Chapter 58: The Price Of Us
Elias went still. The room shrank, the air grew dense, and all he could hear was the slow, deliberate beat of his own pulse. Julian wanted to trade. For Lila. He barely felt the sheets tangled around him, barely registered the way Lila’s breathing had gone sharp beside him, the way her entire body had locked up at Harper’s words. Every inch of him burned. Every muscle screamed with the need to move, to hunt, to kill. Harper’s face was unreadable, but her voice was tight. “He’s waiting for an answer.” Lila exhaled slowly, too controlled. “Where?”
Elias turned to her immediately. “No.” Lila didn’t even look at him. “Where, Harper?” Elias grabbed her wrist, hard, forcing her to see him, forcing her to feel him. “Lila, no.” She finally turned her head, meeting his gaze, her expression like steel. “He has my sister.” Elias gritted his teeth. “And you think walking into his hands is the answer?”
Lila pulled her wrist free, sitting up, the sheets sliding down her bare skin, her eyes locked onto his, unwavering. “If it means getting her back, yes.” Elias exhaled sharply, his hands clenching into fists. She couldn’t be serious. “You don’t walk into a deal with the devil and expect to come out alive.” Lila smirked, but there was no humor in it. “You underestimate me.”
Elias growled, actually growled, grabbing the back of her neck, pulling her close, his forehead pressing against hers, his breath ragged. He needed her to understand. Needed her to feel what this was doing to him. “I won’t let you go.” Lila swallowed hard, her pulse thrumming beneath his fingertips. “You don’t get to make that choice.” His fingers tightened. “Like hell I don’t.” Lila’s breath shuddered, her hands lifting, sliding against his jaw, her touch softer than her words. “Elias.” He shook his head, his grip unrelenting. “No.”
Lila exhaled sharply, but then her lips brushed against his, barely, just a whisper of a touch, a distraction, a plea. And despite everything, despite the fire tearing through his veins, despite the war raging inside of him he kissed her back. It was deep, consuming, dangerous. A battle of lips and breath and teeth. Lila gasped as he rolled, pressing her beneath him, his body covering hers completely, his fingers gripping her waist, anchoring her to him, like if he held on tight enough, she couldn’t slip through his fingers. Her nails dug into his back, sharp, needy, desperate. “Elias” His lips crushed against hers again, swallowing her words, his body molding into hers, fitting like they were made to collide, to fight, to burn.
She arched beneath him, her breath ragged, her thighs tightening around his waist. Elias’s grip slid lower, his lips tracing along her jaw, down her throat, marking her, owning her. “You don’t leave me,” he growled against her skin. Lila shuddered. “Elias” His hands roamed, his teeth scraped, his lips worshiped, his body pressing her deeper into the mattress. “Say it.” Her breath hitched, her head tilting back, surrendering to him. Only him.
His lips hovered over hers again, his voice rough, broken. “Say you won’t go.” Lila stared up at him, her pupils blown wide, her chest rising and falling, her fingers tracing his face like she was memorizing him. “I can’t.” Elias stilled. Lila exhaled, her voice barely a whisper. “I have to do this.” Elias clenched his jaw so tightly it ached. She wasn’t just stubborn she was reckless. And he loved her.
His grip on her tightened. “Then I’m going with you.” Lila blinked. “What?” Elias leaned down, his nose brushing against hers, his lips teasing the corner of her mouth. “If you go, I go.” Lila exhaled sharply. “Elias, this isn’t your fight.” He growled, low, possessive. “Everything about you is my fight.” Lila shivered. “This could be a trap.” Elias smirked against her lips. “Then we kill him together.” Lila’s breath hitched.
Elias kissed her again, slow this time, deep and thorough, like he was sealing a contract, like he was reminding her that no matter what happened next, she was his. She sighed against his mouth, her fingers curling into his hair, tugging, grounding herself. Then she nodded. “Together,” she whispered. Elias pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. To make sure she meant it. She did.
He exhaled, nodding once. Fine. If she was walking into the fire, then so was he. Harper cleared her throat. “Are you two done?” Lila smirked, still breathless, still wrecked. “Not even close.” Elias chuckled darkly. “But we’re ready.” Harper shook her head. “You two are insane.” Lila stood, her body still humming, her skin still tingling from Elias’s touch, but she was already locking herself back into focus. This was it. The end. The last battle.
Elias stepped behind her, his hands resting on her hips, his lips brushing against her ear. “You survive this, and you’re mine forever.” Lila shivered, her breath hitching. “I already am.” Elias kissed her neck, soft, slow, reverent. “Damn right you are.” Then they were moving, preparing, loading their weapons, steadying their hearts. War was coming. And this time, they were walking straight into it. The meeting point was set. The air was thick, heavy with tension as they approached the abandoned airstrip where Julian had chosen to make his move.
Elias had one hand on his gun, the other wrapped around Lila’s wrist, keeping her close, keeping her with him. She glanced at him once before exhaling, her voice barely a whisper. “We do this fast.” Elias nodded. “And we do it right.” They stepped into the open. And there he was. Julian King. Standing there like he hadn’t ruined their lives, like he hadn’t taken Lila’s sister, like he wasn’t moments away from dying. He smirked. “You actually came.”
Elias clenched his jaw. “Where is she?” Julian tilted his head. “You’ll see her soon.” Lila took a slow, careful breath. “Where. Is. She.” Julian grinned. “Oh, Lila.” He sighed, shaking his head. “You always make things so difficult.” Then he lifted his hand. Snapped his fingers. And behind him. A gunshot. A scream. Lila’s body locked. Elias froze. And in that split second, everything changed.