; with each sweep, it was a reminder of the brute force he carried. For all his malignant intentions, he used that force with lethal elegance, his blows almost

a could feel the tension between them, silent in its understanding-that tonight wasn't going to be

ovements, his tone ice-cold, devoid of emotion. "You can't always

rds. She willed herself to stand tall, but a small, inexorable part

eyes locked on Liam with equal measures of disdain and delight. "Consider this a war

with him until the forest felt it could breathe again. The succeeding silence was thick and unsettlin

r and confusion. Before she could straighten, Liam was beside her, warm and solid and

ound him, clinging tightly, and he was the only thing anchoring her to reality. The warmth of his body steadied her, easing t

ing. She felt the way his hold shifted higher, becoming more

he'd ever heard him, like he knew anythi

ummed up-the fear, the confusion, the helplessness somehow finding its way out into one tear-filled gaze. Her chest fe

ning her cheeks. The gentleness of his touch closed her eyes as she savored the quiet reassurance he offer

na's eyes fluttered shut as her heart welled up with something she couldn't name, an emotion so much stronger than the fea

ning moment, nothing existed but the two of them, they were connected by something gre

e kissed him back, her fears and doubts melting as the heat spread through her

ent unnoticed. It was that that jerked them back to reality as they broke apart, breathi

eling of being exposed. Her heart was still racing as she fought for breath;

her voice barely a whisper as her hand

pression she hadn't ever seen before. He cleared his throat and nodded slight

n a low but even

tell her. She registered in a second precisely what he was suggestin

, that tiniest of smiles breaking th

. She felt her face heat even more as she held on, her heart fluttering in her chest. Her cheek came to rest against his shoul

minded her how much he belonged here: a creature of the night protecting her from its da

the lights out-a small mercy as they gingerly made their way

ened herself, her cheeks still flushed from the ride and from everything that had ha

is voice quiet yet firm. "

o her own thoughts. She wanted to say something, anything that would capture just how grateful she

ething unreadable in them, something that made her pulse quicken once more. He reached

h one last nod, he turned into the shadows

d her fingers slowly to her lips, touching them lightly, as if the kiss still lingered. A shy smile tugged at

er hands as a giggle escaped her lips. The heat remained there as she tiptoed in