The chaos of the night before still existed the next morning as I sat with Tensley in his office. When Molly and he arrived home after being alerted of the events, he was livid. Together, we dealt with Danny and Wesley personally and I had filled him in on Danny’s connections to Ares. Both men would be further questioned until Scorpios got the information they needed. Then both men would be killed.
I leaned back in the leather chair, my mouth dry, my eyes heavy, but I wouldn’t sleep until I knew those bastards got what they deserved.
Tensley rubbed his jaw, sighing. “It doesn’t surprise me. That there would be men willing to listen to Ares’ crap and think they’d actually get rewarded.”
I watched him in silence. He had been on edge all night, cursing at anyone who questioned him. And I understood. His son had been at stake. I knew that feeling well. If my child were alive, I would have done anything to protect him or her.
Lex had stayed with a panicked Molly all night, holding Illya, and trying to calm her down. She had been hysterical when she heard what had happened. Lex and I had exchanged looks throughout the night and neither of us had to say what we were thinking. I didn’t ever want to risk losing her again. I wanted to keep her safe.
In our father’s office, my chest tightened. So many times growing up, I’d expected this office to be mine one day. The memories of my father in a frenzy of documents, leaned over the table, grumbling to himself. He had been at one point in my youth my role model. My goal had been to become a duplicate of him.
It wasn’t until I met Valentina that my view of him shifted. The cold, calculating Dux. So hell bent on purity and power. How I had failed him and our family.
It took years to become more man than beast.
And Lex had drawn me out of my own darkness. I had tasted her strength and her softness.
And I had saved the rest of my soul. She had sparked the change in me, the need to be a better man, and I had cleansed my soul. There would always be the fear of relapsing, but I knew in my bones Lex would keep me balanced.
“I’ll send Connor to oversee Boston for now,” Tensley said, his back to me. “He can continue to structure them, instruct the new soldiers on how to control Ares.”
I paused, my fingers digging into the plush leather arms of the chair. “I’ll go back to Boston.”
Tensley glanced over his shoulder, his brows wrinkled in confusion. “Are you sure?”
I stood, fixing my jacket. “I know the area. I know the men. I’m the best fit. You said so yourself and I accept your offer.”
Tensley worked his jaw, scanning me over, looking for a clue it seemed. After a moment, he nodded. “You’d have to leave by tomorrow.”
I nodded in return and left the room.
I walked through the hallways, the soldiers moving out of my way as I climbed the stairs.
As I passed by the rooms, I could hear Molly and Lex’s hushed voices and Illya’s cooing. I stopped in front of Tensley and Molly’s bedroom and peeked through the slightly open door, I could see Lex on her knees, playing with Illya on the floor.
She smiled sweetly down at him. Her glow had existed before, but now everyone could feel it. She had had a harsh past and still she was kind and soft and warm. I wanted to keep that glow, to keep her healthy and happy and I knew I could give her that life now.
Her eyes swung to the door and I moved, continuing to my room to pack what little belongings I had.
Grabbing my bag, I began to fold and pack my clothes and shoes.
At the sound of my door opening, my body froze.
I didn’t need to turn around to know who had entered. I could feel her warmth fill the room.
She cleared her throat. “Are you leaving again?”
My jaw locked tightly at her words. She was hiding her emotions, but a tiny bit of her voice shook at the end.
“Tensley needs me in Boston,” I said, stuffing another shirt in my bag. I wouldn’t make her come to Boston if she wanted to stay with Tensley, Molly, and Illya. I understood her balance. “I can come visit on the weekends if you want. Come here Friday night and leave late Sunday. This is your home here.” I could live with that. I wasn’t going to force her to give up her life here. “My offer still stands but I understand if—”
“Beau…”
I sighed heavily, my hands gripping the black duffle bag. I was nervous, I realized. When in my life, had I been nervous? Lex did things to me I would never understand. “What?”
Her fingers touched the small of my back and I flinched, having her hand feel each muscle tighten and relax under her touch. “My home is with you,” she whispered, and my throat grew tight. “I—I love you.”
Her words were like bullets piercing my chest—and at the same time a gasp of pure heaven. With the new king now established, love was not as forbidden as it once was for demons.
I swallowed thickly, bracing myself as I turned to face her.
Her eyes were bloodshot and her bottom lip trembled as I looked down at her.
“You said it yourself,” she said, hissing the words back at me, fisting my t-shirt, tugging me closer. I didn’t fight her. I was helpless against her. “Our souls are tied together, Beau. So are our hearts.” Her hand gripped my wrist and brought my fingertips to above her breast where I could feel her heart beat wildly beneath. “Don’t run away from me.”
I gritted my teeth and slowly met her gaze.
“I’m not running from you, cucciola. Never,” I whispered, a single finger stroking up her sharp cheekbone into her dark hair. She closed her eyes at the sensation of my fingers in her hair, sending a tingle down my spine.
“I’ll go wherever you go,” she said, those baby blues pulling me into her warmth. “You’re my soul mate, Beau Knight.”
My fingers tightened, and I let out a harsh hiss of breath. “You’re mine, too.”
She smiled softly and touched the edge of my jaw.
I couldn’t fight her. I couldn’t keep fighting the beast or myself anymore.
“Come with me to Boston,” I whispered against her temple.
She froze, and my heart seized with fear.
And then she looked up at me, the tears falling down her cheeks. “Yes.”
I didn’t stop myself from taking her mouth in another kiss—this time soft and tender—and letting her taste my happiness on her tongue.