Chapter Twenty
Griffin crashed down through the ceiling, sending shingles and boards falling in his wake. He landed on the floor, cradling his precious burden, and his knees didn’t even buckle.
“For the love of…dammit, man, put on some clothes!” The outraged male voice demanded.
Griffin swung toward that voice and found Leo staring back at him. The Lord of the Dark looked pissed as he rushed across the room. But when the guy got closer, when he took a good look at Valerie’s still form…
Leo staggered to a stop. “What happened to her?”
“She took bullets…” He had to struggle to speak as a man and not roar as a beast. “Meant for me.”
Leo’s eyes widened. “You’re bullshitting me.”
Fate—Mora—ran up behind him.
“Valerie Storm did not risk her life for you.” Leo shook his head. “Something else happened. Don’t play games. You tell me—”
“You fix her!” Griffin bellowed. “You fix her right now!”
Leo’s jaw locked. “You’ll want to speak a little more respectfully to me.”
The hell he would. “Fix her…” He could feel the dragon getting ready to spit fire. To destroy.
“Calm down.” Mora’s soft voice. “Put her on the couch. Valerie isn’t dying today.”
He tried to lower her to the couch, but he couldn’t let her go.
Mora’s hand pressed to his shoulder. “She’s not dying today, I promise.”
If Fate said it, the words had to be true, didn’t they?
Mora stared into Griffin’s eyes. “This isn’t the end I see for her. We just have to get the bullets out. Once the bullets are out, she’ll recover.”
Griffin sucked in one breath. Another. Slowly, he lowered Valerie onto the couch, positioning her on her stomach, then smoothing back her hair. He noticed that her blood was on his hands and his whole body shuddered.
“So…” Mora cleared her throat. “Call me squeamish, but I’m not exactly game for cutting into her body.” A pause. “We should probably kidnap a doctor.”
***
Valerie could hear a bird calling. Edgar? Was he coming back to report on Carmichael? She cracked open one eye and found herself staring at a white wall.
An unfamiliar wall.
She cracked open the other eye. Blinked. She could smell the ocean, and the bird call that she heard—not Edgar. Sounded more like a sea gull.
“Hey, sweetheart. It’s about time you opened your eyes.”
Griffin. Her gaze immediately jerked to the left. He was right beside her. In bed, with her. Staring at her tenderly. His stare was warm, his expression almost—“Oh, jeez. Did I die?”
Griffin shook his head. “No, you just scared the ever-loving hell out of me.” He leaned closer and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Don’t do that shit again. Never again.”
Valerie wasn’t going to make a promise she couldn’t keep. “Where are the vampires?”
“Ash.”
Dammit. “Enzo, too?”
“Enzo most of all. His bullets shot you.”
“Yes, well, they were intended to shoot you.” She pushed herself up carefully, expecting pain to hit. But there wasn’t any pain. Odd.
“You broke the rules,” he muttered. “You weren’t supposed to get hurt. You weren’t supposed to protect me. You said you’d stand behind me.”
“I don’t stand behind anyone. You should have realized that about me by now.” She didn’t even feel tenderness in her back. Amazing. “And for the record, I’ll never stand back and watch you get hurt. Those bullets were silver. They were bewitched. If I hadn’t stopped them, you’d be dead.” She considered the matter. “Nah. I would have brought you back. But that would have been harder—”
“You almost died.” He pulled her toward him. His hands were tight and hard on her arms. “I can’t bring you back if you die. I just lose you.”
“And you lose your sanity. Right. Sorry. I was—”
“I won’t lose you. Screw my sanity. I think I lost that the moment we met in that damn dungeon.”
Her lips parted, but she didn’t speak.
“You matter. You. You’re the one in my blood. The one in my torn soul. You’re the other part of me. You and your crazy laugh and your damn spells and your sparking fingers. You. And you can’t die. You can’t leave. Because if you leave, I’ll fucking want to follow.” He pressed a hot, hard kiss to her lips. “I love you.”
Wait—what? She’d misheard. Misunderstood. There was no way he’d just said that to her. Valerie shoved at his chest, and he eased his hold, letting her go. She jumped from the bed. Jumped across the whole room. “What did you just say to me?” Her question sounded like a shriek.
