Chapter 9 " You fool ! " I would rather die than let Vance risk himself for me . Vance only gave a small , reassuring curl of his mouth and a calm look meant to soothe me . Then he turned to Beatrix , his voice steady . " I'm coming in . Let her go . " Beatrix laughed like a demon , a sound that crawled up from hell . " You think I'll really let her go ? I never intended to live anyway . If I die , I'll make sure you don't have an easy time- A murderous , determined light flashed in her eyes as her hand darted for the bomb's trigger . " No- " Vance shouted and lunged . There was a single , deafening boom . Everything went black ; in the instant of the blast Vance had crushed me to his chest . Flames and thick smoke roared up ; shards of the ceiling and splinters rained down . Pain surged and my consciousness slipped away . Time stopped . The world went gray . Three months later . I straightened my clothes and went to the pack hospital like any other day . In those three months , Vance had been out of immediate danger , but as the healers said , he never woke . I moved to his bedside with the practiced ease of someone who had done this a thousand times and pressed a kiss to his lips . Then I sat quietly beside him and began to chatter about the day's small things . " Your pack is doing well under my care . I even convinced them to wash their hands of the old ways - no more needless killing ; now we help the weak ... " " The owner of tha restaurant which we always visited built a mate bond . His new mate is a cheerful girl . She said when you come next time she'll make sure to gift you a keepsake of their mating ... " I prattled on until , looking at Vance's stern , familiar face , I softened . " And Vance , I miss you ... " I took his hand and pressed it to my cheek . Tears fell from my eyes and landed in his palm . Through the glass door of the ward , Westley watched . His eyes were red and his hands hung limp at his sides . He knew , this life , he had lost to Vance . Even without Vance gone , I could never be with him again . He had truly , utterly lost me forever . I buried my face in Vance's palm and remembered the moment we first met meeting with his night - dark eyes , fathomless as the sea . How , in that black ocean , he had pulled me back from death . Chapter 9 In that single glance , my fate had been sealed . I slipped off my shoes , crawled onto the bed , lay down beside Vance , and snuggled into his arms . I remembered a question he had asked months before . " Lenora , will you stay by my side ? " I buried my head against his chest . " Vance , if you wake , I'll tell you , my answer is ... " I paused , and then , quietly : " I will . " In the dark , it felt as if Vance's lashes trembled . 100.00 % Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!