Chapter 162: Nothing Will Separate Us Again

Dawn broke as we reached the settlement gates. The sky turned gold and pink. Beautiful.

I barely noticed.

Every step was agony. My shoulder throbbed where the crossbow bolt had grazed me. My hands were burned from breaking the silver chains. My entire body screamed for rest.

Darian was worse. He leaned heavily against me. Could barely lift his feet. The magical silver poisoning had drained him completely.

But we were here. Home.

The gates opened before we reached them. Connor stood there with his arms crossed. Elizabeth beside him. Elara and Lucien. Half the pack.

They must have been waiting all night.

Connor's expression was carefully neutral. But I saw the relief flash across his face.

"You look like hell," he said.

"Feel like it too."

His eyes moved to Darian. "He alive?"

"Yes."

"Good. Try to cause less destruction next time."

I almost laughed. Would have if I'd had the energy.

"No promises," I said.

Darian's head lifted slightly. "She killed at least fifteen bandits."

"Sounds about right." Connor stepped forward. "Can you walk or should we carry you?"

"I can walk."

"Liar."

But Connor didn't call for help. Just moved to Darian's other side. Took some of his weight.

We walked through the gates together.

The pack gathered as we passed. Whispered. Stared.

Someone had already brought word about the attack. About the deaths. Three merchants and two guards who wouldn't be coming home.

I saw grief on some faces. Anger on others.

But also relief. Relief that at least Darian had survived. That the attack hadn't been a complete massacre.

Five years of peace had changed things. The pack no longer saw vampires as automatic enemies. They saw allies. Friends.

Loss that mattered.

Elizabeth approached. Looked at the blood covering both of us.

"Medical hut?" she asked.

"No," I said. "My house."

She raised an eyebrow. "Your house?"

"Yes."

A statement. A claim. Everyone would know what it meant.

Darian was mine. I was his. No more hiding. No more denying.

Elizabeth smiled slightly. "I'll send supplies."

"Thank you."

Connor helped me get Darian across the square. People moved aside. Gave us space.

My house was small. Just two rooms. But it was private. Safe.

I kicked the door open. Connor helped me lower Darian onto my bed.

"I'll let you handle the rest," Connor said. Then he paused. "I'm glad you found him."

"Me too."

He left. Closed the door behind him.

Silence. Just the two of us. Finally.

I grabbed water and clean cloth. Started working on Darian's wounds.

The burns on his wrists were the worst. Angry and raw. They'd scar.

"This will hurt," I warned.

"Everything hurts."

I cleaned the wounds as gently as I could. He didn't make a sound. Just watched me with those gray eyes.

When I finished with his wrists, I moved to the cuts on his face and arms. Most were shallow. Would heal quickly once he took some time to rest.

I cleaned the last of the wounds. Covered him with blankets. Then I sat on the edge of the bed. I needed to take a bath and get some clean clothes, but I didn’t want to leave his side not even for a minute.

"You saved my life," he said quietly.

"You would have done the same."

"Yes. But I didn't think you would."

That stung. Because he was right. Days ago I wouldn't have. Would have let fear keep me frozen.

"I was wrong," I said. "About everything."

"About us?"

"About thinking fear was safer than this."

He reached for my hand. Threaded his fingers through mine.

The bond hummed. Warm and content.

"I don't know how to do this," I admitted. "Don't know how to be someone's mate."

"Neither do I."

"We'll probably fight."

"Constantly."

"I'm difficult."

"I'm aware."

I looked at our joined hands. At the way his fingers fit perfectly between mine.

"I'm going to try," I said. "Really try. No more running."

"That's all I ask."

He pulled me down gently. I lay beside him. Let him wrap his arm around me.

Although I was still covered in dry blood, dirt, and half naked, my body relaxed for the first time in days. The tension bled out. The fear quieted.

This was right. This was where I was supposed to be.

"Sleep," Darian murmured. "We'll figure out the rest later."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

I closed my eyes. Let exhaustion take me.

The bond wrapped around us both. Warm and strong and unbreakable.

Outside, the settlement woke. People moved through their routines. Life continued.

Inside, we slept.

Together. Finally together.

And when I woke, I'd tell him everything. Tell him I loved him. Tell him I was done being afraid.

Tell him he was mine and I was his and nothing would separate us again.

But for now, I just held him. Let myself feel safe. Feel whole.

Feel home.