Lana's POV

A day and a night.. It had passed slower than I thought it would. And each second of it I was reminded that it was just another second without him.. My father. But my eyes had gone dry of tears. No, I could not grieve like that. Not when my mother cried for both of us, while Marco still struggled his way to escape death.

At least one of us had to stay strong. It was my senses I had to rely on, rather than the feeling of pain that haunted me and gave me no rest.. Still, it was Christian there with me.. He gave me the kind of comfort I knew I could rely on, the kind of support that had me calmed for most of the part.. And I may had gone even madder than I was before, but he was the only one I trusted.. More than I did myself.

He kept me close and safe, at times I needed it the most. He made sure there was order even though many of our people were against a Le Boursier even being near.. But the death of my father had frightened them. They didn't doubt in the vampires, but rather found support in them.

And I was glad I didn't have to deal with convincing our pack that the royals meant good. My father had already made a deal with them and trusted them against Adam. That was the only battle we were all fighting. Adam and the witches that wanted to end us all. It was truly a relief that they were all aware of it, at least.

But to provide any further attacks, I had told them all to leave the property and go to their homes.. For at least a day or two.. To do so and wait for my call. There was still a plan we had to make sure it goes on and goes safe. I couldn't have not even one more of ours lose their life. No, the strategy was important. The right plan. And we were almost there.

  I was thankful Christian had convinced me not to strike right away. It was what Adam and those witches planned. To provoke us.. They had probably even been waiting for an attack that night when they took so many lives. And I almost gave them what they wanted. I almost fell for that, because I was so furious to even consider delaying it. But Christian was right. The fight plan, the right tactics and the right strategy was the only way to beat them.

  And so there we were, two days later, in the nearby house that was sealed with magic ever since Christian took me from Alexander that day.. Marco and Jack alongside my mother were at the family lake house currently, also sealed with the help of Calliope and Amelia. Every house in which there was at least one of ours was sealed. I had promised them protection. I was planning on keeping that promise.

  My mother had accepted our alliance with the vampires well.. She knew hat we had no chances on beating them alone. We needed the magic of the witches, the speed and immortality of the vampires, and the number and vigor of ours.. But she was still mourning. She was still in no condition to eve hear of the plan let alone fight alongside us. It was enough for me to hear that 'Revenge your father,' and I had every motive to do so.

  Jack was in the house that night, in the cabin as Christian wished to call it. It was no cabin, there were five people staying there, while in my family lake house I had left my mother and my brothers alongside my uncle who I trusted with my life, and a few of our trustworthy people.. Including Luke.

  But Jack was discussing the plan with Dimitri and Calliope as for they were the most rested to explain properly after a whole day of planning. I stayed in my room, going through my own thoughts after I took a shower, debating whether or not the plan was well worth it.. It had to be.. We were going to discuss it the next morning as well..

  It was the knock on the door that took my attention and had me glance in that direction. And after inviting whoever it was that knocked to walk in, I saw that familiar face that gave me the kind of soothing I felt at home, a smile that was well understanding and encouraging at the same time. It was Amelia. And I was glad I had her close at such times. We all had to stick together, especially after fate had brought us that way..

"How are you feeling?" She was closing the door behind her, with clear concern in her voice.

"Exhausted." And as she walked closer to me, to my answer she looked me up and down as she walked closer..

"And angry."

Just to that statement, I found myself pressing a hand on the side of my face for a second, crossing my other arm and wondering whether or not something gave me away. Yes I was angry.. I was furious even. But just like my father said, revenge was never supposed to be obvious.

"Do I look angry?"

"You look lost in thought." She was running her fingers over the desk on the side, before she glanced back at me. "I've met many that seek vengeance. And it is written all over your face."

"They killed my father.. Your father too." A lump in my throat formed by the simple thought of that night, the simple thought of the last time I spoke to him. "I will be damned if I don't revenge him. It is the least I can do."

