Chapter Four
Lucien
Last night’s mistakes thrummed in my brain, ricocheting pain like nails on a chalkboard. Pix Powder and bourbon didn’t mix well, but after the fight I had with Isadora I needed to blow off some steam.
Movement to my right stirred me awake, eyes opening slowly as gentle hands began exploring my body.
I smirked, enjoying the sensation of her claws down my sternum.
Lower they went until they clasped around my already hard cock.
I didn’t lift into her as she pumped her hand up and down, but my body reacted in other ways.
Damn Unseelie could get a reaction from a rock.
“Why do you fight me so, Lucien?” The woman’s voice purred with influence, trying to crumble my resolve, but she knew I was beyond her influence. An advantage of my level of power. “I could make you a very happy vampire lord.”
There it was.
I pried her hand off me, no longer interested in the pleasure she promised. Even if my body fought against my head, it would lose after her statement.
“I’m not a vampire lord.” I didn’t mask the bitter disappointment in my words. “You Unseelie chase power more than you chase a body to mount.”
She flinched at my harshness, but it was necessary. I wouldn’t be seeing this one again and if I did, this would ensure she would never want to see me again.
“Ouch. I may be black of heart, but I still have feelings.”
“None of the nefarious and wicked feelings you have matter. It’s a fact all in Shadowhaven are aware of.
Depravity is your vice, Neera.” My eyes refused to look at her, but I gestured to her body with a dismissive flick of my wrist. Driving in another painful blow. “I simply indulged you for a night.”
“What we did last night was more than indulging.”
“If you thought it was love then you truly haven fallen far into desperation. I was drunk, high, and you showed me a good time. Had you kept your mouth on more important tasks then perhaps you could have enjoyed a morning that would put that night to shame.” I pushed her a little roughly, causing her to stumble out of the bed.
Her hand caught the nightstand, steadying herself. My eyes didn’t stray down her body, didn’t admire or inspect. I had seen enough women’s bodies that none were enticing enough to stare at longer than necessary.
“You’re an asshole. I was warned about you and I didn’t listen.”
“A little tip, all the rumors about me are true. And another for the road, listen to warnings and save us both this disappointment.”
I got out of the bed, ignoring her broken sounds of disbelief as her jaw dropped.
My hands went to work on putting my clothes back on from the scattered places she had thrown them.
Then an all too familiar shrill scream sounded from her throat.
The pictures cracked, glass cups shattered and I was forced to block the sound with my hands.
I ran from the room, slamming the door behind me to end the sound before it could take my hearing. Damn Unseelie were as dramatic as they were sexually adept. It was the price you paid for enjoying their company, but then again, I could’ve been nicer.
Vampire lord.
The creature inside, the one that was the source of my vampiric blood, thrashed around excitedly when she had said those words.
I knew I would one day step into the role, to become the leader to this coven, but until then I was still just a Dumas.
Everyone either wanted me for status or power—which often went hand in hand.
They wanted the increase in status that being near me would gain them.
Or they wanted the power of being at my side. It’s often how my mistakes ended.
Their confession often came exactly as Neera’s did. They thought because I made their legs weak that it meant I was in love with them. Love was an emotion I would never indulge in. It was weak and had more casualty than living the life I was now.
At least the women I shared my bed with remained alive to love another. I knew none of them were my mate, but I still avoided loving them. My mate wasn’t in this world, wasn’t in Shadowhaven. She was in the human world, their realm where vampires and werewolves were fiction.
When my mother died from losing my father to his mate, I sought out a seer that could tell me where and who my mate was.
I didn’t do it to find her and bring her home, but to avoid her at all costs.
If I couldn’t avoid her then at least I would know who to kill.
It took time, but when I did, disappointment was what greeted me.
The home of the seer was behind a store catering to the mundane fantasy of divinity while occasionally serving true sight.
The very sight I would be granted tonight.
With the backdrop of a storm, I entered the store with a jingling of bells alerted them to my arrival.
My ears picked up a settling of wood under someone’s feet as they carried someone in my direction.
Then I saw the old crone. Gray hair tied back to fully display her sharp, bird-like facial features.
A nose that could rival a beak and beady eyes that bore into mine.
“You came. I knew you would, but to see you here before me outside of the realm of possibility is a treat. Reeking of desperation while overflowing with power that scares your paternal maker.”
I scoffed, not allowing her probing to upset me.
“It seems you are true as they said. Then you know what I seek and I gave you time to give me an answer,” I stepped inside further until only the wooden desk she stood behind separated us.
Those dark, beady eyes didn’t blink before she delivered a blow to my psyche.
“A human girl.”
I bared my dangs threateningly, but she was not provoked.
Her credibility was now in question, despite my earlier statement.
“Are you sure you are a real seer? There is no way that I would have a lowly mundane as a mate.” I spit the word mundane with enough venom that silence followed.
I allowed it to settle as I gritted my teeth. “Check again.”
“I am certain, little lord. She is a human girl born in the human realm. Veiled in green and consumed by shadows, she waits for you.”
“Well, she will wait until the end of her days and dies of age. I will not accept her.”
“You will, little lord,” she smiled softly, almost sympathetically before continuing to deliver blow after blow on my already battered state.
“You will fall prey to her as your father did to his mate. Denying a bond is no small feat and none have accomplished it. You will not be any different. Love unlocks doors we never knew were locked. Keep her close, little lord. Acceptance or not, you will be consumed by fate as we all are.”
