Mina. Beautiful Mina. She had—
She was on her feet. Shoving between him and Leo. She stood there, her hair tangled around her shoulders, a line of blood dripping from her throat. One of her hands was on his chest, one on his brother’s. And, again, her lips moved slowly.
Worth it.
“No, I’m not.” He wanted to fall to his knees right then and there. He was the Lord of the Dark. He could control all beasts of the dark—that was how he had removed the Ori. “But I’ll fix this, you’ll see.” He put his hand on her throat and focused all of the dark energy within him. He ruled the dark. That meant he could heal the dark creatures who’d been hurt. He’d brought others back from the brink of death, mending their bodies and their minds. He would give Mina back her voice. He would fix her. He would.
But her blood kept dripping down through his fingers. His hands were glowing, power bursting through him. He even felt the stretch of his wings behind him.
Yet her wound didn’t heal.
“I told you,” Leo spoke softly. “She isn’t one of yours. Maybe you can finally see that now.”
Mina was just staring at Luke, a faint line between her delicate brows.
Luke’s gaze jerked toward his brother. “Heal her.”
Leo hesitated. “If I do, then she will be mine, you know that, right?”
Mina frowned at them. Then she stared at Leo and shook her head. Immediately, her gaze returned to Luke. It almost hurt to look into her eyes. There is no almost about it. This woman has gotten to me. And I will do anything for her.
Anything…even lose her.
Leo’s voice was flat as he warned, “If I do this, the traits that were dormant in her will be pushed out by the healing. She will leave you.”
Mina grabbed Luke’s hand. Again, she shook her head.
She wanted to stay with him. He could see that. Even though Leo could give her back her voice, she was still…Choosing me. What have I done? He swallowed, shoving down the lump in his throat. “There’s a story, love,” he told her, his words tender, “I think it may be one you heard before.”
The line between her eyes deepened just a bit.
“There was once this beautiful mermaid who fell in love with a man she saw while swimming one morning. She wanted to be with him so she traded her voice for days with him.”
Her lips parted.
“It was a foolish trade,” Luke said, hating the growing rasp of his words. “Because that man wasn’t worth it. He was not worth any of her pain. He carried too many sins on his back. He would never be worthy of her.” No matter what he fucking did. Luke put his forehead against hers, knowing this was it. The end.
For them.
For him.
“You won’t lose anything for me,” Luke vowed. “I won’t let you.” Then he moved fast, turning her in his arms. She was struggling and he hated it because she should never know fear or pain. “Heal her,” he said to his brother. “Now.”
Leo reached for her throat. His fingertips just touched her and a cascade of light seemed to explode. The light swallowed Mina’s body, surrounding her, enveloping her. Luke felt the warmth slide over his skin.
And when the light faded…
Leo was gone.
Mina stood before him, her body trembling. His hands were still wrapped around her shoulders, holding her far too tightly. Carefully, he turned her back to face him.
“What in the hell was that?” Mina demanded.
Not hell, not even close.
He yanked her close, holding her in a hug that was no doubt crushing her, but Mina’s beautiful voice was back. She was safe.
Her hand shoved against him. “Don’t ever pull that crap with me again!” Mina snapped at him. “And I don’t know what you and your weirdo twin were talking about, but I don’t belong to anyone but myself! I’m not yours and I’m not his! So forget that freak train right now.”
He loved her voice. Loved her passion. Her fire.
I love her. That knowledge was there, pushing up deep inside of him. He wasn’t supposed to love. Everyone thought he couldn’t love. And certainly, not love someone like Mina. Someone who was good and pure of heart. Someone straight from the light. But he stood before her, and the truth was undeniable. He looked into her bright eyes and he knew that he would do anything she wanted. Face any fight. Battle any foe. Give up all of his power…
For her.
His hand curled around her delicate jaw. He pressed his lips to hers. Need burst within him. The wild, fierce desire he only felt for her. He knew their time was limited. His brother was gone, but Leo would be back. And Mina would vanish.
I need her once more.
Not just once. He wanted her a thousand more times. A million. He wanted her forever, but the devil didn’t get a happy ending. That had never been in the cards for him.
She would be happy.
She would also be far away from him.