The world was loud with the business of dying, but Dante still spoke to Kaja. “Baby, tell my family I love them. Can you do that? You go to them. They’ll take care of you.”
Dante saw Meg run to her husband. She leapt into his arms and wrapped herself around him. The goblins were gone, taken deep into the ground. The vampires had fled, and those who weren’t fast enough were puddles of blood. Cian kissed Meg. It was a beautiful sight. The little pixies clung to Cian’s hair.
They had gone to find the Green Man. Clever pixies.
“Please, Dante,” Kaja begged. She put her wrist to his mouth.
Oh, he wanted to, but Dante wasn’t sure he was strong enough to stop. Instinct told him that Roan was right. Kaja’s blood could save him. Fuck. He couldn’t risk her. It was better to die than to live without his Kaja.
He leaned back against her. “No, baby. I could hurt you.”
Cian and Meg were suddenly in front of him. Cian looked down at him.
“You’re worse for the wear, cos.”
Ci was good at stating the obvious. “Yep. You suck, man. Next time, give me the heads up that you’re leaving.”
“Will do.” Cian’s gaze turned to Kaja. “I heard the asshole who I intend to kill say that you could save Dante.”
“Don’t,” Dante warned.
“Yes, but he needs to feed. He won’t feed.” Kaja’s voice was pleading.
Cian smiled. “I think I can fix that.”
“Don’t you fucking dare, Ci.” There was a knife in Cian’s hand.
Cian Finn neatly sliced a small hole in Kaja’s wrist. Not much, but enough to get the blood flowing, and Dante’s instinct took over when she pressed it to his mouth. Sweet, rich blood flowed and he couldn’t help it. His fangs sank in, and he drank.
Velvety warmth flowed into his mouth, and Dante could feel himself healing.
She invaded his system. Her memories, her hopes, her dreams assailed him. She was so sweet, so strong. She’d been battered, but her heart was whole, and she offered it up.
“That’s unbelievable,” Cian breathed.
“It’s working,” Meg said, relief obvious in her voice.
But Dante was concentrating on Kaja. His defenses were down, and he let her flood him. He was battered with her emotions. She’d wanted to die when she’d seen him gutted. She’d wanted to lie down beside him and never get up. She wanted to bear his child. She wanted it so much.
She loved him.
He saw himself as Kaja saw him.
Dante felt his skin knit together and forced himself to stop.
Kaja slumped to the ground.
Dante touched her hair. She was utterly exhausted, nothing more. He’d taken a bit too much, but he could sense she would be all right with rest and care. He stood and hauled his lovely, brave bride into his arms. She curled against him.
Cian looked at him. “Still thinking about setting her aside?”
“Never,” Dante said, and he walked from the forest.
He might not understand what had happened, but he knew one thing.
He would never let her go.
Chapter Fourteen