"I'll be beside you when it comes to that. I'll fight with you." I gave some kind of a promise, not only to him but to myself too. He was already determined to put me to bed, so I laid back down and allowed him to pull the covers over me. "Where's mom?" "She said she wanted to make you your favorite soup when you wake up. I'll tell her to check up on you." "Can you explain everything to her first? I just can't explain it all over again-" "Leave it on me." He left a kiss on top of my head, thinking I was relieved now that I told him. "Sleep, angel." But all I could think about was my Christian. ~ The warmness of my breath against the cold air allowed that white cloud to appear, freezing my bones like it was December rather than September.. During the day, the weather was very much soothingly warm, but the coldness showed its claws soon after the sun disappeared. Darkness covered the straight gravel road, not a single car passing as I rushed down it, lost senses, lost mind.. Simply walking, aware that nothing in that moment could stand in my way and stop me.. Bright headlights appeared from the darkness from the endless road, getting closer with speed that made the tires almost screech against the gray cement, making me stop and stare for a second.. The car got closer, slowing down, brightening me with its headlights to the point of making me rise my arm to block my eyes a bit.. The black jeep was familiar. I knew exactly who it was, especially when the car was stopped on the side of the road somewhere far across from me.. I stayed still, feeling my heart find a rapid speed, rough and unsettling in my chest.. I breathed heavier with each second that passed.. The car wasn't shut off when it stopped. The headlights still brightened me.. And once the doors opened widely and that familiar tall figure stepped out, I felt my chest fall in relief. Christian.. Certain and intimidating as always, but finally there, across from me. He stopped as he walked out, holding his door for a few seconds as he stared back at me. His soft hair on top of his head matched the midnight dark sky, and the way his lips parted made me want to run up to him and kiss him until he had me pinned against my car, lost in me the same way I was lost in him. However, I found myself standing glued to my spot for another few seconds.. My chest fell down and rose up with every deep breath, allowing those white clouds to escape my lips, the same way it did his.. And the he closed the door. He slammed it closed like he had lost all patience. Furrowed dark brows in concern and pitch black eyes scanned me in the kind of concern and relief that warmed my body instantly.. His intense gaze even burned me behind each gaze, so effortlessly making me give in right in that moment.. Without full awareness, my legs moved on their own.. Wide steps, rushed steps, until they turned into a run, the same moment he rushed towards me.. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Only his closeness, only his arms, only him. And I didn't stop until I felt those strong arms wrap around me, until I felt myself being lifted very slightly.. Enough for his lips to press against the side of my neck in that tight hug, until I felt the air reach my lungs again as his intoxicating scent sent me to holy grail. It was where I felt safest. In his arms. Where I found home. And it didn't matter that it was just the two of us on the empty dark road.. All it mattered was him. The soothing my soul felt when in his arms. I felt myself inhaling almost as if I was trying to take in as much of the moment as I could. "God, Lana," I could feel the way his lips moved against my hair, how he kissed the side of my neck as sweetly as to swirl my mind. "You're alright," I still had so many questions.. What happened between my father and them, how he managed to convince him to accept that deal and most importantly, how he acted against his own instincts.. I knew Christian would rather actually kidnap me than let go thinking that I'm not safe.. But I found myself still holding tight. I found myself closing my eyes and going through everything I could remember that night. This, I thought. This I remember. Being in his arms and finally feeling safe. And it wasn't the first time he had saved me. No, I owed him. Even though I knew he wouldn't want to admit it or accept it, I did. And I was ready to die for him. The scary part was, I didn't fear to. "Thank you," My voice filled the silence of nothing but our deep breaths as I pulled away. Eyes of what seemed like pitch darkness looked at back at mine, when it was only light I saw behind them. "For saving me.. I owe you my life." The way he searched my face in that full seriousness caused tingles to attack my stomach, in a way that made me question rather or not that moment was even real. His hands pressed on the sides of my face.. I could see how he frowned and instead of intimidation that everyone felt around him, I found allurement, pressing my hands over his chest and up his shoulders.. "You owe me nothing." I looked down at my own hands over his chest, his coat, and I found myself wishing to be somewhere warmer so I can take it off of him. "Come here, you're freezing." I was pulled into his arms, over my shoulder as he turned around led me towards the car. "Get inside." After he opened the door for me and I got inside, he rounded the car and got on the driver's seat, turning the car around almost immediately and starting to drive away.. I knew the roads that my people weren't guarding, so I knew where to ask him to meet up. I texted him earlier that night, after my mom spent hours in my room making sure I was alright. Now they were probably all asleep while I told the guards I needed some fresh air and got away.. For a while at least. I had to see him. I was dying worried.