Chapter 43
Surprised, but very pleased with Lucius’ response, Brady cupped his mate’s face, leaning forward, a soft sigh escaping from him when their lips met.
Kissing Lucius made him wish there was time for more, but time was in short supply and he needed to address another issue.
He whispered, “I love you, Lucius…now and forever.”
“I’m yours forever, also,” Lucius whispered back, his eyes boring into his mate’s. “And you better come back to me in one piece or I’ll hunt down Zohar and make him sorry he ever messed with you.”
Chuckling, Brady shook his head. “Of that, I have no doubt.” Then, his mood turning reflective, he gazed at Lucius, knowing what he was about to say might not go over well. At least, he didn’t think it would, but Brady was learning never to assume anything about his mate. “Leelan…”
Seeing the change in his mate’s demeanor, Lucius’ gut clenched up, reminding him of the many times it reacted that way whenever Valerian was pissed off at him about something.
Clenching his lower lip between his teeth, Lucius pushed back those memories, trying to concentrate on what was happening now instead of in the past. When Brady didn’t continue, he asked, “What has you so worried now?”
Taking a deep breath, Brady exhaled it slowly, before saying, “It would greatly ease my mind if someone stayed with you while I was gone.”
Taken aback at his mate’s suggestion, Lucius was bewildered. Unable to figure out why his mate was so concerned, he asked, “Why? I can take care of myself and…”
Interrupting, Brady said, “Not against magic. Zohar will seek to use any advantage he can find to stop the Ruler…and that includes using powerful magic against you.”
“I don’t understand…why me?” Lucius asked, clearly puzzled.
“Because I’m working with the Ruler,” Brady replied.
“And since my childhood disease made me immune to magic of any kind, Zohar will have to look elsewhere for a weakness and, for me, there isn’t a greater one than you.
It’s the same reason Remy sent his brothers to stay with Jackson until Zohar is taken care of. ”
Brady’s worry touched Lucius’ heart but he wasn’t sure it was necessary.
While he couldn’t fight, he could flee. It was a skill he’d honed when he was with Valerian, and had saved him from many painful punishments.
Then, glancing at his mate, Lucius realized Brady firmly believed he’d be in danger.
After thinking it over, he knew he’d agree to Brady’s request, but it would have to come with a few conditions.
“Okay…” Lucius held up one finger. “I’m not leaving so whoever it is has to come here. ”
“Done,” Brady said.
“Two. If I’m not comfortable with your choice, I have the right to veto it. ”
“Agreed,” said Brady, “and I’ll add a condition of my own to yours: Three…every candidate I propose to you must have my absolute trust to protect you…even at the cost of his own life.”
Lucius’ eyes widened at his mate’s statement, finally realizing the seriousness of the danger Brady felt he was in. Nodding slowly, he said, “I agree.”
“Thank you, leelan…I appreciate it all the more because I know I’m asking a lot from you.”
“If it helps you…” Lucius began.
“It does…more than you know.”
Smiling, Lucius said, “Okay, who’s your first choice? And it better not be Zane.”
“What? Zane? No…I would never,” Brady paused, seeing the laughter in Lucius’s eyes. He had been played…and played well, but two could play that game. “Well…he wasn’t my choice, but now since you mentioned him…”
Laughing at his mate’s attempt to tease him, Lucius pushed Brady on his back, so he was now lying on top of him. His eyes danced with merriment as he gazed at his mate. “Good try…but I know you’d never pick Zane.”
Smiling back at his mate, Brady reached up, tenderly running his palm along the side of Lucius’ face.
The difference in his mate since they came home was startling.
Gone were the shadows of fear and pain present in his face from the death spell and, in its place, happiness and joy resided.
Brady was sure he was finally seeing a glimpse of the person Lucius had been before Valerian changed him.
“You’re right about Zane…as much respect as I have for Jackson and his brothers, they have other priorities.
The person I have in mind doesn’t. His only concern will be your well-being. ”
“Hmm…okay, now you’ve piqued my interest,” Lucius replied. “Especially since I don’t think there is such a person.”
“Oh, but there is, leelan…and he is extraordinary.”
Raising his eyebrows, Lucius stared intently at Brady, finding the love he had for his mate reflected back at him. Then giving him a quick kiss, said, “High praise, especially since that’s how I see you.”
