Octavia's Choice [The Klawinken 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (11 page)

“I know. I love you, Tobias.”

Tobias shook his head without speaking before he twirled out of sight.

* * * *

“Octavia,” Evenela yelled up the stairs to her sister. “Phone call.”

Octavia heard her and walked down the stairs to the house phone that her sister handed her.

“Hello.”

“Octavia, this is Pierce Lacroix, Mathieu’s father.”

“Mr. Lacroix.”

“I know this is a bit awkward, especially since you and my son have broken your engagement. However, I would like to take you to an early dinner tonight. Just you and me. I promise not to try and convince you to get back together with Mathieu. But there are a few things I would like to discuss with you concerning your parents.”

“My parents,” Octavia said, looking to where Evenela was watching her.

“Yes, I was there the night they died, and I know you must have a lot of questions that I might be able to answer.”

“Then Evenela should come, too.”

“If she would like to, she’s invited.”

Evenela shook her head no and whispered, “Carl and I have a dinner tonight with clients. I have to go.”

“Unfortunately Evenela has another commitment, but I will be available for dinner. Should we meet at the restaurant?”

“I’ll pick you up about six o’clock.”

“I’ll see you then.”

“Yes, see you then, Octavia.”

Octavia put the phone down and looked into her sister’s eyes, which were looking a little like a deer caught in the headlights. “What do you think he wants?”

“He said he wants to talk about our parents.”

“Maybe, but he’s Mathieu’s father. He must have an ulterior motive regardless of what he told you.”

“I don’t care what his reason is. If he can shed any light on our parent’s death, then I’ll talk to him.”

“Is that what he said, that he knew something about their death?”

“Not exactly. He just said he was there the night they died.”

“Are you sure you should go?”

“I’d rather not, but I need to go.”

* * * *

Pierce Lacroix was of average height with blue eyes. He wasn’t a handsome man, but he did have a certain way about him that she found comforting. Mathieu, Octavia thought to herself, must look like his mother.

“Octavia.” He walked through the door, smiling with even white teeth. “It’s so good to finally meet you.” He hugged her to him. She felt cold.

“And you.” She tried to smile back.

“You’re even more beautiful in person then Mathieu described. I can understand why he is so taken with you.”

“He spoke of you, too, and always with the utmost love and respect.” Octavia looked away for a moment and then back into the eyes of the man who might have been her father-in-law if her dreams, or more aptly Tobias Morgan, had not gotten in the way. “I’m very sorry that I hurt Mathieu.”

Pierce just looked at her. His eyes clouded.

“I truly am sorry,” she said softly.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I know you are. Mathieu’s sorry, too. It takes two. You’re not entirely to blame, Octavia”

Meaning, Octavia surmised from his words, that he felt she was mostly to blame. After all, Mathieu had just wanted what any normal man would want from the woman he loved…to be loved in return.

The ride to the restaurant was quiet. Pierce pointed out some landmarks, including the Boston Public Library, one of the more famous buildings in the city. Their table was waiting for them when they entered the restaurant. It had the ambience of a French restaurant. Pierce ordered a large bottle of a very expensive French wine. Octavia smiled as the waiter poured her a glass. Pierce waited for her to try it before he allowed the waiter to pour his own.

“It’s delicious,” she said to the waiter, who looked relieved.

“I’m glad you like it. It’s always been one of my favorites. They keep it stocked just for me,” Pierce said.

“In fact,” the waiter interjected, “Mr. Lacroix had this particular bottle delivered just this afternoon. It’s a fine vintage.”

“I’m impressed.” Octavia smiled up the waiter. Looking across the table at Pierce, she said, “You must come here often.”

“Often enough,” he said, looking down at the menu. “May I make a suggestion?”

“That would be nice. Thank you.”

“Let’s start with foie gras and follow with the lamb. It’s absolutely the best in the city.”

“Wonderful,” Octavia said, taking a sip of her wine. It really was delightful. She took another sip before she sat her glass back down.

When he had given their order to the waiter, he turned to her. “I’m so glad you were able to join me tonight. Let me pour you a little more wine.”

He picked up the bottle and somehow it slipped right through his fingers and ended up crashing onto the floor. The waiter and several other restaurant employees came running their way.

“How clumsy of me,” Pierce said, shaking his head. “I’m very sorry.”

“Not a problem, sir.” The waiter bent down to retrieve the bottle that had emptied onto the floor. Within minutes the mess was cleaned up and Pierce had asked for another bottle.

“My dear Octavia, this is what happens when you get old. You start dropping things. Here, take my glass. I haven’t touched it.”

“You’re hardly old.” Octavia smiled. A wave of tiredness came over her suddenly. She felt a bit nauseous. She tried to shake it off. “So, you were going to tell me about my parents.”

“Yes. I was there the night they died. We had been at the same party. I wish I could tell you they were having a good time, but I’m afraid they were quarreling for most of the evening. Theirs was not a match made in heaven.”

“Unusual for Klawinken,” Octavia murmured. “I mean, all this one true mate stuff would make you think that all Klawinken matings are made in heaven. However, I’m beginning to see a flaw in that concept.”

“Klawinken matings, even at their best, can be as trying as a human relationship. The difference is we normally mate for life unless death interferes.”

“Do you know what they were fighting about?”

“Your father was a jealous man, not just of other men, but of your mother’s time. I think he thought she spent more time with her friends and children then she did with him. I could be wrong, but that seemed to be the gist of the argument at least from where I was standing.”

“Were they drinking?”

