“I’ll call them from your f**king driveway. You’re kissing her at Feasts. You’ve moved in with her. You intend to –” Katrina retorted and Lucien cut her off.
“Be my guest,” he invited and Katrina’s eyes went wide then they swung to me.
“You’ve lost your mind,” she breathed toward me even though she was talking to Lucien. Her gaze moving back, she studied him a moment and all of a sudden her lip curled. “Though I shouldn’t be surprised, You’ve always had a taste for sweet smelling pu**y.”
I gasped. Edwina gasped. Lucien moved.
He crowded her back into the door, his powerful frame cutting her off from view.
I looked nervously at Edwina. Edwina looked nervously at me. Then she gave me a shaky smile which I did not return and we both looked back at the scene.
“The Council will grant me this.” Lucien was saying.
“Never,” Katrina returned.
“I’m calling in my marker,” Lucien announced.
I heard Katrina’s sharp intake of breath. I looked to Edwina who was staring fixedly at Lucien’s back, her face the picture of shock and I knew at least she knew what this meant.
I had no idea what was going on. None of it.
“They’ll still not allow it.” Katrina didn’t sound so sure now.
“They owe me,” Lucien retorted.
“They do but a mortal?” Katrina shot back. “They won’t even consider it. Not even for you.”
“They’ve no choice,” Lucien stated.
There was a hesitation then softly, with some kind of weird understanding in her voice, Katrina said, “I’ve heard of this but didn’t expect it of you. Her scent has driven you insane.”
Lucien didn’t hesitate with his reply. “If that’s the case, I’m happy in my insanity.”
That was the third weirdest, yet most profound, compliment I had that day even though I had no idea what was going on. I also had the distinct feeling I wanted no more compliments from the Mighty Vampire Lucien who’d beat the crap out of his wife in his concubine’s foyer while insisting said concubine watch.
“You want war,” Katrina whispered.
“I want my life back,” Lucien replied. “If to get it that means war then I want war.”
Um…
War?
“I’ll not fight on your side,” she informed him, the bravado back in her voice, her words a challenge.
“I never expected you would,” Lucien returned.
I couldn’t see all of her but I saw parts of her body twitch as if she’d been struck.
“You don’t think much of me, do you?” she asked.
“I haven’t for the last thirty years,” he replied with frank cruelty.
She stepped out from in front of him and I could see her now. Her eyes looked to me then back to Lucien.
“I’m beginning to feel sorry for her,” Katrina commented.
“You shouldn’t. She’s everything you’re not,” Lucien responded.