A Shade of Blood (A Shade of Vampire #2)(81)

CHAPTER 46: LUCAS

I puffed a cigarette as I stood beside a flickering lamp post in Amsterdam. My hunt for my father was proving to be a greater undertaking than I had initially predicted. He wasn’t an easy man to find and I was hoping this would be the last stop I had to take before discovering him.

I was there to meet with an old acquaintance, Natalie Borgia. The gorgeous Italian vampire didn’t belong to any of the covens. She was one of the few rogue vampires and the most well-connected among all. She was the only one who knew all the locations of the covens and was allowed entrance into all of them. She was the ultimate diplomat, a woman I found incredibly irresistible and totally unattainable.

“Lucas Novak.”

I turned toward the sound of the voice and found Natalie approaching, her dark brown hair lifted into a neat updo, her sultry curves covered by a chic red coat. Classy was the only way I could think to describe her.

“Hey, beautiful.” I smirked.

She rolled her eyes and stared at me with a poker face. “You look like crap.” She took the cigarette from my mouth and threw it on the ground, crushing it with her heel.

“That’s not a very diplomatic thing to say or do, Natalie.”

“Oh please, Lucas. We both know diplomacy is lost on you.”

We began walking over a bridge, toward a small street café so we could talk. The moment we were comfortably seated, she crossed her legs and nodded for me to state my reason for wanting to meet with her.

“I’m a busy person, so do make it quick. And please… don’t hit on me. We both know it’s not going anywhere.”

I frowned. “Don’t flatter yourself, Natalie. I really just want to find my father. You’re the best person to tell me where he is.”

“I don’t know where he is at this moment in time, but I did get in touch with him after you contacted me. He can’t see you right now.”

My blood began to boil. “Excuse me?”

“Word’s out on you, Lucas. You’re not the most subtle person and you’ve been burning right through all the contacts you have outside of your coven. To your disadvantage, you’re not a very well-loved person either. You certainly pale in comparison to your brother and sister.”

“I don’t care what anybody thinks about me. Where’s my father? Why doesn’t he want to meet with me?” My knuckles began to grip the edge of the metal table between us.

“Your father asked me to tell you that he is afraid your presence would only compromise what he is trying to accomplish with the other covens. He thinks that it’s best you return to The Shade and resolve whatever issues you have with your brother on your own.”

“He doesn’t understand. I can’t go back there. Derek will kill me.” I slammed my hand over the top of the table, making a waitress, who was about to approach to take our order, back up and leave. “Why is he doing this? Why are they all turning against me?”

“I’m just relaying the message I was given, Lucas.” She was treating me so flippantly, I wondered where on earth all her diplomatic skills disappeared to. “I’ll make sure your father hears your response.”

I was fighting the urge to attack her. She was, however, at least a century older than me. In a fight against her, I was sure to lose.

“What am I supposed to do now?”

“That’s entirely your choice.” Natalie shrugged. “But I do have another message for you. From Borys Maslen.”

“Borys Maslen?”

“As I already implied, your rogue status has become known throughout the covens.”

My head was spinning. The thought that my father could turn on me at that time was something I never really considered possible. And now, our family’s worst adversary was trying to get in touch with me.

“What does he want with me?”

“He’s offering you sanctuary at the Oasis.”

The world has gone mad. “In exchange for what?”

“Loyalty to the Maslens.”

At this, I scoffed. “Loyalty? To them?”

“So what do you want me to tell them, Lucas? Does this mean you’re refusing?”

I gave it some thought, weighing my options. I shook my head. “I think my choice was made for me the moment my family turned their backs on me. Let Borys Maslen know that I’ll be on the first flight to Cairo I can book. Finally, make sure to let my father know that I’ve joined the Maslens.”

Natalie nodded. Her expression remained stoic. No judgment. No condemnation. She was a channel, our central hub of communication. “I’ll make sure your message is received. Anything else?”

“Yes. Tell my father that the one person to blame for our falling out is Derek. He’s obsessed with a human slave named Sofia Claremont. Tell my father to beware of her.”

“Of course.” Natalie rose from her seat. “If that’s all, goodbye, Lucas. I hope everything works out for you.” Without bothering to hear my response, she walked away.

My eyes followed her until she disappeared. I smiled. I knew the damage my father was going to inflict on Sofia just based on the message I relayed through Natalie. For that night, the knowledge that I once again had contributed to making her life and Derek’s a little bit more miserable, was enough consolation for my woes.