"I will let her go when I am outside."
"That is not what we agreed to," I growled.
"It is now."
He started to back away, and he pressed the gun even closer to her, if that was possible, as a warning to me not to try anything. I watched them disappear, listening to their footsteps and waiting for them to reach the stairs. When they finally did, I ran over to my weapons, only taking a gun with me, before I sped after them, but just as I reached the stairs, I heard a gunshot.
"Lara!" I shouted.
I ran up the stairs, coming right into the entrance, and then ... freezing.
Right there in the middle, stood Lara, shaking like crazy. The vampire who had taken her was lying dead on the ground, facing Renly, who was also on the ground, his hands handcuffed behind his back. Ace must have brought some. I usually didn't carry any, but Ace always carried a lot of different things. Not just weapons.
"Lara," I called softly and walked over to her.
She turned around, looking at me with eyes so big and looking like she couldn't believe I was there. As I reached her, I pulled her close, and then she started to cry, hugging me tightly to her. I ran my hand down her hair and back, shushing her, and trying to calm her, as I turned my eyes to Ace. He just looked at us calmly, and I nodded my thanks. I knew he could see the gratitude in my eyes. Ace and Gabriel were my brothers. I trusted them, and now I owed Ace a life debt. I knew he would never accept anything from me. That was just the way he was, but I would make sure I paid him back one day, whether he liked it or not.
"My king!"
I turned my head, looking over my shoulder, and saw Aaron, holding a struggling Arianna. Her arm was bleeding, and it looked like they had both been rolling on the ground, but he had caught her.
"What do you want to do with her?" he asked.
"I will make sure she is punished," I said, and then looked at Renly. "Both of them."
Chapter 55
-Lara-
I was okay. Really ... or sort of. I wasn't really sure how I felt. I kind of had a hard time remembering what happened after Dominic showed up. Everything happened so fast, and my head simply couldn't keep up. I knew we went home, and Gabriel had come to hug me as we stepped inside. He had asked me if I was all right, but I couldn't remember if I had answered him. Dominic had, of course, put his jacket around me, so I wasn't only wearing underwear when I walked into the house. I noticed though, that Damon was here too. He and Dominic only exchanged a few words quickly, but I didn't hear anything, even if I stood right beside them. Then he led us back to our room, where he quickly got us into the bathroom, getting me undressed and putting me under the hot water, while bandaging his wound. The wound wasn't bad, and he was healing very fast, so there was nothing to worry about. I had looked at him concerned though, but he had assured me he would be just fine.
Then, when he thought I had been warmed up and everything, he helped dry me and got me into bed. I fell asleep right away, which surprised me, but I was quite happy about it though. That night had been ... a nightmare really, but I slept soundly, and when I woke up, I felt warmer and calmer. I slowly opened my eyes, seeing I was lying on Dominic, my head on his chest and my leg wrapped over his. He was sleeping too but must have felt me stir because he slowly blinked his eyes open and then turned to me, looking so concerned.
"How are you feeling?" he quickly asked, rolling us around, so we were both lying on our sides.
He placed his hand on my cheek, looking me over, but then he touched a sore spot and I flinched.
"I promise you they will be punished," he said.
I placed my hand over his, giving him a small smile, and it seemed to calm him.
"I'm okay," I whispered.
"Lara—"
"Really," I said. "You got there in time."
He swallowed hard and a dark look came over his face.
"When you say ... in time ..."
He couldn't finish the sentence, but I understood what he was asking. I moved my hand away from his, placing it on his cheek.
"You got there in time," I just repeated, meeting his eyes, and letting him know through our bond, that I truly was okay.
I was sore, and a bit freaked out, but he saved me, and I was home again. I couldn't say that later I wouldn't feel the consequences of being put under such stress and almost dying. The aftereffect might come later, but at that moment I was all right. I was where I wanted to be, which was in our bed and in his arms. I felt safe here. I knew nothing could touch me, as long as he kept me close. He seemed to calm down a little too, as he listened to me tell him he got there in time.
"I love you," he whispered.