There was a storm when Emma awoke the next day, the grey skies stopping any light from penetrating the windows of Liam's loft and the sound of hailstones bouncing off the panes of glass in each window. The room was dull, an invisible fog making every colour muted, which heightened the ambience of the storm raging outside. Emma's eyeballs rolled under her lids, tiny white specks dancing around in the blackness, her brain trying to catch up to the sound she was hearing, processing each tap against the glass, one after another.
She shifted her weight, one leg rubbing against the hairy calf of the man who was asleep next to her, their legs entangled under the thin sheet that covered them as they lay awkwardly askew. They had spent most of the night making love, holding each other after each euphoric release that had left them both exhausted and wanting more. Neither had wanted to sleep, unable to accept the fact that they might be holding each other, feeling each other, for the last time. Neither had wanted to stop gazing upon the other.
Each moment was precious, the night turning into day quicker than they had realised. Emma swallowed a thick lump down her dry throat and curled her body closer to Killian's, the warmth from his naked form enveloping her and making the hair under her hairline flush hotter than usual. Emma peeled one eye open, the smile on Killian's face even in sleep, catching her eyes immediately as he slumbered on his front next to her, his face pressed into the pillow and Emma resting her head on his forearm.
His hair was a mess, likely from how many times she had raked her fingers across his scalp the night before and the ear she could see still bore the light bruising inflicted by her teeth when she had bit down on the tough, pointy flesh. Emma smirked, recalling the noises he had made, the way he had sighed her name time and time again like it was his last earthly breath, and her name was all he could say.
The gentle rise and fall of his lungs made his muscles ripple across his back, a soft rumble vibrating in the back of his throat as he exhaled into the pillowcase. There was a slight flush in his cheeks, still, and Emma couldn't help but reach over and push a stray strand of hair from his forehead. Killian's nose wrinkled but he stayed asleep, his lips sucking in as he heaved a sigh and relaxed back into his dream state.
Not even the rumble of thunder outside woke him, and when a flash of lightning illuminated his face, it caused no stir. Emma smirked, watching him sleep and getting lost in his visage, each feature of his face as enticing as the last. Emma couldn't help herself and let her hand slip along the side of his face, her thumb gently caressing the raised, reddened scar on his cheek so softly he probably couldn't feel it.
Emma knew Killian had fought to get to where he was. A mongrel life would not have been easy, especially if he had crossed paths with other wolves along the way, and it warmed her heart to know that he would fight for her. Emma knew he had fought Walsh at least once before, and an unsettled pang dug itself into her gut as she recalled the horrific sounds he had made when he had been tortured. Forcing a change as Walsh had was barbaric, the stuff of nightmares, and Walsh would pay for what he had done.
Emma let her hand skim down Killian's neck, the slow pulse there thrumming against her fingertip as she brushed over the new scars under his jawline. She traced the curve of his shoulder, outlining it with her palm, before pushing herself into a sitting position and watching the movement of her hand as it explored his trunk. Emma had never really looked at Killian's back before now, unless in wolf form, and she gulped hard at the sight of it. He was littered with scars, most of them clearly from bites and scratches, the jagged edges always healing to leave a distinctly shaped scar she had seen many times before.
She tentatively brushed her fingers over the skin between the since healed wounds, skirting her fingertip over the bumpy flesh of each scar in case she woke him. He groaned a little in his sleep, his whole body vibrating with the sound, raspy and deep in his chest, and Emma noticed his brows furrow when she touched a particularly thick line of scar tissue towards his liver. A row of distinctive puncture holes had healed at his side, the arrangement of scars clearly a bite mark that gave Emma more questions than answers.
"Please," Killian rasped suddenly and Emma pulled her hand away from his skin with a gasp. His eyes were still firmly closed, crinkling at the edges as he pinched them even more tightly closed, his lips parting slightly as his breath became shallow. He shifted his weight, rolling over onto his back in one fluid movement and letting his head flop to one side, facing away from her. Emma waited, holding her breath, but he was definitely still asleep.
The rain increased outside, crashing into the windows and making the room deafeningly loud. Streaks ran down the panes, flowing like tears along the edges of the frames and Emma had only looked away for a second when she heard Killian take a sharp intake of a catching breath. She looked back to his slumbering figure, new scars glowing a silvery white along his sides as he gasped for more shallow breaths.