He sat on the bed, his chest bare, the bed covers around his waist. He looked sexy and strong, and his gaze was still tender as it slid over her.
She was naked. She waved her fingers, seeing the little spark above them, and clothes appeared on her body. I’m becoming as prudish as he is! No, she just felt too vulnerable being naked in front of him in that moment.
“Since when are you modest?” Griffin rasped.
Since—never. But she was feeling weird. Her stomach was in knots. “You don’t love me.”
His head cocked. “Are you all right?”
“No, I was just shot—twice—and I have no idea where I am.” Definitely not all right.
“We’re at Leo’s place.”
“What? We need to get out of here!” Her hand slapped against her forehead. “Did he save me? Is that why I healed so well? Because if you made a deal with him, then we are screwed. He’ll want our firstborn child or some Rumpelstiltskin crap like that.”
Griffin’s lips twitched. “No one is taking our firstborn child.” His gaze dipped to her stomach. “She is gonna be a hell-raiser.”
If she was like her mother and able to bring back the dead, yes, she literally could be a hell-raiser, but they’d cover that another time. “What deal did you make?”
“No deal. I kidnapped a doctor, brought him here, scared ten years of his life away when I showed him my claws, and the guy removed the bullets from your body.”
That was…unexpected.
“You healed as soon as they were removed. Impressive. Didn’t know you could do that.”
She hadn’t known that she could do that, either. Had her magic gotten stronger with their mating bond? It was possible. Shifters were incredible healers. Maybe the bond had given her some of his magic.
He rose from the bed. He wasn’t naked, thank goodness, because when he was naked, thinking got a little hard for her. He wore a pair of low slung jeans, and his abs were absolutely lickable.
“How’d you heal so fast?” Griffin wanted to know.
“I have no idea.”
His brow furrowed.
“I don’t know. I should have died.” Honest truth. “My healing rate is not normally like that at all.”
Fury darkened Griffin’s face. “You were willing to die for me?”
Yes. And that realization was unnerving.
“Why?”
She didn’t want to examine the why part too deeply. “Why did you say you love me? You don’t. You don’t even like me. It’s just physical. Lust because of the mating bond. A primitive response that you can’t control. If you had your way, you wouldn’t be with me.” The words wouldn’t stop. “I’m not the mate you would have chosen. I’m just the one you got stuck with. You don’t want—”
He was stalking forward. His face had gone cold and hard. Deadly.
She kept talking. “You don’t want someone like me. I will put hexes on people I don’t like. I’ll do magic even when you tell me not to cast spells. I will dance on the graves of my enemies because I think it’s fun. I will—”
“I love you.”
“No, you absolutely don’t. You shouldn’t say things like that. Sure, it might have looked scary when I was all bleeding and unconscious, but don’t make some big, dramatic declaration that you don’t mean. Don’t lie. I don’t like lies, unless I’m the person telling them, I don’t—”
“I love you.” He was right in front of her.
“Stop lying.”
He caught her arms and pulled her close. “I’m not lying.”
“You can’t love me. You shouldn’t love me. Don’t do it. I’ll hurt you. I’ll make you wish you’d never met me.”
“Impossible. Life didn’t even get fun until I met you.”
He wasn’t being serious. “Let me go.”
“No.”
She twisted, trying to jerk free, but he held her tight. Didn’t hurt her, he’d never physically hurt her, but he didn’t let go. “Why?”
He smiled at her. “You don’t need to be scared.”
Her chin notched into the air. “I’m not scared of anything.”
“Yes, you are.” He stared into her eyes. “You’re scared that I love you.”
She wanted him to stop saying the l-word. To just stop.
“But when you’re watching your mate bleed out, when her blood is on your hands and you’re praying that she’ll open her eyes, that she’ll come back to you, that you’ll hear her sweet cackle one more time—”
“I don’t cackle.”
“Things come into perspective for you. You realize you’d trade everything you had, you’d give up your kingdom, your beasts, anything, if it meant she’d be okay.”
Her body stiffened. “Tell me you didn’t.”
“I would give anything for you.”
