Chapter 23
Hunter’s eyes glazed over as he looked at Freja.
Lucie could tell by their faces that they were deep in discussion.
Her parents’ hands tightened into fists as their private conversation lingered in the silence.
Lucie wasn’t dumb. It was obvious from the looks on their faces that this new information had changed things.
She stepped a bit more into Derrick. She was going to have to leave him, and as much as she understood his reasons, it didn’t make it easier.
She knew that look. Had seen it before, and it made her feel like a child again. She could see it in her parents’ eyes, and it was obvious. Derrick pulled her deeper into his side.
“And just like that, I’m no longer the strong, capable daughter anymore, right?” Lucie snorted angrily.
“Derrick is right. We haven’t studied this witch or her allies enough to know what she’s capable of,” Freja said quietly.
Lucie laughed in exasperation. “This coming from the woman who dove into a coven house that was a trap. The same woman who hunted down demons on her own. You didn’t always know what you were getting yourself into.”
“I know what it’s like to almost lose your mate, though. The blood potion that was used on your father could have driven us apart. And looking down on your opponent is what opens you up to weakness. We know this firsthand.”
“Well then, don’t underestimate them. Call Uncle Levi and Xander. Ask Harley for help.” Lucie didn’t get it. They had the strongest allies around. Why couldn’t they use them?
“We may need to ask for their help in time. There’s more to worry about than just the witch.
I do plan to speak to Reiya and my parents, and we will discuss all of this and plan ahead.
But for now, it’s best if you come home with us,” Hunter said firmly.
He watched Lucie begin to object, and his eyes darkened.
“Lucie, you are not staying. You will be coming back to the Black Ice Pack with us.” He made sure there was no room for objection, his commanding tone filling the room as he gave his daughter an order.
He had never used his Alpha order on her before.
It was something he rarely used at all. But when he did, it was absolute.
Lucie’s jaw dropped. Her father just used his alpha king power to give her an order. She was stunned. Shocked. He had only ever used his fatherly tone, not his alpha tone on her. To be honest, she was hurt. Maybe he knew she wouldn’t come unless he ordered her, but her blood boiled at this.
“If it’s possible, I would like for Lucie to still attend the welcoming ceremony that we have planned before she moves in at the end of the summer.
It’s just a formality so the other vampires can get to know her.
Jasper will escort her there and she can use her pearl to return to the Black Ice Pack.
You can even send her brother and a group of your soldiers with her if it’ll make you feel better.
Of course, I will make sure to have my own escort of vampires as well.
It’s in the opposite direction of the witch and the attacks, so I believe it’ll be safe.
” Derrick could feel Lucie tense under his arm and feel strands of her irritation pouring through their bond.
Hunter nodded his head. “We need to keep up as much normalcy as we can. We don’t want to alert our enemies. Plus, this is an important moment. The vampires will be meeting their new princess. I don’t want to give them a reason to think badly of her.”
“Well I’m glad everyone is able to settle everything.
Just point me in the direction of where to stand and how to act and we’ll be good.
” Lucie shrugged out of Derrick’s arms and opened the door to the office.
“I don’t need to hear the rest. Just be sure to give me a list of my duties and I’ll be all set.
” She shut the door and walked out toward the living room.
She could have at least been included in the conversation.
Instead, they spoke as if she wasn’t in the room.
Yes, Lucie will not stay. Yes, Lucie will be at the ceremony.
As she headed toward the living room, she spotted something interesting. Tilting her head, she watched Chaz crawling around on all fours, looking under various objects. He had lounge pants on and no shirt. Someone was obviously very proud of his muscular physique.
“What are you doing?” Lucie quirked a brow at him.
Chaz looked up at her and gave her a sheepish grin. “I can’t find my phone charger. I know I left it plugged in out here. I bet someone took it thinking it was theirs.”
Lucie giggled at his flustered face. She had a feeling that the someone who took it was fuzzy and a known troublemaker, especially since she’d caught the little cave brownie in action earlier.
She walked up to Chaz and started looking around. “Where did you plug it in last?”
Chaz pointed at the wall. “Right there. Right next to that stand. I know that’s where I left it.”
Lucie looked around the desk carefully. If it was her brownie friend, he would have either hid it in a drawer or … She followed the wall upward and looked at the ceiling. A crooked smile rested on her lips as she spied a white dangling cord from a rafter.
“Hey, Chaz?”
He lifted his head and looked at Lucie. He saw the amusement in her eyes and followed the direction her finger was pointing … up. He glanced at the ceiling and sighed. “Are you shitting me? Who did this?”
Lucie giggled again. “I don’t think this was one of your friends but a cave brownie. It was here earlier today.”
Chaz frowned. “I’m not known to be the best jumper. I’m more the muscles of the operation,” he said, flexing his arms proudly.
Lucie rolled her eyes. Yeah, she could tell he was proud of himself. She smiled and bit her bottom lip. “I’ll help you.”
“Really, little sis?” Chaz asked with a big grin.
“Little sis?” Lucie quirked her brow at this nickname.
