrows lift in surprise. I guess we’re letting everyone know about our cabin. I can’t help but suspect that it’s his way of waylaying my request to stay for the meeting. He needn’t bother, I already know that’s not going to happen.
“I would enjoy a brisk walk,” Brit announces.
I slowly pull my gaze from Lucas’, looking over at her and Maryanne. “Okay then. I would love to show you the cabin.” I look back at Lucas and smile sweetly.
After a quick tour, I make the three of us a cup of coffee, and we sit at the kitchen table.
“Last night, in the cave, everyone but me heard screaming,” I say after I take a sip of coffee.
“Screaming?” Maryanne asks.
“Yes. Christian said it sounded like it came from deep in the cave. The thing is, the guys all said they could hear it plainly—but I didn’t hear a thing.”
“Did Diane?” Brit asks.
“No, this was when we first entered the cave—before we’d reached Diane.”
“Was that the only thing they experienced and you did not?” Brit asks.
“Yes.” Maryanne and I both look at Brit. “What do you think?” I ask.
She shakes her head in her customary rapid manner. “I am sure Ezra put a spell on the cave but I am not sure what to think about you not experiencing something that the others did.”
“It is unusual,” Maryanne offers.
“Yes it is but I will need to talk to Estella before I reveal what I think it means.” Maryanne and I both look expectantly at Brit, but she seems not to notice. “Sofie I am so proud of you you handled yourself so well very impressive do you not think so Maryanne?”
“I do.” Maryanne smiles.
“Well, that—” I begin.
“Did you know that Nick is the one who called the house to let us know the trouble you were in?” Brit looks at me intently.
“Uh—” I hadn’t thought about it, but I guess I should have known. I’m sure it’s the reason Jake arrived home as early as he did this morning. “I need to tell y’all something else that happened in the cave.” I instantly have their full attention. “The protective spell you did for me worked perfectly, Brit.” She grins happily. “And whatever you did to the amulet—to protect the others—was brilliant.”
“It was wonderful foresight, Brit,” Maryanne adds, and Brit seems to glow at our praise.
“The thing is—did you know what would happen?” I ask. “I mean it didn’t seem to work for Christian—”
“A spell cast on a vampire is very different indeed than one cast for humans or I would have warned
you I am so sorry I hope you are not angry with me Ezra is taking this to a new level he does not realize how this helps us knowing his desperation and he will soon see a lethal side of Lucas he has never seen.”
I pause as I reach for her hand. There’s a more lethal side to Lucas? “I am not angry with you, Brit, but I have to ask, did you add the power to the amulet or was it already there?”
Both she and Maryanne give me blank expressions.
“The blast of energy the amulet emitted came near to knocking me down just as it did the Kihn.”
The surprise on Brit’s face makes it appear rounder than normal.
“What?” Maryanne squeaks.
“Your protection spell worked well, but as we moved past the Kihn, one of them grabbed ahold of Christian’s arm and was in the process of pulling him from Sawyer’s grasp. I remember yelling and the next thing I knew a—I’m not sure what it was but a—bolt of lightning is a good description. It shot right out from the amulet knocking the Kihn several feet away from us. Knocked them out cold… or worse.” I frown. At the time I hadn’t even considered that the Kihn might have been killed by the force of energy. I shake my head slightly. “Anyway, that’s how we were able to make it out of the cave.”
Both women continue to sit there looking at me.
“Wow,” Maryanne finally says.
“Was there anything else that the amulet did?” Brit asks.
I give a little laugh. “Oh yeah, it sent heat throughout my body, and I felt a surge of power that—” I shake my head not sure how to describe it. “It got so hot with its—magic—that it came right near to burning me.”
“I only added the protection for anyone within your reach.” I see her look speculatively at the charm around my neck. “I must confess that extending the protection of the necklace was not the only thing I attempted but I quickly discovered that the amulet is now a part of you.” My brow lifts in surprise at this information.