Page 57 of Forbidden

It was vaguely embarrassing—and infuriating, because it was working. Lucien had been spoken to in the past hour more than he had been spoken to at society events in the past twenty years. Most of the conversations were largely meaningless, stuff he didn’t care about, but one of the subjects made Lucien freeze.

“So are we getting the announcement of the engagement tonight, Deveraux?” one of the guests asked. “We all heard the rumor.”

“No,” Lohlan said with a sneer. “There was something of a misunderstanding. Cleghorn should have asked me first. I accepted another offer for my son. It’s just as advantageous, but without the baggage that comes with being mated to a Xeus.”

Lucien couldn’t even hear the rest of the conversation, his heart beating in his ears.

They had broken the engagement? Lucien had been wondering if something was amiss, since the engagement hadn’t been announced officially and Aksel was still nowhere to be seen, but he hadn’t thought…

At long last, his father seemed to be done socializing. He led him away from the crowd, toward the refreshments table.

“Are you sleeping with Cleghorn?”

Lucien choked on his drink. “What?” he stuttered.

His father’s gaze was pensive. “There must be a reason the boy parted with such a huge sum for this farce. And he doesn’t want to marry Dylan anymore.”

So it was Aksel who had broken things off.

“Your insinuations are insulting,” Lucien finally managed, realizing that he had to say something.

His father scoffed. “My insinuations are logical. No one pays that kind of money to help their stepfather. I’m not judging. Frankly, it was the smartest course of action you could take, given your lack of social standing. If you were smarter, you would have made your marriage to Garrick real years ago. But one of his heirs makes sense too. The eldest son would have been a more expected choice, of course, since he’s your peer, but a younger, more virile alpha might be a better choice given your age.”

Lucien didn’t know whether to laugh or punch his father. He did neither.

“Thanks for your input,” he said, very dryly. “I’m so glad you are not judging me.” His father’s expression didn’t change, so Lucien had a feeling the sarcasm had flown right over his arroganthead. “I’m surprised you aren’t angry because of the broken engagement.”

His father’s lips twisted. “I would be, if Cleghorn didn’t offer to pay my debts. Frankly, this is more advantageous. I’ve received another excellent offer for your brother. He will accept it.”

Lucien shook his head faintly. For the first time, he pitied his brother, whose opinion on his own future wasn’t relevant as far as their father was concerned. For better or for worse, Lucien had never been treated like that. Before his first heat, his father had still treated him like a child. Sure, given Lucien’s small build, it was practically expected that he would present as an omega, but he’d still been a child—a beloved, spoiled child.

“Maybe it’s for the best that I never got to see you treat me like a tradeable commodity,” Lucien said softly.

His father’s throat worked. “Don’t be an idiot,” he ground out. “What happened to you was—” He cut himself off, his scent turning bitter with fury. With anguish?

Lucien stared at him, his mouth falling open.

Before he could say anything, his father’s arrogant mask was back on his face.

“I’ve done my part tonight,” he said stiffly. “It’d be best if we never speak again.”

Lucien blinked rapidly, his throat closing up. He told himself it was for the best. This man was part of his old life. This man was the reason he’d been thrown out of that life. This man was heartless and cold-hearted.

“Dad?” he said, the word slipping out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

Lohlan Deveraux froze. He looked at Lucien wordlessly, without saying anything, but his expression was full of questions. And doubts.

“Have you ever regretted it?” Lucien whispered.

He knew it was stupid. He knew it wouldn’t change anything. But he needed to know. He needed to know, for the sake of the fourteen-year-old boy whose world had come crashing down on him when the person he’d trusted more than anyone had turned his back on him.

His father’s jaw was stiff, unyielding. After a long moment, he said testily, “Yes. But it was too late.” And he strode away before Lucien could say anything.

Not that he had any clue what to say.

He had no idea what he was feeling: a confusing mix of grief and relief. There was gratitude too. Not to his father; to Aksel. For doing this for him. For giving him this priceless gift. It wasn’t about the money or his social standing. It was the closure Lucien hadn’t even known he needed. It felt bittersweet, but he felt curiously light, as if a heavy burden he’d been carrying in his heart for decades was suddenly lifted. And it was all thanks to Aksel. Aksel, who’d done this for him despite being rejected and pushed away over and over and over.

Lucien looked around the large room, searching for Aksel among the guests, suddenly desperate to see him.

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