Lucian looks genuinely startled.
“What? Of course not!”
“Then why show me that?” I gesture wildly at the crystal ball. “That was horrifying!”
“I’m showing you that I can protect you,” he says, frowning now. “That any enemy of yours is an enemy of mine. And that I don’t tolerate other males touching my woman.”
“I am not your woman!” I snap, panic and anger surging together. “And yes, Donald Pugh was a jerk, but he didn’t deserve to be dragged into the underworld by a hundred nightmare hands—or whatever the hell that was!”
Lucian’s expression hardens.
“I did some research,” he says quietly. “He was a rapist. He forced himself on several women in his life. Only one pressed charges—and she dropped them when he threatened her child.”
The words hit me like a blow to the stomach.
“Seriously?” I ask, but my voice comes out in a whisper. I knew Donald was a jerk, but I didn’t know he was a rapist. Though to be honest, it’s not that much of a surprise.
Lucian nods.
“If anyone deserved to spend the rest of his days being tormented in the lair of the Necros,” he says, “it was him.”
My anger falters. I bite my lower lip, my hands shaking.
“I… I didn’t know that,” I admit. “I just… that was scary. What you showed me felt more like a threat than reassurance.”
Lucian steps closer, his voice low and intent.
“My darling, I would never hurt you. You’re mine now. I’ll take care of you, always.”
I suppose the words should comfort me…but they don’t. He’s still claiming to own me, and that’s upsetting. Even more upsetting than what happened to Donald Pugh.
Lucian straightens, the Vampire Don once more, all warmth draining from his posture as if he’s pulling on armor.
“And now I must go. You should get dressed—we have a meeting later with the Don of the Ossuary Circle and I want you by my side as my Curvy Queen.”
Then he’s gone.
The door closes softly behind him and I stand there alone in the crimson-lit room, the fire crackling quietly, my heart still pounding as the image of black hands and screaming shadows replays behind my eyes.
How did my life come to this?
And more importantly?—
What the hell am I going to do about it?
34
Lucian
I stand outside the door to her room for a moment, pondering. I do not understand why she is upset.
The image I showed her was simple—justice rendered swiftly and decisively. The male who touched her without permission has been removed from the world. He will never harm another woman again. In my mind, the matter is closed.
And yet Julia recoiled from it.
She did not look relieved. She did not look grateful. She looked frightened. Worse—she looked at me as though I had become something unfamiliar.
That troubles me more than I care to admit.
