A muscle flex in Luke’s jaw. “Get out of the way, Rayce. He’s starting to escape. She’s not going to be able to hold him much longer. There’s no time.”
“Just aim your magic at him! Don’t hurt her!” Fuck! Simple solution.
“They’re locked together…killing one will kill the other.” Luke shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
He was going to do it. The guy was going to kill Lila. The only woman that Rayce had ever loved.
His angel.
Always.
The wolf’s fury surged through him. Dark and wild and Rayce didn’t try to control it. It was the same fury that had led him to destroy his family. The same fury that had almost destroyed him.
It was the fury that made him the strongest beast on earth.
He whirled back toward Lila, his control in shreds. Luke and Leo were sending their magic out, aiming for their target, and Rayce focused on the only thing that he cared about. His claws sliced down. He cut right through the ice that had been Kale’s arms. Then he sliced into Kale’s chest, cutting Lila free.
Luke and Leo’s magic hit—it was an explosion of heat that surrounded him. He wrapped his arms around Lila, curled his body around hers, and held her. He wouldn’t let her go. No matter what happened…
Heaven.
Hell.
Death.
He would not let her go.
His eyes closed. “I love you, angel…”
***
She could fly again, and it was amazing. Lila’s wings spread behind her as she soared in the blue sky. Clouds were around her, the softest wisps of white, and they tickled her skin as she slid past them.
There was no pain. No cold. No fear.
Just the sky. Just her wings as they fluttered behind her. She was free and strong.
Heaven waited. Lila knew it. She was almost home.
But…
Something made her look down. The world was down there. The humans. The paranormals. She could see blue water, nearly as blue as the sky. An island was there, too. Small, but with sandy beaches that were almost as white as the clouds.
She’d been down there. With Rayce. With Kale. With pain.
Lila kept flying.
She’d been there…or…or maybe all of that had just been a dream. Did angels dream? Sometimes, they did. They dreamed of what it would be like to feel. To truly live.
To love.
Her wings spread wider. There was no pain when she flew.
But there was no pleasure, not any longer…
Once more, her gaze slid back down. And his name whispered from her. “Rayce…”
***
“That’s it, angel. Open your eyes. Open them up and look at me.”
His voice was warm and strong. She could feel his arms around her.
Lila opened her eyes. “Rayce.”
He smiled at her, and her heart seemed to melt. “Hell, yes.” He pulled her against him and held her even tighter. “Hell, yes.” There was joy in his laugh. Hope.
Happiness.
Then he was kissing her. Not with some raw fury, but with the most beautiful tenderness. She leaned into his kiss and savored him.
She didn’t want to look past Rayce. She was afraid of what she might find waiting. Afraid of what I am. She’d been in the ice, Lila knew that, and then—
Something brushed against her foot. Something wet…a wave?
She pulled from Rayce and finally forced herself to look around. They were on the beach. The waves were tickling her feet. Her shoes were gone. Lila had no idea where they were, and she was cradled on Rayce’s lap. “Where is…everyone else?” Kale. Where is he? Is he coming back?
“The witch and the muse are on the boat. I couldn’t get them to leave, not until they knew you were all right.”
Am I all right? Lila wasn’t sure.
“Leo is long gone—like Luke would let him stay.”
She shook her head. “Kale.”
Rayce smiled at her. A smile of pure joy. “He won’t hurt you again. He won’t hurt anyone again.”
She didn’t want hope to grow too strong. “Where…is he?”
“Gone, sweetheart. Just…gone.”
“How?”
“Luke and Leo poured so much magic into him—nothing was left. You froze him, and he exploded.”
She looked down at her hand. She remembered driving her claws into Kale’s chest. Trying to hold him. “I couldn’t let him hurt you.”
“And I couldn’t let anyone hurt you.”
Her brow furrowed. His voice had just changed. Roughened. Rayce was holding something back. “Rayce?”