"Don't," Killian stuttered weakly, his head twitching on the pillow and his hands closing around nothing, grasping out at anything he could. Emma leaned forward, planting her hand to his chest, the scars warming under her hand immediately and Killian's body relaxing into her touch. He sighed, soothed but the sadness still etched on his face as Emma skimmed her hand across his torso and inspected the other half of the bite mark she could see.
Without warning, Killian's arm shot up and he wrapped his hands around Emma's arm in a crushing grip, the skin around her wrist turning white. She contained a cry, the silent sound of pain leaving her mouth in nothing more than a squeak and Killian held her hand in place, his jaw clenching in anger as he held her hand from his skin. Emma covered her mouth with her other hand, pinching her eyes closed and swallowing hard, before blinking back tears and peeling her eyes open to see Killian staring straight at her.
"Don't," he repeated, his glassy stare fixed on her and his voice laced with a pleading sorrow that broke Emma's heart.
"I'm sorry," Emma whispered quickly, tugging against his hold. Killian relaxed his grip and Emma's hand immediately went to his face, soothing his panic inducing nightmare that had clearly tumbled over into reality when she had touched his scar. It meant something, she could tell, and when she saw his expression soften, she gave him a warm smile.
"Emma, I-," Killian began sheepishly, licking his lips nervously and blinking himself awake. "Are you alright? Did I hurt you?" He worried quickly, eyes flickering over her arm.
"It's okay," Emma told him softly, her thumb caressing his cheek in smooth, rhythmic strokes. It wasn't much, it was just two little words and a few light touches, but they both felt like it meant so much more at that moment. Finally, Killian's lips twitched into a shy smile. "Want to talk about it?" Emma cocked her head sideways, her hair falling to cover her knees.
Killian shook his head and found her hand with his, turning it upside down and turning his face to kiss her palm. Emma felt a tingle shoot through her arm right down to the pit of her stomach, the supple, kiss bruised flesh of Killian's lips setting her skin on fire instantly. When he was done, he pulled her sideways and Emma followed his lead, settling herself across his torso and letting the sheet fall from her naked body.
"Was it a nightmare?" Emma asked him, shuffling her weight until she was practically sitting across his chest, legs tucked up under his armpits and her hands finding the length of his beard. Her digits smoothed through the growth, each twisted, coarse hair tickling her fingers and Killian humming in appreciation of her touch.
"Nothing to worry about," he assured her, letting his eyes fall closed as Emma scratched through his facial hair. "Just one from a long time ago."
"You've had it before?" Emma asked softly, feeling Killian's skin tighten under her assault.
Killian nodded limply. "An old childhood trauma, that's all."
"Like my shifting accident in the lake?" Emma smirked, feeling much more at ease about telling her story. She knew Killian would never keep anything from her, but she also recognised his reluctance to relive the memory in his own mind. He wasn't hiding things from her, he was just not ready to face it.
Her reference made Killian smile a toothy grin and his eyes reopened to meet hers. "Aye, something like that, love." He said no more, and Emma understood.
"But you're okay?" Emma asked softly. "Last question, I promise," she giggled, flattening her body to his and kissing his cheek. Her hands held his head in place whilst her lips assaulted his face, exaggerated kiss sounds echoing into the room and drowning out the sound of the rain.
"I am now," Killian smirked with a chuckle. His hand smoothed over her back, fingertips dancing over the ridge of her shoulder blades and over each bump on her spine. Emma sucked in a breath and Killian grinned against the side of her face when she buried her face in his shoulder.
"You shouldn't be so easily distracted, Mr Jones," Emma cooed salaciously, the heat in her core beginning to burn at her insides. She was raw, still swollen from the night before, but she couldn't help but want Killian, even with the day marking the end of her heat. She had felt it start to fade away during the night, her core temperature returning to normal and the slickness between her thighs less every time Killian had brushed her body in his sleep.
"You shouldn't be so distracting, Miss Nolan," Killian growled, planting his hands firmly on her bare behind and pulling her higher up his body. Emma squealed, unable to stop him as he caught one of her nipples in his mouth, making her arch her back towards him and dig her nails into the headboard. Killian sucked hard against the rosy flesh, pulling it into a stiff peak and humming against Emma's skin, the twitch of his erection not going unnoticed below his waist. "Your heat is ending," he said idly, dragging his tongue between the mounds that hung just in front of his face.