The seer’s words replayed as I entered the mansion gates, echoing her final words. Fate was a bitch, but I was fast and I was determined to outrun fate for as long as I could.
Unfortunately, karma was a bigger bitch and greeted me at the entry of the mansion. When I opened one of the front doors, a vase collided with the other side. Glass cut my cheek and water doused my already messy hair. My father was awake, and angry, which meant Isadora complained about our fight.
“Father, look, Isadora may have weaved a tale, but I—.”
Another object came hurtling at me with insane speed, forcing me into a squat to avoid being hit. “Do not speak of your sister to me, boy. Maybe I have been too lenient with my whore of a son. Out all night while your sister runs away in the night?”
Runs away? This time I wasn’t quick enough and his hand was what came flying at my face next.
Scorching heat spread across my cheek from his hand, blood entering my mouth in waves.
I swallowed it, teeth gritting as I held back my reaction.
The blow had put me on all fours, but I refused to get up immediately.
Then a piece of paper floated down to my curled hands on the ground, Isadora’s writing taunting my blurred vision. I steadied my breathing, the tears drying before they could fall. When I was composed enough, I grabbed the paper and read her writing.
Dear father,
It is with a heavy heart and less sorrow than I thought, that I will be gone when you wake.
I need to make my own path and Shadowhaven is not where I’m meant to be.
Do not blame Lucien as he will have no knowledge of my departure.
I want to see the humans. I want to be more than what my blood tells me I am.
Your not so faithful daughter,
Isadora
This sibling of mine would be the death of me. Did she know that by simply putting my name in her note that she had doomed me?
“Find her.”
My head snapped back, staring up at his towering form. How dare he request something so impossible? “But father—.”
He snarled, fangs bared as he used his influence to silence me. His gold eyes bore into mine, challenging me to fight back. I knew I wouldn’t win and chose after a few useless seconds to give into his request and bow my head.
“Fine, I will find someone who can track her down and bring her back.”
“No, you will personally travel to the human realm and you will be the one to retrieve your sister. Fail in your mission and don’t even bother returning to this house.”
“What did I just walk into?” A delicate voice came from behind my father. His mate, Elizabeth, stood there in her nightgown. Blonde curls slightly rused and her still glassy eyes revealed she had been woken up by us.
“My love, you shouldn’t—.”
“Did you threaten to not let Lucien return? How can you say that when he is your successor? Your blood?” Her arms folded, disappointment attempting to twist her face from its tiredness.
“Isadora is missing and it’s his fault.”
She looked at the note in my hand and in a blink she was kneeling beside me with it in her hand. I watched her eyes scan the text, softening with less urgency than she had approached me with.
“It seems Isadora has decided to find herself. How are you going to deny her this? She can protect herself."
“She is my daughter. She needs to be here.”
“She is scared.” I realized then that she was rubbing my back with comforting circles.
It lifted my attention and I sat back on my feet.
She wasn’t looking at me, but at my father who she was clearly upset with.
Her sleepiness disappeared so her disappointment was evident.
“I told her about your plans to marry her off and it seems she reacted the way she wanted for once. I am proud of her.”
“You told her?” I frowned. She nodded, smiling with a hand now outstretched to me. I reluctantly accepted, knowing that denying her in front of my father would only worsen my increasing punishment. “Why?”
“I only want what’s best for you two. Now, go bring your sister home and if you cannot convince her to return then we will accept her decision. And I will ensure your father has no complaints about your return.”
My father gave a disapproving grunt, but didn’t voice his disagreement aloud. He wouldn’t as long as Elizabeth was here. With that understanding, I knew I should leave before he could have a moment alone with me. Elizabeth left my side to enter my father’s arms, allowing me my window for escape.
Then I was on my way to my next shield and it also just so happened to be who would know where to start.
Ambrose Amonette was constantly in everyone’s business within the family, keeping tabs on our routines and who we associated with. The young vampire may defend it with the intent to protect the family, but it was creepy. The kid was unsettling.
However, just as I entered his room, I found his powerless twin sister hanging half out of their window with a backpack. She was also trying to run away? Not on my watch. I quickly pulled her back inside by her pack, hearing her feet squeal against the planks of her floor.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” I demanded, using the same tone my father had just used on me. It was effective enough that she didn’t attempt to flee.
“Ambrose is missing.”
“Isadora ran away.”
The two, while insane to connect, did seem to connect. My reckless sister and her poignant brother left on the same night. “Ambrose must have chased after her. I know you have no magic, but maybe you’ve got that weird twin telepathy the mundane world has?”
She scoffed in offense, pouting almost immediately. “No I don’t have that either. Thanks for the reminder.”
“Well, then you’re no help so I’ll have to question Isadora’s friends.”
She reached out then, gripping my leather coat. I looked down at her small fingers curling into my clothes, disgusted at the contact, but she didn’t remove herself. “Wait! I know the town!”
“Fine. Tell me.”
“Take me with you and I’ll tell you,” she tried to deal.
“Realize you’re expendable so I will discard you as soon as I want and that will be in the human world. Still want to tag along and take the risk?”
“Yes,” she nodded. Her eyelashes fluttered desperately, eyes glittering with pleading. Puppy dog eyes as the humans call it.
“Very well. You can come along. Now tell me where my troublesome sister ran off to.”
“A place called Burrow Hills to visit Agatha.”