Chapter <b>506 </b>
Alexander’s POV
Lilith wasn’t moving.
<b>“</b><b>No</b>!” I dropped to my knees beside her on the grass. Lucien’s face was red and blotchy from screaming and the heat of the <b>fire</b><b>, </b>but he was alive. He was breathing. He was okay.
But as for Lilith…
<b>“</b><b>No</b><b>,</b><b>” </b><b>I </b>whispered. I reached out with my free hand and pressed my fingers <b>to </b>her neck<b>, </b>searching for a pulse. I felt nothing- just burnt flesh that was rapidly cooling. <b>“</b><b>No</b><b>, </b>no<b>, </b>no.<b>” </b>
Before I could process what was happening, another paramedic rushed over and dropped to his knees beside me. He immediately started checking her vitals, but I already knew. <b>I </b>could see it in his face. The way his mouth pressed into a thin line. The way he looked at me and shook his head.
“I’m sorry<b>,</b>” he said quietly. “She’s<b>…</b><b>” </b>
He didn’t need to finish. I didn’t want him to.
Lucien was still crying in my arms, and I held him tighter, burying my face in his soft hair. He smelled like smoke and the acrid <b>scent </b>of terror, but he was alive. Thanks to Lilith.
She had saved him.
She had run into a burning building and pulled him out, even though it meant sacrificing herself. Even though she had just escaped<b>–</b>somehow–from Richard’s captivity. Even though she was probably already weak and injured.
She had done it anyway. Saved her grandchild. Sacrificed herself. Now, she was gone, but my son was alive.
The paramedic stood and gave me space. Around us, firefighters were still battling the mes. The house was almostpletely engulfed now. Smoke billowed into the sky. Windows shattered from the heat. How had it even caught that fast?
I looked back down at Lilith’s body. Her clothes were burned, her skin ckened in ces. But her face was almost peaceful<b>, </b>the smallest smile tugging at her lips. The pendant she wore so often was still around her neck, the chain partially melted in spots
from the <b>heat</b>.
E would want that to remember her mother by. I carefully removed it, pocketing it to take to the jewelry to be repaired. I
didn’t want E <b>to </b><b>see </b>it while it was in this condition. Onlyter<b>, </b>once it was fixed.
Suddenly, <b>I </b>noticed that something was sticking out of her pocket. It seemed to be the corner <b>of </b><b>a </b>stic bag.
<b>Curious</b>, I reached down and pulled it out. She had two bags in her pocket, actually. I frowned and held them up. One contained what looked like a bullet casing. The other had a small tuft of gray hair inside.
What the <b>hell </b><b>was </b>this?
I turned the bags over in my hand<b>, </b>studying them. The bullet casing had markings on it. Numbers. A serial number, maybe? And the hair<b>… </b><b>It </b>looked old <b>and </b><b>coarse</b>. I didn’t recognize who it might belong <b>to</b><b>. </b>
Why would Lilith <b>have </b>these<b>? </b>
I stared <b>at </b><b>the </b>bags for <b>a </b>moment before it clicked.
These <b>were </b>evidence bags.
She had been in Richard’s custody. She must have found these there, somehow. <b>Maybe </b>one <b>of </b>the resistance members had helped her? I didn’t know. Either way<b>, </b>she had brought them with her for a reason.
<b>+25 </b><b>Bonus </b>
I wasn’t exactly sure what these meant or what crimes they pointed to, but I knew they must be important<b>, </b>so <b>I </b>slipped both bags into my jacket pocket and stood. A female paramedic approached me then with her arms outstretched for Lucien.
“Let me take the baby,<b>” </b>she said gently, offering me a sad but reassuring smile. “We need to check him for smoke inhtion and burns.<b>” </b>
I didn’t want <b>to </b>let go of him, but she was right. Lucien needed medical attention, even if he seemed okay <b>now</b>. I handed him over carefully, watching nervously as she carried him toward one of the ambnces. His cries faded into the distance.
Hunter appeared at my side. His face was covered in soot, and he was breathless<b>/ </b>
<b>“</b>I’m sorry<b>,</b>” he said. “I tried to get to him, but the stairs-”
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<strong>Sara Lili</strong> is a daring romance writer who turns icyndscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of d’s breathtaking cold.