“Is everything okay?” she asked as she arrived at him.
Not even close, he thought, studying her.
She was beautiful. Even more beautiful than Maggie. And like Maggie, Leah’s beauty had depth. It was in the inquisitiveness of her eyes that didn’t hide the warmth, a warmth she felt upon seeing him. It was in the hint of concern she also didn’t hide. Concern because she knew he was not pleased his family had arrived unannounced but further he’d also taken her away without explanation before she could encounter a single one of them. It was in her bearing. The way she wore her clothes. The way she felt about her family. It was his knowledge that she could and would say or do practically anything and most of it he would find interesting or amusing. And none of it he would ever find boring.
Until the sun falls from the sky.
The words of the Ancient Claiming Ceremony hit his brain.
Any immortal would seek these things in his mate. Beauty, depth, warmth, concern but more. Eternity was just that and that was a very long time. Any man would wish his mate to surprise him, amuse him, interest him and never, ever bore him.
If they had five years or five hundred, Leah would never bore him.
He knew this in that instant right to the depths of his soul.
Until the sun falls from the sky.
“Lucien?” she called softly, her voice warm too, inquisitive, concerned. She moved into him and laid a hand light on his chest. “Is everything okay?”
Until the sun falls from the sky.
Yes. Kate was correct. He needed to discuss things with Leah as a priority.
Finally, he answered, “They will be, pet. We’re going home now to have lunch with my family. However, I need to speak with you before we return.”
“Okay.” She was still talking softly and getting closer. When she did, his arms slid around her.
She relaxed into him.
Yes. He had her. All of her. His.
Finally.
Until the sun falls from the sky.
“So, uh…” she broke into his thoughts when he didn’t speak, “are we actually going to speak? Or are we going to stand here staring at each other?”
Lucien relaxed then grinned and told her, “I could stand here and stare at you for some time, sweetling, but I suppose we should speak.”
At his grin, she relaxed deeper into him. At his words, even deeper and her face went soft.
He liked that. All of it.
And all of it was his. Only his.
Until the sun falls from the sky.
He drew in breath and addressed the matter at hand.
“At home are my children, Julian and Isobel. My mother, Magdalene. My father, Etienne. And Julian’s mother, Cressida.”
She looked into his eyes with interest until the last. When he mentioned Cressida he saw something cut through her features before she wiped her face blank. And what he saw cutting through features he did not like. He did not like that she felt it and he did not like that her feeling it meant he felt it as well.
“Leah, sweetheart, what we had was a very long time ago,” he assured her and this was true, for mortals. For vampires, seeing as he ended the physical side of his relationship with Cressida only fifty years ago, it was not.
“Okay,” she said quietly.
“There is nothing there,” he told her.
“Then why is she at our house?”
Our house.
Until the sun falls from the sky.
“I mean, um…” Leah went on, “I don’t know how vampires roll but the ex isn’t normally in on surprise family visits unless that family is a little bit weird.”
Lucien again grinned. “Vampires are the same way.”
“Well then?” she prompted.
“Cressida is…” he searched for a word, “unusual.”
Her eyes slid away and she muttered, “Great.”
His arms gave her a squeeze and he regained her gaze.
“It is your home, Leah,” he dipped his face closer to hers and stated, “Our home. She will respect me in it and I will make certain she respects you.”
He watched her brows draw together. “She wouldn’t?”
“Cressida is unpredictable.”
“Great part two,” she again muttered.
“I’ll need you to have patience with her, my pet. And I’ll need you be cautious around her. She will attempt to goad you. Take the high road.”
Leah stared up at him. Then she whispered, “Uh… something to know about me. I’m not very familiar with the high road.”
This time Lucien smiled. “I am aware of that but this time, you’ll need to embark on an adventure and discover it.”
She smiled back, humor lighting her eyes, making them luminescent, as she whispered, “Embark on an adventure.”
Lucien very much wanted to savor the amusement he gave to Leah but he didn’t have the time.