Brady’s cheeks grew pink. Uncomfortable when anyone praised him, he did what he’d always done—mumbled his thanks before diverting attention away from himself. “So…are you ready to find out who I picked?”
“Yes, please,” Lucius answered, his eyes bright with curiosity.
“Vasile…one of my dearest and oldest friends.”
The smile slid from Lucius’ face. A vampire? Another vampire?
Watching his mate closely, Brady knew exactly when Lucius was thinking of objecting, but before his mate could do so, he said, “Let me tell you about my friend…I met Vasile when he asked for my help about a coven whose leader had forced its members into lives of crime. By accident he found out about it one day, when he caught a vampire picking his pockets. After easily restraining him, Vasile was shocked at how weak he was and asked him when he’d last had blood.
After much begging from the perpetrator to be let go, Vasile finally learned the truth as to why the vampire tried to rob him.
“Opting not to send him back to that life, Vasile took him home and, after several weeks of regular feedings, he recovered, joining my friend’s coven.
That’s when he sought my help…and also when I gained, what would turn out to be, a dear friend.
From the moment he sat down in my law office, it was clear to me how honorable he was…
the complete opposite of your ex master and his buddies.
Vasile would rather die than cause anyone pain.
And I have no doubt that if necessary, he’d sacrifice his life for you, Lucius, especially since you’re my mate. ”
Lucius thought about it, then asked, “You’re afraid Zohar would use magic to hurt me, so how come magic won’t hurt your friend?”
“Vasile is a very old and powerful vampire…much more powerful than your master ever was. Trust me when I say that anyone who tries to use magic in an effort to harm Vasile…or someone he’s protecting…will quickly regret it.”
Sighing softly, Lucius asked, “Can I meet him first…before I agree?”
“Absolutely,” Brady said.
“Okay,” Lucius replied. Then, tilting his head to one side, he studied Brady before asking, “Is there any other reason you chose a vampire?”
“There is,” Brady said, caressing his mate’s back. “I’m pretty sure Valerian never taught you the ins and outs of being a vampire…and what he did tell you was presented in such a way as to only benefit him.”
“So it was worthless shit, in other words.”
Nodding, Brady said, “Definitely.”
“Vasile is going to be my teacher?”
“Yes…in a way. I have several books about vampires that I thought you might want to read and if you have any questions, Vasile will be able to answer them.”
Lucius’ smile lit up the room. To finally find out about vampires, their history, how he should act in the company of other vampires, when to speak up and when to remain silent—knowledge that finally would give him the rules he so desperately needed to gain his equilibrium.
And then to have someone who could answer his questions—well, it would be the best gift he could ever receive. “How soon can he get here?”
Brady grinned at his mate’s eagerness. “Mystia will be bringing him later. I sent Vasile a message last night when you were in the bathroom getting ready for bed, and he was honored that I asked him.”
“Oh…we have to get up,” Lucius said, rolling off his mate’s chest. “I have to be ready to meet him.”
Pulling Lucius back to him, Brady murmured, “Leelan, we still have a little while before we have to get up, so let’s try to get a little more sleep. I promise you there will be plenty of time for you to get ready before they arrive.”
Nodding in agreement, Lucius resumed the position his mate called ‘spooning’.
The term hadn’t been familiar to him but it certainly was a perfect description.
Wriggling his ass until it was snugged against his mate, he giggled softly when Brady grumbled “tease”, after which he closed his eyes and drifted off.
~/~/~/~/~
Breathing heavily for a few seconds after waking from his nightmare, Lucius heaved a sigh of relief upon finding it wasn’t real.
He wasn’t dead, nor in pain from the death spell.
Nor was he being tormented by Valerian. Instead, he was sleeping next to his beautiful mate and inhaling his unique scent that always took him home.
But he realized the place he always thought of home had been replaced by Brady’s cottage and he never wanted to leave it?ever again. This is where he now belonged.
Awakening, Brady sensed the rapid pace of different emotions flowing through his mate and was pleased when Lucius’ strong feelings of contentment came through loud and clear.
It was more than he expected, especially after fifty years of brainwashing by Valerian.
He was beginning to realize, his mate had remarkable resilience and an abundance of love that deserved to be returned in kind.
That the Fates had chosen him to stand by Lucius’ side and love him forever was a gift that was priceless—and Brady was going to do his damnedest to be deserving of it.
“Brady?” whispered Lucius. “You awake?”