Chapter 5 - Blood on Silk
The truce established at The Obsidian was short-lived.
Riker’s public humiliation had triggered a secret alliance between his remnants and the remnants of Julian’s faction. They knew they couldn't beat Declan in an open war, so they chose the path of cowards: assassination.
It happened two weeks later during an unseasonably warm autumn evening.
Declan and I were walking through the private glass conservatory at the rear of the estate. The moonlight streamed through the high glass panels, illuminating the tropical plants and stone fountains.
"You've been quiet tonight," Declan noted, turning to face me near the central fountain.
"I was just thinking," I said, looking up into his grey eyes. "A month ago, I thought my life was over. Now... I feel like I'm finally living."
A rare, beautiful smile touched Declan’s lips. He reached out, his long fingers gently tucking a strand of dark hair behind my ear. His touch sent a warm current straight through my chest.
"You brought life back into this dead house, Nora," Declan murmured, stepping closer until his broad frame blocked out the moonlight. "I spent five years building walls around myself. You tore them down in a single night."
He leaned down, his lips hovering barely an inch from mine. My heart hammered against my ribs, wild and eager.
CRACK!
The sharp, high-caliber report of a sniper rifle shattered the glass ceiling above!
"Declan!" I screamed.
Instinct took over before my brain could process the danger. I hurled my body forward, slamming into Declan’s chest, pushing him toward the heavy stone pedestal of the fountain.
THUD!
The heavy bullet grazed my shoulder, tearing through the silk fabric of my sleeve before embedding itself into the marble behind us.
Declan caught me as we both hit the ground behind the stone fountain.
"Nora!" Declan roared, his eyes wide with horror as he saw the bright crimson blood staining my white sleeve.
"I'm okay... I'm okay," I gasped, holding my arm as pain flared through my shoulder.
"Carter! West perimeter!" Declan shouted into his wrist communicator, his voice filled with an unholy, demonic rage. "Find the shooter! I want him alive!"
Declan pulled off his dark tie, wrapping it tightly around my shoulder wound to stop the bleeding. His hands—normally so steady and controlled—were shaking violently.
"You took a bullet for me," Declan rasped, his voice breaking as he cradled my head against his lap. "You foolish, brave girl... why did you do that?!"
"Because... I can't lose you," I whispered, tears of pain blurring my vision as I looked up into his frantic grey eyes. "I love you, Declan."
Declan froze. The world around us seemed to stop—the alarms blaring across the estate, the sound of boots running across the gravel outside, the shattered glass falling around us.
Declan leaned down and pressed his lips firmly against mine.
The kiss was desperate, wild, and heavy with years of unspoken longing and terrifying relief. I pulled him closer with my good arm, sinking into his strength, letting his warmth consume the cold pain in my body.
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When he pulled back, his eyes were burning with a fierce, unbreakable resolve.
"You aren't going anywhere, Nora," Declan swore, his voice a low, heavy vow against my lips. "I am going to tear down whoever did this to you."
