“Here, let me give you my number,” Jet was saying. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two business cards, which he handed to Lucas and me.
“Thanks,” I said, smiling. “We’ll be in touch.”
Chapter 22
As soon as we were safely back in the car, heading home, Lucas turned to me. “What the hell happened? Why in the world would you tell Jet our plan to double cross Tobias and Magnus?”
“You weren’t there,” I argued. “You told me to go with my instinct, and that’s exactly what I did. I could be wrong, but I think we can trust Jet.”
“I admit that I don’t know much about him,” Lucas said. “I’ll try to keep an open mind. He did just willingly hand over hellhound hair.” Lucas paused. “Tell me what else he said.”
After I had recounted our conversation, Lucas was strangely silent. “What are you thinking?” I asked.
Lucas sighed deeply. “I’m terrified that something will go horribly wrong, and even if we’re successful, Senara is an issue – a major one.”
“You know what I can’t understand, Lucas?”
“Yes?”
“If Senara is so powerful, why is she holding back? Why not just show her face; is she intimidated by Tobias?”
“I’m not sure,” Lucas admitted. “And that’s what scares the hell out of me. We know what Tobias, Magnus and Leon are plotting. But she’s a question mark. It makes me think she’s planning something huge, something shocking.”
“How could you be in love with someone who’s capable of such horrible things?” I blurted out.
“Rory, I wasn’t in love with her. In lust, maybe.” Lucas sighed again. “I wish I had a good answer for you. I was a different vampire back then. Believe me, you wouldn’t have wanted anything to do with me,” Lucas said.
“I can’t imagine that’s true,” I replied.
We were silent for the rest of the car ride, both lost in our own thoughts and worries.
After Lucas parked outside my house, he turned to me. “You know what you said the other day?”
I laughed. “I can’t remember what I’ve said from minute to minute anymore. You’ll have to be a bit more specific.”
“Something about being crazy about me,” Lucas said teasingly.
Why’s he trying to embarrass me about that? It’s obvious I didn’t mean to say it.
“Come on, look at me,” Lucas said. I was staring out the window, feeling mortified.
Slowly I turned to meet Lucas’ gaze. He reached out and caressed my face. “I just wanted you to know I feel the same way.”
“You do?”
“And that’s part of what has me terrified about what’s to come,” Lucas continued. “I’ll do everything in my power, but I can’t guarantee I will be able to protect you. But I would die trying. And if something happens to me, you carry on with the plan. Don’t stop to help me.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Lucas placed his finger over my lips and gave me that adorable grin. “I can’t make you do what I ask, but please don’t argue. If you have a tough decision to make, choose what’s best for the mission. Leave your emotions out of it.”
“Mission?” I laughed. “We’re not spies,” I said, trying to lighten the mood.
“I’m serious,” Lucas continued. “Promise me?”
“But you said you would die trying to protect me? How is that leaving your emotions out of it?” I argued.
“Because if all the prophecies are right, it’s more important for you to live than me,” Lucas said. “If I died to protect you, that would be what was best for the mission. To keep you safe.”
But what about what’s best for me?
“It’s going to be a long week. We should all regroup tomorrow. Maybe I’ll even invest in some chairs so Nic and I aren’t always sitting on the floor,” he joked.
I gave him a faint smile.
“But right now,” Lucas continued, “try to relax.”
“I wish I could stay with you tonight,” I said. “I don’t feel like being alone.”
Lucas leaned forward and kissed me softly. “Maybe, someday in the not too distant future, you’ll be able to stay with me every night.”
“I’d like that,” I said quietly. I forced myself to open the car door. “See you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Rory.”
My parents were out at dinner, and Kayla was god-knows-where, so I had the house to myself. Still, I climbed the stairs to my room, my sanctuary, and crawled into bed.
I was mentally exhausted, and I needed to recharge, which meant trying not to worry. I couldn’t relax my body, but I had to relax my mind. I needed every ounce of mental energy I could muster.
Next Saturday was critical. The turning point. If we succeeded, the war would be over before it began, and we could focus on finding – and killing – Senara. But if we failed, how many human lives would be in jeopardy? And not to mention the painful, slow deaths that would be inflicted upon everyone who meant anything to me.
Failing most definitely was not an option.
So why did I have this sick feeling inside? This nagging voice telling me we’d been lucky so far, but luck always runs out?
I pulled the covers over my head, hoping to shut out the world, and braced myself for another long night.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Dark Descent (Vampire Hunter Book 5) Page 13