Mac’s voice broke and he had to swallow hard. Losing Lily would kill him. Oh, he’d go on as he had, but his heart would be dead forever. She was everything to him, the very air that he breathed. If the only way to keep her and the baby safe was to let her go, then he’d cut out his heart and do it. First, he had to try to convince her to stay, to get her to see that they had a life together, a future as a family.
She stayed still, tense but clearly listening, though she wouldn’t meet his gaze. It broke his heart to be so close to her and yet so far apart. How the hell had he managed to screw everything up so badly?
“I know about the baby, Lily,” he said quietly, crouching down so he was less of a threat. “I know that’s why you’re running away.”
“It’s not my fault.” The words tore from Lily’s throat on a loud wail, tears running down her face. “I didn’t do it deliberately. I didn’t know, Mac, I swear I didn’t know.” She wrapped her arms protectively around her body, rocking back and forth on the edge of the cliff.
“I know, baby, I know,” Mac ground out, his heart in his mouth. “Lily, don’t move, sugar. Please stop moving. You’re scaring the life out of me.”
She ceased moving and he released the breath he was holding. “Being pregnant isn’t anyone’s fault, Lily. It’s an act of love, a new life we’ve created together. A life I never thought I’d ever get the chance to experience again, but now it’s there waiting for me, one I want as badly as you.”
He breathed in deeply and gave his words time to register. “I know what I said this morning makes that hard for you to believe, but I want this baby, Liliana. I want our baby, so very much.
When Sophia died, I thought I’d never want to father another child, but now I know we’ve created something special between us, I want to know the joy of holding my daughter, or my son, in my arms. I swear I’m telling the truth, Lily. Open up our mate bond. See that I mean every word I’m saying.”
Mac was saying he wanted the baby. Hysteria bubbled up inside Lily, wild laughter full of disbelief warring with yearning for his words to be true. He could just be saying that to get her to come home. Once home he could change his mind.
“You don’t mean that,” she yelled, scurrying backwards again.
“Lily, stop!”
“You can’t just change your mind like that, Mackenzie. You can’t be so certain this morning and then do a complete 360 this afternoon. I know what you’re doing. You’re just trying to get me to come home. I won’t give up this baby, Mac. I love you but I can’t do it, not even for you.”
“Lily, please listen to me,” Mac whispered, terror invading his soul as she moved closer to the cliff edge in her panic. “Liam said something to me earlier, about how we all underestimate the Vârcolac, about how strong you all were even as children.
“I was human when Sophia died. She was human. The grief I’ve always struggled with has been human grief. I didn’t take into account that any child we created would be so much more resilient than a human child. I didn’t take into account that I would be so much better prepared to protect my child now that I’m a vampire.”
Lily heard him through her tears, and finally turned to face her mate. His expression was haggard, concern etched across his features. She gasped, stunned as she looked at him. “You’re eyes. They’re not black anymore.”
He blinked slowly, frowning. “They’re not?”
“Oh Mac, they’re the most beautiful grey eyes I’ve ever seen.” Lily was sobbing, wondering how his eyes could have changed colour and aware that it was a rather random conversation to be having considering the circumstances.
“That’s their natural colour,” Mac breathed softly, as surprised as she at the turn of events. “When I lost my family and Demetri turned me, my eyes remained black after the transformation. He always speculated it was my grief that was the causing factor for that.”
He held his hand out. “Don’t you see what this means, Lily? I’m done grieving for the past, sugar. I have everything I will ever need in you and our child that you’re carrying. I love you, Liliana Rose Romanov. You are my world, and I want you and our child so very much. Hell, we can have as many children as you want, baby, just please come to me.”
Sanity started to kick in, Lily’s confusion clearing. Mac had never lied to her, not once. She could read the truth in his eyes, feel his love flowing down their mate bond as she let go of the restraints she’d place on her bonds. How could she have doubted him? He was her mate and he loved her.
Sobbing she shivered, reaching out to him. “Mac. Oh, Mac, I’m so sorry.” She moved forward and the earth and rock beneath her moved too. Panic spread across her face, her mouth dropping open in a startled scream.
“LILY!”
Mac sprang forward, scrambling desperately as the cliff gave way. In slow motion, he watched his world crumble before his eyes, grasping desperately for Lily’s outstretched hand. His talons shot through his fingertips, trying to give him that extra few inches of reach.
“LILY!”
“MAC!”
His hand connected with nothing but air, Lily frantically screaming his name. Mac threw himself further forward as a loud, piercing scream filled the air and Lily plummeted downwards with the crumbling rock.
“LILY! LILY!”