“I’m prepared to talk to The Council,” Lucien stated.
Cosmo turned fully to his friend, putting his drink on the bar and leaning closer.
In an effort not to be overheard, using his mind to communicate, a capacity that Cosmo had as well, he asked, And what will you say to them?
They owe me, they’ll allow me Leah, Lucien replied.
Yes, I believe they will. The debt has gone unpaid too long and they’re uncomfortable with it. However, they won’t like it or the idea it may give to others. It’ll be the only such dispensation since the Agreement was signed. And they only will if you intend to feed and to f**k. They’ll have a problem with you taking her as your mate, Cosmo returned and Lucien’s head snapped around to look in surprise at his friend.
What makes you think I intend to take her as a mate?
Everyone thinks that’s your intention.
It f**king well isn’t, Lucien clipped.
And it wasn’t. However, Lucien thought wryly, it might take eternity to break her which would be the same thing.
I hope to God you’re serious, Lucien. Cosmo cut into his thoughts. Because you attempt something like that, it won’t only mean war, it’ll mean hunting. They’ll torture you, which you’ve endured, but they’ll also torture Leah…
Involuntarily, at the thought of Leah under torture, hot brands held against her smooth skin, her fingernails ripped out at the roots, acid dripped on her beautiful body, Lucien’s midsection rocked back violently as if he’d been kicked in the gut.
His burning black eyes locked with Cosmo’s green ones. I mean to feed and to f**k. I mean to indulge in a taming. And I mean to have her how I want her, however long it lasts after the taming. Not as mates, not for eternity, Lucien stated clearly and went on. Cosmo, hear me. You set straight anyone who says otherwise. If The Council intends to investigate, they investigate me not Leah.
Cosmo studied his friend and nodded.
“Did Katrina start that rumor?” Lucien asked out loud deciding, if she did, he’d hunt her that night, not wait for her to do something else immensely stupid.
“I’ve no idea where it started,” Cosmo muttered, shaken, not at Lucien’s denial of the rumor but at his unconcealed reaction to any harm coming to Leah.
First, because Lucien did not have open reactions, unless he was in a position of complete trust with the person with whom he was talking and all those around him. Which would mean not under the hundreds of watching eyes at A Feast.
Second, because his reaction betrayed his feeling for his concubine which went beyond a desire for a simple taming.
This was familiar. Cosmo had experienced this emotion from Lucien once before. When Lucien took Maggie as his mate, expecting to live the rest of eternity with her only to have her captured by their enemies during The Revolution, tortured then executed.
They had not known it at the time but this, for Lucien, had been a boon. He and Maggie both would have died during The Hunt. Neither would denounce the other, Cosmo knew it to the depths of his soul. Further, Maggie’s murder had inflamed Lucien to the point where he was an unstoppable killing machine during the war, albeit controlled and strategic, but nevertheless immensely successful and exceptionally deadly. Avenging Maggie’s murder had made him a hero of The Revolution to such an extent, with his added mesmerizing abilities and his unparalleled wealth, centuries later he was now an idol.
If she had lived to see it, Maggie would have laughed.
Back then, Lucien had been content with modest wealth (for a vampire, for a mortal, he was fabulously wealthy).
And he had been more than content with Maggie.
Being a hero, and definitely an idol, would not have been something he would have sought, although he didn’t. It also wasn’t something he would have allowed, although he had no choice.
He would have found a way to return them to their simple life, just the two of them, for eternity. No hopes for children but no disease, no death, just Maggie’s oft-used dry wit, excellent cooking skills, flashing gray eyes and Lucien’s complete devotion.
Not for the first time, nor likely the last, sorrow for his friend and his loss gentled Cosmo’s tone.
“Maybe you should feed,” Cosmo suggested.
Lucien didn’t hesitate. “Excellent idea,” he murmured his reply.
Lucien’s eyes moved to the blonde on the dance floor. His mind sought hers and he called to her.
Come to me.
She had her back to him and he watched her body twitch then she whirled around, her eyes seeking his.