Page 81 of Reign of the Beast

“I’m ready.”

17

~Lucian~

“Over my undead, rotting corpse.”

Ryker stilled, halfway to shrugging on his leather jacket, and swung his head my way. He seemed more than a little disgusted by my phrasing.

That was quickly overshadowed by the content of my statement.

Well, it had been more than just a mere statement.

And he’d picked up on it well, judging by the incredulity in his expression.

“Was that an order?” he asked.

I buttoned my black linen shirt at the middle, then folded my arms across my chest, my eyes darkening in warning. “If it must be.”

His expression hardened, his body tensed, and I heard his pulse pick up. Hisfight or flightresponse had been triggered.

“It’s a suicide mission,” I pointed out. “You must leave it be.”

He scoffed. “You’re kidding, right?”

“I have never been more serious.”

“I can’t just leave them. I can’t let the Guardian Movement get wiped out. I was supposed to put up a protection barrier, but then that run-in with Draco happened and protecting you, Mia and Jaxon took precedence.”

“As it should. The Covenant is the key to ending Draco’s path of destruction. The Guardian Movement isn’t.”

“The barrier they erected without me isn’t strong enough. Draco will break through it in moments. They can’t hold it. They need me, needmymagic.”

“If the intel they’ve just communicated to you is correct, you are already out of time. You won’t be able to create another barrier. Instead, you’ll be running right into the line of fire of a battle that you cannot hope to win.”

We had barely awoken from a fitful night’s sleep when, ten minutes ago, Ryker had received an SOS report from the Guardian Movement. Draco was coming, headed straight for the compound.

“I won’t just stand by and let them all be massacred by that bastard.” He brushed past me, muttering, “Besides, you’re really underestimating my new power.”

With a burst of speed, I barred the way to the door.

“Lucian,” he gritted out.

“Doing this would mean you breaking your vow to me.”

That gave him pause.

His brow furrowed as he thought on it, clearly trying to find a way around it.

A few moments later, the twinkle in his eye let me know he’d found one.

Or, he believed he had found one.

Surprising me, his demeanor softened, warming even, as he took my hand and told me earnestly, “Lucian, we both know you’re stretching the meaning of that vow in adesperate move to keep me here, to protect me.Butyou need to get this, get why I need to do this. Hear me out.”

I nodded. How could I deny such a reasonable request? “As you wish.”

“Thank you,” he said.

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