Nicholas sped past Kieran’s smoking car and turned off on the first side road, to avoid the approaching fire trucks. We were far enough away from town that it would take them at least another five minutes to get here. Kieran called in the location as we bumped along the dirt road. The Helios-Ra were equipped to deal with officials if the Huntsmen took off before they finished the job.

I rubbed my side. “I think Quinn broke my spleen.”

“Which is nothing compared to what his mother will do to mine,” Kieran said, tilting his head back.

“Don’t worry,” I assured. “She’ll tire herself out kicking my ass first.”

Nicholas rolled all the windows down until the cold wind created a little hurricane inside the car. I pushed hair off my face to glance his way. His jaw was clenched tight.

“You okay?” I murmured.

“Fine.”

“Oh, cause that’s convincing.”

“Need my nose plugs?” Kieran asked casually, but I could see him reaching for his last stake.

Nicholas opened the skylight as well. He stopped grinding his teeth as the wind tunneled around him. “I’m good,” he said, and this time we believed him. I shivered, turning up the heaters.

“You couldn’t have sat in a car like this with both of us a few weeks ago,” I pointed out.

“I’ve been through worse since,” he replied quietly. I winced and reached for his hand. He held on tightly, weaving his fingers through mine.

“Anyone else think evil should take a vacation so we can catch a nap?” I asked lightly, trying to ease the tension. The lights of Violet Hill got closer and Nicholas slowed down to the speeding limit. He pulled up to the curb in front of Kieran’s house.

“Hell of a night,” Kieran said in way of a good-bye as he got out.

“Hey,” I said, leaning out the window as he walked away, limping slightly. “Are you going to the farm tomorrow?”

He paused. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” He turned his head. “Call me and tell me if she’s okay.”

We watched Kieran walk up to his front porch, covered in soot and mud.

“Think they’ll work it out?” Nicholas asked.

“The emo twins?” I asked. “They love each other, so yes. Plus, I plan to smack their heads together.”

We drove back out of town in silence, until Nicholas pulled over just before reaching the school. He switched off the lights but kept the car running so I wouldn’t freeze with the open windows. I unbuckled my seatbelt so I could turn to face him. I felt weirdly shy. Now that he was safe, I could really see the changes in him. His smile was just as serious but it carried a certain darkness it hadn’t before. He’d been pushed, the way soldiers at war are pushed. What if everything about him had changed, including the way he felt about me?

“Why is your heart racing like that?” he asked, rubbing his thumb over the pulse on the inside of my wrist.

I swallowed. “Adrenaline.”

He tilted his head. “You know I can smell when you’re lying.”

“Hey.” I scowled. “No vampire superpowers allowed.”

“I never agreed to that.” He smiled his endearingly crooked smile and it nearly batted away my doubts. “What’s going on inside that busy little head of yours, Lucy?”

“Nothing.” He just stared at me until I squirmed. “It’s stupid,” I mumbled. “Especially considering the night we just had.”

“Tell me, anyway.”

“You’re different.”

I felt him pull back slightly. “Different how?”

“Not in a bad way, you’ve just been through so much.”

“And?” He prodded.

“I’m still just me. What if . . .” I shrugged, feeling even dumber now that I had to put it into words.

“You little idiot,” he said, half laughing. “You’re the only thing that saved me. Again. You keep saving me and you don’t even know it.”

His words melted the iceberg in my chest. We stared at each other for a long time. His gray eyes were like smoke. He still had scars on his neck and arms. But he was here. We were together. There was so much to say but no words to say it with.

We reached for each other instead, falling into a kiss so deep and necessary it made every awful thing we’d just been through bearable. His mouth was wicked, nearly desperate. I traced the muscles in his arms, over his chest. I couldn’t get close enough. He dragged his lips slowly down my throat and I shivered down to my toes. I could barely catch my breath.

“You got rid of your glasses,” he said softly, running his fingertip down my nose.

“You kept fogging them up,” I teased, still kissing him. His lips curved under mine, and then the playfulness was gone and he leaned over, pressing me into the seat. He nipped at my mouth, teasing and tasting until my head spun, until my lips tingled, and my knees melted. Our tongues touched, his hand fisted in my hair. I pulled him closer. It wasn’t close enough. I wiggled to make more room in the cramped seat and smacked my elbow on the console. The pins and needles in my arm distracted me. Nicholas pulled back slightly.

“Ouch,” I said, ruefully. “I guess I should go before my detention turns to an expulsion.”

There was a promise in his gray eyes. My cheeks went hot. His thumb traced my lower lip, his gaze dropping back to my mouth. He kissed me once more, a soft lingering kiss that stole every coherent thought right out of my head.