“I’ve decided that you’re going to be like my new little sister … is that okay?”
Lucie nodded, smiling. At least he treated her like a normal person, like she was capable of helping. “Well, muscles, how good are your throwing skills?”
“I excel, of course.” His grin widened, having already figured out what she was thinking.
“Good.” Lucie walked up to him. “Toss me up in the air and I’ll grab it.”
“Oh, she’s fun too! Awesome. That’s just what this group needs.”
Lucie smiled. It might be what the group needed, but she wasn’t going to be part of the group.
He cupped his hands and looked at her expectantly.
Glancing up at her target, she stepped onto his interlocked hands, and he lifted her up effortlessly.
She easily grabbed the cord that was hanging there, but that was where things went wrong.
The little brownie had set up a clever trap, and when she grabbed the cord, it was attached to a rag full of dust and feathers that came crashing onto Lucie’s face.
She was falling now but had no idea where, since her face was full of debris.
“Gotcha, little sis!” Chaz said, and Lucie landed gently in his large arms and against his bare chest.
She was coughing and had tears dripping from her eyes from the dust. But she held her hand up triumphantly. Victory was still theirs, and she felt quite proud of herself. That was, until she heard a familiar snarl pierce the air.
“Put. Her. Down.” The low growl punctuated every word with authority.
She felt herself slide down slowly until she was gently placed on her feet, still wiping her face from the dust.
“Easy, Ryan. I just caught her, that’s all.” Chaz then whispered to Lucie, “Well, at least one of you has a fun personality.”
Lucie giggled and wiped the dust from her eyes. She placed the cord into Chaz’s hands and smiled through a couple more coughs. “I think we were baited into a trap. But we still won.”
“Haha, that we did, little sis.”
“Lucie, are you alright?” Freja looked her over. Her hair was messy, with dust and feathers poking through it.
“I was a victim to a clever brownie trap.” Lucie smiled, but it soon faded as she looked at her mother. “I’m still mad at you. I just had a momentary lapse in judgment due to my triumph.”
“Hope you aren’t mad at me, because I’m your new roommate,” Jasper said with a chuckle. Derrick growled at him, and Jasper laughed some more. “Well, in a manner of speaking. Think of me as your non-werebear guardian,” he said, pumping his chest out slightly.
Chasen laughed at this and slapped Jasper on the back, hard. “Sorry, kid. You’re tough, but not guardian tough.”
“Ouch,” Jasper said, feigning injury.
Derrick remained quiet as he stared intimidatingly at Chaz.
Chaz only chuckled and shook his head. He looked at Lucie as he grabbed the rest of his stuff. “Next time, you can throw me. Maybe then I won’t get in trouble.” He winked at her and started to walk out of the room.
“Chaz,” Derrick said, making him stop in his tracks. “Show them to the spare rooms where they can sleep for the night.”
Chaz nodded his head. “If you follow me, I’ll show you a few modern cave room motifs.” Chaz added in a fake tour guide accent as he waved them to follow him.
Lucie made to follow her parents, but Derrick’s hand shot out as she walked by, grasping her wrist. She stared into his amber eyes.
“I thought … we could talk,” Derrick said softly.
“Talk?” Lucie arched her brow up at him.
“You’re leaving first thing in the morning. I thought you could stay with me.” His voice dropped quieter as Hunter and Freja stopped walking.
“Oh … I see. I can’t stay with you, but you want me to warm your bed tonight? Is that it?” Lucie snorted and glared at him defiantly.
“Now wait a minute. It isn’t like that. I just thought we could talk more, Lucie. We haven’t had time to actually talk.”
Lucie looked into his pleading eyes. She realized she didn’t really know Derrick.
Sure, he was her fiancé and her fated mate.
But besides the time she played with him as a child, what did she know about him?
How had she retained these feelings of love for someone who was now a stranger?
She supposed it was the soulmate thing. She couldn’t deny how much she wanted to be near him.
How even being close now was a comfort to her.
Besides, she needed to explain a few things to him herself.
“Alright,” Lucie whispered. She turned to look at her parents and nodded for them to go ahead.
Hunter’s eyes darkened as he stared at Derrick, the warning in his gaze clear. Freja finally managed to pull him along, a faint, knowing smile on her face.
The moment Derrick closed the door to his room, he wrapped his arms around Lucie from behind, leaning his head down against her neck to breathe in her scent.
“Forgive me, Lucie, for being selfish. Don’t be mad. I just want you safe.”
A sweet, tingling spark jolted down her back and spread through her chest. She couldn’t deny how being in his arms felt like home. She sighed and turned in his arms to face him.
“What if it was the other way around, Derrick? What if it was vampires that were being targeted? What if there was a potion that was dangerous for you? In this situation, I would be sending you back, right? You’re telling me that you would just accept this and go while I stayed here to fight.
After all, I would only be doing it because I selfishly want you safe.
” Lucie had fire in her eyes as she met with his amber gaze.
A flash of realization hit him as he finally understood.
He wouldn’t go. It was evident in his guilt-ridden face. What he was asking of her wasn’t fair.