Chapter 78
I folded my arms. I was going to get answers from him today, not just give him whatever he wanted, but with the way my heart was racing, I only hoped I was strong enough.
He looked at me like he wanted to soften, but then exhaled. “I can’t tell you. But I have it under control.”
“Did you send it?” I asked, my voice barely there.
His expression shifted immediately, softness breaking through as he reached up and cupped my face. “How can you ask me that?” he murmured. “You know I would never do that.”
My shoulders loosened slightly. “I’m sorry. I just… I don’t know what to think anymore.”
A faint smile touched his lips. “Your negotiations never favor me,” he murmured, his thumb brushing my cheek.
“That’s because you don’t try hard enough,” I said quietly, a small smile returning.
His gaze darkened slightly at that, but he didn’t push further.
“What I need,” he said after a pause, “is a matter of life and death.”
“So is mine,” I replied. “That wolf is still out there.”
“She won’t touch you,” he said firmly.
“She almost did,” I reminded him.
His jaw tightened. “She will be dealt with.”
Tension settled between us again before I asked, “Can you tell me how you got into my mind?”
“I didn’t,” he said. “As an Alpha, I can only speak to my wolves through a mind link.”
“But I’m not a wolf,” I pointed out.
“That’s why I was confused when you mentioned it,” he admitted.
My voice dropped. “So you weren’t trying to make me feel insane?”
His thumb brushed my cheek, gentler. “No, baby. Never. That’s why I tried to stay away… to keep you safe from all of this.”
“But you can’t stay away now, can you?” I smiled.
He gave a small, certain shake of his head. “No. I can’t.”
The tension in the room eased as we shared a quiet moment, the world outside forgotten for just a little while.
“So,” I said after a moment, “if it wasn’t you in my head, then who was it?”
Lucien’s expression turned thoughtful. “My wolf.”
“Your wolf?” I repeated, puzzled. “Are you different from your wolf?”
He nodded, clearly choosing his words carefully. “Sometimes my wolf can take control of my body when it’s driven by very powerful emotion.”
“Emotions like… love, anger, or rage?” I guessed.
Lucien met my eyes, his gaze intense. “Yes. In this case, maybe all three.” He exhaled softly. “No. There has to be one. One must have had the most power.”
He let go of my face and dropped his hand.
“How about a negotiation?” he said.
“Now who wants to negotiate?” I said, and we both chuckled lightly.
“You have just one question to ask me in exchange for telling me where you got the wolfsbane. Which question is it going to be?” Lucien replied, a faint smile on his lips as he folded his arms and watched me.
My brows furrowed. “Damn you,” I muttered under my breath, frustration rising.
“You’re cute when you’re mad,” he teased, his voice carrying that familiar smirk.
“Tell me what emotion led your wolf to link with me,” I said, biting my lip, watching him closely so he wouldn’t lie to me.
“You could ask for a million dollars instead,” he teased.
“You know what,” I replied, rolling my eyes. “Don’t tell me. I’ll find out in due time.”
“You are hot when you’re this confident,” he said.
“I’m always hot,” I shot back, still trying to keep the mood light even as my mind churned with unanswered questions.
“This is dangerous ground, Allison, and you know it,” Lucien warned, his tone shifting into something more serious.
“I’m already walking on fire. I don’t think it’s possible to put it out now. But I want to know who’s adding more flames to my already wild fire.”
“Fire?” he repeated.
“Yes, fire. You are my fire.”
“Remember when I told you I was engaged?” Lucien’s question came suddenly, shifting everything.
“Are you really engaged?” I asked, my heart skipping.
“No, I’m not.”
“So you were never engaged?”
Lucien exhaled. “Where do I even begin?”
“Sorry, I’m asking too many questions,” I said, running a hand through my hair, suddenly nervous.
“It’s fine. Your questions keep me grounded,” he reassured me, taking my hand. “Baby girl, are you still with me?”
“Can you read my mind now?” I teased. “Wait… have you been reading my mind all this while?”
Panic rose instantly, threatening to spill over as I imagined him seeing into the deepest corners of my thoughts. All my longing. All my desire.
Oh my God.
He bit his lip as he drew me closer. “I don’t need to be a mind reader to know all those nasty, nasty thoughts you have about me.”
I bit my lip too, my fingers tightening slightly against his waist.
“You like the idea of me reading your thoughts, don’t you?” he murmured as he leaned into my neck.
His lips brushed my ear, and a shiver ran through me.
“You know the good thing about it?” he whispered softly. “I get to learn your body without you ever having to tell me. When I’m in you, I would know what you want before you even say it. When to go faster, when to go slower. When to stop and use my tongue instead. What makes you tremble. What makes you melt. What you need from me and how you need it.” His voice lowered further, rougher now, almost primal. “And when I touch you, when I have you, all you would need to do is think it… and it’s done.”
I swallowed, feeling his words everywhere.