  I watched her walk closer and found my legs failing me.. It was really the simple sight of the girl that my father loved dearly but never really got the chance to show that to her truly or even make a proper conversation.. Hell, everything he did for her was secretive even though he saved her life and kept her safe her whole life..

  I once again tried gulping down the pressure that rose in my throat. It was the moment I sat back in the bed, unable to keep myself straight any longer, when I realized just how much it all effected me.. Despite the anger Amelia had just mentioned.. It all still hurt like hell.

"I didn't know him. I only met him once." She spoke the truth and said it slowly, sitting on the bed beside me as she reached it. "He looked terrified when he saw you unconscious.. In Christian's arms."

  My gaze was stuck somewhere across the room. "He cared for his family deeply. Family meant everything to him." It was the first time talking to Amelia after what happened.. Properly talking to her.. When I didn't discuss the plan, I was simply with Christian and that's where I felt safest. "You didn't know of this, but he was looking after you as well."

  Even in that moment, I could clearly remember the moment my father explained it all to me.. It wasn't so long ago. And yes, it took him basically a lifetime to actually admit he had another daughter that he fought for for years, but I forgave him for his secrets with the simple realization of just how deeply he cared for her. And I understood why he wanted to keep her safe. Perhaps it was my duty now to do so..

"I'm sure he was furious when he heard his long lost child ended up with the Kind of Venedocia." There was slight freshness in her voice when she spoke of it as she clearly tried at least brightening up the mood.. I felt a small smile curl my lips for a second.

"He was."

"Did he know about you and Christian?" It was that silence I allowed to consume for a second or so..

"No. I wanted to tell him.. I was planning to. But then the unpredictable happened." I leaned my head in my hands to somewhat ease the pressure in it.. "I cannot even remember what the last words I said to him were.."

  Pushing my hair back, I looked across the room and allowed the memories to consume me for a second. "It doesn't matter, though.. It's over. The deed's done. They succeeded in killing our leader.. Our father. But they're damned fools if they think our people will be left without a leader."

  I could feel her sympathetic caress over the side of my arm.. And in that moment I found myself wishing she really know what I was talking about.. I found myself wishing not to have to explain my father's love towards her, but for her to had known it..

  She didn't though.. And it was too late for everything.. His wish of actually meeting Amelia was gone to ashes alongside him and all of those that lose their lives that night. It hurt like a lightning through my heart to think that not even I got the chance to make that happen while he was alive.. And it hurt even more to think I couldn't stop him from his own doom.

"I cannot think of any other leader better than yourself." She had me glance at her as she said that, with yet another encouraging smile on her face that I could see was well forced, but I appreciated the effort to light up my mood.

"Thank you for saying that.. I do doubt it's true though.." I was pushing myself up on my feet, taking a few steps away from the bed and towards the window to at least try and find some fresh air because everything seemed to choke me at that point. "Your daughter.. Is she safe?"

"She's with my parents in Venedocia."

"Right. She's the princess of Venedocia. The whole of kingdom is keeping her safe." I couldn't even remember why I ever doubted that. My worries had turned into paranoia. "I would meet her.. When all of this is over."

  I was looking at her as I said that, with a simple turn back towards her. Little Annabelle, as Christian usually called her.. She truly had the whole kingdom already keeping her safe.. I was glad her parents had made sure of that.

  Besides, she had a grandfather that was a hunter and experienced in protection.. One that wasn't really her blood, but still.. They all loved her dearly. Perhaps she was the safest of all.. I didn't doubt in that. Amelia had made sure her daughter was protected with a whole army if that would keep her safe while she was away..

Again, the slight smile on her face gave me some relief. "Of course. Her third birthday is within a week." She stood up, walking towards me slowly.. Her smile faded and her words truly held the kind of wish for an end that we all felt for weeks now.. "Let's hope it'll all end till then."

"It will." I made sure to sound convincing even though I was doubting in every second of our plan.. Not because it was no good, but because if I learned anything about Adam and his three bitches that did voodoo for him, was that they were all unpredictable.. And well murderous.

