“A few days, Lucas?” Mom motioned for Lucas to come to her.
He held out his hand when he drew closer. She took it and read him quickly. Her eyes grew big the longer she held Lucas’ hand.
“You’re right. You did figure things out that quickly, didn’t you? Mating with Bennett has certainly helped.” Mom let go of his hand and turned to Bennett. The smile she had for Lucas fell. “I need to see you and Ramsey in the study please. Ladon, go get Gabriel and tell him to stay with Lucas until Bennett comes back. Also, let Ramsey know we need him.”
Ladon nodded once and headed out of the room.
“Wait,” Lucas said to Ladon. His little brother stopped halfway out of the kitchen and Lucas turned to him. “I’m going to this little meeting too.”
Bennett shook his head, reaching for Lucas, pulling him closer. “I’ll be right back, baby.”
“You’re talking about me so I should go.”
“It’s just going to be about how we can keep you safe.”
“I can keep myself safe. And you too, if it comes to that. I did just fine with the vampire last night.”
“Baby, you passed out afterward.”
“That’s just because I gave too much energy. I freaked out when he cut you,” Lucas said.
Mom stood and came over to Bennett. “You were injured?”
Lucas waved her away. “I fixed it right after. He hardly lost any blood,” Lucas said absently.
“You’re making a bigger deal out of the meeting than is necessary,” Bennett said, trying to placate Lucas as best as he could.
When Lucas narrowed his eyes, Bennett knew he was in trouble.
He pulled out of Bennett’s hold, huffing with annoyance. “Fine, Bennett. Have your little meeting about me. Whatever.”
Lucas stormed out of the kitchen. Bennett tried to call him back, but Lucas held up a hand. Ladon followed him out.
Bennett sighed. “Thanks a lot, Mother.” Bennett was probably going to pay for excluding Lucas from the meeting, and not in the fun way.
“He doesn’t understand clan dynamics,” Mom said.
“He’s going to stay mad forever, probably. Couldn’t you have been just a little bit subtle about the meeting?”
“He’s in love with you, Bennett. It’ll be fine.”
Bennett smiled at the thought. He was in love with his sassy little mate too. Maybe telling him that would help get him over his anger and they could have make up sex. “He’s right about one thing. He’s really strong and can protect me if he needs to.”
“That’s not in question,” his mother said. They both knew it wasn’t. Lucas had helped him fight the vampire. They both knew he would do it again if necessary.
His mother and Bennett walked into the study. Ramsey was already there.
Bennett sat on the couch, listening to his mother talk. She was talking mostly to Ramsey, as Bennett already knew all the things she was saying about Lucas.
“Lucas has way more control over his abilities. He’s very powerful, even though he doesn’t seem to know all that he can do just yet. Completing the mating has awakened his magic.”
“So what’s the problem, Mother,” Ramsey said, a bit impatiently.
“I’m afraid he won’t protect himself when it’s needed.” And there it was. The thing that Bennett feared the most. “And I’m not just talking about him helping the clan members to the point of exhaustion. What I’m saying is he won’t take out someone who is openly threatening his life.”
Bennett sat up in his chair, frowning at his mother. “Why?”
“I can’t say for sure. But I think it’s a fight or flight response. He’ll run because that’s what has worked so far.”
