Page 86 of Betrayed

“Lucian, I can’t—I’m?—”

“You can.” I press my mouth to her shoulder, teeth grazing her skin. “You’ll come when I tell you. Breathe.”

She tries. She holds back for me.

“Now,” I growl into her neck, and she breaks like a storm. The orgasm rips through her in a full-body quake that tears a shout from her throat. I hold her, one arm locked around her waist, the other working her clit as she rides it.

She tightens around me, and I follow her over the edge with a low curse, white flashes behind my eyelids.

We breathe. That’s all we do for a long moment—breathe, the two of us, lost in each other.

“You did perfectly,” I murmur, kissing her, and she kisses me back. I lift her and carry her to the cushions as if she weighs nothing.

She tucks herself into my side with a sigh. A happy sound that makes me want to trap her inside these four walls forever. Just us. No one else.

And no danger.

But that’s not our life. And that’s not this world.

Satisfied for the moment, I hold her. Tight. And I try to prepare myself for what I have to face next.

There’s nothing left for us in New York right now.

One day, I will rebuild our Village, I swear to it, but for now, Blaze and his family are looking into our next possible destination.

I don’t want to risk travel, not with Carlos on the loose, so our other strongholds are off the table for the moment. Staying put at Red Shutters with the Kings’ protection is our best bet for now.

For now…

Still, something is coming, and here, I thought I’d finally clawed my way out of hell.

My chest tightens. Rafe and I both understand how dangerous Carlos is. But now, my worries extend beyond him.

If Isobel is alive...

There are so many questions.

A whirlwind of emotions churns in my heart, my mind a tornado of memories and doubts. Thunder echoes in my head like a drumbeat.

A battle is coming for me. For us. Unstoppable.

And the storm rages on.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Erin

I’ve heard whispers of rumors, things not meant for my ears, but Lucian can no longer shield me from everything the way he wishes he could.

I’ve heard what they’re saying.

Bayne’s men were splitting wood, with the heavy strike of the ax blade on each piece causing it to shatter into smaller chunks to keep our constant fire burning.

They didn’t notice me standing among the trees gathering kindling. I am allowed outside as long as I stay inside the boundaries of my small invisible circle around the cabin.

It wasn’t easy to understand them through their thick brogue accents, but I know what I heard. A woman from Lucian’s past. One he thought he’d buried.

They think she’s alive.

Why did I expect anything but chaos? After all the failed plans I’ve made and the pitfalls I’ve encountered (and caused) at everyturn, how did I think he and I could finally be together without a disaster blocking us?

Isobel.

Hearing her name was like a dagger through my heart.

His first love.

Because what if she’s not only his first love, but also his one true love?

And she’s coming back from the dead to find him.