  A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.. It had us both glance in that direction. I hadn't even realized the door were opened. It didn't matter, what we spoke of was no secret. And now at the entrance was standing Christian.

"Ladies.." Again, his smile was supposably calming, and the simple sight of him walking closer had me wishing to feel his arms tight around me. "Calliope's looking for you. She needs your help with the spell."

  He caressed Amelia's arm and without a word she nodded her head.. She glanced at me and said her goodnight, almost a bit uncertainly.. And I could tell why because at that point, I felt very much uncertain as well.. We discussed some things, but there were still many that remained unsaid.

As she left I turned my attention on Christian. "The spell?"

"It's done. We have the spell." Words such as that were supposed to be a relief.. But they rather woke up the kind of fury inside me that seemed to boil my blood that very instant.

"I'll kill him with bare hands even if there's no spell." I must've tried to turn away from him, as for I felt his hand over my elbow before I was turned to face him again.

  "Look at me." I could feel how that heat slowly faded away when he pressed his hands over the sides of my face, keeping me still for a second and giving me the time to allow our gazes to meet. "Let me kill him for you." His touch glided down my arms and I found myself wishing to move away.. Only because it was weakness that it brought out of me. And soon his hands found mine. "These hands are supposed to stay bloodless."

  My lips parted with the air I inhaled. Bloodless he said.. Even if my hands were never stained with blood, I could certainly say it wasn't far from that.. No, how could it be? There was no forgiving the bastard that haunted me for so damn long, and tried destroying my family. Killed my father and almost my brother too.

  My silence seemed understandable for him.. My Christian had the eyes of darkness, but near me, I saw light in them. I knew he was ready to do that for me.. To kill and die for me. He was ready to even start a war for me. But it was no longer his war to fight. It was my war. A war that my people and I had to end. No longer a war between the species, but rather one between life and death. Adam had written his own death with that attack.

  "These hands are far from bloodless. And you know this." I slipped away from his touch.. Hell, only his touch could have me so lost.. It blurred my mind and had me reconsider things I had planned well.

  "I cannot risk your life letting you go there.."

  His voice held the rasp of threat and warning... I had turned my back on him yet still could feel the frustration that washed over him.. He thought the plan we had was bizarre. That it was mad. He was thinking of my protection only. When it was I that had to end all of it, and not anyone else.

  "I will only be the bate." My necklace that I swirled between my fingers didn't really have the effect I had hoped for.. It rather made me more nervous than calm. Because I knew that an argument was escalating.

  That familiar grip over my arm turned me around. "Don't be the bate." I was pulled against him.. I could feel that weakness consuming me. The need to melt in his arms and agree to every word he said.. And so I refused to meet his gaze..

  "I'm very much afraid I must." But it was impossible to slip from him this time.. He wanted my eyes on his. He wanted to see the truth and certainty behind them. I looked at him. I pressed my hands against his chest and looked at him, so that he knew I was going through with the plan. "It's me they want. Let them taste victory for a second.. And then fall dead the next."

  However, my words rather caused a deeper frown than a relief on his face. He held me like he was ready to have me breathless against him within seconds, yet looked at me like my words angered him to his very core. Perhaps I misread it. His anger wasn't towards me but towards the braveness he thought I was trying to show. Yet there was no braveness to be shown. It was all just a fight for life or death.

  "If something ever happens to you.. I'd die." And his words showed his awareness of that.. His words that pressured my heart like I was actually doubting in it.. Still, those were words that brought faintness to my limbs.. The kind that had me holding my breath when he pressed his lips against the side of my hair and inhaled. "My Lana,"

  What was I to say? I was left speechless. He had made his love for me clear from the very beginning.. He had showed it to me more than once. But I was lead by weakness at such moments. He truly couldn't imagine just how much I adored him for it.. For everything he had done.. For staying the only person I could trust and rely on.

