Rurik by Lauren Smith

Author:Lauren Smith [Smith, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947206229
Publisher: Lauren smith
Published: 2018-02-21T18:00:00+00:00

12

I had forgotten how much light there is in the world, till you gave it back to me. —Ursula K. Le Guin

Rurik dug through Charlotte’s purse, his dragon tense inside him, as though afraid of what he might find. His animal side wasn’t used to fearing anything, but the idea of a drug that could suppress that part of him, even temporarily, was terrifying.

There were no weapons, no magical tokens or talismans to help her inside. Just…there it was…

He pulled out a black case out and unzipped it. Two small syringes with gleaming green liquid were tucked in elastic straps. He removed them from the pouch. Without a word, he walked over to the bathroom sink. He depressed the plungers on the syringes and drained their contents. The third one in Moscow would be handled soon. There was bound to be more of this back at the Brotherhood labs, but he felt a small bit of relief destroying the immediate threat.

Rurik flipped the taps on, splashing water to wash down the remnants of the drug. Charlotte stayed where she was, sheet wrapped around her body like a loose toga. Her blonde hair was in a wild tumble around her shoulders, and the light from the lamps illuminated the drying tears on her cheeks. It was a shock to his heart, strong enough that for a moment he couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. He recovered at last and approached her, stopping just inches away.

The apprehension in her eyes cut his heart. She had no reason to be afraid, but she had no reason to believe that. The mistrust between their worlds ran deep.

“If you are being truthful to me, if it is your intention to stand by my side, then from this moment on, we are in this together. No more secrets, no more lies, from either of us. Do you understand?” He needed to hear her say yes. If she couldn’t, it was going to rip him apart.

She nodded. “Yes. No more lies or secrets,” she vowed, and he knew she was telling the truth. The defenses around his heart crumbled. He wrapped her in his arms, holding her against him, her feet dangling off the ground. She curled her arms around his neck and choked on a sob as she nuzzled him. Their emotions, so close to each other in their bond, were only magnifying.

“I’m so sorry, little one. So very sorry,” he murmured over and over again as he carried her back to the bedroom.

He felt her heart, like a faint gold glimmer through a thick silver curtain. She was falling for him, and she wasn’t going to keep any more secrets from him. In that moment, knowing she was in love with him was all that mattered. He would face the problem of her family and his tomorrow. Right now, he needed to hold her and reassure himself and his dragon that she was all right.

“How did you find out?” she asked. “About my brothers, I mean.” Charlotte cuddled on his lap as they settled back on the bed.

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