A Shield of Glass (A Shade of Vampire #49)(32)

“I spoke to Hansa about the conversation the two of you had,” she added. “About me and you.”

“Oh,” I croaked.

“She didn’t like what I had to say, but I think she finally accepted it. Should we survive this, we will find a way to be together, Jovi. I don’t want to live in a world you’re not in. You make me want to fight harder than ever. New world. New rules.”

Several seconds passed during which neither of us said anything.

She opened her mouth to say something else, but I took a step forward and captured it in a kiss, the kind that set my heart on fire and made my blood simmer. Her lips were soft and perfect, and I’d missed the taste of her so much.

Her voice echoed inside me, her soft chest against mine as my hands ran up and down her spine. I gently grazed her lower lip before I paused to look at her. Her eyes were hooded, her skin glowing. Her breath hitched when my thumb brushed over her ribs, nudging the curve of her breast. I lowered my head and hid my face in her rich black hair, the scent of her skin intoxicating me.

“I’ve missed you, Anjani,” I whispered, pouring all my emotions into that one simple sentence.

“I fight harder just to be with you,” she replied, and took a deep breath. “I slashed and carved my way to Stonewall. Nothing can stand in my way, not Destroyers, not incubi, not Azazel, or old tribal traditions…”

“I’m in too deep, Anjani. I love you too much to let you go, even with death knocking on my door.” I raised my head to see her expression.

She was soft, and as smitten as I was. We were soon lost in kisses, consuming each other with a feverish need that hadn’t been satisfied in days. Feeling her so close to me chased away everything that had hammered me minutes before. I abandoned myself in her warmth as she coiled her arms around my neck and pulled me even closer, until I could feel her heart beating next to mine.

Whatever the future held, I was ready to trump it.

For the moment, however, I had the creature of my dreams in my arms. We had each other, and it was enough.





Serena





Later that night, when the others had retired to their rooms, exhausted and sore from the fighting, I had a brief exchange with Wren before she went to check on her sisters.

“I’m glad to see you’ve changed your mind,” I told her.

“I kind of had to, since your friends brought all those Destroyers to me,” she replied, her lips pursed bitterly. “We’ll start work on one of the ships tomorrow. Thorn said at least one of the vessels in the harbor below can be restored to sail across the ocean. I’ll be sending our mothers-to-be to Marton, while the rest of us will stay here and join your alliance.”

“You’re making the right choice, Wren. I cannot express how thankful I am that you were there when my brother and his group passed through.” I smiled gently.

We agreed to continue the conversation in the morning, once we’d all rested and were past today’s traumatic events. She gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder and walked out.

It was just me and Draven left in the archive hall, and I could feel the silence grow heavier with every minute that went by. I could feel him looking at me from his distant window seat. I turned around, and he buried his head in the forbidden Druid magic book, his jaw clenched as he flipped through the pages.

I walked toward him, slowly and quietly, watching his expression change as I shortened the distance between us. He turned a couple more pages, then tossed the book away. It landed on the floor with a thud, but I ignored it and took a few more steps.

He looked up, his eyes hooded and flickering black. The closer I got, the more of his torment became visible. His chest expanded with every breath, his eyebrows pulled into a frown, and tension kept his shoulders straight and his face hard. His gaze settled on my face as I reached him.

“I’m guessing no luck with a concealment spell for the Oracles so far?” I asked.

“Nothing. Just a dozen ways to cause pain and suffering and death,” he growled.

He didn’t close himself off this time. I could feel the ribbons of red, simmering rage flowing from him. I figured he was letting it all out so I could sense it and keep my distance, but it wasn’t going to work. I refused to let him deal with this on his own, blame himself for atrocities that had yet to happen and that could ultimately be prevented.

“We’ll find something, Draven,” I replied gently. “Today wasn’t the best of days, that’s all. Why don’t you sleep, rest a little, and start fresh in the morning?”

“How can I sleep, when Vita’s trapped in Azazel’s clutches, the Daughter has been taken away by her psychotic sisters, and there’s the possibility that I will turn into something worse than Azazel, killing all those I wish to protect and keeping you in a cage for my own twisted emotional support?”

His tone was sharp and could cut deep, but I wouldn’t be deterred anymore. We’d been through this before, in different circumstances, and we’d gotten past it. We’d pushed forward and strengthened the alliance against Azazel in the process. There was no way I was losing him now.

“You have to, otherwise you’ll burn yourself out,” I insisted.

He shot to his feet and walked past me, his face a stony mask as he headed for the exit.

“Draven—”