Page 86 of Tears of Revenge

Varos and Lysander doubled over in laughter. She joined in, enjoying their banter. They had a horrible night ahead and this took the heavy feeling from her soul. She pushed herself up, reached for Lysander, and claimed his mouth. Her fingers roamed through his hair, knowing in less than an hour he’d be a shadow of the gorgeous man he was now.

“I would like for you to stay with me again.” Lysander shushed against her lips, taking in a deep breath.

“I’ll be there all night,” she promised.

“As if anything or anyone could keep her from you,” Marcus chuckled, leaning against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest.

She pulled Lysander’s head further down and kissed his forehead. “Marcus is right. Though you are the only one that could stop me from being there.”

“Never.”

They slowly made their way down to the dungeon, where Varos and Marcus had been sure to whisk Troy away to some unknown location Ava didn’t care to find. His scent still lingered, which was why she had the silver necklace laced through her fingers again. She watched as Lysander knelt on the floor with Varos by his side reassuring him they would never let the lycan free.

When his body shook and his bones broke, Lysander looked up at her. She rushed to his side and cupped his cheek with her palm, feeling his jaw elongate under her touch.

“I’ll stay with you,” she promised just as before.

She felt fur tickle her palm, his body growing larger and stronger. The second he fell victim to the lycan, the beast roared under the burn of the silver. While Marcus restrained his limbs, she tightened her grip around the beast’s jaw and forced her fangs into his flesh. Venom filled his system, and she drained him to unconsciousness.

Once he hung limp in the chains, Varos and Marcus stepped back, giving her space with him. She sat in his lap like before, her hands roaming through the hard fur of the lycan’s neck. She alternated between comforting him and draining him, with Marcus and Varos never leaving her side. She wanted him to know—to feel—that he wasn’t alone. They were watching over him.

Varos once again stepped up and told her to see if Lysander could regain control. The next time the lycan stirred, Ava stepped back. He was raging, her ears ringing from his screams as he rustled the chains to break free. A tantalising moment later his bones cracked and his body shrunk until Lysander hung in the chains.

She held him while Marcus and Varos freed him from the silver. Just like the month before, she swept him into her arms. Careful not to hurt him even more, she carried him upstairs and to his bed. She cooled his hot skin by wiping him down with a wet cloth before she got him comfortable. She curled up next to him and it wasn’t long before he pulled her onto his chest.

“You feel good,” he sighed, his voice rough.

She took advantage of her frigid skin, slipping her hands beneath his shirt to soothe his aching body. “You did so well,” she praised, feeling his hair prickle under her palm.

She only left his side to gather food for him, otherwise sitting by quietly while he rested the day away.

As the days went on, she couldn’t help but feel claustrophobic. The house was big, but with nothing else to do, she quickly grew tired of it. She was doing well in her training by exposing herself to Troy and yes, she enjoyed her uninterrupted time with her men, but it was becoming mundane.

Ever since she found out about the Alaskan property, she’d spent her time researching. Lysander had said they would fly a private jet to Fairbanks, then take a helicopter further north. Zooming in on the digital map before her, the property was in the middle of nowhere. Nothing around but wilderness.

The thought of being able to leave the house, unafraid of killing anyone, felt freeing. But it was also terrifying. How were they supposed to survive out there? Lysander needed food, and she would need blood.

“What just happened?”

She looked up to see Marcus standing in the doorframe and crooked a brow.

“Your face went from glowing to frowning.”

“I was looking at the house in Alaska.”

“If you don’t like it, we have many others to choose from.”

“I like it. I’m just afraid of how isolated it is. How is Lysander going to eat?”

“The house is stocked with everything one could need for a few months. Freezers and canning make everything possible these days.”

She sighed, looking back at her phone. And what about us?”

“Hunting. Animal blood is just as good as donated blood, but we will take some reserves with us.”

She gaped, lips forming an O as she looked up at him. “Hunting?”

“Yes. It’s quite fun.”