Page 61 of Abandoned By My Alpha Husband

And besides, I still needed to investigate something.

The Butcher Squad.

Those two men who attacked Liam at the Harvest Festival, what they'd said before dying—"The task you gave us is done"—kept echoing in my head. Who were they talking to? Now I knew it couldn't have been Elena. She was Liam's birth mother—how could she harm her own child?

I'd been investigating for five years and found some leads. The cult's mastermind was a woman, cautious, never showing her face. I started thinking about Lina's expressions, those dark looks, how when I'd planned to merely banish Elena, Lina had been even more agitated than Marcus.

I couldn't be certain, but I couldn't ignore any possibility either. So I kept Lina close, watched her, waited for her to slip up.

"Lucifer," Lina's voice pulled me back. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." I set down the cup. "You can go."

"But—"

"I said you can go."

Lina's expression froze. She stood there, fingers gripping her skirt.

"Lucifer, the way you've treated me these past years..." She bit her lower lip. "Are you still thinking about Elena?"

My gaze landed on her face. "What do you think? I'm warning you—" I stepped closer, staring into her eyes, no hint of intimacy, only suppressed fury. "Lina, don't ask about things that don't concern you. Don't forget, I haven't settled accounts with you for humiliating Elena. When I find her, you'll lick her shoes too!"

Lina's face went deathly pale, but she still spoke. "But she hurt Liam! With the Butcher Squad!"

"But you still did all this for her." Lina's voice trembled. "You repealed those laws against mixed-bloods. You announced Liam's identity. You even defied the Elder Council to search the human world for her!"

"She's my mate!" I growled.

"But what you're doing—the Elder Council is furious!" Lina took a step forward, then backed up under my glare, hand pressed to her chest, trembling.

"What I do doesn't require anyone's approval." I looked at her. "Including yours."

Lina's face went white. She stood there, lips quivering.

"Lucifer, I'm just worried about you—"

"Don't be."

"But I—"

She suddenly stepped forward, her hand landing on my arm.

"Lucifer, I've been by your side all these years. I took care of Liam, helped manage the household, I—"

I jerked my arm away.

Lina stumbled back, nearly falling. She looked at me, eyes reddening.

"Listen carefully." My voice was ice, each word clipped. "There is nothing between you and me. You took care of Liam—that was your choice. I never asked you to, and besides, Liam can't stand you!"

"But—"

"Whatever feelings you have for me, bury them." I took a step forward, and Lina instinctively retreated. "I feel nothing for you. Never have. I told you before I only loved you like family. Now I don't even have that!"

Lina's face went ashen. She opened her mouth, tried to speak, but no sound came out. She turned and left, footsteps quick, almost running. The door closed behind her, and the study fell silent again.

I stood there, hands braced on the desk edge.