He smiled and the shadows left his eyes. “It was worth it.”
What was worth it?
“I love you, Lila. I love you more than anything on earth, and I hope you will always believe that.”
He loved her… “Even if I’m a demon?”
He kissed her lips. Still so tender. “Didn’t I tell you…you’ll always be my angel?”
Yes, yes, he had. Her lips wanted to tremble, but she stopped that problem—Lila kissed him. Then she whispered, “I love you, too.”
Loved the fierce hunter, the seductive lover, and the man who cradled her so carefully.
Love…
She looked back at the house. “I don’t want to go there, not ever again.” Not ever back to the prison. “I just want to stay with you.”
“Consider it done,” Rayce told her instantly. Then he was rising, carrying her. She wrapped her arms around him and held tight.
Was it all really over? Was this the way it was going to end?
She got to leave with her wolf.
A boat waited at the dock. It bobbed in the water.
“Anywhere you want to go,” Rayce told her. “Any place on earth, I’ll take you there.”
Truth. The knowledge whispered through her. He would leave with her, and never look back. But… “They were your pack.”
“And you’re my life.” Simple.
Her heart raced faster.
“Never forget that, Lila. You are worth more to me than anyone…any trade is worth you.”
Truth.
His mouth pressed to hers once more. A few moments later, they were on the boat. Cordelia and Sabrina rushed toward her. They threw their arms around her. She was safe.
Protected.
And hunted no more.
***
Luke watched the boat leave. He could have stopped them. After all, that was his captain driving the boat. But he didn’t.
Because Lila had made her choice.
Just as Rayce had made his.
“Okay, want to tell me how in the hell that woman lived?” Julian demanded. The panther shifter was pacing nearby.
Luke smiled. “She lived because I made sure that she had the right mate at her side.”
“Bullshit. You screwed with their lives, you brought hell down, you—”
“I gave Lila a mate who would sacrifice anything for her. Anything at all.” He turned toward Julian and raised his brows. “Did you notice anything different about Rayce at the end?”
“Yeah, he was freaking insane. Mad to save her. You were going to kill Lila, what did you expect him to do?”
“I would never have killed her.” That was just insulting. “I brought the woman here to keep her safe, didn’t I? I helped her back at the cabin.” He was such a helper. Why didn’t people see that? Why did he always get the bad rap?
Oh, right. Lord of the Dark.
“Lila locked herself in with Kale. She chose that fate…because she wanted to keep Rayce alive.” What a sacrifice. Impressive. Rayce had been right. Sacrifices were often required… “And he chose to put himself between her and any pain that would come.”
“Pain that came from you. Are you forgetting that fact?”
Julian was such a hard ass sometimes.
Luke sighed. “Did you want me to let Kale loose? Because I didn’t see any other way of stopping him.”
> “Rayce left the island. He isn’t coming back. He chose her.”
Luke nodded, pleased. “Just as I knew he would. Even if he had to sacrifice.” And what a sacrifice it had been. Did Lila even understand what he’d done for her?
Probably not.
“I hate it when you play games.” Disgusted, Julian stalked away.
Luke just stood there. What his friend didn’t understand was that every damn thing was a game. And someone had to watch all the pieces. Someone had to figure out strategy in advance. Someone had to do all that shit.
Some days, the game was harder than he wanted it to be.
Some days, he didn’t win.
But that day…His head turned, and Luke glanced at the boat as it chugged away.
I did.
***
Rayce had taken Lila to New York. It was beautiful. New York at Christmas. The streets were filled with humans, and their excitement charged the air.
They’d gone ice skating. Lila had laughed as she zoomed across the ice. It’s almost like flying! That was what she’d said to him.
He’d kissed her.
He’d taken her through Central Park. She’d said that she’d heard stories about that place, but that it was even more beautiful up-close.
She was the beautiful one.