  I had moved to look up at him.. And realized that no matter the anger I felt for those that did me wrong, he was making it all go away with his simple presence.. While the anger I caused him was because I refused to let anyone else end those that tried ending me. Because of the revenge I kept seeking for.

  But I couldn't keep my distance any longer. I yearned for the feel of his lips and the feel of them making me forget my own damned name. And it was the only thing I needed.. To lose my senses in his arms like it was the last time I would do so..

My lips were against his in that moment.. Through that kiss of despair and longing, I felt him pull me closer.. He said sweet words but his lips were furious against mine.. Demanding and ravishing.. With his hand at the backside of my neck he held me close and desperate for more, for that doze of him that could clear my mind the way nothing else could..

And he was well aware of it. He knew what my soul longed for yet he stopped with almost a regretful groan.. He stopped like he had allowed himself have too much, like he was running from a mistake he almost allowed himself to make.. With even disappointment that he had allowed himself to go so far. Or allowed me to take him so far.

   "You're delirious." He spoke against my lips before moving away.. Past me in one sharp step. "You should rest."

I could even say that he seemed like he read my actions the wrong way.. Perhaps I should've answered to that statement of his differently.. I knew it angered him that I wanted to go on with the plan, but perhaps he had thought I wanted to kiss my way out of the problem.. The problem he had with the whole situation and plan.

I turned to look at him.. With hands on his hips like he was still recovering from the kiss he had allowed at a moment when he was supposed to be furious with me, he still scanned me well and had me take a few steps towards him..

His jaw was clenched,m; his eyes dark and sharp.. I could see the warning in them.. He didn't want me to distract him from his anger towards me. And we had gone through it many times. He just refused to really discuss the plan until that night.

But we were not really discussing, were we? We were.. Forgetting it for a second. Just he way I needed to. And he knew it. It was all in his eyes.. When I walked back in front of him, despite the anger that was clear on him, he seemed just as lost as I was.. And he allowed me to press my hands against his chest.. To grip his shirt and rise myself on my tiptoes, as close as to feel his breath against my lips.

He didn't dare touch me like he was still doubting his own resistance, but I touched him. I brushed my lips against his and he closed his eyes just in that moment, with a groan of approval and rage, both at the same time.

  "I need you.." My whisper earned me a tight grip of his hands around my shirt over my lower back.. My light kiss over his lips had him wish to make distance and fail miserably.. "To make me forget.." My lips moved against the side of his face.. And with a swirled mind, I left another few kisses over his jaw. "For even a second." By the time I reached his ear, I had my fingers tangled up in his hair, while he already held me glued against him, "Please,"

And it was that simple word that seemed to be enough to have him snap.. He turned his head to have our eyes meet for a second.. He was gripping my shirt as tightly as to almost rip it.. And then he pressed his lips against mine like he could no longer take it.

He once told me it was lust that could ruin, but the right kind of desire that could cure. That cure I had found in him. And he in me, there was no doubt in that.. I just couldn't understand what had him holding back before. He perhaps thought I was mad to wish that kind of forgetting, or it simply frustrated him when I tried turning his anger into an insatiable wish that I knew neither of us could resist..

And I didn't fail to. He was kissing me like he had found his salvation in that kiss.. Having me take a few steps back until I felt the solid wall at my back.. Ravishing my lips like he was explaining angry words, yet having me melt against him like it was rather a serenade his lips performed. Hands on my hips and down my leg, and kisses that found their way from my lips to my neck within seconds..

It was the moment he pressed his hand against the wall behind me that made me feel truly trapped, having me release a sigh of a further wish, a rather gasp that was almost as desperate as a plead. And he knew what I wanted..

I wanted to make him forget about that plan for a second, forget about the anger towards me because I was a part of that plan.. And I wanted myself to forget the past few events that could've meant my own ruin if I didn't have him by my side.. I was yet to show him just how thankful I was.. For simply having him as part of my life.

