“Tomorrow, darling,” he said, pressing his lips to her forehead.
Melissa reached out to link her fingers with Tarian’s. “This will work,” she said, more to herself than to him.
“It will,” he promised, bending low to her ear. “And tomorrow we’ll be free of all this.”
It was a happy thought. Tomorrow would be the start of their fresh beginning.
All they had to do was survive the next few hours and take down the one necromancer strong enough to rival Tarian.
Chapter Seventeen
The city lights flashed by the window as they sped downtown.
“You’re sure about this?” Tarian asked again.
“Yes.”
“Because we can come up with an alternative plan.”
“We really can’t,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”
“Only if you’re sure.”
“I am.”
“We could—”
“My God, I think I’ve changed my mind.” She put her hand to her forehead. “I can’t possibly take on this responsibility. Let me out so I can swoon on the street.”
His lips twitched. “All right. I won’t ask again.”
Melissa reached out for his hand. “This will work. You and Lucian have been over every scenario. We’ve got Dominic’s location, and my father’s vampires are ready and waiting. All we have to do is talk until the lights go out, and if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s charming, meaningless chatter. I tell you, my past as a socialite has prepared me for just this moment.”
Tarian raised her hand to his lips. “I still don’t like the idea of putting you in danger.”
“We need this,” she replied. “Besides, you’ll be right beside me.”
“Always.”
Silence fell between them. Melissa tried to tell herself this was no big deal, but if she had a heartbeat, it’d be racing. Walking into Dominic’s trap was like a rabbit skipping happily into a wolf’s den.
But at least she had backup.
She studied Tarian’s profile, bathed in the neon lights from beyond their window. He’d been rigid, his jaw clenched, since he’d made the call to his grandfather. Though she trusted him to do what was best for his people, she couldn’t imagine the pain of betraying a family member. One who had been in his life for the better part of a millennium.
“You’ll make an excellent elder.” The words slipped out of her.
Tarian turned to her with shuttered eyes. “What?”
“I was just… When this is all over, you should take up Abbey’s suggestion.”
“It isn’t a position I ever wanted to fill.”
“I know but it’s one you deserve. Everything you’ve done since we’ve met has been for the greater good. Your community needs a leader like that.”
“For the greater good, or for a woman I found intoxicating?” he asked, turning back to the window.
She shook her head, even knowing he couldn’t see her. “If the choice really came down to me or your people, I know what you’d pick,” she whispered.
“Do you?” he replied. “That makes one of us.”
Pleasure suffused her, but it didn’t completely silence the nagging voice in the back of her mind.
“Will things change?” she asked.
“Change?”
“When you’re an elder. I know it won’t be the same as when we first met. You’ll have to make decisions for thousands of people instead of just yourself. A vampire girlfriend might not be in your best interests.”
For a moment he didn’t move. When his head finally swung her way, Melissa found herself captured by the intensity of his gaze. He didn’t twitch, didn’t make any attempt to move closer, but still she felt the power of his presence pulse through the car. “I’m not going anywhere. Not until you ask me to leave,” he said.
“Then you’ll be here forever.”
A ghost of a smile passed over his lips. “Good.”
The car turned before she could say more. They drove into an underground parking complex, and tension filled her body.
“We’re here,” she said unnecessarily.
“Call your father.”
She nodded, her phone already dialing.
“Here,” Lucian said when he answered.
“We’re arriving. How much time do you need?”
“We’re surrounding the building, and my computer specialists are hacking the system, but it’s more complicated than we suspected. We need at least fifteen minutes if not more.”
She chewed her lip. Stall for fifteen minutes with an evil genius who will want to throw a hood over her head and hustle her out immediately. Easy peasy.