Willow woke slowly the next morning and smiled at the sensation of Declan’s body enveloping hers. He nuzzled her neck before lifting his head to prop it on his hand. Willow rolled over to look up at him. Her smile faded when she saw the uneasiness in his eyes.
“I’m not going to stab myself with the sword,” she said.
Her words coaxed a smile from him. “I know.”
“Then why do you look so worried?”
“Because there’s a lot of power in that sword, and it’s been given to you.”
“And you don’t think I’m ready for it?”
He skimmed his fingers up and down her arm. “I think you’re more than ready for it, but the demons are going to want their weapon back, and they’ll come after you with everything they have.”
“Are you so sure it’s a demon sword? Maybe the hunters or Savages or someone not demon forged it on earth.”
“Maybe,” he allowed. “But I don’t think so, and neither do you. Those Savages were as surprised as us when they saw what it could do. If Kirkau kept that information from them, it’s because the demon didn’t want them to know about its power. Which means it can probably be used against demons too.”
“Oh,” she breathed as the full depth of her responsibility with the sword settled on her shoulders.
She hadn’t asked for this, but she wouldn’t shy away from it either. She was more than ready to protect the sword and meet whatever challenges lay ahead of them.
“Yes, oh.”
“Easy,” Willow whispered when his eyes turned red and the color returned to the corners of his eyes. She now knew she wouldn’t lose him when that color emerged, and it did make him stronger, but she didn’t like seeing him so immersed in his demon side. “We’ll get through this together.”
Declan rested his hand on her hip. “We will.”
“And the sword will come in handy while we’re searching for Lucien.”
“How is that?”
“It will destroy anyone who gets in our way.”
The smile curving his lips didn’t reach his eyes.
“We’re going to find him,” she insisted.
“He could be dead.”
“He’s not. If he were, Vicky and the others would have found his body in the woods too. He’s alive.”
Neither of them said what was on their minds, but he knew they were both thinking Lucien probably wished he was dead… if he wasn’t already a monster. He’d been missing for over two weeks; a lot could happen in that time.
Today, they would set out to meet up with Killean, Simone, and the Alliance members who remained searching for him. Declan wouldn’t stop until they found him, but once they did, would they have to destroy him?
“We’re going to find him,” Willow said again. He’d sacrificed himself for her; she wouldn’t settle for anything less.
“We will,” Declan said and kissed her.
Willow melted against him as his hands and mouth did things to her that should be illegal and probably were in some states. She worried about what the future held, but she was positive they could get through anything together. She’d never expected to fall in love with someone like Declan, but now that she had him, she was never going to let him go.
Declan marveled at how much she’d healed his broken soul as he sank his fangs into her throat. He vowed to do whatever it took to make sure he never lost her.
Releasing his bite on her neck, he entered her and whispered, “I love you.”
“I love you too, forever and always.”
She felt his joy through their bond and smiled when she realized this beautiful, amazing, tormented man was hers for eternity.