He booked a suite at the fanciest hotel he could find. Rayce wanted Lila to be treated to everything she desired. An angel deserved the best…
And that was where they were right then. In the best hotel he’d found. Lila stood next to the windows that overlooked the glittering city. Her shoulders were relaxed, and her fingers were spread against the glass.
Rayce dropped his coat and walked toward her. She turned at his approach, and a wide smile curved her lips. Her eyes actually seemed to light up when she looked at him.
I will never deserve her.
“I don’t feel cold any longer.” She said the words with wonder. “I mean, I did…when we were skating and then when we were in Central Park…” She gave a nervous laugh. “But it was a…a normal cold. Does that make sense?” She shook her head, sending her thick, red hair sliding over her shoulders. “I’m not cold on the inside.” Her voice softened. “And I can’t bring back the ice.”
He caught her hand in his. Twined his fingers with hers. “Have you tried?”
Solemnly, Lila nodded. Then she leaned forward on her tip-toes, and she pressed a kiss to his lips. “I can’t pull up the ice. I’m just…I’m not cold any longer.”
Those words seemed to squeeze around his heart. He’d tried to shield her from the blast of magic, but he’d worried he hadn’t been strong enough.
She’s all right. She’s here with me.
“Will you make love to me?”
The woman sure didn’t need to ask. He lifted her into his arms and she gave a light, musical laugh. He carried her into the bedroom. Then he lowered her so that her feet touched the lush carpet. He stripped her slowly, tenderly kissing her body. Caressing every sweet inch of her.
Her scent wrapped around him. Lavender and candy apples.
Her hand rose and trailed over his chest. His dick was hard and thick. Just being around her aroused him—and Rayce knew that would never change. He stripped off his clothes and started to push her onto the bed, but Lila slid to her knees before him. Her silken fingertips went to his cock.
“Lila.”
Then her mouth was on him. Warm and wet and driving him insane. Lust pounded through him, pushing him to the edge. She worked him with her tongue and her lips. Innocence and passion all at once.
His hands fisted. He tried to fucking count to ten. Tried to do anything so he wouldn’t come yet—
“Enough.”
He picked her up and they tumbled onto the bed together. He rolled until Lila was on top of him. His cock shoved at the entrance to her body. Wet. Hot.
His heaven.
Lila lifted up onto her knees, then she pushed down, taking all of him inside of her. Again and again. Their hands met. Their fingers locked together. Their gazes held.
Then she was leaning forward and kissing him. His cock pushed even deeper into her. He drove up, harder…
Lila came. She tore her mouth from his and gasped out his name. He’d been waiting for her. Needing her to find her pleasure first.
But now he didn’t hold back. He rolled them over, pinning her beneath him. He caught her legs and lifted them over his shoulders so he could drive in deep. And he did. He plunged into her tight heat, and she arched up against him. The pleasure beat at his body. His cock tightened even more—
He surged into her on a tide of release that fucking hollowed him out. His body shook, and he felt her tremors of release around him. The pleasure was so good…so perfect…he never wanted it to end.
With Lila, it doesn’t have to end. She’s mine, and I’m hers. Forever.
They’d both made the choice.
He kissed her lips.
No regrets.
Chapter Eighteen
“Lila, it’s time to leave.”
Her eyes fluttered open. “Where are we going?”
“Home.”
Wait…that wasn’t Rayce’s voice.
Leo was in front of her.
Leo.
Lila jerked upright, her heart racing. “Stay away from me!”
Leo flinched and then he took a step back. “I…understand you’re probably not thrilled to see me, but I swear, I’m here for good news this time.” His lips lifted in a hopeful smile. “I found a way for you. That’s why it’s time to go.”
Where was Rayce? Lila glanced around the hotel room. He wasn’t in bed with her, and when she touched his pillow, it was cold.
“I know what you want,” Leo continued. “And I can give it to you. There’s no need for you to be here any longer.”
