“You don’t deserve this,” Lucian growls as he rips the prospect patch from Diesel’s cut.
“Shit, I… God, man. I’m sorry,” Diesel pleads.
Lucian reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a fresh patch, and slaps it against Diesel’s chest. “This is what you deserve.”
Diesel’s face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning.
“You’ve shown restraint. Control. Most importantly, loyalty,” Lucian says. “Standing beside us as we go to war. Fighting for us. For me. For my—” He pauses, turning to me, a slow smile curling across his arrogant face. “My woman.” He winks. A bubble of laughter escapes me. “You’re one of us now. Our brotherhood. The coven. Our family.” Lucian claps Diesel on the shoulder. Diesel turns, pride blazing across his face as the other brothers cheer and crowd around him, giving their congratulations.
I slip my arms around Lucian’s waist. He pulls me close. Tilting my head up, I meet his gaze. “If I’m your woman,” I say, my lips curving into a playful smile “Does that make you my man?”
He looks down at me, his eyes alive with heat and adoration. He shakes his head once. “No, Petal.” His voice drops. “It makes me your monster.” Then he kisses me.
“Everyone is looking at us,” I murmur as I gaze around the bar. Lucian keeps his hand protectively at the back of my neck. Guiding me to their normal table at the back. His thumb strokes in reassurance.
“Ignore them. It appears the town has forgotten who we are,” he whispers in my ear.
“Or they heard about what happened back at the Crawley brothers,” Silas mutters beside him.
We reach their table. People who are sitting at it scatter like ants when they see us approach. “Sit,” Lucian orders. I take my seat and try my best to relax, but it’s really hard when the entire bar keeps looking over at us.
A woman with golden-brown hair and freckles dusting her cheeks walks over. “Well, gentlemen, it’s been a while,” she greets, smiling at Lucian. I stiffen and possessively place my hand on his thigh, leaning into him and feeling his chuckle vibrate through me.
“Easy, Petal. This is Lilith. She’s one of us,” Lucian whispers in my ear. I frown, looking at her. She doesn’t look like them. Her eyes are a rich emerald green. She looks human.
Lilith winks at me, giving me a friendly smile. “Sorry,” I mutter. “But I’ve not exactly had a good experience meeting others, especially people like you,” I say with a wince.
She arches her brow. “She came into contact with Seraphine,” Silas states, his eyes on her appreciatively. He quickly looks away when he catches me watching him.
Lilith’s eyes widen. “And you lived to tell the tale?” she asks, with an underlying hint of amusement.
“Barely.” I shrug, returning her smile. I hold my hand out, “I’m Evelynn.” I introduce.
She shakes my hand, her skin cold and silky. “Good to meet you,” she smiles warmly, pausing as she goes to withdraw her hand, inhaling my scent. “Well, well, well. I had heard that a mortal had captured your attention,” she says to Lucian. “But marking her?” she breathes in disbelief.
Lucian shakes his head back and forth. “Is there going to be a problem?” he asks her, a threat threaded within the question.
She places her hand on her hips and cocks her head to the side, her green eyes flaring.Ah, there it is, the vampire,I think to myself. “Lucian, how many years have you known me?” she glares at him. “I will never forget what this club did for me. I would never betray any of you,” she fiercelydeclares.
I look from her to Lucian, their intense glare between them. “Okay. So, any chance of a gin and tonic?” I ask, breaking the tension.
Lilith’s attention snaps to mine, a slow smile spreading across her lips. “Sure can. In fact, why don’t you come over to the bar while I make it for you? I have a new selection that I got specially in from Europe,” she gestures.
“Oh god, yes,” I say, eager and practically salivating at the thought. I move to stand, but Lucian’s hand on the back of my neck holds me firmly in my seat. “Lucian,” I hiss.
Lilith crosses her arms over her chest. “I’m not going to hurt her. She smells utterly delicious, but I’m not stupid. I value my undead life, thank you very much,” she tuts, rolling her eyes at him.
“Lilith, just go and get us a drink,” Silas sighs with annoyance.
She snaps her gaze to him, anger flaring. “Kiss my ass, Silas. Evelynn,” she gestures with her head for me to follow.
“If she says anything or does anything you don’t like, shout. I will be there,” Lucian states, overprotectively.
“I’m no more than twenty feet away,” I smile, placing a delicate kiss on his cheek before followingLilith. She takes my hand in hers and leads me behind the bar into her small office. “Er,” I say, looking back over my shoulder, wondering if Lucian was right to be overprotective. Letting go of my hand, she reaches up for a box on the top of her shelf and places it on her desk.
“Here, take this.” She hands me a dusty bottle. I wipe the label with my thumb; grapefruit and elderflower gin.
“Oh.” I breathe a small sigh of relief.