"You can smell that?" Emma blushed, sitting back to look down at him. Killian let her move, reluctant to let go of the globes of her ass, he held her so she had no choice but to arch her back away from him and rest her hands on his hip bones.
"Amongst other things." Killian smirked and raised an eyebrow at her, pulling her even higher up his chest with little resistance until her thighs sat over his shoulders and her sex was almost touching his lips. He nuzzled her folds, inhaling her enticing scent that was a little more muted than it had been, but no less aromatic. Emma watched him, her breath catching in her throat and her heart pounding beneath her ribcage, the blood pounding in her ears and between her now open legs.
Emma's hand found his head and her fingers scrunched his hair, pulling gently with a sexual frustration she thought had left her. It seemed Killian could draw pleasure out of any part of her, at any time, and like an addict, she would gladly take her next fix. There was a pause, his eyes meeting hers, the blue that she had always found so warm and comforting long since replaced by a dark grey that rivalled the storm clouds above them.
"What are you waiting for?" Emma teased with a coy smile. She snaked her hand down the front of her own body, purposely brushing her nipples into much harder buds than before and settled her hand between her thighs. Killian watched her nimble fingers part her outer lips, the glistening treasure that lay beneath flooding his senses with the smell of her arousal. He nibbled his bottom lip and felt himself grow even harder at the sight before him. When he looked back up to her, swallowing hard, Emma smirked, rolling her own bottom lip between her teeth innocently. "Do you need an invitation?"
"Absolutely not." Killian gave her a wicked grin, his lips barely moving before he closed the gap between his lips and Emma's sex and pressed a kiss to her clit. Emma moaned instantly, her back curving and pushing her hips harder into his ministrations, the breath leaving her lungs on a heavy, relieved sigh. She hadn't even known how wound up she was until she had opened her eyes and seen Killian beside her, the memories of the night before coming back to her in a flood of emotions.
Emma rolled her hips a little more, hissing through her teeth when a tingling sensation rippled through her lower abdomen. Killian flicked his gaze up to meet her eyes again, giving her a heavy lidded, sly smile as he tortured her clit with his tongue, circling the throbbing nub with just the tip of his talented muscle.
"Fuck, Killian," Emma hissed, her cheeks tingling with a blush. She rolled her hips again, her free flowing juices coating Killian's chin. He let out a breathy laugh at her state, swiping his tongue around her entrance and along the inside of her fleshy lips, teasing her with the prospect of tasting her more intimate areas. Emma groaned in frustration, glaring at the man between her thighs.
"I'm sorry, love," Killian offered between licks, Emma's arousal coating his tongue and sliding pleasantly down his throat when he swallowed. "You just taste so-," he began with a dreamy tone, but Emma's hands pulling at his haircut him off. Killian stopped, wincing slightly at her sudden aggression and looked up her body once more.
"Touch yourself," Emma commanded darkly. "Touch yourself and fuck me with your tongue."
A surge of adrenaline coursed through Killian, more blood impossibly rushing to his rock hard erection at Emma's words. He grabbed her behind again, holding her to his face as he plunged his tongue inside of her and let out a hum of appreciation at the taste that coated his mouth. Emma went heavy, leaning back on his chest, her entire body overcome with pleasure, each nerve ending firing at the same time and rendering her almost completely helpless. All she could do was cry out, his name on her lips like a prayer, her nails digging into where her hand lay flat on his torso behind her.
When he was happy with the agonizing rhythm he was setting, Killian slipped his hand from her fleshy globes and slid it down his own body and took himself in hand. He was like marble, solid and heavy in his hand, a light drizzle of pre-cum already having oozed onto the thatch of hair covering his stomach. Emma ground down on his tongue, riding his face wantonly and Killian increased the speed of his masturbation when Emma began tugging at her nipples.
The sound of the rain blended into the sound of blood in her ears as Emma felt the coil in the belly begin to tighten, her inner muscles flexing against Killian's tongue each time he was inside of her and her clit begging for his attention when he was not. Killian lathed her nub, gently scraping his teeth over the ultra sensitive bud with a cruel smirk, watching the way Emma's face contorted with her impending orgasm.
