Heart of a Hunter

19: No Turning Back

Sam's POV:

Blair's head rested against my chest, her body warm and soft, curled into mine like we belonged there—like we'd been made to fit together this way. I ran my fingers slowly through her hair, feeling the strands slip through my hands, grounding me in this moment. It was quiet now, the world outside still and calm after the storm. But inside, everything felt so much more intense, charged with something deeper, more real than I'd felt in a long time.

She'd said she loved me. And I'd said it back.

I could still hear her voice, the way it trembled with fear and hope when she whispered, I love you, Sam. It echoed in my mind, settling into a part of me that I hadn't realized was empty until she'd filled it. I didn't just love her because of the way she needed me, or because I wanted to protect her. I loved her because she made me feel like me again, like I wasn't just this guy running from one fight to the next. She made me feel like I was worth something more.

But now, lying here with her, the weight of everything else was starting to creep back in. The letter, the man who'd come to warn us, the mystery surrounding her family's death—it all felt bigger, more dangerous, like it was closing in on us. Loving Blair had changed everything, but it had also made things more complicated. More risky. I had more to lose now.

And the truth was, that terrified me.

Blair shifted slightly in my arms, letting out a soft sigh as she nuzzled closer, her hand resting on my chest. Her touch sent a wave of warmth through me, and for a moment, I pushed the fear aside, focusing on her instead. She was here. She loved me. That was enough.

But still, I couldn't ignore the growing sense that something was coming—something we weren't ready for.

I glanced down at her, watching the way her lashes fluttered against her cheeks as she breathed in and out, her face relaxed for the first time since I'd met her. It killed me to think that she couldn't just stay like this—safe, content, away from the darkness that always seemed to find us.

But I knew better. In our world, peace was temporary. There was always something waiting around the corner.

I swallowed hard, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She stirred slightly, her eyes slowly blinking open as she looked up at me with a sleepy smile. "You're still awake?" she murmured, her voice soft and laced with sleep.

"Yeah," I whispered back, running my thumb gently over her shoulder. "Just thinking."

Blair propped herself up on her elbow, her eyes searching mine with concern. "About what?"

I hesitated for a second, not wanting to drag her back into the mess that we'd left behind for just a little while. But I couldn't hide it from her. Not now. "About what happens next," I admitted softly.

She nodded, her expression serious as she sat up a little more, the sheet falling slightly off her shoulders. "Me too," she said quietly, her eyes flicking down to her hands. "It's like... every time I think I'm starting to understand what's happening, something else comes along that makes me feel even more lost."

I reached out, taking her hand in mine, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You're not lost, Blair. We're going to figure this out. The letter, that guy who showed up—we'll dig into all of it."

Blair nodded, but I could still see the uncertainty in her eyes. She wasn't just afraid of the mystery surrounding her family; she was afraid of what it meant for us—for the future we were building together.

"I don't want to lose this," she whispered, echoing the same fear she'd shared earlier. "I don't want to lose you."

"You won't," I said firmly, pulling her closer so she could see how serious I was. "I'm right here, Blair. I'm not going anywhere. No matter what happens, I'm staying."

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she leaned into me, pressing her forehead against mine. "I love you," she whispered, her voice shaky but full of emotion.

"I love you too," I whispered back, feeling those words settle deep in my chest, like a promise. A promise I intended to keep, no matter what.

But even as we shared that moment, I could feel the weight of what was coming pressing down on us. I knew that whatever we were facing wasn't just another monster or some random case. This was something bigger, something more dangerous. And if the Arcani were involved, then it wasn't going to be a simple fight.

I thought about what Dean had said earlier—about the Arcani being an ancient, secretive group. I'd read about them in Dad's journal, seen glimpses of them in old hunter lore, but nothing concrete. They were like shadows, always lurking in the background, manipulating events from behind the scenes. And now, they were tied to Blair, to her family's death.

That thought sent a chill through me. Blair wasn't just some victim in all of this. She was at the center of it. And that made things a hell of a lot more complicated.

"We need to talk to Dean," I said quietly, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. "I think there's more to this than we realize. The Arcani... they're not just some random group. They're dangerous, and if they're after you, we need to be ready."

Blair swallowed, her eyes wide with fear, but she nodded. "I trust you," she said softly. "Whatever happens, I trust you."

Her words hit me hard, filling me with a mixture of responsibility and fear. I had to protect her. I had to figure this out. Not just for her, but for us.

I stood up, pulling Blair with me as I gently kissed her forehead. "Let's get some answers."

We dressed quickly, the weight of what was coming hanging over us like a dark cloud. Blair slipped her hand into mine as we stepped out of the room, and I gave it a reassuring squeeze. We were in this together. And no matter what came next, I wasn't going to let anything happen to her.

Not while I was still breathing.

Dean was sitting at the small table in the corner of the motel room, the laptop open in front of him, papers scattered across the surface. His head jerked up when we walked in, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took us in.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his tone casual but laced with that protective edge he always carried when it came to me. He wasn't stupid—he could tell something had shifted between Blair and me, but now wasn't the time for teasing. We had bigger things to worry about.

"Not really," I said, sitting down across from him, Blair still standing close by. "We need to talk about the Arcani."

Dean raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I've been digging through Dad's journal and some of Bobby's notes. The Arcani are serious business, Sam. They're not like anything we've dealt with before."

I nodded, my stomach tightening. "I know. And now they're tied to Blair's family. We need to figure out what they want and why."

Dean's eyes flicked to Blair for a second, then back to me. "And if they're coming for her?"

I looked at Blair, my heart pounding in my chest. "Then we stop them."

Blair's hand tightened around mine, and I felt the weight of what we were up against settle over me. This was it. There was no turning back now.

But as I looked at her, standing beside me with that quiet strength in her eyes, I knew one thing for certain:

We weren't facing this alone. And as long as we had each other, we'd find a way to get through whatever was coming next.