Page 60 of Blood of Night (The Thorne Hill)

“No.”

My bottom lip trembles as I try not to cry. Lucas holds me for another moment and then picks up my shirt. He put his own clothes back on as I get dressed. I wipe away my tears once again.

“Osiris said the horses need a rider.”

“They do,” Lucas says and holds out his arm. There’s a weird veiny-looking tattoo on the inside of his wrist that I didn’t notice before. “When it’s time, I must go back.”

“What if you just don’t.”

“It was verbal agreement,” he says, and I know he means that some sort of deal was made. I’m getting really fucking tired of all these deals with stupid terms and unsigned contracts. “And we all know what will happen if the demon escapes. I was the one who killed Famine.”

“What happened when you got on the horse?” I ask slowly. “You…you didn’t look like you anymore.” Tears fill my eyes again and I look Lucas up and down. It’s him, inside and out.

“I don’t really know,” Lucas tells me. “I remember feeling the demon’s intentions and I wanted them to be mine too. And then I saw you, right before we went to the Underworld and I vowed never to let the demon go free.” He casts his eyes down. “Our daughter will not grow up in an apocalyptic world. I promised you both that.”

“She’s not going to grow up with you in the Underworld either. You’re coming back to us—for good.”

Lucas just nods and pulls me to him again. Fuck, it feels so good to be up against him again. My old coping mechanisms—or lack thereof—threaten to come back and I want to push all thoughts and talk of the Underworld away, not worrying about them until we absolutely have to.

Planting a kiss on the top of my head, Lucas turns my face up to his. “Nothing in this realm or any other is stronger than our love. We will always find our way back to each other.”

“Promise me that,” I say, voice breaking. “No matter what, you’ll come back to me.”

“No matter what.” Lucas’s eyes grow dark and he kisses me, tongue slipping into my mouth again. My heart leaps in my chest, and I want to lay down and feel Lucas inside me again, needing him to be as close as possible.

But then a light turns on upstairs and Lucas tips his head. “Juliet is crying,” he tells me and takes my hand. His eyes light up when he thinks about his daughter. It’s been nearly a week since he’s seen her. We go inside, stepping into the kitchen.

“There you are,” Eliza says, coming down the back stairs. “I was about to call Kristy again to say you—” She stops dead in her tracks and for a split second I think she’s going to drop Juliet. “Lucas?”

“It’s really him,” I say, unable to keep from crying.

Eliza speeds forward and Lucas puts one arm around her, kissing her forehead, and wraps his other under Eliza’s arm, cradling Juliet.

“How?” Eliza squeaks out and Juliet starts to fuss. I take my baby from her, stepping back so she can have a minute with her maker. She’s silently crying, and I know as hard as this was on me, it was just as hard on Eliza. She’s been with Lucas for the last three hundred or so years, and while they don’t share the same kind of love we do, she’s very much his daughter as well as friend.

It’s an emotional reunion, and after a long moment, Eliza lets go of Lucas, dries her tears and steps back. Juliet has settled down again, comforted just to be in my arms. Lucas comes over, eyes dark once again.

“She’s gotten bigger,” he says and I gently put our daughter in his arms. She’s wrapped in a blanket, yet leaving the warmth of my embrace to be held by a vampire can be shocking. Thankfully, she stays quiet and think I see a tear escape Lucas’s eye as he turns his head down, nuzzling his face against Juliet.

“We’ve documented everything,” I say. “And Eliza has been amazing.” I look at her and smile to keep from crying. “It feels like you’ve been gone for so long.” I rest my hand on Lucas’s arm, looking at our daughter. She may have grown enough in the last few days for Lucas to notice the difference, but she still looks so tiny against his large muscles.

Juliet turns her head, mouth open. Only a few seconds later, she starts to cry, letting us know she’s hungry. Lucas is about to pass her to me when he sees the wine on the counter.

“Are you drinking? Did you stop breastfeeding?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Eliza huffs. “You’re going to chastise her for having an ounce of wine when you became a fucking Horseman?” Her brows go up and she stares at Lucas dubiously. Fuck, I love her.

“I had like one mouthful and that’s it.” I take Juliet back. “It’s been a stressful few days.” My eyes fall shut as I undo the buttons on my shirt and pull it to the side so I can nurse.

“I’m sorry.” Lucas’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Are you tired? It is late.” He looks at the clock on the microwave.

“I don’t want to go to sleep and miss any time with you,” I say, and Eliza makes a gagging sound, but I know she feels the same. But then my words seem to hit her.

“Wait, what do you mean?” she asks.

“I am to return to the Underworld,” Lucas tells her and anxiety runs down my spine. The dim light over the island starts to hum, growing brighter and brighter. I squeeze my eyes closed and try to redirect the energy.

Eliza shakes her head. “I’m not following. Osiris just let you leave? Why? What does he want in return?”

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