"Are you going to come on my face?" Killian growled as he took a breath, thrusting his hips up into his hand, his velvety soft skin shifting over his erection and building his own release low in his belly.
"Fuck, yes," Emma hissed, throwing her head back.
"Am I going to make you come hard, love?" Killian was almost shaking underneath her, his words earning him a whine from the goddess currently straddling his face. He focused on her clit where he knew Emma had been building the most powerful orgasm, the steady throb of blood to the nub so obvious, he had felt it on his lips each time he gave it a gentle kiss.
"God, yes," Emma cried with a pained sound. She was so close her thighs had begun to quake and her breathing had slowed to a pant, a heat creeping up her spine. "So hard. Killian, don't stop, right there."
"Like this?" Killian purred, increasing his speed over the hardened nub.
"There!" Emma gasped, looking back down between her thighs. She felt a rush of arousal at seeing Killian eating her out, his eyes pinched closed in his own pleasure and his hand furiously pounding his length behind her, and without warning, her orgasm hit her suddenly. She squeaked, covering her mouth quickly and she began to shake through Killian's licking, each flick of his tongue like a new kind of torture against her clit.
Just when she thought she couldn't take anymore, Killian sat up, and in one swift move she was sliding down his torso and being impaled on his hot, hard length. She cried out, the sudden intrusion of his girth heightening her already fluttering orgasm to a new level, the spots behind her eyes never ceasing as she bumped her clit on his pubic bone and came again.
"My, my," Killian teased darkly, watching her face contort and her eyes roll back in her head. She was a blubbering mess, in a daze from back to back orgasms that had left her incoherent and limp in his arms, weakly grinding herself against him to extend her pleasure with a whimpering groan. "Such a wanton thing."
"Don't fucking tease me," Emma panted, her forehead sticky with sweat. She rocked her hips harder, desperately needing him to move inside of her, anything, the lack of friction too frustrating to bear. "Please."
Killian was close too, his own orgasm slowly being coaxed out by the ripple of Emma's muscles and the sopping wetness that had dribbled out as she came, whimpering her pleas. It had been too long, their need to use protection now extinct because Emma's heat was over, and Killian's couldn't wait one more second to feel her wet, slick heat around his unsheathed length. He smoothed his hands through her hair, brushing it from her flustered face and seized her lips in a ferocious kiss. All Emma could do was moan into his kiss, begging against his mouth to stop in almost a cry as his length rubbed a new pleasure point inside of her.
"Killian, please," Emma whimpered, her body teetering on the edge of euphoria again, her entire being shaking in his lap.
"I've missed this feeling," Killian panted, kissing her eyelids. "I can't take those blasted condoms any more." Killian smirked wickedly, the sweat along his brow running down his temple as he slowed his assault and let her still on top of him. Emma whined, but she was glad for the respite, her nipples like pebbles against Killian's chest as she sagged into his arms.
"No more," Emma sighed in agreement, her chest heaving for breath and her insides throbbing painfully. "God, you're amazing," Emma panted, the fluttering sensation between her thighs begging for him to move again. Killian let out a breathy laugh, kissing the underside of her jaw in a hungry, open mouthed kiss.
"You've got one more in you, love," Killian purred. "I can feel it."
"Please," Emma gave him a salacious smile and a raise of her eyebrow, carding her fingers through his hair. "Make me come."
"Aye," Killed panted, his cock twitching inside of her. "I think," he said smoothly, plucking her arms from where they rested on his shoulders and gently moving them behind her back. Emma gave him a broad grin, her excitement intensifying as she complied, crossing her wrists over each other behind her back and letting him gather them up in his hands. "Slow and shallow should do the trick."
In a sitting position, Killian could only thrust shallowly, but he rolled his hips against the mattress to make sure to cause enough friction against every detail of Emma's inner core. Her eyes rolled back in her head again, the sheen of sweat over her body beginning to cool her in the chill of their room, and she ground her clit down against his body on each thrust.
It was agony, a delicious torture that only Killian could provide, but he was right. She had one more in her and when Killian felt her tell tale pull at his length and heard Emma's breath hitch in her throat, he knew he would come too. Seeing Emma come undone was one of the most erotic things for him and he loved the way she chased after every last drop of her pleasure. With a grunt he came at the same time she did, pulling hard on her wrists to keep her body still as he emptied himself inside of her with a few short, hard thrusts.
