Lover's Betrayal: Misfits of the Lore Series (10 page)

“Lucian, please. I know Kaden is innocent.” Olivia needed to talk to Lucian in private without the distraction of all these eyes watching their every move. “Can we please talk alone for a moment?”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea.” Being alone with Olivia was the last thing Lucian wanted. She would weaken him. She was always his greatest weakness, which was why she broke him so easily when she walked away.

“Please, Lucian. All I ask is for a few minutes of your time.”

She could see the reluctance in Lucian’s eyes. No doubt he was as uncomfortable as she at the thought of being alone together, but she needed to reach him and that could happen only if they could talk freely.

Lucian did not want his cowardice to show, but he could not be alone with Olivia. He had to find a way to avoid a moment alone with her—a moment where his desire for her would tempt him to give her anything she asked, just to feel her arms around him again.

“I cannot trust that Kaden will not try to run, and he has plenty of help with Corinne and this other gentleman, who I believe is your other son Julian. If I leave, it’s three against one and I will not put Lorenzo in that position. ”

“Good to know that after all these years you still don’t trust me, Lucy,” Corinne responded.

“Trust you, Corinne? I would be a fool. You’re loyal to Olivia and I can’t trust her -- so therefore I cannot trust you.”

Corinne could see the flash of hurt in Olivia’s eyes. “I see that you haven’t changed. You’re still the same old arrogant ass you always were, but now you get to hide behind the self-righteous Council. You finally got what you wanted, didn’t you? I hope it was worth all that you lost.”

Lucian could not hold back his fury. How dare she speak to him in such a manner when it was Olivia’s fault that they were in this mess? “You haven’t changed much either. Still hanging on Livy’s coattails rather than living your own life. How sad, after all these years. When you actually get a life, then you can lecture me about mine.”

Corinne launched herself at Lucian but before she could hit him, she felt strong arms grab her waist. Her back was pressed against a hard, chiseled chest. Her anger was replaced by a pleasure she had not ever felt before. His intoxicating breath inflamed her skin as he beckoned her to be calm. She could smell his exotic scent that seeped through her skin. She could not help but relax in the arms of the exhilarating Lycae.

Olivia needed to maintain order, otherwise she would not be able to reason with Lucian. “Lucian, Kaden will not run. He’s not guilty and has no reason to hide. I’m asking for only a few minutes.”

“I can’t take the chance, Livy,” Lucian pleaded.

“We could lock him downstairs,” Julian suggested. “There’s a room down there that is filled with silver and is under a spell that would prevent Kaden from fleeing. The only means of escape is reciting a specific chant, and only I have that information. You can trust the fact that I will not let him escape.”

“That could work,” Lorenzo added. “Just to be safe, I could keep any eye on Julian to make sure he doesn’t give Kaden the magic words to get out.”

Lucian did not like this idea, mainly because he did not like the idea of being alone with Olivia. “You’re still outnumbered if they ganged up on you.”

“Are you doubting my abilities?” Lorenzo questioned with a hint of anger in his tone. He was a proud Lycae, and to question his capability to do his job, especially in front of others, was the ultimate insult. The last thing Lucian wanted was to offend his best friend. Lorenzo had saved Lucian from himself when he self-destructed after Olivia married Daughton. The pain of being separated from his mate overwhelmed him as he indulged in one dangerous vice after the other to escape his tormented soul.

He was running out of reasons to avoid facing her alone. “Of course not. If anyone can handle them, it’s you, but I still don’t like the idea,” Lucian responded. As he looked at Olivia’s pleading eyes, he could not resist. “Despite my better judgment, I will agree to this, but I want to see this room first and make sure it’s secure. I also want to know the chant that would open the door.”

“Thank you, Lucian.” Olivia’s violet eyes looked at Lucian with such an appreciation that he had to turn away from her; otherwise, he might grab her and reacquaint his aching body with hers, and let her quench the thirst that he had been unable to satisfy for all these years.

Olivia could feel his desire for her, and her body heated in response. For the first time in years, she felt alive, and she wanted to feel the satisfaction that only her mate could provide. The look in Lucian’s eyes told her that he could smell her arousal. She should be embarrassed, but she could never hide her desire from the only man who could inflame this need in her. Besides, she could smell how much he wanted her and that excited her even more.

