I looked around the wrecked chamber once again, my eyes settling on the severed head of the ghoul.

“How did you three even manage to get to The Sanctuary by yourselves?” I asked.

“We had another witch’s help,” Kiev muttered.

“Patricia.” “Where is Patricia?” Erik asked.

Kiev grimaced.

“She… fell behind.” I barely had time to let his words register and mourn over the loss of the witch when the front door slammed.

“Hurry,” I hissed, placing an arm around Kiev’s waist.

“Erik, Abby, hold on to me.

We need to get out of here.” “Wait, where are you taking us?” Kiev asked, just as I was about to vanish us.

“Corrine and Ibrahim are being kept as prisoners here.

We need to save—” I couldn’t let him finish his sentence as a group of witches stormed into the room.

Before any of them could utter a single curse, we disappeared from the room.

I knew where the prison was.

I’d visited there a few times in my life, so it wasn’t difficult to make us reappear there.

To my relief, the dungeon was empty as we manifested.

“Where are they?” I asked.

We followed Kiev as he stalked down the corridor.

He stopped outside of a double cell.

Sure enough, there lay Corrine and Ibrahim, apparently half asleep.

I blasted open the gate and hurried inside.

There was no time to wake them up.

Gripping both of them by the arm, I ordered Kiev, Erik and Abby to hold onto me.

Once I was confident they were all holding me tightly enough, it was time to go back home… back to The Shade.

Chapter 35: Rose

I was worried about the sun burning Caleb as we travelled.

I glanced up over my shoulder at Bella.

She was so large, she cast a long shadow over Caleb at the angle we were currently flying, but that might not be the case for long.

I eyed the thick waistcoat she wore over her dirty smock.

“Bella,” I said.

“Can you remove your waistcoat and use it to shield Caleb once the sun starts reaching him?” She nodded and grunted.

“Okay, Miss Rose.” “Thanks.” The sun’s rays weren’t quite reaching him yet, but for whatever reason, she removed her waistcoat and held it over him now like an umbrella.

It was just as well, I supposed.

It gave Caleb and me some privacy, with her wide face no longer looming over us.

I caught Caleb’s eye.

He was looking tense as ever.

It was torture, not being able to say anything meaningful to him when there were so many questions burning in both of our minds.

I placed my hands over his, which were holding the dragon’s scales on either side of my waist, and bent my head back so I could reach his throat.

I placed a kiss against his rough stubble, and he slid his right hand up to my navel while his lips lowered to caress my cheek.

“I trust you, Rose,” he whispered, his breath cool in my ear.

I gulped, feeling guilty that he should trust me when I didn’t even trust myself.

“I want you to turn around to face me,” he said.

“Just hold on to me.

I’ll keep you from falling.” Slowly sliding my right foot from where it had been wedged between the dragon’s scales, I placed my arms around Caleb’s neck as he swiveled me round.

He ran his palms along my bare legs, positioning them over his thighs, before resuming his grip on the dragon’s hide.

I gazed into Caleb’s beautiful eyes, relishing the feeling of privacy Bella was affording us.

“Now I can kiss you better,” he said softly.

My spine tingled as he dipped his head toward mine.

He caught my lower lip, sucking on it gently before moving to taste my upper lip.

I ran my hands along his torso, feeling his taut muscles beneath my fingers.

He tensed suddenly and raised his head, once again looking me in the eye.

“I can’t lose you again,” he breathed.

I wanted to tell him I couldn’t lose him again either.

But instead I just nodded, afraid to respond with the dragon’s ears so close to us.

He bit his lip, as though he was about to continue saying something.

“What?” I asked.

There was a long pause before he finally drew in a deep breath.

Then he spoke the words I’d been aching to hear ever since he’d first kissed me at The Shade’s port.

“Whatever lies ahead… I just need to tell you… I need you to know…” His voice caught in his throat.

“I love you, Rose Novak.” I gaped at him, speechless.

Blood rushed to my cheeks.

My hands were trembling as I reached for his face.

“And I love you, Caleb Achilles,” I choked.

“With every beat of my heart.” He exhaled sharply and his arms closed around me, drawing me into a tight—almost crushing—embrace.

I buried my face in his neck, tears of joy leaking from my eyes and moistening his skin.

His eyes were glistening too by the time we met each other’s gaze again.

He began dragging long, tender kisses across my face and neck, cherishing every part of me he could reach.

We broke away only once Bella lifted our shelter and peeked down at us.

Her eyes widened before she quickly replaced the waistcoat.

“Oops, sorry,” she mumbled.

“Heard weird sounds.

Didn’t know you were doing… that.” I giggled.