“Lucien.”
Roman’s old friend stared back at Soren with wide black eyes. He looked…terrible. His vamp was out, as it invariably was these past years, but that level of sophistication he’d always held on to was nowhere to be seen. He was mussed, frantic-looking.
Still handsome as hell, unfortunately. Such a tragedy, that someone so dickish could be so aesthetically appealing.
Soren waited for a greeting, for any kind of response, but Lucien just gawked at him.
Soren huffed an exasperated breath. “What are you doing so close to Hyde Park? Roman will murder you.I’mtempted enough as it is.”
He hadn’t forgotten Lucien’s attack on his mate. If Gabe were still human, still vulnerable, Soren would have had his fangs out already.
Lucien didn’t take any notice of the threat, his gaze now somewhere above Soren’s head, searching through the crowd. “I thought—I smelled—I— Do you smell cinnamon?”
It was Soren’s turn to gawk. He’d never seen the other vampire so fucking…frazzled. Lucien looked lost.Deeplylost. It was almost enough to make Soren feel bad for the vindictive bastard.
Almost.
“You should go, Luc.”
Lucien nodded dazedly. “I should. I will.”
“You need to leave. Gabe will be here any second.”
Lucien had the grace to look somewhat stricken at the name. “The brother.”
Soren couldn’t help the little growl that came out of him. “Yes, the brother. Mymate. So get lost. I don’t want you upsetting him.”
Of course, he’d said exactly the wrong damn thing to get Lucien to leave.
“Yourmate?” Lucien’s black eyes bore into his. “You found a mate.”
“I did. And if he or Roman murders you, you’ll never get a chance to find yours, will you? So scram.”
Soren watched him leave, not taking his eyes off until he saw that tragic figure exit the club.
It was true it didn’t seem quite fair. Soren didn’t know anyone who wanted a mate as badly as Lucien. But judging from the state of him…maybe Lucien wouldn’t last long enough to find one.
Oh fucking well. Not Soren’s problem.
It wasn’t long before a much more welcome figure appeared in the crowd, drinks in hand.
Handsome fucking mate.
Soren gave a happy little sigh as Gabe tugged him into his arms.
“What happened?” Gabe asked. “You were so excited before, but now your feelings are all…jumbled.”
“I’ll tell you later.”
Gabe gave Soren a look.
“Promise.”
Soren wanted to focus on the here and now. Gabe was looking scrumptious in a designer tee and the tightest pair of jeans Soren had been able to talk him into. Soren hooked his fingers into the belt loops, tugging gently. “See anyone you like?”
Gabe gave him a shy smile and pointed to a figure on the dance floor. “Him?”
Soren grinned. Oh, he’d picked a lovely one.