“Yes, they were. And that’s my one regret. I should have never let them leave together, knowing one was as drunk as the other. I should have driven them home, but then I was drinking, too. None of us were thinking that something would happen to them.”

“I’m sure you didn’t. I just think it’s strange that my mother would turn us over to non Klawinken and make it legal so soon before her and my father’s death.”

“Are you suggesting foul play?”

“I’m not sure, but in my heart, something tells me that something wasn’t right.”

‘Well, Octavia…” Pierce looked at her sadly. “You are a gifted woman, and your intuition is part of your gifts. Possibly you can feel the truth. It’s not an unheard of gift.”

“Are you saying you think there might have been foul play?”

“I’m saying that, unfortunately, sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to for the good of the whole. Your parents were a problem,” he said, looking into Octavia’s eyes that were feeling more and more tired. “As, I’m afraid, are you.”

“What are you talking about?” Octavia felt as if her tongue had expanded as she slurred her words. She could barely lift her arms.

“You’re not feeling so well, are you, dear?”

Octavia shook her head. It was an effort for her. What had he done to her? She was feeling less and less like herself. The room was actually beginning to spin.

“I’m sorry, Octavia. Sorry that you were born of a Beaucomp mother and that you, too, are a Beaucomp. Sorry that you couldn’t love my son, Mathieu, and turned to another Beaucomp, Tobias Morgan. If only you could have stayed away from him, Octavia, you might not be dying in front of me right now.”

Octavia couldn’t even formulate the words to respond. She was dying. Pierce Lacroix had poisoned her with the wine. That was why he had never taken a drink from his own glass and destroyed the bottle. She felt herself slipping from her chair onto the floor. She could hear voices, but everything was going black, and then she slipped deeper into the darkness where there was nothing but silence.

Tobias gave his senses the freedom to find Octavia. She was not at her sister’s house. He had gone there first, but there was no one home. He had to find her before it was too late. Standing still, he summoned all his powers and focused on Octavia. He could see her. She was at a restaurant. She was with a man. Pierce Lacroix’s face came into view. Tobias cursed, his heart racing. He recognized the venue. It was near the Boston Library.

Octavia was sick. He could feel it. She was slipping into unconsciousness. He willed himself to the restaurant and ran to where she was lying on the floor with Pierce hovering over her. He reached down and literally threw Pierce off her. “You son of a bitch, what did you do to her?”

“Tobias, son, she passed out. We were having dinner. The restaurant called an ambulance.”

“If anything happens to her, I’ll kill you.” Tobias felt for Octavia’s pulse. It was weak. “She won’t live to see an ambulance, and you know it.”

Tobias knelt down and picked Octavia up into his arms.

“Tobias, Stop this. She needs medical attention,” Pierce said loudly enough for those around them to hear.

“And who better than me to give it her. That is if you want her to survive.”

Pierce backed up, fear in his eyes.

“That’s what I thought. I’ll take care of you later. Believe me when I tell you your life is now worthless.”

Tobias ran from the restaurant with Octavia in his arms. He ducked into a small alley, and they were gone in an instant. He entered his bedroom and lay Octavia down on the bed. He stripped her of her clothing and then took off his own. He knew what he had to do, although he had never done this before. Something told him to melt into her body in order to absorb the poison that was quickly ending her life. He covered her and pressed down into her. He could feel the heat that was destroying her. He pressed into her further until their bodies were as one. He opened his mouth and breathed into her lungs. Over and over he blew his own air into her, continuing to absorb the poison into him. He could feel her skin cooling, her pulse becoming stronger. With one final push, his body drank from hers before he lifted himself from within her and passed out.

“Tobias!” Octavia’s cry penetrated his subconscious, bringing him back into the real world. He could feel her hands shaking him.

“Octavia,” he whispered.

“Oh, dear god, Tobias, please come back to me.” Octavia’s lips were on his, willing him to respond.

He opened his eyes. The eyes looking into his were wild with fear. “Tobias, please, oh please, don’t die.”

“Octavia,” he breathed. “You’re okay.”

“Yes,” she said joyfully, her eyes lighting up from his words. “You saved me. I felt you inside of me, extracting the poison, taking it into yourself. I was silently begging you to let me die if giving me life meant your death.”

“You remember,” he said hoarsely.

“Everything. I remember everything, including our time together after the concert. I love you. I love you so much it hurts.” Her tears wet his face.

“And I love you,” he said hoarsely, feeling the wetness from his own eyes.

They lay in each other’s arms, not speaking. Tobias had never felt so happy or so enraged when he thought of what could have happened if he had not been there to save her. She would have died and been lost to him forever. Pierce Lacroix would pay for this. He would hunt him down and kill him with his bare hands.

“How did you know?”

“My mother came to me in Japan and told me what Pierce had planned.”

“She was part of this?” Octavia’s eyes widened.

“Yes and no. She was convinced that our being together was not in the best interest of the Klawinken. She’s the one that made you forget that night and told me why I could never be with you.”

“But why? There’s so much I don’t understand. And for them to want me dead. How could they think I was such a threat to your people?”

Tobias hugged her close before he released her. “I need a drink. I think I’m strong enough to get up now. I’ll explain everything.”

Octavia moved from him, her eyes still glued to his. “I’ll get you a glass of water.”

He nodded, sitting on the side of the bed. He reached for his pants and pulled them on. Octavia remained naked. She walked to the minibar where she poured him a drink. She poured another for herself.

When she sat back down, they both took a minute to quench their thirst. Tobias took a breath, “You see, my love, your mother was Beaucomp, and so are you. My mother is Beaucomp, and so am I.”