I shouldn't had been so stubborn to wait until that fire took his life in front of my own eyes.. And only in that moment to feel guilt and pain, such a dagger in my chest that had left me breathless for up until I saw Lana fall asleep, and realized that perhaps it wasn't just grief that had left me so speechless and struggling for air, but it was worry for that girl that had just lost the only man she trusted in her life. Her father that was taken from her for no reason at all. She fell asleep and it was then that I realized just how much I really cared.. Because in that moment, I hoped from the very depth of my soul that there would be no nightmares to hunt her that night, and I felt the need to do anything in my power to help her.. To bring justice for Khan and the lives of many that were snatched before our eyes.. That could not be returned nor could they ever be repaid. Only revenged. I stared restlessly outside the window in the utter darkness of the midnight sky.. It spread throughout the entire horizontal and blended with the endless dark woods. The house was tall and large enough to fit as many guests as needed.. Lana's mother even asked for our stay there, knowing that we fought on the same side and perhaps hoping for some protection from the very King of Venedocia. She thanked me for preventing a greater disaster by clearing some of the basil with my magic.. I did it to make a path for Christian, not aware that it could help many, but after Lana told her about it, she seemed very much surprised and delighted that not all her people that night had lost heir lives. I heard it wasn't even half the Morpher man that were gathered that night.. The pack contained thousands. But still, it was their Leader they lost. Their Alpha. A father and a husband. I refused to think about it, but no matter what the thoughts sank in my head and haunted me for what seemed like hours.. It was almost dawn, yet there was still no light peeking on the sky.. The doors screeched opened, making me turn around just to see Dimitri slip in. He closed them behind himself and just in that moment I found myself releasing a sigh of relief for having him by my side the whole time. Goodness, how I loved him. It was the only thing I truly knew of. "My love," His deep voice filled the silence, soothing me in ways nothing ever could.. I allowed him to pull me closer, allowed my eyes to close in his presence as he left a soothing kiss on top of my head and greeted me with his embrace. He had only been gone for ten or so minutes, but with each situation even close to danger or harm to me or our daughter, he showed the kind of overprotectiveness and concern I was supposed to had gotten used to by then. And how I loved him for it, he could never know.. "How is she?" To my question he left another kiss right on top of my head, holding me perhaps even tighter.. His strong body against mine always had the same effect on me.. It gave the protection I needed, the kind I once would had never believed I would get to experience and feel. "I just spoke to Christian.. She's still asleep, and he's been watching over her the whole time." I pulled away enough to look up at him. "He says he talked to her before we came.. Her brother is what concerns her at the moment." Right. Marco, I think.. He was the one that almost lost his life. I saw them carry him in. And soon he woke up, but his wounds were very much in need of healing.. "God," "How are you feeling?" The strands of my hair that fell over the side of my face were put away in that familiar caress that he performed and I found myself oncer again thankful I had him by my side. "I.." It was a sigh that escaped me when I turned back around towards the window, but there was no relief in it. "I do worry about Lana." I could feel how he rubbed my arms and how my muscles relaxed underneath his touch.. He kissed my shoulder, and I could tell how worried he was for me. He was barely following the conversation. "She does deserve better than this." "Better than this?" I turned to look at him again. "No one deserves to be tortured by some lunatic that decided he wants your whole family dead. I've been at his mercy for far longer and I know damn well how hard it is to-" "Hey," My face was in his hands within seconds.. Such a gentle caress that had me forgetting all about the things that kept haunting my mind. "Those times are far over, my love.." He followed his own hand as he tried my neck win his knuckles and took a hold of my shoulders with his hands.. Concern washed on his face and I read him clearly. "But, I do worry what that bastard is even planning to do next." + My hands were suddenly taking his, putting them away as I found the resistance to take a smalls step back. I could feel myself holding my breath for a second with the thought of what I was about to say. + "There will be no next.." + "What do you mean?"