Page 28 of The Lycans: Vol Four

“How much do ye remember?”

I gave myself a few seconds to focus on his question before answering. “I remember everything up until I was shot.” My heart started racing as I thought about D. As if Odhran knew where my thoughts were headed, a deep rumbling noise came from the center of his chest, and he shook his head slowly.

“No worries. That bastard has been handled and is never going tae hurt ye again.” He said that last part on a growl, his eyes briefly flashing blue before he garnered his control. “I wanted tae drag out his death, make it slow, painful.” He glanced off as if thinking of all the things he wanted to do. “But ye were injured. I had tae get ye out of there and tae safety.”

I licked my lips. It didn’t matter how much or how little D suffered. He was dead, and that was all I cared about.

“What about the facility?” My voice was rough from days of not using it, my throat feeling raw. My words caught on the last part as memories of my time within the clutches of the Assembly played through my mind. Gods, am I really free? Truly? “What about the Assem—” I couldn’t even finish saying the name out loud.

“Shhh.” Odhran kept trailing his fingers along my forehead and temple. “Everything is fine.”

It took me a second to respond, waiting until I made sure the horrors of the past didn’t make my voice shake. “What about Sebastian? He said he would handle it, ruin them. Did he succeed? Did he make it out okay?”

Odhran smiled and leaned in to press his lips to my forehead. I heard him inhale deeply before he pulled back.

“Sebastian and the rest of the Otherworlders he freed destroyed the facility. And last I heard—every human in it.”

I felt something burn in my chest. It wasn’t fear, wasn’t anxiety. It was something close to hope, a painful pleasure. Although I knew it was foolish to think anything could end that evil entity. I knew, despite this one facility being taken down, it wasn’t going to stop the whole organization. I was sure they had places planted all over the world.

“They’ll never stop being a reality, at least not for the foreseeable future. They’ve been around far too long and have deep roots,” Odhran finally said. “But I heard from my king, who spoke with Adryan, the leader of the American Vampire Clan, that convoys have already started moving out all across the world from both the vampires and the Lycans, as well as allies of many Otherworld factions. It’s the age in which the Otherworld hunts down the Assembly.”

“But Sebastian—he’s okay?” I repeated. He saved my life, and the worry that he didn’t make it out after risking everything for me and others made me anxious to know he was fine.

Odhran was silent for a long while, too long, and I felt dread in my belly.

“He didn’t make it out.” I didn’t phrase it like a question.

“I donna know, lass. After we escaped and I was able tae get in contact with Banner, my king, I found out no one has heard from the vampire, no’ even Adryan, his leader and cousin. We donna know if he’s alive or dead.”

I wasn’t sure what to say, didn’t know how to respond.

“But,” Odhran said, and I held my breath, “I donna think Sebastian is dead. The fooker…” He cleared his throat. “Sorry for the crass language, sweetheart.”

A burst of laughter left me. After everything we’d been through, swear words were the least offensive thing.

“The vampire is resilient, unbelievably strong, and lacks a moral compass or emotions. He’ll probably outlive all of us.”

I felt a wave of relief fill me and nodded.

For long seconds, we just sat there in silence, and then Odhran groaned. “Ah, my girl. I’ll never believe ye’re really here with me, that I finally have ye back after all this time.” He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead once more, one hand cupping my cheek, the sound of him inhaling my scent filling my head. “I know what will make ye feel better.”

He was up and heading toward the window before I could ask him what was going on. And once he slid it open and I felt the breeze move into the room, surrounding me, a smile formed on my lips.

I smelled the salt in the air and heard the waves rushing against the shore. We were close to the ocean. Very close.

I focused on Odhran. “How long ago was it…?” My throat seized as I tried to get the words through. But I didn’t need to emphasize what I meant. He knew. Just like he seemed to know all my thoughts, not because I was too expressive, but because we were undeniably linked.

He was back to the bed and sitting beside me a moment later. I felt his hand engulf mine, and for long moments, we sat there, the scent of ocean air and the sound of the waves rushing through the window filling the room.

“After ye were shot and I took out the threat, I panicked. I dinna know where tae take ye, because I dinna know where we were.” He scrubbed his free hand over his face.

I realized he had shaved since I’d been unconscious. Gone was the thick beard, and in its place was scruff that made him even more attractive to me.

“Where are we?”

“Ireland.” He smoothed a hand over my head, and I winced, even the strands painful. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” The low rumble of his voice and the worry laced within it had me instantly feeling guilty for showing any kind of pain in front of him. I knew it had to hurt him, being my mate.

“I’m okay. You’d think after all the wounds I’ve gotten I’d be used to…” My words trailed off when I saw the way his jaw clenched, watched his eyes glow blue, and heard the deadly growl that left him. “I’m okay,” I reiterated and gave him a smile I hoped was convincing. “The facility was in Ireland?” I changed the subject.

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