Page 63 of Forsaken Desire
“Make sure she makes it to the challenge arena,” Lucian said, attention on Alex.
“You planned the challenge, didn’t you?” Cierra hissed, yanking against the arms holding her. “Lucian,” she screamed. “You promised!”
Lucian moved in front of me, his chest blocking my view.
“What’s going on?” The movement behind him didn’t stop. His hands clasped my face, and he tipped my chin up.
“Want to return to the house?”
“Lucian, what was she talking about?” My question pertained to everything. Literally, what was she talking about?
He sighed, and his vanilla scent wafted across my face.
He swept his gaze around the dining room, and he escorted me through a side door.
I stepped into darkness, and he enclosed us inside. A click sounded, and the light flared on.
We always ended up in closets. He combed his hair back repeatedly, his movements erratic and jerky.
An energy lifted the hair on my arms. The same energy I’d felt before.That had been the Blood Moon that I’d felt over the years.
“Lucian?” I murmured. “What promise did you make her?” There were more questions I had, but that was the one I couldn’t get out of my head.
He shoved his fingers through his hair again. The stiffness on his face hadn’t loosened.
“If she were to give me five years after . . .” He trailed off, his eyes taking on a far-off expression. I’d never seen genuine pain like that until now. “I agreed to take her as my chosen.”
I knew that, but it still hurt. But still, it felt like pieces were missing. Or maybe that was the hollow feeling in my stomach.
He rolled his shoulders and clasped my jaw.
“You,youare all that matters to me. Nothing will ever change.” The fierce tone raked at my insides.
“Did you love her?” I blurted the stupid question, but I needed to know.
“Never,” he croaked. “It was familiarity. We’d been shoved together since we were little. Anything to do with her was pure familiarity.”
I licked my lips.
“Say something,” he urged, his eyes searching mine.
“If she keeps getting in my way, I’m going to challenge her.” That was the only way to shut down any drama, and I’d gotten good at shutting things down.
He straightened.
“There won’t be anything left of her for you to worry about.” The ominous words left me silent. He pulled the door open, and it was clear that it had become dusk with the shade of light filtering into the hall.
“What does that mean?”
“Alpha, all the kids are in,” Samantha called from across the way. Lucian nodded and kept me close to his side as he guided me to the exit. The doors slammed behind us.
“Lucian, what do you mean?”
He slowed and kissed the top of my head, then continued pulling me away.
I wasn’t getting an answer.
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