Page 20 of The Illuminated
I want you close, he said, smiling as he rested his hand at his mouth, nodding as each of his favorite elites said a few words in greeting. He looked bored.
“It’s so good to see you,” Serena said to me as Abraham nodded in enthusiastic agreement. She wore a short, pastel pink and light green dress made of thick, floral material, similar to what I imagined someone would wear to the Kentucky Derby, while Abraham wore a matching, casual pink suit. They held hands, moving over to the side to speak to me directly.
“How are you doing?” Abraham asked. “Everything heal up nicely?”
I nodded. “Yes, and I want to thank you again for everything you did. You have such a beautiful gift.”
He beamed, his smile utterly contagious. He waved a hand. “Oh, well, you’re very kind. I would’ve done anything to help, of course.”
“And we just wanted to let you know that you’re welcome at our place, anytime,” Serena said, her voice as soothing as her genuine, light green aura. They were the most down-to-earth couple in the castle, and I was always grateful for the reprieve their energy offered.
“You’re very generous. Thank you,” I said.
Serena glanced around, brushing her blond hair behind her ear. “And we hope you know that we would’ve offered the same hospitality a thousand times over… before… you know.” She seemed unsure of herself, peering into my eyes in the hopes I understood her.
Before they knew about my power. Before Lucius had a sudden interest in me. Before rumors began to fly of my potential queenship.
I understood her completely. “Of course,” I assured her, because unlike Sebastian or any of the others, I knew she was telling the truth.
Abraham kissed the side of her head and twirled her away, and the look in their eyes as they looked at each other brought on the sudden urge to cry. Daelon had said they’d been handfasted—which was like a witchy marriage binding them for life. In this place, their love seemed nearly impossible. And yet it lived, like a flower blooming after a frost.
I let Daelon in.
Hey,I said tentatively, unable to glance toward him for fear Lucius would notice.
There you are, he answered, and the sound of his voice in my mind settled the raging waters of my power.I’m feeling the urge to steal you, run away, and never look back.
Likewise.
I’m sorry I haven’t been able to see you. Nathaniel’s plan wasn’t a complete failure after all. Lucius is watching us constantly.
What can we do to convince him?
The trip to Paris will do the trick,he said, his tone suddenly bitter and sharp as it rang against my eardrums.
The sound of Renata’s voice cut the cord on our connection.
“Did we find that man?” she asked, her delicate features twisted in a kind of demure fear that annoyed me.
Lucius’s energy went ballistic for a moment at the event’s mention. “No, but we will. He failed, regardless.” He looked to me, and I nodded to back him up.
“Just a filthy energy vampire,” I said, but the words felt wrong as they left me.
“Oh, good,” she said, her tiny shoulders relaxing. She looked utterly incapable of thinking up any more words, staring down the length of my body before scurrying away.
Lucius suddenly twisted in his throne, looking past me and beckoning Daelon. Daelon bowed in answer then accepted Lucius’s whispered message with a nod and a tight smile. He then walked over to Renata, who had joined the others in a little circle.
“The poor thing. Some people are born lost sheep, in constant need of a strong shepherd. They can’t help it. It’s just their nature,” Lucius murmured to me, and my spine stiffened.
He watched me very carefully now, and I knew better than to react in any way other than a wrinkle of my nose. “Is that so?”
“Oh, yes. Those two were made for each other. Eventually, I might even allow them to be handfasted. Even though I consider the institution useless and archaic,” he said. “But I’m sure you’ve heard all about their relationship by now.”
“Not even a little,” I said, my tone level. That was the truth. The only thing Daelon had told me directly was that it was meaningless, and Renata was justsomeone he used to sleep with. There was clearly more, but a part of me refused to question it further. I didn’t want to know.
Lucius steepled his hands at his chin, and I could tell he was shielding his true disposition just as much as I was. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
“He stopped having fun with anyone else, forover a year. Well, unless they played with others, together. Monogamy, I think they call it.” His lips curled in disgust as if disturbed by the mere thought. “It was really quite annoying. But it was also pleasant to see him happy and fulfilled. They played all sorts of fun games. He controlled everything about her, at all times. Their magnetism was mesmerizing to everyone in the castle.”
