A Shield of Glass (A Shade of Vampire #49)(53)

“What do you think?” I managed to ask.

“I think I’m in awe of you,” Field replied, blinking slowly. “And I think you’d be perfect at running a team of your own if we set up a GASP base here…”

“We?” I echoed, smiling hopefully.

“You didn’t think I’d let you do anything all by yourself, did you?” He cocked his head to one side, an eyebrow raised. I shrugged in response. I needed to hear him say it. “Aida, you’re stuck with me. Sorry.”

I squashed a giggle as he shifted forward, cupped my face with one hand, and took my mouth in another dazzling kiss. We kept our eyes open, gazing into each other’s souls. His tongue worked mine with delicious technique, sending sparks through my limbs as I instinctively moved closer to him. His body heat seeped through me, his spare arm snaking around my waist and holding me tight.

“Field,” I murmured against his lips.

He stilled, unwilling to break contact.

“You know I’m quite smitten with you, right?” I closed my eyes, inhaling his natural scent.

“Quite?”

“Okay, utterly. Incredibly. Irreversibly smitten.”

“Mhm.”

He held me tight against his chest, sinking his face in my hair and breathing in deeply. I wrapped my arms around his torso, his heart thudding against mine.

We lost ourselves in talk for the rest of the night—talk about anything other than what lay ahead for us in the next few days. And it was all I wanted. Just us and nothing else. The two of us beneath a starry sky, by a makeshift candlelight dinner on top of a tower overlooking a world that was as beautiful as it was cruel.

At least for one night, nothing else mattered.





Serena





It was past midnight, and I was in the middle of a conversation with Hansa and Anjani in the grand hall, discussing rules of engagement with the front line of incubus soldiers stationed to protect Luceria. The other allies were scattered around, some quietly starting to retreat to their quarters, while others found the food so good that they decided to go for a second dinner—Grezzi’s appetite in particular was quite a sight to behold.

Aida had had a brief conversation with Vita before the alliance meeting, confirming that she was okay and patiently waiting for Bijarki to come. Patrik kept her company, as she’d become determined to help him break Azazel’s control spell. If she succeeded, it meant we could do the same for the other Destroyers and eventually return as many of them as possible to their original state.

Draven had slipped out at some point, and I fought the urge to go after him. I knew he was still struggling with the prospect of taking Asherak’s soul into his own, and it tore him apart on the inside, but I also knew I couldn’t do much to curb his anguish unless he was willing to let me in.

I eventually excused myself, as we had an early start in the morning. Wren had announced that the ship was ready to set sail for Marton, which meant Draven and I needed to get some rest before embarking on that journey.

I got to my room and took a quick, cold shower. I washed my clothes and hung them out to dry in the bathroom, then scoured the dresser for a decent nightgown. I found one, long and frilly around the neck and wrists, then sank into the bed. I tossed and turned for a while, unable to get Draven out of my mind.

My heart ached for him, and I wanted to be near him, to hold him in my arms and tell him that everything was going to be okay, that I wouldn’t let him destroy himself in order to take Azazel down. I sat up, anxious and restless.

Everything was working out, for the time being. We had almost everyone under one roof, Vita in relative safety in Luceria, and Bijarki on his way to get her. Why was I spending the one peaceful night we had on my own? The world could very well end tomorrow, or in a few days. Why was I keeping my distance from Draven just to leave him brooding on his own?

This is as good as it’s going to get for now, I thought to myself.

Then I remembered telling him I loved him earlier. With everything that had been going on since, I hadn’t had the time to even think about that. I’d promised him that our conversation wasn’t over, yet I didn’t know what else to say to him, given that I’d dropped the L bomb on him so viciously. I mean, we both felt it—I’d sensed it in him before, and I’d acknowledged my own feelings already, but I’d never given them the official name of “love”.

But it is love. I love him. I feel it in my bones; I breathe it whenever I look at him or think of him.

He didn’t even get a chance to say something in return. I had cut him off and dived into the alliance meeting.

Maybe I should talk to him.

And say what?

My mind was expertly sabotaging itself with contrary thoughts. I couldn’t stay in that room on my own anymore. The more I sat there, the more arguments I had with myself about whether I should go talk to Draven or not. I took a deep breath and got out of bed.

I figured a walk might do me some good. And if my feet decided to take me to Draven’s room, then so be it.

I opened the door, already stepping forward into the hallway, when I stopped, my eyes wide and my heart suddenly thumping as I found Draven standing in the doorway. I’d surprised him, judging by the look on his face, his eyebrows arched, a solitary flicker of black in his eyes.

“Draven,” I whispered, feeling my body instantly warm up under his steely gaze.