Drake looked over Elena’s head to where Kaitlyn stood beside Zack. “You love him?”
Kaitlyn nodded.
Drake turned his gaze on Zack. “And you love her?”
“You know I do.”
Drake blew out a sigh of resignation. “All right,” he said with as much good grace as he could muster. “I know when I am outnumbered.”
“Thank you, Dad!” Kaitlyn hurled herself into her father’s arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Drake slid his arm around Kaitlyn’s waist. “Just one thing. Whatever plans you have already made or hope to make will have to wait until Nadiya is no longer a threat.”
Kaitlyn went into Zack’s arms as soon as her mom and dad left the room. “You didn’t really change your mind about marrying me, did you? I mean, it was just a bluff. Wasn’t it?”
“What do you think?”
Canting her head to one side, she looked up at him through the veil of her lashes. “I’m not sure,” she said with a teasing grin. “I guess you’ll just have to propose again.”
“Is that right?” In a single fluid move, he dropped down on one knee. “Kaitlyn Liliana Sherrad, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
She would have thought he was teasing except for the serious expression on his face, the intensity that blazed in the depths of his eyes. “Yes, Zack, I will.”
Rising to his feet, he drew her into his arms and kissed her. It was a kiss like no other he had ever given her—achingly tender and sweet, a kiss of commitment meant to bind two hearts and two souls together. Forever.
There were tears in her eyes when he broke the kiss.
“I love you, Katy, with all my heart. I’ll do my best to make you happy.”
“I am happy,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Happier than I’ve ever been in my whole life.”
“And I intend to see that you stay that way.” Or die trying.
Chapter 36
Elena sat on Drake’s lap. She tried to pretend she was calm, but her voice betrayed her.
“When?” she asked tremulously. “When are we leaving for the Fortress?”
“We are not leaving,” he said, kissing her cheek. “I am leaving. You will stay here with Zack and Kaitlyn.”
“No!” She slid off his lap, then whirled around to face him, her hands fisted on her hips. “I am not staying behind!”
“Elena. Wife. You will do as I say, or I will lock you in your room.”
“That’s not fair!”
“Fair or not, I will not put your life in danger. You will stay here with Kaitlyn. Zack will be here to protect you.”
“You can’t face Lucien and Nadiya alone.”
“I can and I will,” he said. “This is my fight. I cannot let Lucien think he has won.”
“That’s just your pride talking. I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
“The Fortress is my ancestral home. I will not give it up without a fight. Nor will I let Nadiya go unpunished for what she did.”
“Please, Drake.” Elena placed her hands on Drake’s shoulders. “I’m afraid. What if . . .” She couldn’t say the words. What if saying them made them so? She wasn’t brave; she didn’t care what happened to the Fortress. Her only concern was for her husband. He was her courage. Her life. Without him . . . “Drake.”
“I know.” He put his arms around her waist and drew her close, his head resting in the vee between her br**sts.
“What if Lucien won’t meet you?” she asked hopefully.
“I will not give him a choice. Day after tomorrow, I will summon my brothers and the husbands of my sisters. We will meet at the Fortress.”
“Not Andrei,” Elena said.
Drake lifted his head. “Why not Andrei?”
“Because Katiya is pregnant again.”
“Who told you that?” he asked, frowning.
“Katiya sent me a letter. I got it a few days ago but with everything that was going on, I forgot to tell you.”
Drake nodded. “Not Andrei, then.”
“So you won’t be alone,” Elena said, relieved to know that his brothers would be there with him.
“I will meet Lucien alone. My family will be there to assure it is a fair fight.”
“Isn’t there another way?” She knew what his answer would be, but she had to try one more time.
“No.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Do not worry, wife. I will come back to you.”
Elena forced a smile, but inside, her heart was breaking. And then, not wanting him to think her weak or cowardly, she forced a smile. Taking him by the hand, she urged him to his feet. “Let us go upstairs and make the best of what time we have left before you must go.”
Kaitlyn shook her head. “Can’t you change his mind?”
“I tried,” Elena said. “But you know how your father is, once he’s made a decision.”
Kaitlyn reached for her mother’s hand. It was late on a rainy afternoon and they were sitting side by side on one of the sofas in the main hall. A fire crackled cheerfully in the hearth. A flowered teapot and matching china cups sat on the coffee table, along with a batch of freshly baked sugar cookies. They had dined earlier.
“Can he win?” Kaitlyn asked.
“If Lucien and Nadiya play fair, it’s no contest. Your father will win easily. But you know Nadiya won’t play by the rules. Even if your father defeats Lucien, I know Nadiya will have a back-up plan to make sure your father doesn’t survive.”
“We have to be there,” Kaitlyn said.
“I agree, but I don’t know how we’d manage it. We’d have to go by plane, and by the time we get there, it’ll all be over.”
Kaitlyn heaved a sigh of exasperation. More and more lately, she found herself wishing she was a full-fledged vampire like her father. Like Zack . . . Zack. Of course! He could take them to the Fortress.
Kaitlyn gave her mother’s hand a squeeze. “I know a way. Shh, they’re coming.” She looked up, smiling as Zack and her father entered the room.
“You’re up early,” Elena said, smiling at her husband.
“I wanted to spend as much time with you as I could,” Drake said, kissing his wife’s cheek. “What have you two been up to?”
“Talking about the wedding, of course.” Kaitlyn moved to the other sofa so her parents could sit together. She smiled at Zack as he took a place beside her.