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“Zav,” I breathe out his name.

His body shakes with the thunderous breaths he takes.

“Zav,” I say again. “I’m here. I’m here and I’m okay.”

I can tell he’s not fully with me. My guess would be that he’s fighting his baser, vampire instincts at the moment. Taking out that many other vampires couldn’t have been easy and if I were to guess, he’s been hanging on by a thread up until now.

“Zavier,” my voice breaks on his name. “Come back to me. I’m begging you. I’m right here. I’m safe. Please, baby.”

When his pupils continue to stay enlarged, I worry not even I will be able to pull him back from this. I’m not afraid of him, though. I ignore the gore beneath my shoes and close the distance between us. He lets Genevieve’s head drop and I try not to gag as my hand finds the back of his neck.

“Hey.” I smile, seeing his eyes begin to return to normal at my touch. “There you are. I knew you’d find me.” I wet my lips with my tongue, trying to keep my tears at bay. “I love you, Zav. I know I didn’t say it before and I’m so sorry, but I want you to know now that I love you.” Stroking the hair at the base of his neck I revel in him being in front of me.

Slowly, I feel him place his hands on my hips. “You … I’m not imagining this am I?”

“No.” I shake my head, sniffling. “I’m here, baby. I’m alive. Looks like I was trying to get out to find you and at the same time, you were coming for me. We really are mates, aren’t we?”

His fingers stroke my cheeks gently like he’s still trying to convince himself that I’m alive and in one piece.

“I love you,” I say again. Now that I’ve said the words I want to keep saying them.

He presses his forehead to mine and closes his eyes. “Fuck, Celine. I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. I thought … I couldn’t survive it if I lost you. I love you, too. You are … you’re my soul. Without you there would be nothing left of me.”

He moves in to kiss me and I cringe away. “Um … maybe kiss me after you shower, hm? I wouldn’t mind a shower first myself.”

He seems to realize then that he’s covered in blood. “Yeah, good … that’s a good idea.”

I can tell he’s still a little dazed, but he’s returning and that’s all that matters.

“Please, get me the hell out of here,” I beg, and he does just that.

CHAPTER 51

ZAVIER

She’s in my arms.

She’s alive.

She’s okay.

I keep repeating this mantra to help calm myself down. I went into a rage back there. I don’t know if I’ve ever lost control like that in my entire existence, but I saw Genevieve and her posse and I fucking lost it. She took mymate. The one woman I’ve ever truly loved. I couldn’t leave that unpunished and she knew that.

She fought back hard, I’ll give her that, but she was no match for my lethal rage.

I clutch Celine tighter to me and breathe in her scent for the millionth time since she found me in the hall. I refused to let her go and told her as much. Since I had totaled my car, we were out of a ride, but I couldn’t wait for a taxi to take us. Not as if any sane person would’ve taken us in our current state.

I ran us home faster than I ever have before, the people and city of Chicago a blur around us.

I turn the shower on to warm and gently peel her clothes off her body. They smell of mildew and urine and other things I don’t want to think about. Like her blood.

My fingers tremble as I toss her clothes in a pile and mine join them. I’ll burn them later.

I check the shower, finding it warm enough and tug Celine in with me. Immediately the water at our feet turns red as it swirls down the drain.

Celine nuzzles her nose against my bare chest, and I run my hands up and down her back.

She sniffles and I close my eyes, resting my chin on top of her head.