Emma finally wiggled her arms free when she felt him relax, grabbing his face in her hands and kissing his mouth awkwardly, most of her attention at the corner of his smile as he wrapped her up in his arms protectively. He gave her a squeeze, his muscles bulging against her skin as he kissed her back, lips smacking and lingering against each other as the storm continued outside.
"I'll always keep you safe," Killian promised softly, his words a breath against the skin of Emma's bosom. He had shifted their position and they were now laying back in bed, his head resting sleepily against her chest, her fingers stroking through his sleep and sex messed hair in a slow, soothing motion. Emma kicked out the sheet that was wedged beneath them and shook it loose, letting it flutter to cover them both once more.
"I know," Emma said with a nod and a hint of sadness. She didn't know what returning home would bring, no one would, and the longer they waited the more anxiety built up inside both of them.
Killian brushed his thumb over her ribcage, staring at the wall beside the bed. "I wish I could tell you what the dream means. The longer I don't know, the more I'm starting to think that the headstone is for me."
"Don't say that." Emma stopped her stroking and let him tilt his head up to look at her. She caressed his cheek, her heart cracking in her chest at the sorrow she saw in his eyes. "And the other is not me," she told him firmly. "So you can stop thinking that right now."
Killian gave her a warm smile. "How do you know me so well?" He teased, echoing her question from a while ago.
"Fate," Emma told him firmly. "And that can be changed, so even if the names are ours, we'll make sure they don't become our reality."
The smile that Emma gave him was weak, partly forced, but genuine all the same. She leaned forward, cupping Killian's cheek in her palm as she kissed him, his hands still against the sides of her body. His touch was electrifying on her skin and Emma felt the skin around her nipples prickle again, her lips curving into a smirk against his when Killian's hand slid to the pebbled nub.
"Fate has other ideas for us right now," he growled, pulling his lips from hers and giving her one last dark, lust filled stare before taking the bud in his mouth and rolling his tongue over Emma's nipple. She arched her back instinctively, watching him suckle her breasts like a hungry babe, a groan tumbling from his lips as he shifted his weight to accommodate his now growing erection.
"Killian!" The room's ambience was shattered instantly as the door flew open and Liam barged over the threshold, unable to stop himself from looking directly at his younger brother and Emma's breasts. "Oh, shit!" he screeched, quickly turning away from the scene before him, pinching his eyes closed and trying to erase the images from his mind.
"Bloody Hell, Liam!" Killian spat, annoyed. He hastily covered Emma with his body, tugging the sheet up higher over his shoulders so she could hide in the darkness it cast over them.
"I am so sorry, lass," Liam stammered to Emma, rubbing his temples nervously.
"It's okay, really," Emma assured him from under his brother, stifling her laugh against Killian's forearm beside her head.
"What do you want? We're busy." Killian ground out through clenched teeth, Emma's slender figure writhing against his length beneath him. She gave him a coy smirk that she knew Liam couldn't see, and proceeded to suck her finger salaciously.
"Might I remind you that is my bed, Killian," Liam countered angrily, waving his arm behind him towards the bed that he was one hundred percent sure he would have to now burn.
"Get to the point then," Killian spat, mesmerized by Emma's tongue as it licked up and down her finger tantalisingly slowly.
"Fine," Liam grunted, bending over and hurriedly grabbing at Killian's jeans. They had been his, borrowed after Killian's clothing had shredded during his encounter with Walsh, but now he was sure he wouldn't need them anymore. He tossed them at the bed, making sure the denim bundle hit Killian square in the back. "Get dressed."
"Why?" Killian grumbled with a wince. Emma bit her bottom lip and he cocked his head to the side, begging her with a silent glare to relent her teasing.
"I just got a call from Father," Liam said hurriedly, retrieving a nearby shirt and throwing it at his brother.
"What did he say?" Killian's cheeks went pale, even though he was leaning over Emma's body, and she placed a palm to his cheek to help him remain calm. Any mention of his father sent him into a state but she could always keep him grounded.
"Just get dressed," he said firmly. "I'll tell you in the lounge."