“Tell me you didn’t!” She’d healed too fast. Oh, no. “I’m not worth your kingdom. Or your beasts. I’m a witch who will turn on anyone and everyone near her. Some days, I’m not even sure I’m sane. So you tell me…tell me right now that you did not make a deal with Leo. You didn’t give him your kingdom for me. You didn’t give up your beasts for me. I can’t let you give them up! I won’t.” She’d work magic. She’d get it all back for him. “I’ll get it back,” she promised before Griffin could respond. “I think I’m strong enough. I’ll take out Leo. Never liked him anyway, I was more of a Luke fan. I’ll get everything back for you. I can do this, I swear, I can!”
Silence.
Griffin kept staring at her. Watching her with a too intense gaze.
She clamped her lips together so she wouldn’t yell at him to say something!
“I think you love me, too.”
Her body iced. She wanted to deny his words. She had to deny his words. “I don’t love anyone.”
He smiled. Flashed his sharp incisors. “You should be a better liar.”
No. No. She would not love him. It would be a mistake. He’d turn on her, the same way that Tomas had turned. The way Devon had turned. She was the monster. Everyone turned on her. And she turned on them. She didn’t want anyone close. Not Griffin. Especially not Griffin.
“I love you,” he said again, and he sounded so sincere. He needed to stop that shit. “But I didn’t trade anything for you. I didn’t make a deal. Leo didn’t offer me one. You healed on your own. If you hadn’t, believe me, Leo would own my kingdom now. Because you are worth everything.”
He hadn’t traded—
She surged toward him. Rose onto her toes and put her mouth against his. He hadn’t entered into some kind of devil’s deal with Leo. Griffin was safe. He still had his beasts. He was alive.
Because, while she’d never admit it to him, Valerie had been utterly terrified. When she’d realized those bullets were touched by magic, that they wouldn’t stop until they were inside of Griffin, she’d freaked.
Just freaked.
She didn’t want to imagine a world without her shifter. Without his slow, sexy grin. Without his growl. She even liked his dragon. His green scales were gorgeous.
So she kissed Griffin right then, overwhelmed with relief. Her mouth opened against his, and he thrust his tongue past her lips. The kiss was hot, desperate, and oh, so good. Her Griffin. In her arms. Strong and warm. Alive.
I love you.
She didn’t know why he kept saying those words. He didn’t mean them. Of course, he didn’t mean them.
But…
Deep inside, very, very deep, she rather liked hearing them.
He lifted her up. His hands curled around her hips, and he stepped forward, moving so that her back was against the wall. “Ditch the clothes,” he growled against her mouth.
That sexy growl.
“I need in you,” he told her.
Oh, yes, sounded delightful.
Her fingers did a little shimmy. She ditched both of their clothes.
He was kissing his way down her neck. Licking and sucking. Biting lightly at the curve of her shoulder. She shivered against him. Confession…she loved his bite. It turned her on so much that her toes were curling. Her legs had wrapped around his hips when he lifted her up, and now that their clothes were gone, his heavy cock pushed at the entrance to her body. Pushed, but didn’t enter.
Why wasn’t he entering? She sank her nails into him, clawing a bit because she knew what her shifter liked. He gave a guttural groan, but he still didn’t thrust. The head of his erection lodged between her legs, rubbing over her clit, and she knew he could feel her getting wet for him, getting even more ready with every second that passed.
But he wasn’t in. “Griffin!”
“Look at me.”
He wasn’t kissing her any longer. Wasn’t giving her those delicious bites. He gazed into her eyes, and she couldn’t look away.
“I love you.” He thrust into her. Filled her completely. “Never doubt it.”
She—oh, damn, she could only feel. Feel waves of need and desire as he withdrew and thrust deep. He lifted her up, brought her down, and drove them both to the very edge with an increasingly wild rhythm.
His mouth went back to her neck.
Her nails dug into his shoulders.
Faster, harder, deeper.
She didn’t try to slow him down. Why slow down? She just wanted to go faster. “Harder!”
He spun her away from the wall. Carried her across the room while he was still inside of her. Then he was tumbling her onto the bed. Moving her legs, lifting them higher so that he could go even deeper inside of her.
The climax hit her with a burst of pleasure so strong she couldn’t even cry out. Couldn’t catch her breath. The pleasure rolled through her, sweeping Valerie off in a maelstrom of feeling. Every nerve. Every cell. And the waves of pleasure just kept going and going.