There was every need. Lila slipped from the bed. She was wearing Rayce’s shirt, and it fell to mid-thigh, covering her so well. His scent surrounded her—comforted her. “What are you talking about? Where do you think I’m going?”
“Heaven.” He stared at her expectantly.
“Is this some kind of joke?”
“No, it’s no joke. It’s time for you to come home.” He lifted his hand as if he’d touch her, but then he stopped. “It’s never happened before, so I didn’t think it could happen. But then the werewolf gave up his beast and everything changed. Your demon side is gone—the angel is still there. I think—I think maybe she was always there. Your wings are coming back. You’re back. And it’s time to go.”
Her head was pounding. He was saying a lot. A whole lot that didn’t make sense. But one thing was sticking out from Leo’s ramble of words. The werewolf gave up his beast. “Say it again.”
“The angel is still there. There is so much about the fallen I don’t understand. I didn’t think there was a choice. I thought when you and Kale were together, the darkness would overwhelm you, but your angel side was still there. You fought the darkness. I got your witch friend to scry the future for us—your wings are coming back. And you can go—”
She marched toward him. “About my werewolf and his beast. Say that part again.” Where is my werewolf?
Leo frowned. “But, you know this part.”
Obviously, she didn’t. “Tell me.”
He ran a hand over his face. “We couldn’t separate you and Kale. You’d frozen yourself with him. We had to blast Kale—it was his weakest moment. We knew we had to attack while you held him for us. But our magic was going to hit you, too. Rayce shielded you with his body. That was…a ton of magic going at him. Light and dark. It is only expected that there were going to be repercussions.” He paused. “Only to be expected,” Leo muttered.
“Repercussions,” Lila whispered.
Leo’s hand dropped. “He was willing to give up his beast. Even before that final attack, he’d come to me. He’d said he wanted to make a deal—that he would trade anything for you. He wanted you to have your life back.”
r /> Lila sucked in a sharp breath. “He said I was worth anything.”
Now Leo just shrugged. “So I guess that means you were worth his beast.” His hand lifted toward her once more. “It’s time to go now, Lila. Your wings will start to show again. We have to get you off this earth.”
“I’m…not an angel.”
He stared at her. “Yes, you are.”
And she heard the hotel room door open with a soft click. Her heart jerked at that sound, and she ran toward the door. She saw Rayce in that doorway. He had a brightly wrapped Christmas present in his hands.
He looked up at her, and he smiled.
But then his gaze slid to her right. To Leo. Rayce’s smile dimmed. “What in the hell are you doing here, Leo?”
“Her wings are coming back. It’s better for her to go now.”
She didn’t feel her wings. She just felt her heart racing too fast. Lila hurried toward Rayce. He was slowly lowering the package and glaring at Leo.
She caught Rayce’s hands, pulling the gift from him and putting it on the floor. “You didn’t tell me.”
His stare snapped to her face.
“Your beast…your wolf…you didn’t tell me it was gone.”
His jaw hardened. “Doesn’t matter.”
“It does. Your wolf is a part of you.” Pain knifed into her. “And you had to give it up for me?”
His hand slid under her jaw. “Worth it.” Two simple words.
Truth.
“Lila…” Her name whispered from him. “You think I wouldn’t trade anything for you? Wouldn’t do anything for you? Angel, from the first look, I knew I’d fucking wreck this world for you.”
He’d given up his beast. For a shifter, that had to be like cutting his own soul in half.
Behind her, Leo cleared his throat. “Lila, everything can go back to the way it was before for you. You can fly again. You can leave this place behind.”
Leave this place? Leave Rayce? “No.”
Rayce’s eyelids flickered.
“No.” This time, her voice was even stronger. She twined their fingers together, and then Lila glanced back at Leo. “I’m not leaving him.”
“But angels…”
“I want a deal.”
Leo’s face flashed with surprise.
“Get the Lord of the Dark here, right now. I want to deal with you both.”