Until the Sun Falls from the Sky(164)
“Unfortunately I must apologize again. I know my postponements have been frustrating and today’s delay the same but the reasons for this meeting are now moot. This afternoon, I’ll be releasing Leah from her contract.”
He heard the swift hiss of Stephanie’s indrawn breath at the same time he heard Cosmo’s whispered, “What the fuck?” Both of these came with Avery growing more alert and Gregor’s gaze turning sharp.
“I’m sorry?” Gregor asked softly.
“I’m releasing Leah,” Lucien answered.
“Fucking hell, Lucien!” Stephanie snapped as she shot out of her chair. “What’s going on?”
Lucien looked to Stephanie. “It’s none of your concern.”
Her eyes got big. “None of my concern? Are you mad?”
Lucien took in a long, slow breath and held her eyes but he did not speak.
Stephanie didn’t like that, leaned forward and demanded, “Answer me! Are you mad?”
“I’ll repeat, Teffie, it’s none of your concern.”
“You are mad,” she whispered, her eyes narrowing.
“Lucien even you cannot expect to tip our culture on its head after five hundred years of convention then, weeks later, change your mind on a whim,” Cosmo put in, his voice low with anger.
Lucien’s eyes moved to Cosmo as he spoke and when he was done, he stated, “It’s not a whim.”
“What is it then?” Cosmo retorted.
“What it is, is none of your fucking concern,” Lucien shot back.
“This is unbelievable,” Stephanie hissed and Lucien looked to her.
“Teffie, calm,” Avery murmured.
Stephanie’s head was a blur when she turned to Avery and shouted, “I will not be calm! We’re on the cuff of war!”
“You’re in love with her.”
The room went still when Gregor spoke these word and Lucien’s eyes moved to him.
“Yes,” he confirmed without hesitation.
“Oh my God,” Stephanie whispered.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Cosmo said softly.
“You know my choices Gregor,” Lucien stated calmly. “You’re the only one in this room who does. I can keep her safe but for how long? The feeding I’ve done from her, it won’t have had the chance to have much effect, give her a longer life. She has forty, fifty years left of mortal life. That’s better than living whatever length of time I can keep her alive, doing it on the run and her life ending on a scaffold while she watches me burn. You know that better than anyone in this room. Therefore, this afternoon, I’m releasing her.”
“How long have you known?” Stephanie asked quietly and Lucien’s gaze went to her.
“The minute I saw her twenty years ago,” Lucien answered.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Her voice was rising.
“Because I only admitted it to myself two minutes ago,” Lucien replied.
Stephanie closed her eyes and dropped her head.
“Why?” Cosmo asked and Lucien looked to him.
“Why?” he repeated.
“Yes, Lucien, why? If you love her, why are you releasing her?”
“You’ve never mated. Seven hundred and fifty-three years, Cosmo, you’ve been on this earth and not one woman, mortal or immortal, have you stood beside and exchanged blood and vows. When you do, you’ll know why,” Lucien returned.
“None of this was about the taming,” Cosmo accused. “It’s bullshit that you only knew two minutes ago you loved her. You’ve known it all along.”
Lucien inclined his head. “On some level, yes. But I was denying it for Leah’s safety. And bullshit it might have been Cosmo, but you knew too. So did Stephanie. And Isobel. And anyone who really knows me. If you’re honest, all of you knew I was doing this for more reasons than to tame and fuck a concubine.”
“So on some level you knew you couldn’t have her and she couldn’t have you and you did it anyway,” Cosmo reminded him.
“What I knew from what I had with Maggie was that having Leah for even a little while was better than not having her at all. Not only for me but for her. And our time together proved me right. And I knew, this time, our time together would be short. So I knew I couldn’t waste any. What I did not factor was that Leah would return my feelings so swiftly.”
At this, understanding dawned. Lucien knew it when Cosmo flinched and turned his head away.
Lucien looked to Gregor.
“She shared she was in love with me today. As The Council is considering my request, I’ve reflected on this. My first instinct was to talk logic to her in an effort to prolong our Arrangement. But this is Leah. I know her better than that. She consumes life, she’s ruled by emotion. She won’t enjoy what we have for a short time. And she cannot know I reciprocate her feelings. If she does, she’ll never let me go. And I’ll not want her to. Thinking I don’t share her love, she’s already shut down on me. She’s retreating in an effort to control the pain I’ve caused. I must release her for her sake. Therefore, I do not need The Council’s permission. That said, if other vampires wish to indulge in a taming, you should know I will champion them.”