Chapter 180

LUCA

As I slowly opened my eyes, the only sound was the beeping of the monitor beside me. Confusion washed over me until the memory flooded back: I'd heard the voices again and lost consciousness.

"Fuck!" I cursed, remembering the look on Delilah's face just before I blacked out.

Delilah burst into the room, her eyes frantic. Seeing me, she rushed to the bed and practically threw herself at me.

"Oh, goddess! I was so worried," she cried, her tears falling on my shoulders. My eyes widened.

I gently pulled away to look at her. "Why are you crying? I'm okay," I murmured softly. From the corner of my eye, I saw Damon, Clara, and Dimitri enter, but I kept my gaze on the beautiful woman crying before me.

"You've been unconscious for over a month. I thought… I thought…" The pained look on her face spoke volumes.

I flicked her forehead softly. "Ow! Why did you do that?" she asked, frowning slightly.

"Silly," I chuckled. "There's no way I'll die while you're still alive. You're my lifeline." Her sentence trailed off, but I understood.

"Damon told me everything," she said, "and I'm so fucking mad you lied to me." She started to get up, but I pulled her back.

"Hold on, tiger. It's not safe. They can hurt you," I said. She scoffed.

"I'd like to see them try."

"Can you all help me here, Clara?" I pleaded.

"Don't look at me," Clara replied, earning a low growl from Damon. "I'm with Delilah on this. Since you two grown men couldn't handle it…"

"I couldn't handle them," Damon muttered, a low whimper escaping him. Clara repeated the words, and despite the gravity of the situation, I smiled. Damon, the big bad Alpha, was submissive around Clara—a sight to behold.

"So, the women will handle this. Delilah and I will go to the witches' coven," Clara stated. I frowned.

"It's risky. You don't have to go to so much trouble for me. The witches said I just have to conquer the voices, and I'll be fine. See? I feel great now," I insisted. But Clara and Delilah's frowns showed my reassurance wasn't working.

"You're in this mess because of me," Clara said sternly. "I don't care if the witches say it's your destiny, or your bloodline; they're going to break their spell, and we're going to make them." I’d seen her serious before, but her intensity still shocked me.

I turned to Delilah. Her quiet intensity meant trouble. I’d seen her anger before—rare, but terrifying, even more so than Damon's.

"As much as I love this side of you," Damon said to Delilah and Clara, "there's no way I'm letting you two go to the witches' coven alone. It's not safe." Delilah growled.

"So, what do you suggest? Wait for Luca to lose his mind and hurt people?" Delilah yelled, glaring at Damon, who met her gaze.

"I will handle it."

"You couldn't handle it the first time! Why are you so sure now?" she screamed. The room filled with the clash of Damon and Delilah's auras as they glared at each other.

"Stop influencing Clara. You're not tough enough to handle a whole coven alone," Damon said.

"I'm not influencing her; she's a grown woman. We're going, whether you like it or not," Delilah retorted. Damon glared.

"Watch your tone," he muttered, taking threatening steps toward her. Clara stepped in front of him, and I pulled Delilah close. Damon wouldn't hurt her, but still…

"How about this: you men chauffeur us, but Delilah and I do the talking. Deal?" Clara suggested, glancing between Damon and me.

"It's dangerous, Clara," Damon said worriedly.

"I fought beside you against an immortal, and you're worried about witches? I'm not going to fight; I'm going to talk. And I'm not letting Luca stay like this," Clara said before turning to me. I frowned.

"I don't want you girls getting into trouble because of me," I murmured, glancing at Delilah's frown.

"I'd do anything for you, Luca. You stay here and rest. My mother will take care of you, Dimitri will watch the kids, Damon will drive, and we'll be back tonight," she said, rising from the bed.

"No, I want to go with you. I'm okay, see?" I tried to get up but fell back with a groan.

"Don't stress yourself," she said, tucking me in. "I'll take care of it."

"How are you so sure they'll listen to you when they didn't listen to me?" I asked. She smirked.

"I'm not afraid to break a few witches' necks. Beating someone to a pulp isn't unheard of, is it?"