Lucian closed his eyes as if trying to block out the emotions Olivia stirred. He urged Julian to direct him to the basement. The whole group began to walk downstairs as Julian led the way followed by Corinne, Lorenzo, Kaden, Olivia, and Lucian in the rear.

As Corinne reached the bottom, she dropped her bag and bent over to pick it up. Her little skirt barely covered her hips, giving Lorenzo a lovely backside view. Corinne straightened and looked over her shoulder giving Lorenzo a mischievous grin. His golden eyes had darkened as he licked his lips. Kaden just laughed as he watched the scene unfold. He whispered to Corinne, teasing her, “You little slut.”

“I’m just a woman of my word. I told you what I would do in the presence of a sexy Lycae. I think it worked. He wants me.”

“It definitely worked,” Kaden acknowledged. “The poor dog’s in heat.” Kaden looked back and frowned at the intensity with which Lucian was staring at Olivia. “He’s not the only one in heat,” he growled.

They reached the bottom and Julian showed Lucian the room. It was secure and no doubt it would hold Kaden long enough for him to talk to Olivia.

“Look, I’m a bit claustrophobic. I don’t want to spend too much time in this magical box. How about I promise not to escape? I swear on my father’s grave that I will not flee.”

Olivia just rolled her eyes, but Lucian was not pleased with the reference to Daughton—the man he should have killed for stealing the family that should have been his. “You’re going in that room and if you try to escape, I assure you that you will join your father in that grave.”

“Not if I kill you first,” Kaden threatened.

“Don’t threaten me, Kaden. I’m the head of the Council and I could kill you with ease and no one would care. In fact, I would probably be given an award for getting rid of a murdering slime like you. Don’t test my patience. You don’t want to make me angry. You won’t like result.”

“Will you turn green and attack me? Are you the Lou Ferrigno, Eric Bana, or Ed Norton kind of hulk when you’re angry? Because the last two were really not that scary.”

Kaden was forced up against the wall. He felt his throat tighten as he gasped for air. He felt if he was glued to the wall, as he couldn’t move or free himself from the invisible bindings. All he could see was the intense midnight blue of Lucian’s eyes forcing the air from his lungs.

“I’m all three, but stronger so you better fear me,” Lucian warned Kaden. “What I can do to you is worse by far, and I won’t hesitate to do it if you give me the slightest opening. Not even your mommy will be able to save you.”

Olivia stepped in front of Lucian, breaking his concentration. Lucian released his telepathic grip on Kaden as he sagged against the wall, coughing.

“Stop it, Lucian. Don’t hurt my son.”

“Control your brat, or else I will.”

“No one controls me, you pompous jackass,” Kaden groaned.

Olivia could sense that Kaden was very close to unleashing his power. As strong as Kaden was, Lucian was older and stronger. A fight between them could be deadly.

“Kaden, please. I need to talk to Lucian and I need you to stay in this room for a while. I know it’s not desirable, but please do this for me. Trust that I believe in you and would do anything to help you.”

A frustrated Kaden reached for Olivia and spoke softly to her so that no one else could hear. “Who the hell is this guy and what does he mean to you? I can see how uncomfortable you are around him. Tell me what’s going on,” Kaden asked.

“I can’t explain that to you now. It’s way too complicated. For now, just trust me to do everything possible to help you.”

Kaden reluctantly conceded. “Fine. I’ll stay in the box for now, but you’d better get me out of here soon.”

“I will. Try to be patient. I know that’s not your strength, but you can fake it for a little while, right?” Olivia winked, and Kaden could not resist his mother’s request. He walked into the room and Julian slammed the door shut behind him.

“Don’t get too excited about this, Jules. It’s just temporary.”

“Maybe, maybe not,” Julian smiled.

II

As she watched Lucian staring pensively out the window, Olivia could not help but recall the reckless little boy she fell in love with so many years ago. The boy who broke all the rules and fell in love with his family’s slave. The boy who grew into this handsome stranger; her heart still beckoned for his touch. She could still remember the warmth she felt as he held her. Nothing could hurt her as long as she was in his arms—at least until that dreaded night when she was ripped from his arms and condemned to a life of perpetual misery as the wife of Daughton Gaspard.

