“What do you mean?”
I kicked off my heels and sat down.“I’ve agreed to mate someone.”
His forehead thumped against the bars above me.“It’s Deacon, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not Deacon.”
Lucian dropped to his knees in front of me and sat as close as he could.“Who?”
“Henry Hightower.The man you met at Dragonfly’s that night he and I were on a date.”
His expression became stoic.“Is that whose scent is on you?”
I expected him to explode with rage—flip his switch and rip the room apart.
His calm demeanor unsettled me more as he attentively listened.
“I’m a survivor, Lucian.This isn’t about me anymore.Maybe I should’ve played more chess than checkers, because he holds the power right now.I have to protect everyone.”
“Protect who?”
“You, my father, even Deacon.Henry’s a crafty man, and after our conversation, I’m certain he killed Marcus to set you up and get you out of the picture.But I don’t have any concrete evidence.”
“Did he admit it?”
“He alluded to it in a roundabout way.Anyhow, it’s not like I’m going to have babies with this man.I’ll figure something out.”
“And if you don’t?”
I let out a sigh.Sleep was going to be impossible tonight.“I can’t think like that.Sometimes you can only plan one move at a time.I’m not sure why he thought you were a threat to begin with.He heard about you working on my security, but that’s quite a leap to assume anything more was going on between us.It sounds like paranoia.Just the fact that he targeted you because hethinksyou might be a threat makes him a dangerous man.”I lifted the paper bag and set it in front of me.“Aren’t you curious why he’s doing all this… for me?”
Lucian jerked his head back with surprise.“Of course he wants you.You’re a goddess.And I’d bet my ass he’s doing something illegal with his business and knows your connections will benefit him.”
My eyes watered as I stared at the bag.It hadn’t sunken in until now that Lucian and I would have no chance at a future.
He reached through the bars and lifted my chin with the crook of his finger.Using his thumb, he wiped away a tear.“I won’t let him have you.”
I clutched his wrist and held his penetrating gaze.“If it were up to me, you’d be out of here.But I’m only one of three, and we uphold the same laws.If I were to let you out and you went after him, you could be locked away for life… or executed.I won’t take that chance.”Another tear slipped free, and my chin quivered.“I wish you would’ve stayed with me.”
He cupped my cheek in his hand.“Female, I will stay with you even after my soul has left my body.”
Crying wasn’t something I did in front of others.I had long resigned to choosing a mate for partnership and not love, and that was fine.But then I got a glimpse of love and what that might be like, and it forever changed me.
He rested his forehead against the bars.“I promise you it’ll be fine.I’ll figure this out.That’s what I do best.”
I kissed him through the bars, holding that kiss for an infinity.Lucian kissed me as if we were lovers in another life.Even with the cold bars pressed to my cheeks, I felt only him.He cradled my head, and my heart swelled with a love that could power a million stars.
When his purring fired up, I touched his chest and closed my eyes.“I love that sound more than you know.”
“What’s in the bag?”
“Yeast rolls.”I opened the brown sack and took one out.“They’re still soft.”When I held it to the bars, his purring abruptly ceased.
Spotted patterns appeared on Lucian’s skin, fading in and out like a mirage.He leaned forward and took a slow, meaningful bite—his heavy-lidded gaze giving me butterflies.
“What does this mean to Chitahs?”
After swallowing his roll, he took the rest from my hand.“Only couples hand-feed each other—especially kindred spirits.It shows you trust the other with your heart.I guess.There aren’t words to describe it.”He held the roll out with a cautious look in his eyes.“Will you eat from my hand, female?”
