A Fall of Secrets (A Shade of Vampire #15)(31)

“I think I would drive myself out of my mind staying here while you went without me,” she said, “but, Caleb, if you don’t want me to go, I won’t.”

I was shocked by her words. I’d expected her to reply with an argument, to be adamant that there was no way she wasn’t coming. I hardly knew how to respond.

I reached for her head, looking deep into her green irises, and tried to understand what had brought about this sudden submissiveness. As the corners of her eyes moistened, I realized. Gone was even the slightest trace of the steely determination I’d grown accustomed to seeing in Rose Novak. She’d become putty in my hands.

Running my hands down her back, I pressed her against the wall. I dipped my head and closed my lips around hers. She breathed heavily, reaching her warm hands beneath my shirt and tracing her fingertips along my chest.

“I love you,” I breathed, brushing my thumbs against the sides of her mouth as I continued to taste her again and again.

She responded in a hoarse whisper, “I love you,” but she didn’t need to. She’d just shown that her love for me was strong enough to overcome her nature as a Novak. She was willing to submit to my request to not cause me unhappiness, even though it pained her in equal measure.

Perhaps I’m now the only one who can tame the ball of fire that Rose Novak has become.

Even as I looked at her, my resolve ebbed away. Although I despised the idea of her riding toward danger once again, her submission was melting me.

A battle now raging within me, I scooped her up in my arms and carried her to the bedroom. I sat her on the edge of the bed, gazing down at her.

She looked up at me, her expression calm, her eyes wide with surrender.

I realized then that, even in our better days, Annora had never behaved like this with me. Although I loved Annora and would have done anything for her, I could hardly remember a single instance when she had put my desires before hers.

A storm of conflicting thoughts continued to whirl in my mind. On the one hand, I just wanted to do what was best for Rose. I wanted to keep her safe. But on the other hand, now I felt guilt stabbing me for causing her unhappiness by making her stay.

I swallowed hard.

You are impossible, Rose Novak.

After several more minutes of wrangling with myself, even though I hated myself for it, the softer side of me gave in. I bent down to her level.

“Okay,” I said, taking her hands in mine. “Get dressed.”

She frowned in confusion, her lips parting.

“Come with me,” I said, even as I heaved a sigh.

“But I don’t want to cause you pain,” she said.

A smile crept across my lips. “As insane as it sounds, I’ll probably be in more pain thinking of you and your sorry face left behind in this cabin while I’m riding toward danger by myself.”

Her face lit up. Standing, she reached her arms around my neck, drawing me in for another passionate kiss before she hurried to the closet to get dressed.

Chapter 23: Rose

Caleb and I rushed to Kiev and Mona’s tree. I was glad to see that there was a small crowd already waiting for us there—consisting of my grandfather, Micah, Ibrahim, Gavin, and, to my surprise, Griffin. They stood alongside Mona and Kiev.

My grandfather looked at me with concern as I hurried up and gave him a hug. I was so sure that he wanted to request me to stay behind, but I was both relieved and surprised when he didn’t. He just kissed the top of my head.

I turned to Griffin, raising my brow. He grinned at me. “I convinced my mom to allow me to come instead of her. I’ve been a vampire long enough now that I’m used to my strengths and abilities.”

As for Micah, I wasn’t surprised that he was here. His expression was one of determination. He’d been through hell at the hands of those witches. I was sure that he had been the first wolf to step forward and volunteer to help us.

“So,” I said, looking around at each of them. “I suggest we head over to the dragons now.”

We hurried through the forest toward the Black Heights. As we ran along the tunnels and reached the first corridor where all the dragons’ apartments were, we found Jeriad along with several other dragons standing together and talking. They turned around to face us as we approached.

“Hello,” I said tentatively. “Are you ready to accompany us?”

Jeriad eyed each of us, then nodded slowly. He shot a glance at the dragon standing beside him, who walked away and began knocking on doors along the corridor.

Soon, dozens of dragons were piling out of their quarters and walking toward us in the center of the corridor. Of course, the prince was not among them. I supposed that this was not a task for royalty. Once I counted about fifty, and it appeared that no more were coming, I pointed to the exit. We left the mountains and gathered in the clearing outside.

“You still haven’t told us where exactly you want to go,” Jeriad said.

“There are two islands not too far away from here,” I said. “Islands governed by the black witches. They have stolen a number of humans—young men and women—whom we want to try and rescue. We are hoping that at least some of them are still being held there.”

“Very well,” Jeriad said after a pause. “None of us are fond of black witches. It sounds like this task will not be a difficult one to put our hearts into.”