Ten minutes later, Killian and Emma had joined Liam in the lounge. He avoided Emma's gaze as they exited the bedroom, a pink tinge flushing his cheeks which made her lips twitch up into a knowing smirk. Emma was not embarrassed by her body, she never would be, but it seemed living in the fringes of werewolf society had given Liam a complex about seeing another person naked, especially a woman, in his bed, having her breast sucked by his brother.
Liam cleared his throat, motioning for them to sit down on the couch. Killian sat down first, positioning himself sideways so that Emma had no choice but to slide into his lap, his strong arms wrapping themselves around her body and hugging her tightly, almost possessively. The mention of his father had triggered his need to hold on to the ones he loved, both Emma and Liam, and Killian would be lying if he wasn't apprehensive about what Liam had to say.
"I'm sorry again," Liam told Emma softly, rubbing his hands together to try and eradicate some of the sweat from his palms. Emma simply nodded at his apology, her arm looping around Killian's neck and her hand flattening to his bare shoulder. He was in only his jeans and Emma had put on her bra and panties, deciding to dress in Killian's tee because the smell was comforting.
"What did Father say?" Killian prodded impatiently, his bare feet sticking to the hardwood floor and his toes flexing against the grain of the wood.
"Neverland is ready," Liam said sadly, watching the floor between his feet. "Father says they have begun preparations for the attack."
"So, it's today?" Emma asked quickly, her fingers gently idling in the hair that grew on the back of Killian's neck.
"Aye," Liam nodded, lifting his gaze and looking between the both of them. "It seems that way."
"Then we have to go," Emma looked at Killian, the lump in her throat suddenly too hard to swallow comfortably. "My family could be in trouble."
"I don't like this," Killian said concerned. "It feels like a trap." His eyes met Liam's across the low coffee table between them and he felt Emma's hands still on his neck, the tension there clearly interrupting her lazy massage. He still didn't know if he trusted his father, he barely knew the man, and he wasn't sure he was willing to risk his or Emma's life to find out if Brennan was telling the truth or leading them into a trap.
"Do you really think our father would lie to us?" Liam's head flopped to one side, sympathetically pleading with Killian to trust him.
"I don't know. Would he?" Killian asked his brother with a bite to his words.
"I think what Killian means," Emma began, looking between the brothers, "is this information has been handed to us very conveniently."
"Father said you wouldn't trust him," Liam scoffed, shaking his head.
"Would you?" Killian spat, raising his eyebrows at his brother. Emma could feel his rage bubbling beneath the surface, his leg muscles underneath her growing more tense by the second. His fist clenched where it rested on her naked thigh and she shot him a glance, flattening a placating hand to his hairy chest.
"Hey," Emma said soothingly, drawing his attention to her face. He looked up and she gave him a warm, comforting smile, her fingers gently scratching through his chest hair. "I know you've been through a lot, and I wish more than anything that I had stayed in that alleyway to help you fight-,"
"They would have done worse to you," Liam interrupted and Killian flashed him a dark stare.
"You're right," Emma nodded in agreement. "And I will live the rest of my life knowing that you saved me." She looked back to Killian who had dropped his head to watch his balled fist turning white on her lap. He flexed the muscles, watching his forearm ripple this way and that, the muscle in his jaw ticking as he ground his teeth. "I would give anything to trade places with you, to take away the nightmares," Emma soothed softly, watching her hand as she ran her nimble fingers over Killian's furrowed brow. "We can't change what happened, but we can make them pay," Emma said sadly, looking back to Liam who wished more than anything he could take away the pain his brother was feeling.
Killian, despite putting on a strong facade, was still hurt, damaged by what Walsh had done to him in the forest and he had been letting his anxiety overshadow his ability to see clearly. Emma knew as well as Liam did that Killian would never fully heal unless he expressed his anger, and as much as she enjoyed his attentions, fucking and running through the forest was never going to fix the broken parts of his mind. Killian needed to face his abuser head on.
Killian needed closure. He needed revenge.
"Brother, I'm not asking you to trust him," Liam began. "But you trust me, don't you?"
Killian's head snapped up to meet his brother's and he gave him a confused look. "Of course I do."
"Then trust that I know our father is telling the truth," Liam said firmly. "Please."
