Chapter Eight #3
The pair were left alone once he went over to help John, leaving the seat empty for Lucien to take and he did.
Mel kept her hand near her phone, ready to call Isadora if she needed.
She was overly aware of the weight of her taser in her pocket as she faced him.
It didn’t escape Lucien’s perceptiveness that she was prepared to call someone for help if needed, amusing him.
“You already know.”
“Are you here to kill me?” Melinda asked without wavering. She stirred her drink, not taking her eyes off of the vampire in front of her. “I’d like to know up front if I’m going to be killed.”
“And if I said yes?”
“I’d ask that you do it in the proper style and take me out to pasture, but I’m not sure you would know the concept. I’d suggest perhaps somewhere less crowded then.” She was trying to act brave, but she couldn’t deny the fear she felt
Lucien threw his head back and gave a throaty laugh that made Mel’s body tingle. It was a laugh that had elicited a reaction elsewhere as well, but not even Mel would admit that to herself. When Lucien recovered from his amusement, he looked at Mel with hungry eyes.
“I quite like a girl who knows how she wants to go. Would you prefer painful or painless?”
“Well, it depends on the mood. Will this be a death of passion or meaninglessness? Because if it is the latter then I would prefer painless, but the former would elicit a painful death. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Lucien paused before answering. This human before him was not what he expected his sister to associate herself with, but he was starting to see just how alike his sister and himself were.
At least when it came to who they associated with.
His lips curved into a small smile with a hint of softness that left Melinda confused.
“If it was a death of passion then painless would be my form of execution. Curious that you asked if it was passionate or not,” he mused. Melinda closed her arms over her chest before leaning back in the chair. “We just met so what would incline you to think it would be a death of passion?”
She shrugged. “Most of the time people are killed, it’s either passion related or just to kill. I just put those options on the table. Now, what if I were to kill you? Would you prefer painless or painful?”
Lucien continued to be humored by this human, which hadn’t been an occurrence with any other he had encountered before.
This one was different, he knew it was more than temporary amusement.
There was something about her that called to him.
Something about her made his blood sing, his heart hum and spark reactions and emotions he wasn’t aware he had.
He knew it was dangerous, but danger with her might be a danger he would enjoy.
“I’d prefer to be surprised," he answered. She was taken aback momentarily by the sudden genuine honesty in his answer.
“Hmm, I guess we’ll find out when it’s too late.”
“Well, I don’t have any intention of killing you at the present moment so maybe we could enjoy this interaction?
Perhaps pick up where your mundane friend left off?
I overheard your plight,” he purred. Mel’s defenses went up instantly and Lucien was quick to pick up on it.
“I am genuine when I extend an offer to help someone. What seems to be the issue you’re facing? ”
Mel looked down at the paperwork, contemplating answering. Lucien decided to push the issue when he saw her reluctance. He snatched the paperwork, looking over it thoroughly as Mel chewed on her thumb with nervousness.
She watched as his golden eyes worked over the papers, reading every fine detail laid out in the legal documents. With his vampire perks, he was able to read through the paperwork as fast as it took her to skim them.
“So? Is it hopeless?”
“Nothing is hopeless until you lose hope,” Lucien stated before handing the paperwork back to her.
“As for the legal document, it’s a crock of shit.
I think that’s what you mundies say. From that small bit of information from your conversation from earlier, you can file harassment against the company.
There’s also emotional distress amongst others. ”
“But a lawyer costs and at the present we could never afford those costs,” Melinda admitted with a defeated sigh. “I guess it is hopeless.”
Lucien reached out as she began gathering her things, taking the hand that Bryon had grasped earlier. The skin to skin contact caused a reaction that had the two of them jumping back with their chairs clattering on the ground behind them.
It felt like pure electricity created a heat in their chests and made it almost hard to breathe. Melinda grasped at where the fire had faded as soon as his touch did. The space now felt empty, hollow even.
“You’ve become more dangerous to me than I originally thought.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, “Me? Dangerous? I’m not the one with fangs!”
The anger was unexpected to both of them, but Mel decided to back down as she continued to gather her things and storm out of the bar. Lucien did not follow after her. He watched her leave, silently cursing every deity that has ever existed that he would find his mate in such a place.
His human mate.
What a cruel joke.