Cosmo opened his eyes “You are planning a revolt.”
“It might not lead to that.”
“You know it will.”
Lucien shrugged. “Then it’s war.”
Cosmo pulled in breath through his nostrils at Lucien’s words but his face and eyes went blank, hiding his thoughts. Katrina could learn from Cosmo.
Quietly, Cosmo spoke. “I’ve seen her, Lucien. I’ve smelled her. I like her. She’s fascinating. She’s funny. She’s different. But,” he paused before finishing, “she’s not worth war.”
“You haven’t tasted her,” Lucien returned decisively.
Cosmo’s head cocked to the side, intrigued despite himself. “She’s that good?”
“Better.”
Cosmo’s brows went up before he muttered, “Jesus.” Then he continued in a low voice, “Did you f**k her?”
“Not yet.”
“You intend to?”
“Absolutely.”
“Christ, Lucien –”
Lucien lost patience. “If I remember correctly there was many a night, for seven years, you left her mother and went direct with me to A Feast. Not to feed, to f**k, the way you wanted to f**k Lydia. If I remember correctly, for seven years, you wanted Lydia in a way you couldn’t have her because the Agreement said you couldn’t. It nearly drove you mad. You had to release her before you wanted just to end the torment. Do you remember?” Lucien demanded.
“I remember,” Cosmo answered, his jaw clenching.
“That is not going to happen to me,” Lucien stated. “I want Leah, all of Leah, and I’ll damn well have her. I’m tired of these ancient, absurd edicts ruling my life, your life, Stephanie’s life. We’re vampires for f**k’s sake and everything that is our essence has been stripped away. No more. I’m taking it back. If they try to punish me, I’ll fight.”
Cosmo’s face again lost all expression. Because the time might come where he’d need allies, and Cosmo would be an excellent one, not to mention he was a trusted friend, Lucien continued to explain.
“It’s been over five hundred years since I caught a scent as extraordinary as Leah’s.”
Understanding lit in Cosmo’s eyes.
“Maggie,” Cosmo muttered.
It took an extreme effort of will, even after all of these years, for Lucien not to flinch at her name.
He ignored his friend’s muttering and carried on, “I caught Leah’s scent twenty years ago. I should have had her then. I should have been able to take what I wanted. But I had to wait. Twenty years, Cosmo. I’ve lost twenty years. Or, more to the point, she’s aged twenty years and I’ve lost that. My time has come, as has Leah’s, and there will be no barriers, no boundaries, no f**king laws that tell me I cannot do what I wish.”
“You intend to tame her,” Cosmo surmised.
“I’ve already started,” Lucien announced.
Cosmo hesitation was brief before he sighed and shook his head. “I suppose there will be those who’ll champion you.”
“I’d like you to be one of them.”
Cosmo went still, his face remaining blank, before he asked softly, “You doubted I would?”
Lucien didn’t answer.
Still speaking softly, Cosmo said, “I’d burn for you Lucien. I’ve proved that before.”