Emma's hand found his face, cupping his jaw in her palm and chasing away the knot in his gut. He looked up to her beautiful face, the soft wisps of her golden hair sticking out in all directions, untamed but no less lovely, and she gave him a gentle smile. Her lips were soft and inviting, pink from slight bruising, and the serenity Killian felt was overwhelming. He let his head drop to her chest and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him tenderly as she placed a soft kiss to the back of his head.
"It's okay to be scared," she told him compassionately as if she had forgotten Liam sitting opposite them. "I'm scared too."
"I'm not scared of dying," Killian said finally, lifting his head. He gave her one last fleeting glance that broke her heart in two before looking over to his brother. "I'm scared of losing myself."
Liam knew exactly what Killian was talking about. The night they had fought Walsh might have been over a decade ago, but Liam would never forget the look on Killian's face when he thought he might have taken a life. He was elated, a darkness rising to the surface behind his previously kind eyes and showing Liam the true nature of his wolf side. Killian was a fighter, his scar littered body attested to that, and Liam knew that it wouldn't be long before Killian finally couldn't hold back the canine urge to kill any longer.
"You won't," Liam told his brother firmly. "I swear it, brother."
"He needs to pay," Killian growled darkly.
"And he will," Emma chimed in softly, her hands running through Killian's hair and bringing him back to the light. He looked up to her with an apologetic look, blinking away the darkness behind his blue eyes and feeling the warmth of her smile wash over him. "If he survives the attack, my father will make sure of it."
Killian sobered a little at the mention of David Nolan, the Misthaven pack leader who had put a bounty on his head. He knew she was right. For what he had planned for his daughter, David would make sure Walsh suffered, but what would he do to a mongrel who had fallen in love with his daughter?
"I've called Graham," Liam announced to both of them. "I am going to stay at the cabin with Ruby and Davin, just in case any Neverland wolves have followed their scent there. He is going to meet you at Misthaven." Liam stood, flattening down the wrinkles in his shirt and heaving a sigh as he made his way around the coffee table. "Make sure you keep the Neverland wolves occupied at Misthaven. I'll protect Ruby and the babe."
Killian helped Emma to stand and mirrored his brother, both of them facing each other and speaking with the unspoken bond that they had always had. They didn't have to say anything; they just knew what the other was thinking. "Good luck," Liam said, giving him a tight lipped smile and extending his hand to his brother.
Killian looked at Liam's hand between them briefly, before taking his brother's hand in his and holding on hard. He shook it once, his knuckles turning white, before yanking hard and pulling his brother into the tightest embrace they had ever had. Liam wrapped a strong arm around his brother, his hand finding the back of Killian's head and holding him tightly, neither saying a word.
Liam was petrified of losing his brother but he had to stay strong. He was the older sibling and had always needed to carry the weight of sorrow. Killian was too fragile to cope with loss, but damn if he wasn't the bravest wolf Liam had ever known. Liam knew what would happen if Killian were to lose Emma, he could see it now as clear as day, and he finally understood his brother's need to protect her, even if it was from her own family and could mean his demise. He didn't hate Emma at all. How could he? She was the light that drove away the darkness within his brother's soul.
They parted, Killian hastily wiping away a stray tear that had fallen from his eyelids during the embrace. Emma placed a hand to his back, just to let him know she was there, and that she always would be.
"Good luck, Emma," Liam told her with all of the sincerity he could muster. "Maybe when this is over, we can get to know each other a little better? I'd love to get to know the woman who has tamed my little brother."
"Younger," Killian huffed, feebly landing a punch on Liam's arm.
"I'd like that," Emma smiled warmly, lacing her fingers with Killian's and resting her face to his bicep.
"Graham said he would be at Misthaven within two hours," Liam told them quickly, checking the time of his watch. "That gives you guys a little over ninety minutes to prepare."
"We're ready," Killian said firmly, looking down at the she-wolf beside him. Emma nodded, pressing her lips to his shoulder with a nod. "I'll call you when it's over," Killian promised his brother.
"Thank you," Liam sighed, relief flowing from his every cell as he made his way towards the door of his apartment. He paused, hand on the door handle before turning back to the half naked couple in his lounge. He fixed his stare on Emma, licking his lips nervously. "Bring him back to me," he said in a broken voice that cracked in his throat. Emma had no time to answer before Liam was gone, the faint echo of his footsteps as he made his way down the stairs the only sound in the loft.