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CHAPTER TWENTY

L ucius wasn't exactly sure what was going through his mind.

After coming out of that dream, everything had been hazy and sluggish, and it wasn't until after Tavia had left him outside that mansion that he had come to his senses.

Now, he wasn't sure what was happening, but after seeing Hacinda’s mate in a state of decay, he couldn't step away.

She had been dear to Lucius.

They had bonded in a way where he had truly found a friend, and everything she had done made sense, because he would do that and more for Tavia .

Tavia held his hand, frowning, clearly annoyed with his decision, and she understood why. He didn't even know if this was going to work.

This had been a gift from his parents, and he only had the story. They told him about the components and what it would do.

When they all entered Mario's bedroom, and Hacinda went to his side, sitting on the bed and grabbing his hand. The human slept, breathing in and out, mouth open, hoarse.

Lucius stepped on the opposite side of the bed and let go of Tavia’s hand. He opened the pocket watch, and an image of his parents dancing hovered over the clock.

Tavia leaned over.

“Is that them?” she whispered, and he nodded.

Then Lucius pushed in two buttons on the side, and the clock portion of the pocket watch opened.

Hidden within the component was a glittering yellow stone.

But this wasn't just a light crystal. Light crystals were known to remove the infection from a darkthing, but this had been imbued with healing light magic, empowering it.

He took the crystal out and closed the pocket watch, slipping it back into his pocket.

Then he leaned over.

“I need to put this over his chest,” he said to Hacinda, who pulled the covers down and unbuttoned the front of Mario's shirt. Mario still did not stir.

She nodded and gripped Mario's hand.

Lucius took the bright yellow stone and placed it on Mario's chest.

At first, nothing happened, but then it pulsed.

Mario stirred and then began convulsing.

“Hold him,” he said to Tavia.

Tavia went around him and pressed on Mario's chest, with Hacinda on the other side. Mario's eyes opened, the natural color replaced by red and milky eyes.

He yelled, and the scream tore through the bedroom, causing Hacinda to scream, “Stop it. Stop it. It's hurting him more.”

“Wait,” Tavia said. “Look.”

Starting from Mario's hands, the black veins started retreating.

“It's working,” Tavia added, stunned by the sight .

She looked over at Hacinda, who started crying.

Lucius continued to hold the gem on to Mario's chest as he convulsed and yelled.

But as the dark veins retreated, color began returning to the human's face, his pale skin shifting to a warm peachy tone.

His milky white eyes were replaced with brilliant blue.

The ashy tone of his blonde hair returned, as blonde as the yellow in this gem.

His screams subsided as the gem began darkening.

It felt hot in Lucius' hand, but once all the black veins had disappeared, Lucius pulled the gem away. Then, in his palm, he created fire so bright and blue that it melted away the stone, removing any darkness the gem had collected.

Mario breathed heavily, and Hacinda leaned over him.

“Mario?” She blinked.

“What... I feel?” He licked his lips. “I'm healed.”

He looked over at Lucius, and Tavia stepped back, her eyes misty as she smiled.

Hacinda threw herself over Mario as he hugged her back.

“I think our work here is done,” Lucius leaned over to Tavia.

Hacinda looked over and smiled.

“Thank you,” she whispered, crying, as the human sat up and, probably for the first time in decades, hugged his wife back.

Lucius grabbed Tavia's hand, and they excused themselves from the home, gripping each other's hands as they walked down the street.

“I can't believe that worked,” Tavia said.

“But Lucius . . .” she stopped. “This whole heist was to get that for you. Why would you waste it?”

“How could I not?” he said, brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Once, Hacinda was a dear friend of mine, and I never understood how she could have betrayed me. But I do now, and I'm not angry. I should be, but I'm not.”

“But the gem . . . and what about the Brotherhood? The ones who she betrayed you to? Won’t they come? What if she tells them?”

“Don't you worry, pretty dove,” he said, leaning over and grabbing her face.

“I know what was in there, and now we know it works.

I don't know if he's still a vampyre, but it healed him.

And we never knew if it was going to take away the fact that I was turned.

It did what most light crystals do, and maybe that's all it was meant to.”

Lucius sighed. “And as far as the Brotherhood is concerned, well, we will have to wait and see, but I’m not worried about Hacinda. If what she said is true, she’ll be gone from the Golden City by morning.”

“But we should celebrate.” He slid his hands down to her waist, a smile returning to his face. “We went to a magnificent ball that I thoroughly enjoyed—most of it. Our heist was successful. I have my beloved pocket watch back, and we saved someone’s life.”

“Why do I feel like we came out on the wrong end of this?” Tavia mumbled.

Lucius clutched her sides, tugging her closer. “I've quite enjoyed this journey, and I hope that it can continue. Except next time, do not undress in the middle of a yard where everyone can see you.”

Tavia laughed. “Nobody could see me, and I was quick about it, but I did leave that gorgeous gown out there.”

Lucius shrugged. “Let someone else wear it for a night. We need to celebrate.”

Tavia didn't want to celebrate just yet because there was one thing that she needed to know.

The stars slowly receded, and a warm, beautiful hue tinged the sky.

“Lucius,” she said, “before we revel in our success, I need to go home.”

“Then let's go home,” he said and pulled the transporter rod out.

“Wait, Wiley?”

“All right, let's get the little squirrel, then we'll go.”

She nodded and gripped his hands because she was terrified of what she would find when she finally returned home.

What if her parents were really dead?

What if she had spent too much time trying to secure a new future for her family that she lost them in the process?

Lucius opened a portal back to his home. He looked over at her, grabbing her hand.

He didn’t need to say it, but she could see the worry in his gaze.

He was thinking the same thing.