It was when he pressed his lips against my ear that had me holding my breath, when his kisses stopped and his raged breath gave me chills.. It almost made me smile at the closeness I was able to trust with him.. But his words didn't allow my smile to find its way on my lips..

"Come back to me, alive and well, and I will make you forget your own name, Lana." It was his hand that soon gripped my chin, his breath that I felt move against my own, having me open my eyes and look back at the pitch black pearls. "But don't ever think that I will love you like it's your last night on this Earth."

With letting those words be his last, he pushed himself away from me and the wall, taking a few steps back while keeping his eyes on me.. And then with a simple turn, he left the room like he had never entered. But he had. My lips were still pulsing from his demanding kisses.. My mind still repeating his words over and over again. Words that I wished to trust in, but still had that hesitation circling around in my stomach..

Perhaps he was right. I was just desperate to forget. And yes, I did want him to love me like it was my last night. But with those last words, he managed to have them finally carve in my brain.. If I come back to him, I'd be forever his.

~

  "I will not have my brothers harmed. So they will not know of this.. Of any of this." I sat up and walked towards the window. "My father's most trusted men have already showed their loyalty to me, when they agreed to a further allegiance. My uncle has also agreed to follow me, and that is enough people, adding my mother's pack that will also keep our back."

  The whole day we were going through the plan. I had barely slept that night, and many before that.. But this one.. Hell, it was even harder to shut off. After the argument with Christian, I wasn't even able to stop thinking about it..

  He came to bed, a bit after he left. He didn't know I was awake. It was the feel of his hand caressing my hair, before pulling me in his arms that had me soothed.. That gave me the kind of encouragement I needed. That had me fall asleep the very instant I felt him near me. I knew he didn't approve of our plan.. That he refused to think it was our last night together. But that wasn't the case. I just wished he could understand that.

  "It's more than enough." His gaze was locked on mine as he spoke.. Long enough to be meaningful. And it was the first words he had said that were approving.

  "And the Vesnetsovs?" It was Amelia that asked, having me walk back towards the table to look at the maps..

  "I don't trust Alexander, despite the vows he swore to my father. The marriage did not happen, meaning that he is not bound to my family in any way."

  "He has fled. There hasn't been a word from him ever since the attack." Of course Dimitri would know such things.. He knew everything that was going on in Venedocia, Moondale and beyond..

  "And his pack?" I found myself ask, looking around the map and wondering where Alexander could've gone..

  It was understandable to be terrified after what happened. He must've thought that he was next on the list. Everyone had heard about the death of my father, and the loss the whole pack was going through.. It was no secret. But Adam was surely not after Alexander. Even though he had the necklace.

  Calliope claimed the necklace was out of no use.. For killing Adam. But for rising him, it was possible. So everything we thought was wrong.. That the necklace was Adam's weakness.. Hell no, it turned out to be his strength. And he was after it not because he wanted to destroy it, but because it was what was keeping him alive.

  "They've separated.. Those that decided to stay loyal to their Alpha and wait for his return.. And those that need a new leader." Dimitri explained, and soon I had all eyes on me..

  "Which is you." Christian's voice took my attention.. His words had me look at him in disbelief.. He never doubted in me, I knew that, but he most definitely wasn't a supporter wither, thinking that I might end up dead.. "They will swear their allegiance to you. I'll make sure of it."

  There was no doubt that he would make sure of it. They all feared him. But if I was to lead them, it was me they had to talk to. I was just glad Christian and I were finally on the same page.. Which had changed over night, but still.. We had to discuss it later.

  So I gulped down and found myself asking. "By tonight?"

  "By tonight."

***

  It seems like some action is about to go down.. Get ready for the last few chapters babes!

  Not exactly sure if it will be two or three more chapters, but we're getting there.. The end is slowly coming 😉

  Let me know in the comments what you think changed Christian's mind.. And I think we can all agree that Alexander's disappearance is a bit sketchy.. What do y'all think he's up to?

  I'll try updating real soon babes! Kisses, 😘