Bonds of Light and Fire

54. Bloodbound Claims

Vaughan strode down the hall, his gaze fixed on Luciana's door. He ignored the dull pain in his legs and tugged half of his hair back into a ponytail. The rest curled over his shoulders. It was getting longer than he preferred. He'd have to trim it soon.

Vaughan pushed the thought aside as he reached Luciana's room. He rapped on the door, then nudged it open. Luciana lay on the bed with her back facing him. She didn't stir. Briefly, Vaughan wondered if she was asleep. He closed the door softly and crossed the room.

Luciana's shoulders jerked and she sniffed before clearing her throat. She twisted, then bolted upright. Vaughan took half a step back, worried that he'd startled her. Luciana's jaw trembled as she rolled out of bed and staggered towards him. Her legs gave out after just a few steps, but Vaughan already had his arms around her.

Luciana wept silently as he lifted her and carried her back to the bed. He sat down, still holding her. She hooked her arms around his neck and pressed her face against his chest. Vaughan rested his cheek atop her head and began to comb his fingers through her hair. Luciana didn't protest.

"It's all right," Vaughan murmured. "You're safe. They are gone, and you are free."

"I hear so many voices," Luciana rasped. "They keep saying..." She broke off with a sob.

"They are gone, and you are free," Vaughan repeated. "You're safe. It's all right. I'm here. I won't leave you. You're safe."

"You came for me."

"I will always come when you call, remember? I'm just sorry it took so long." He kept stroking her hair and drew deep breaths, trying to slow his pounding heart. "I'm here now. You're safe. I'm here."

Luciana shivered violently and Vaughan held her tighter. "Don't leave. Please don't leave." She shook her head, fighting back sobs.

Gently, Vaughan tilted her head up until her golden gaze met his. "I'm not going to leave you, my Light. I promise." He took in her glassy eyes and tear streaked face. Vaughan touched his forehead to hers. Luciana closed her eyes.

Minutes passed and they just sat there, growing calmer in one another's presence. Gradually, Luciana's tears ceased falling and her breathing evened out. Vaughan let her be the one to pull away first. She didn't move far. She only laid her head on his shoulder and repositioned her knees. Vaughan kept one arm around her shoulders and let his other hand fall on her leg. Luciana tensed, but didn't ask him to move.

"I'm not ready to talk about it," she murmured. "But...what happened to them?"

"They're dead." Vaughan lowered his lips to her hair. "We interrogated them, then disposed of them."

"How?"

"Brutally." Vaughan sighed and began to rub her shoulder. "Aeron and I tortured them. When we had what we needed, Aeron killed them. I burnt the bodies to ashes and Rowan and Lorcan were supposed to dispose of them from there."

"What did you learn?"

"We can talk about that later."

"I want to know." She gulped down a shaky breath. "I want to know why they chose me."

Vaughan hesitated, but finally relented. Luciana said nothing as he told her what Kron, Malik, and the other two males had revealed to them. She just continued to shiver, and held onto him a little tighter. When Vaughan finally finished speaking, Luciana remained silent for several long minutes.

"My father is a Revolutionist?" She whispered. "He wanted to use me against you? All of you? And now war might come sooner because of me?"

"No, not because of you," Vaughan interrupted. "None of this is because of you."