He was with her. He thrust into her again, filling her with the hot blast of his release as he emptied into her body, and he called her name, a rough, wonderful bellow.
In the aftermath, Valerie heard the thunder of her heartbeat. She realized that her nails were still biting into his shoulders, and she made herself release him. He was on top of her, in her, and she didn’t want to move.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to just stay there with him? To go again? Maybe a time or twenty more?
But his head lifted. He stared at her with his gleaming, green eyes. His dragon eyes. “I will never have enough of you.”
That was nice. She didn’t think…oh, damn, she’d never have enough of him, either.
He gave her a half-smile. “Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not afraid of anything.” But the words were too husky.
“Liar.” He kissed her. “You’re afraid to love me. But that’s okay. I’m patient. I can wait for you to come around.” Another kiss. “I can wait forever, if that is what it takes.”
Her heart seemed to skip a beat. “Griffin—”
He withdrew from her. Her greedy, happy sex clamped around him, trying to keep him inside. He smiled at her. Not a half-smile this time. A full smile. His heart melting smile.
Not that her heart melted. It didn’t.
Maybe thawed a bit…
A bird cawed.
She ignored the sea gull. Griffin stood near the bed. Her gaze swept over him. She wanted more. So much more.
But the bird cawed again. Louder. And she realized it wasn’t a sea gull. Not this time. “Edgar?” She grabbed for the bedding. “Seriously? Privacy! It’s a thing! And you’re not supposed to be here. You’re supposed to be watching Carmichael.”
“Uh, are you talking to your bird? Now? He’s got shitty timing.”
Edgar flew closer to her. His cries were louder, more frantic. And they were not what she wanted to hear. “We’ll be right there.” She conjured clothes for herself and Griffin. Valerie bounded out of the bed even as Edgar darted back through the open window. She grabbed Griffin’s hand. “We have to go.”
He didn’t move. “You just woke up.”
“No, I woke up a few minutes ago. We just had awesome, mind-blowing sex.”
His eyes seemed to sparkle.
“But now we have to go. According to Edgar, your brother is with Calliope and my friend is dead.” Her hands were shaking. “I didn’t think he was the one we needed to fear. Dammit, this shouldn’t have happened! Enzo was going to take me to her. Enzo was going to help me.”
“Only I killed him.” A muscle flexed in Griffin’s jaw. “And I’d fucking do it again.”
“We have to leave. Now.” She’d been pulling him toward the door but, hell, if they went downstairs, she’d probably run into Leo. Or worse, Mora. She didn’t feel like having a heart-to-heart with Fate right then. “Do you trust me?”
Because Edgar had told her where to go. He’d given her the location of Carmichael and Calliope. She could cast a spell and be there in moments.
Griffin didn’t answer her. Right. She swallowed. He didn’t trust her. He’d been just bullshitting about the love bit, so, of course, he didn’t trust her, he—
“I trust you with my life.”
Her breath heaved out. “You should not do that. Really, don’t. Way too much responsibility for me.” Her fingers threaded with his. “But hold tight for now, okay? I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
He was smiling at her as sparks began to dance in the air around them. Wind whipped through the room. His smile dimmed a bit. “Uh, Valerie—”
“Keep holding my hand. In just a moment, this will be over.”
The wind howled.
The bedroom door flew open. Leo stood there, glowering. “Valerie! What in the hell?”
“Later, Leo!” See you in hell.
She and Griffin vanished.
***
The wind stopped howling. The world stopped shaking. And Valerie opened her eyes to find herself standing in the middle of a luxury condo. The place was totally high end. Marble tile. Leather couches.
A dead witch on the floor.
Calliope. Valerie let go of Griffin’s hand and raced across the room. Calliope was sprawled on her stomach, with her hands spread at her sides. And Calliope wasn’t alone. Carmichael knelt beside her. His hands were fisted, and fury had etched deep lines onto his face.
“What did you do?” Valerie yelled at him.
But she knew, already. Edgar had come to her. He’d been following Carmichael. The shifter had led her bird right to this high-rise condo. And right to Calliope.
“Poison,” Carmichael whispered. He opened his hand, and she saw the small dart that he held. “The same poison Griffin used on the witch who killed our parents.” His gaze lifted, and he stared straight at Valerie. “She’s dead. She’s gone.”