She did not want to think of those horrid memories. For now, she only wanted to recall the years of love she shared with Lucian. The boy who freed her from her shyness and introduced her to the only happiness she had ever known.

They grew up on the same estate although she slept in the tiny cottage she dubbed the servant’s pit while he slept in a room the size of her entire home. Despite their differing status, Lucian always tried to talk to her, but a bashful Olivia stayed away. Although tempted, her mother’s warning echoed in her ear that Lucian was off limits. He was too good for her, and she needed to know her place.

To avoid his presence and the temptation he brought, she would spend most of her time at the nearby beach where she spent her days building sand castles and collecting shells. She loved the ocean and the feel of the sand on her feet. The beach was her sanctuary. Here she could escape her slave bonds and be anything she wanted.

There were no other children of her status to play with, so Olivia learned to accept being alone. Alone was where she could pretend to be something more and dream of the life she knew she could never have.

Her parents were not thrilled about her solitary trips to the beach, but they begrudgingly agreed to allow her this one special place where she could play. At least there she could stay out of trouble and stay away from Lucian. Marco and Daniella Vestano sensed the connection between Lucian and their daughter. Although the children never spoke to each other, their eyes could not hide the bond between them. Marco and Daniella, fearing they would lose their jobs, forbade Olivia ever to go near Lucian. Allowing her to play away from the house, and especially Lucian, would keep them apart—at least that’s what they hoped, but stubborn Lucian had other ideas.

After weeks of searching for her, Lucian wandered to the beach and found Olivia sitting in the sand building a castle. For the first time, Lucian spoke to her.

“What are you doing out here by yourself?” Lucian asked.

A startled Olivia looked up at the little boy whose intense eyes scared her. Although he was just six years old, he possessed those penetrating blue eyes that could melt a glacier. “What are you doing here? We’re not allowed to talk. Master Santoro would be very mad if he knew you were here.”

Lucian was clearly not concerned about his father’s reaction. “My father’s not here and won’t look for me here, so don’t worry.”

“But…”

“Stop worrying about my dad. I want to know why you’re out here by yourself.”

“I like the beach. There’s no one I can play with, so I play out here with the sand and the water.”

“You could play with me.”

“No, I cannot. It’s not allowed. I’ll be punished.”

“No one will know. Anyway, you work for us like your mother and father, and so if I order you to be my friend, you have to be. You will get in trouble for disobeying me.”

Olivia was frightened, but in her child’s mind his logic made sense. She also could not deny how much she wanted to play with Lucian. She was drawn to him. “Ok, if you’re making me play with you than I will, but we shouldn’t tell anyone.”

Lucian agreed with that smile of victory she would see many times over the years. Considering Olivia’s concerns, they decided to play in a more private spot to avoid detection. There was a cave in the middle of the cliff by the beach. It was a difficult climb, but Lucian knew that it was the perfect place to hide. It was a steep climb that terrified Olivia, but Lucian had no fear. He relished the challenge.

The climb was too much for Olivia, but Lucian was determined. “I’ll carry you up.”

Although they were stronger than most human children, Olivia did not believe that Lucian was strong enough for this. “No way!” she argued. “You can’t carry me and climb. You’ll drop me and I’ll crack my head open and my brain will come out.”

“I’ll put your brain back in your head,” Lucian assured Olivia.

“No!”

“Trust me, Livy,” Lucian pleaded with those mesmerizing eyes that Olivia could never resist. “I promise I’ll never let you fall.”

Olivia could not deny him. Although her head was telling her not to do this, her heart could not help but trust Lucian. Somehow she knew he would never let her fall. She took a deep breath, grabbed his hand, and climbed up on his back. She said a silent prayer for both of them and she closed her eyes as Lucian climbed. Suddenly, she heard Lucian’s voice telling her to open her eyes. At that moment, she realized she was in the cave holding on to a sweaty Lucian, who had the most glorious triumphant smile on his face. “Welcome to our home, Livy.”

As he released her, tears of joy slid down her face as she realized at that moment that Lucian was the other half of her soul. Even though they were just children and she was just the poor daughter of his servant, he would be her mate. She would be one of the fortunate who found their mate.