Chapter 10
Lucien
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It’s so quiet.
I type away at my desk, continuously shooting furtive glances at my cell phone and the clock, just waiting for something to go wrong. After no one came beating down her door, it was clear the guard hadn’t said a word to anyone, which just has me that much more on edge. If his job is to keep an eye on her to make sure things like this don’t happen, why not drag her off?
We agreed that Cambria should go with Atlas first upon coming back when she’s fully charged and end our three day stint at my office where I can keep an eye on her, where it’s less physically demanding when she’s getting close to burning out. But despite the way I should revel in the silence and being able to get caught up without her at the front desk and distracting my thoughts, I still can’t get her out of my mind.
What sort of hell did her parents put her through growing up? Was it all emotional abuse, or does she have the physical scars to match? I tried to be a gentleman when she changed in front of us, but I should have looked at her back to check for scars. If I know what she went through, I can act accordingly.
Before I know it, it’s been another half hour and I’m still staring at the same page I started with. I sigh, shutting down the computer and getting up. I’m not going to be able to get anything accomplished at this rate.
“Belinda, I’m going out. You can forward calls to my cell.”
She nods and doesn’t pry, letting me leave without an interrogation. I get in my car and drive towards Atlas’ job site before I even know I meant to, getting out and leaning my hip against the hood.
From here, I can see Cambria’s vivid splash of hair clearly on the first floor through the freshly installed window, flitting around like a hummingbird. She’s hanging drywall, getting everything set and installed, not even aware of how many eyes are on her. She stays focused on her work, giving it her all, and I grind my teeth at the accusations the fae were spewing.
Atlas walks into the room and his entire face lights up, coming over to help her while tossing glares over his shoulders at the other guys in the room. Before I know it, they’ve finished and are coming back outside, nearly an hour passing with me accomplishing nothing more than studying them.
“Lucien!” she shouts when she catches sight of me, bounding over and sitting her dusty ass on the hood of my car without remorse. “What are you doing here?”
A smile twitches at the corner of my lips as I look down at her before reaching over to swipe some of the dirt from her cheek. “Thought I’d treat you two to lunch. We can pick up Dorian and make it a family affair.”
Cambria’s eyes flash for a moment, but the look is gone before I can decipher it. “Sure, but lunch is on me this time. You guys covered groceries, so it’s the least I can do.”
I don’t argue with her, because honestly, she wouldn’t offer otherwise. Cambria is many things, but unnecessarily benevolent isn’t one of them. A thief? Sure. Shameless? Absolutely. She has no qualms letting others foot the tab, so if she’s offering, it must be because she wants to.
We make it to Dorian’s place in only a few minutes. “I’ll see if he’s free,” Cambria offers while sliding out of the car, walking into Dorian’s shop.
Atlas scoffs. “She really doesn’t see it, does she?”
I smirk. “No, I think she does, but enjoys toying with us.”
Atlas huffs his agreement. “After the way she grew up, no wonder she likes ‘slumming it’ with us humans compared to the rest of the fae. But even if people fawn over her at the club, it’s not like they know who she is.”
“So us getting to know her and still wanting to spend time with her must be a novelty. I can’t fault her for enjoying it.”
Atlas’ attention is rapt on Cambria as she shoos out the lone customer while Dorian locks up, perfectly happy to kick the man out and spend time with our resident fae instead. “If she wants to play her games, let her. A little flirting never killed anyone.”
“I’m still not sure how you can expect this not to end poorly,” I warn, but Atlas just waves me off.
“For once in your life, enjoy something without trying to ruin it first, will ‘ya?”
The door opens and the two slide into the back. “Playing hooky today?” Dorian asks me with a grin.
I pin him with a look through the rearview that he actively ignores, turning his attention back to Cambria instead. “I’m surprised Luce let you in his nice car covered in drywall dust.”
She shrugs. “Yeah, he didn’t really think that one through, poor guy.”
Rolling my eyes, I park and the four of us head into the chain restaurant while Atlas and Dorian keep the conversation light. After yesterday, she could use a little levity. When Dorian has particularly bad nightmares or reactions when we’re out, it can be days or weeks before he chases away his demons enough to get back to his normal demeanor. While Cambria acts alright, she seems more subdued than usual. It’s likely why Atlas refrained from talking about himself in depth; there is only so much darkness one person can handle before it won’t let them go, and Cambria looked to be at her limit.
The waitress leads us to a booth in a back corner and Atlas slides in beside Cambria. “You’ve been hogging her all day,” Dorian grumbles, making her smile.
“Now, now boys, don’t fight. There’s plenty of me to go around,” she teases, imbuing false confidence into her voice.
