I’d thought it. I hadn’t realized I’d said it or that he’d heard. But thank God for it.
I leaned forward, wrapped my arms around him, and let fly the sob that was trapped in my throat.
Thank God for him.
• • •
The crowd was appreciative and grateful when we trudged up the stairs back to Michigan Avenue again. But our clothes were wet and were crunchy in the freezing air, and icicles had frozen in my hair. I felt as if I’d been frozen from the inside, like crystals had actually begun to form in my blood.
“Good work as always,” my grandfather said. “Although absolutely terrifying.”
“Most of the things she does these days are,” Ethan said.
My grandfather stepped closer. “Does she need to go to the hospital? Her lips seem . . . bluish.”
“No,” Ethan said. “We’ll keep her awake and moving, and anything that might have been damaged will heal itself.” His gaze went hot. “And when she’s feeling one hundred percent again, we’ll have a very long talk about diving into a freezing river.”
Since that sounded much braver than having climbed into the river and fallen at the last moment, I let him believe it. And yeah, not my best move. But the Patton family was super glad of my recklessness right now, and that was the only outcome that mattered.
Pierce walked toward us. She’d abandoned the headset but added a CPD jacket that was too big for her athletic frame. “The Department of Water Management is sending an icebreaker to keep traffic moving. We’re going to keep automotive traffic rerouted on this portion of Michigan until we figure out what’s happening.” She aimed her direct gaze at my grandfather.
“I hope that’s something you can do.”
“So do I,” he said.
“I think we’ll want to talk to Winston,” Ethan said. “But we need to go to the House first, get a change of clothes.” He glanced at me. “I called Brody. He’s on the way, will meet us across the river.” He looked over at the police boundaries, the detour signs, the general congestion. “It’s best to stay out of this.”
My grandfather nodded. “Best to stay out of the Loop if possible. As for Winston, let me know when you’re ready, and we’ll meet you at the gate.”
“We’ll do that. Come on, Sentinel,” Ethan said, putting a hand at my waist. “Let’s go home.”
I need to be with my people for a little while, he silently said.
And in his House, I thought, behind the fence, where the Novitiates didn’t need quite the same kind of saving.
• • •
We walked in silence through the crowd, accepted with nods and polite smiles the thank-yous and pats on the back. We were tired enough that the nods and smiles were the only responses we could muster.
“Sire,” Brody said, opening the door of the large black SUV he’d driven to pick us up. It would undoubtedly handle better in the snow than Ethan’s current wheels—a sleek sports car that was better equipped for straightaways than freezing roads.
To his credit, Brody had turned up the heat and the seat warmers. I was asleep before we left the Loop, my head propped on Ethan’s shoulder.
I woke again as Brody pulled the vehicle to a stop in front of the gate, then climbed out of the car to open the door for us. The gate was closed, but the human guards opened it quickly enough at the sight of us. For the first time, we walked into the grounds of Cadogan House as husband and wife.
Before I could argue, Ethan picked me up.
I put an arm around his neck. “I think it’s a little late for this, isn’t it?”
“Carrying your wife over the threshold is a tradition. And maybe it will be good luck. We could use a little of that.”
No argument there.
“Congratulations!”
The door opened to another cacophony of sound, but this cacophony was a lot better than the last one. Lindsey, Luc, Malik, and two dozen more vampires stood in the foyer beneath a gold CONGRATULATIONS banner hung from the coffered ceiling. They blew gold paper horns and bubbles from tiny gold bottles while Margot passed out steaming cups of hot chocolate and warmed blood.
“You didn’t get a honeymoon,” Lindsey said, “so we decided you at least needed a welcome-home hello. And a warming-up opportunity.”