Little Lightning

Chapter 14

I will protect the one I love with my life.

Lyrical stood there, shocked, frozen. She couldn't move.

The one he loved?

Did he mean her?

No, that didn't make any sense. He had never done anything that showed he loved her.

Well, there was that time when he had shielded her with his body when that rogue ship exploded... and the time when he had sewn her the black coat she wore now after she had explained her homesickness... and when he had stayed with her until she had woken up, only an hour before.

Ok, so maybe he had shown some signs. But that didn't mean he was in love with her.

Right?

Lyrical took a step forward, then another. She stopped a foot away, hand reach up to touch the scar. She hesitated, but he turned his head so she to see it better, giving silent permission to touch it. She traced  her fingers over the raised skin. It was oddly cold, as if the blast had frozen the skin. He flinched slightly.

"I'm sorry." Lyrical whispered, eyes wide. "I'm so so sorry." He grabbed her wrist.

"Don't." He whispered back. "I've had years to mourn her. I have a new purpose now. To protect you." Lyricals heart skipped a beat. He was going to protect her? No one had really ever cared enough to want to protect her. How was she supposed to react to that?

"I think that you and I both know that sometimes time can't heal wounds." She stared at him. "Sometimes those wounds don't go away, and we feel the pain every day.  You might not know that, but I do."

He was so close. Close enough that she could kiss him if she wanted.

"Well, that was sweet." A voice behind Lyrical said. Not a few feet behind, but directly behind her. Before she could turned she felt the sadly familiar feel of the muzzle of a gun pressed to her head. "Ah ah." The voice chastised. "Don't try to resist, hon, or both you and him die." The voice purred in her ear. "Sorry, darling. Nothing personal. It's just business."

"Spike! Don't scare the subject!" A voice said. This voice, Lyrical recognized right away.

Her stomach dropped.

Yia?

No way. No, it was probably some lady that sounded just like Yia.

Lyrical Cyrax. I'm sorry we had to meet under these conditions.

The Loram? What was going on? 

"I would bow, but I'm afraid I'm a little busy not being shot," Lyrical said dryly, her back still to them. 

Spike. 

Spike obeyed the implied command, lowering the gun. She turned to face Yia and the Loram. But those faces weren't the only thing that greeted her. Several shadows stood behind them, surrounding...

Azalea and Lucas?

What in the name of--- What were they doing here? What the heck was going on? 

Azaleas eyes were narrowed as she clutched Lucas to her, while Lucas's were as wide as saucers. 

"Lyrical? What are you doing here?" Lucas asked, his voice wavering. "Why are you in the restricted area?" Lyrical didn't respond. She understood that Kirtash had brought her here to explain his odd behavior, but she didn't want to explain that to Lucas. She doubted that Lucas would understand anyway. 

We asked them to come here, Lucas. The Loram explained. Lyrical turned to stare at him, both grateful and confused. Lyrical is getting her shadows. We thought that you ought to be there.