Until the Sun Falls from the Sky (The Three #1)(20)

Torn from his thoughts and not appreciating it, Lucien announced, “We’re finished talking.”

He watched her body go taut as his words penetrated.

“Now what does that mean?” Katrina asked on an irritated snap.

He didn’t answer. He left and put her out of his mind.

This was not difficult.

He met with Stephanie that day. And Avery.

There were plans to be made and he was making them. He had been making them since he received word from his informant that Leah had extricated herself from yet another of her hideously ill-suited boyfriends. The end of her mortal relationship opened her up for Selection. With vast and frustrating experience of riding the tempestuous waves Leah’s love life, he had not delayed in taking his chance and he, amongst others, had placed her name on his list to receive an invitation to The Selection.

Lucien knew The Council would not be blinded to what he was doing for long. They’d find out. Likely, once he filed for Severance, Katrina would tell them. Possibly Leah’s family would too although he knew they’d demanded to examine the contract and she’d not only gone to Study but the Buchanans dispatched her for Homing.

If not those, undoubtedly The Council would hear of his actions somehow.

And he was ready.

Stephanie had always been impatient with the Immortal and Mortal Agreement. She’d even been indecisive on which side she would fight before The Revolution.

She was a definite ally.

Avery was a surprise. He’d been working in his role for The Council of The Dominion for centuries. Lucien had only sensed his willingness to turn traitor.

And Lucien had been right.

Cosmo, on the other hand, he’d been avoiding since Leah’s Selection, something which he failed to do that day.

Late in the afternoon Cosmo had pressed into Lucien’s office, Lucien’s secretary, Sally hot on his heels.

Sally halted when Cosmo hissed, “Are you planning a revolt?”

Lucien nodded at Sally who withdrew.

Once she closed the door behind her, he leveled his eyes on his friend and answered, “No.”

“Then what’s this all about?” Cosmo clipped. “I was there, Lucien. Leah refused to blood your contract. The next thing I know, it had been signed, Avery had filed it, you’d Homed her and The Bloodletting was last night.”

Lucien didn’t speak.

Cosmo continued, “Katrina told Nestor who told Jordan who told Hamish who told me that you spent the night with her.”

Lucien knew his secret wouldn’t last long. “I did.”

“Have you gone mad?” Cosmo bellowed.

Lucien stood, shaking his head. “Cosmo, calm down.”

“The Council will hear of this,” Cosmo bit out.

“They probably already have. Katrina was in a state this morning. She’ll not be thinking before she acts.”

Not that she ever did, he thought.

“They’ll pull you in,” Cosmo warned.

“It’s likely.”

Cosmo straightened and took in Lucien’s composure before asking, “What happened? Did you fall asleep?”

“Yes, after the initiation, I fell asleep.”

This was true. After he nearly killed her, he stopped the blood, soothed the wound, waited, watching and impatient for long minutes as the healing began. Then he watched for long hours as the healing progressed. When he was satisfied all would be well, only then did he pull Leah in his arms and fall asleep.

However, he had every intention of spending the night with Leah even had he not lost control necessitating that he wait for the healing. And he had every intention of spending every night with Leah until he lost interest in her and released her.

Cosmo continued to study him before he remarked dubiously, “So, it was all innocent.”

“No,” Lucien replied honestly. “It was far from innocent.”

Cosmo closed his eyes.

In a low voice that held a vein of steel, Lucien declared, “I’ll not live like this for another day, Cosmo.”

Cosmo opened his eyes “You are planning a revolt.”

“It might not lead to that.”

“You know it will.”

Lucien shrugged. “Then it’s war.”

Cosmo pulled in breath through his nostrils at Lucien’s words but his face and eyes went blank, hiding his thoughts. Katrina could learn from Cosmo.

Quietly, Cosmo spoke. “I’ve seen her, Lucien. I’ve smelled her. I like her. She’s fascinating. She’s funny. She’s different. But,” he paused before finishing, “she’s not worth war.”

“You haven’t tasted her,” Lucien returned decisively.

Cosmo’s head cocked to the side, intrigued despite himself. “She’s that good?”

“Better.”

Cosmo’s brows went up before he muttered, “Jesus.” Then he continued in a low voice, “Did you f**k her?”

“Not yet.”

“You intend to?”

“Absolutely.”

“Christ, Lucien –”

Lucien lost patience. “If I remember correctly there was many a night, for seven years, you left her mother and went direct with me to A Feast. Not to feed, to f**k, the way you wanted to f**k Lydia. If I remember correctly, for seven years, you wanted Lydia in a way you couldn’t have her because the Agreement said you couldn’t. It nearly drove you mad. You had to release her before you wanted just to end the torment. Do you remember?” Lucien demanded.