It was the last sound I heard before everything went black.
CHAPTER 35
Petro had it all wrong. I didn’t go to hell.
Only heaven could fill my lungs with such a sweet, wondrous aroma. Aric’s scent surrounded me. I opened my eyes to find him sleeping next to me in my bed, my body tucked protectively against his. I thought I’d dreamed my fight to the death, until fragmented bits of memories flooded my mind. The sound of the walls crashing. The feel of strong arms wrenching me from the burning floor. The cold night breeze slapping against my hot skin. And Emme’s healing light.
I raised my fingertips slowly and pushed the singed hair away from Aric’s brow.
His steamy brown eyes blinked open. “Hi, sweetness,” he whispered.
“Hi, wolf.” My smile faded. “You saved me, didn’t you?”
Aric stroked my tears away with his thumbs and gathered me to him. “I didn’t think I’d reach you in time.”
“But you did.”
“Yeah. I did.”
Worry made my insides churn. “What about my sisters?”
Aric stroked my back with his large hand. “Safe. In their rooms. With my wolves. Except for Taran. Gemini left after he brought her home. He patted her head good-bye.” Aric chuckled. “I don’t think Taran liked that very much.”
“Probably not.” Aric wore only sweatpants. I smiled against his bare chest, wondering what I looked like…and who had dressed me in my tank and shorts.
“Your sisters cleaned you up,” Aric answered, likely scenting my sudden nervousness. “I stayed to make sure you were safe. It was a hell of a fight, but we ended the bloodlust.” His hand stopped against my lower back. “Do you mind that I stayed?”
My husky voice fell lower. “No. I like you with me.”
A gentle purr rumbled against my breasts. Aric growled—soft and sexy—beckoning me closer to him.
But something didn’t seem right.
I lifted my head and peered over his broad shoulder. He frowned. “What are you looking at?”
I slumped back down and nestled my body closer to his. “It almost seems strange not to find a fire-breathing ax murderer with a forked tail and six eyeballs lurking next to the bed.”
“There aren’t any mutant vamps with chain saws in the closet either. I already checked.”
We stopped laughing when Aric fixed his gaze on my lips. “I had to give you mouth-to-mouth,” he murmured.
I swallowed hard, trembling as the surging warmth between us amplified into a tantalizing heat. “Sorry I missed it.”
No vampires. No bloodlust. No psychotic preternaturals waiting to eat me. Just me and Aric.
In bed.
He leaned in, drawing me to him, his lips meeting mine hard.
Aric was a force of nature. And for once my beast was no match for the elements….