Page 64 of Lucas
They weaved through several garden paths, each area its own garden within a garden. “Do you give tours of the gardens?”
“We do.” She laughed. “I can’t tell you how many magazine shoots we’ve had here, and I host several parties here from spring through fall. Some of them for charities, some for the local garden clubs, and others for vampire gatherings. I know Mason doesn’t look the type, but he loves spending time in thegarden with me, planting new varieties or deadheading blooms. It’s a peaceful respite from his business and my charities.”
She led him to a wooden bench overlooking a lake similar to the one at Oasis. The trees were different but just as numerous. Wildflowers rather than a manicured garden grew within the tall grasses. Water lilies skimmed the surface of the lake where two swans and a small group of ducks paddled around.
“The swans were a present from Mason’s father. There are days when Mason and I just sit out here and watch them. I hate to say anything good about our father, but this turned out to be the best thing for me. Oh, somewhere deep down, I still love Eric and probably always will. But it was a young love, a first love, and he’s married now. From what I’m told, he’s very happy.”
“You know I only wanted the best for you. It was a choice you should have been able to make on your own.”
“Father isn’t a kind man. He’s selfish and stuck in the old ways. Marcus isn’t much better, but from what Mason tells me, he’s beginning to have a change of heart now that Father is close to relinquishing leadership.”
“I hadn’t heard that, but to be honest, I don’t keep up with them.”
“And no reason you should. The only reason Mason does is because of our mutual business dealings, which he’s slowly pulling out of. Our brother noticed it and seems to understand that unless House Maynard changes their growing alliance with Venizi, Mason will continue to dissolve their partnership. In the last few years, we’ve followed Trelane’s dealings with the shifters. We now have several business partnerships with a couple of the local packs, and there are more on the horizon.”
“It’s one of the smartest decisions Devon ever made. Of course, he and The Wolf have a mutual score to settle with Venizi, and while it was a rocky road in the beginning, the two seem as tight as ever on the future of the races.”
She nodded and pulled a bag of bird food out of her pocket. She tossed a handful into the lake, and the ducks swarmed to it before the swans noticed. “Mason followed Trelane’s trouble with the Council after Boretsky’s murder. He planned on reaching out but wanted to see how the House did with Devon under his beast’s control.” She tossed out another handful, then turned toward him.
“I can’t tell you how proud the two of us are with your rise through the Houses. From what we hear, Father boasts that your accomplishments are his doing, but Mason and I know the truth. Your success is despite the brutality of our father.” She tossed another handful to the swans, who finally noticed the excited ducks.
“In fact, we took a trip to New Orleans last year to visit the Renaud Library. Of course, we had to meet with Lafitte and Romero. They had such wonderful things to say about you.”
“They never said anything.” He chuckled. “Although they wouldn’t. They’d prefer I worked out the demons on my own.”
She took his hand. “And now I think the last of Father has been put to rest. We no longer need to think of him. I have a wonderful life here with a strong-willed but kind and loyal vampire. I love him with an intensity I didn’t think I’d find again. And I know he loves me.”
“He loves you very much. It’s obvious every time he says your name.”
“We should get back to them before Mason bores Ginger with his tall tales or pulls too many secrets from her.”
“I think he’ll find it rather difficult to get anything out of Ginger she doesn’t want to share. She’s quite practiced at changing a conversation and steering it down so many paths, you can never remember what the original topic was.”
“Now that we’re speaking again, I expect constant communication and a longer visit.”
He laughed as they took a different route back to the manor. “The communication won’t be a problem. A longer visit might be problematic for a while.” He pulled her into an alcove created by a collection of ornamental firs. “This isn’t known information yet, so this is between me, you, and Mason. Devon will be calling on his strongest allies. We’re uncovering startling information that will shake vampire society to its roots. I can’t say more, but this isn’t a ruse.”
“You’re talking about the possibility of a civil war.” Her voice was low but surprisingly not overly alarmed.
“Have either of you heard something?”
She shook her head. “Not yet. But Mason is watching. He suspects something is brewing with the Council and Trelane’s censure, and more specifically, with Trelane’s private battle with Venizi. Word of Magic Poppy has spread among the Houses along with the rumor that a vampire is at the root of it—though it’s only mentioned in tight circles.”
“I’ll keep you apprised when I can. For now, House Trelane is on lockdown. The only reason we’re not at the manor is because our mission was critical to Devon’s plans.”
Her worried frown turned into a smile. “And you took the time to stop and see your sister. I can’t tell you what that means to me.”
“You have Ginger to thank for that.”
“I know. But you’re stubborn enough that you wouldn’t have come unless you knew this was long overdue.”
“And maybe I’m just as much a pushover for my woman as Mason is for his beautiful vampire.”
She turned them toward the patio. “Does Ginger let you get away with such easy praise?”
“Only because she knows it makes me feel better.”
They were still laughing when they entered the solarium where Mason and Ginger were already eating tea sandwiches.
