Chapter 52 Burn It All
ARYA
“I’m talking like someone who might not get another chance to say this,” Ryker corrected gently. “So I’m saying it now. You’re incredible. You always have been. And I’m proud to know you.”
Tears burned my eyes. “Ryker—”
“Don’t get sappy on me. I’m trying to be stoic and supportive.” But he pulled me into a hug. “Just don’t die, okay? Sage would be insufferable if you did.”
“Hey!” Sage protested. “I would be appropriately sad.”
“For about five minutes. Then you’d be insufferable.”
“True.”
Despite everything, I laughed. These people—this found family—they made everything bearable.
“Thank you,” I said to both of them. “For being here. For believing in me.”
“Always,” they said in unison.
As we stood there under the full moon, I felt a strange calm settle over me.
Tomorrow I’d face darkness.
But tonight, I had love, friendship, and purpose.
And maybe that would be enough.
LUCA
I watched her from the shadows of the terrace doorway.
Arya stood in the moonlight with Ryker and Sage, laughing at something the warrior woman said. The sound was beautiful and genuine and so fucking precious I wanted to bottle it, keep it, ensure I’d never have to exist in a world without that laugh.
My hands clenched into fists.
Tomorrow she’d face dark magic that had killed more powerful beings than her. She’ll put herself in danger while I stood by and watched, because she’d asked me to trust her, to respect her choices.
And I would.
Because I loved her more than I loved my own sanity.
But god, it was killing me.
‘She’s ours,’ my Lycan rumbled inside me. ‘Protect her. Take her away from here. Lock her somewhere safe.’
‘She’d never forgive us.’
‘Better alive and angry than dead and gone.’
He had a point. My beast always did when it came to Arya. The logical, civilized part of me that had ruled for eight centuries was rapidly losing ground to something more primal.
I’d ruled kingdoms. Negotiated treaties. Maintained peace through strategy and strength. I was known for my cold calculation, my ability to set aside emotion for the greater good.
Then she’d walked into my life, and everything I thought I knew about control had shattered.
“You’re doing it again.”
Caspian’s voice came from behind me. I didn’t turn.
“Doing what?”
“Staring at her like a starving man watching a feast he can’t touch.” He moved to stand beside me. “You need to get a handle on this, brother. You’re spiraling.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re the opposite of fine. You’re one bad moment away from doing something catastrophically stupid.” He crossed his arms. “Talk to me. When’s the last time you actually slept?”
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. Because the truth was I hadn’t really slept since Arya agreed to do the cleansing ritual three days ago.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her dying. Saw dark magic consuming her, twisting her, destroying everything beautiful about her while I watched helplessly.
Saw myself alone again. For eternity.
“That’s what I thought.” Caspian sighed. “Luca, you need to rest. You’re no good to her exhausted.”
“I’m fine,” I repeated, but my voice was rough even to my own ears.
“You’re falling apart. And if you fall apart tomorrow when she needs you most—”
“I won’t.” I finally looked at him, and whatever he saw in my face made him step back. “I will be exactly what she needs tomorrow. No matter what it costs me.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” His expression was worried. “What are you planning?”
“Nothing.”
“Luca—”
“I said nothing.” It was a lie. I had several contingency plans, each more desperate than the last. “Now leave me alone. I need to think.”
He hesitated, then nodded and left.
Smart man.
Because the thoughts running through my head right now weren’t fit for sharing. Weren’t fit for anyone except the darkness inside me that had been growing since I’d met her.
I loved her. God, I loved her so much it was a physical ache. Every breath, every heartbeat, every moment of existence was colored by her presence.
But that love had a shadow side. An obsession that bordered on madness.
I wanted to mark her everywhere. Wanted my scent so deep in her skin that it would never wash out. Wanted everyone who looked at her to know instantly, irrevocably, that she was claimed.
I wanted to destroy anyone who’d ever hurt her. Jaime topped that list, but it included her entire former pack, every council member who’d dismissed her, every person who’d made her feel less than worthy.
I had a mental catalog of their names. Their locations. How long it would take to kill them all.
I hadn’t acted on it. Yet.
Because she’d asked me not to. Because she wanted peace, not vengeance.
But the desire was there. Simmering. Waiting.
And tomorrow, if anything happened to her, if the dark magic even came close to taking her from me—
I’d burn it all down.
The summit. The prophecy. The careful peace I’d maintained for centuries.
All of it could turn to ash if it meant keeping her alive.
Monster. I thought quietly. ‘You’re becoming a monster.’
‘Was always a monster,’ my Lycan corrected. ‘I just learned to wear a crown. But for her? We’ll be the monster the world fears. And we won’t apologize.’
Movement in the garden caught my attention. Arya was heading back inside, Ryker and Sage trailing behind her. She looked tired but determined, her spine straight, her head high.
Beautiful. Fierce. Mine.
The possessiveness that surged through me was overwhelming. I wanted to go to her, pull her away from the others, take her to our room and make love to her until she forgot about tomorrow, about danger, about everything except us.
I wanted to mark her again. Bite her neck, her shoulders, her thighs. Cover her in evidence of my claim. To lock the door and never let her leave.
I stayed in the shadows, hands clenched so tight my nails drew blood from my palms.
I needed control.