He’d kill Lucien’s mate, push his brother over the edge, and maybe reclaim the sword in the process. He’d love to see the look on what remained of Derrick’s face when he arrived with the sword and his brother’s head.
It was early afternoon by the time Lucien shut the back door of the SUV and climbed behind the wheel. Callie sat in the seat beside him, her hands clasped in her lap, and her eyes staring straight ahead. No matter how he tried to draw her out, she’d barely spoken since Carter’s attack.
At least her throat looked a lot better, and the gash on her forehead was mostly healed. She still bore the bruises that piece of shit inflicted on her, but they would vanish within the next few days. He couldn’t wait for that to happen.
Starting the vehicle, he pulled out of the drive.
“You were right,” she said, her voice already sounding much better. “We shouldn’t have come back here.”
“No, I wasn’t. You should have your things. You’ve given up so much already; you shouldn’t have to give it all up. You deserve better, and I’ll make sure you have it.”
“I want to join you,” she said. “And after I do, I’m going to keep training so I can go into the field with you and help against the Savages and stop people like Carter.”
“Callie—”
“I know you don’t want me there, but I’m going to be there. I know it will take time and a lot of training to get me to where I can help in the battle, but I’m going to fight. I won’t ever let anyone do to me, or someone else, what Carter did. I am going to help others.”
Lucien’s knuckles turned white, but he’d always known she wouldn’t stay locked away. She was no meek hunter woman, and even they weren’t so meek anymore. She was a human who enjoyed her freedom and wouldn’t easily give it up. He couldn’t cage her.
“It will take a lot of training,” Lucien said.
“I know, and I’m ready to do it.”
“Okay.”
It was the last thing he wanted, but he would give it to her.
“Where are we going now?” she asked.
“We’ll take a few days to return home so we can make sure no one is following us.”
“Okay.” Callie settled back in the seat to watch as her neighborhood vanished. “What did they do with Carter’s body?”
“It’s still in the SUV with Asher, Logan, and Saber. We’ll dispose of it when we get the chance.”
Callie shuddered at the idea of driving around with that thing’s body in the back of their SUV. She was happy Carter wasn’t with them.
The rest of the day faded away, and night descended as their tires hummed over asphalt. They pulled into the parking lot of a motel, and Willow and Declan went to get rooms. They waited outside with Killean and Simone.
When Declan handed Lucien the key, Callie trudged beside him to their hotel room while Saber, Logan, and Asher went to dispose of Carter’s body. Callie removed her clothes with jerky movements before collapsing onto the bed. She listened to Lucien moving around the room before exhaustion won and sleep claimed her.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
They spent the next couple of days traveling through different states and circling back around. They took highways and back roads and stayed as far off the radar as possible. Callie woke the morning after Carter’s attack to discover the fingerprints still on her neck, but the bruises were almost gone.
Lucien gave her more blood, and she happily gave him more of hers before leaving the motel. Since then, Carter’s marks had almost completely disappeared from her.
They were on a back road heading from New Hampshire into Massachusetts, and the plan was to return home tomorrow. Callie was ready to be back at the compound and out of the SUV.
She was ready to enter the next phase of her life, which meant ending her mortal existence and embracing an entirely new one. She’d assumed the loss of everything she’d always known would frighten her more, but she was excited to begin her new life with Lucien.
She slid her fingers into his as the sun touched the horizon. The vast array of vibrant colors spreading across the sky stole her breath.
“This world is so beautiful,” she whispered.
Lucien looked over as she leaned forward to peer up at the sky. Her eyes closed, and she tilted her head to take in more of the sun’s rays.
“Not as beautiful as you,” he said.
A radiant smile lit her face as she turned toward him. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”
She rested her hand on his thigh and slid it up toward his groin. Lucien shifted when his body instantly reacted to her touch.
Callie smiled at the hardness evident against the front of his jeans. “What do they call it… road head?”
“I think I’ve heard of that.”
“Have you ever tried it?” she asked as she clasped his cock through his jeans.
“That is one thing I’ve never tried.”
“It’s on my bucket list.”
“Don’t let me be the one to stop you from crossing it off.”
Callie grinned as she undid his button and slid the zipper down. Lucien shifted to help her as she pulled his jeans low enough to free his dick. She stroked him as she moved around the console and lowered her head to his lap.
Lucien groaned when her warm breath caressed the head of his shaft a second before her tongue flicked out to taste him. Then her mouth was settling over him and taking him deep. His hands gripped the steering wheel, and he resisted pushing his foot down on the accelerator as pleasure speared through him.
He settled a hand on her head while she moved up and down his shaft. She used her hands and mouth to fuck him until he couldn’t take it anymore.
“I’m going to come,” he warned through his teeth.
She only moved faster over him, and he gave in to the exquisite sensation as he found his release.
Callie gave his cock a few more licks as she swallowed him down before pulling away. She smiled at him as she leaned back and settled against the window. “Cross that one off the list.”
He glanced at her as he pulled his jeans back up and buttoned them again. “I’m glad I could be of assistance.”
She laughed as she lifted her water bottle and took a long gulp. She leaned her head against the window as night descended and the stars blinked to life. It was almost midnight when they pulled into a small, dirt strip on the side of the road. He parked behind Killean, and Simone and Declan pulled in behind him. Saber took up the rear position.
When they left the motel this morning, they agreed they wouldn’t get another room tonight. Instead, they would sleep in a rest area, away from cameras and people, before returning home tomorrow.
Lucien climbed out of the vehicle to reorganize Callie’s things in the back. He pushed the totes to the side before pulling down the back seats and spreading out a sleeping bag they bought earlier in the day.
While he worked, so did the others. They were soon set up in the small rest area. Killean and Simone took the first watch along with Asher.
Lucien claimed Callie’s hand and helped her into the back of the SUV before pulling the door closed behind them.