Chapter 35
Lucien’s POV
“So Alec is already here?” I hear Corrigan say. I nod in reply.
I am shaving in the bathroom. She seems to be dressed to go somewhere, probably practice. Her face is free of makeup—the freshened look naked her look very young and cute—and she is dressed in a plain black camisole and a pair of jeans. Her feet have sneakers on them. She looks this way every morning when she goes out to practice. Earlier on, I had decided to have the dining room freed up in the mornings to get her some extra practice time.
“Alliance and negotiations. Cormac came in last night.” I remark, carefully shaving. She squeezes the jacket she has in herarm . I stare at her through the mirror. Something is off about her. She seems nervous. I turn to her, my face half covered in shaving foam.
“Is something wrong?” I ask. She shakes her head, forcing a smile. “Nothing’s wrong, Lucien. Nothing.” She says, running a hand through her hair. I am not convinced but I let it slide, turning away to continue with my shaving.
“I’m going off to practice.” She says, checking her phone. “I am already a bit late.”Without stopping to think, I call her back before she can leave the bathroom.
“What…” I pull her forward by the waist and press my lips to hers. She struggles a bit before melting to it. This is one of the things I love most about her. That point where she melts. Truly beautiful. I let go of her waist and she moves away. Her face has spots of shaving foam on it which is one of the cutest things I've seen in quite some time. She is scowling, rinsing it off. I can tell she is forcing back a smile which makes this situation all the more adorable.
“Oh, Lucien for goodness's sakes.” She mutters, still fighting the laughter. I take her by the shoulders, wiping her chin with a fresh towel. She rolls her eyes and takes it from me, wiping her chin faster and putting the towel away.
“Don't wait up for me I'm on my way to practice.” She says as she inches out the door. I watch her leave, the door banging behind her.
Third Person POV
Alec listens in as he hears the music coming in through the shut door of the dining room. He recognizes it as Corrigan playing the piano and he smiles. He turns the knob and walks in, surprised that there are no guests dining, just staff walking around and cleaning in preparation for the afternoon. He leans against the wall, watching her.
Corrigan is by the piano, her eyes closed, as she plays. The rhythm is a bit somber and affectionate, like a love song. He is more interested in her face however. He feels like he has overstepped a boundary, seeing her like this. Her face scrubbed clean of makeup and her hair pulled back in a rough ponytail. Her face looks softer without it, younger. He smiles. If she were his…
“Excuse me, sir?” he is pulled out of his reverie by a friendly waitress who is standing behind him. He turns to look at her.
“Visitors are not allowed here in the mornings till noon, courtesy of Alpha Lucien's orders. However, if there's anything you want we could have it brought up to you in your room.” She says.
The music stops and I look up to see Corrigan. Her lips are pinched like she is not particularly pleased to see him. He sendsher his most charming smile, wondering if she would send him away.
“It’s alright, Carmen.” She says softly. “Alpha Kade is my friend. Please bring in some coffee for us both.”
With that, she stands gracefully, walking down from the makeshift stage and towards him, the picture of elegance in jeans and a camisole.
He likes the light grace of her voice. The beautiful harmony of it as it comes together. He wonders what it would sound like if it was whispering in his ear. He tries to stop the stupid from in his face as he extends his hands for a handshake. She shakes his hand firmly and leads him to a table, letting him pull the chair out for her and ignoring it to sit in the chair opposite.
He chuckles. He likes her spunk.
“You look good…”
“What do you want, Alec?” she says coldly, cutting him short. He lifts a brow.
“Breakfast and some music, that's all.” He says simply.
“Both of which can be delivered to your room.” She replies.
Carmen comes in with the coffee and places the two cups on the saucers. Corrigan mutters her thanks and waits for her to leave.
“At the risk of sounding rude and self absorbed, I'll ask a question.” She says, leaning in. “Are you following me?” she asks.
He leans in, smiling. “What if I am?” he asks.
Hey lips tighten. “You do realize my…position in Lucien’s life, do you?”
“Your…position was quite obvious from the night of the rain.” He says. Hey jaw clenches and she looks away, sipping her coffee.
“Why are you asking?” he continues. “Am I supposed to be scared of Lucien or is your position supposed to make me back off?”
“A bit of both.” She says calmly. “More of the first, actually. Few people ever back of one they find out you’re a man’s mistress but mention Lucien’s name and it all goes south.”
He understands the fear of those who had tried to get close to her but had chickened out once they had found out about Lucien. There is a chilling quality about Lucien Blackthorn, a sort of reserved strength that spoke of someone who was more than ready to kill without compassion and die without fear.
“But I’m having a coffee with a beautiful female, nothing more.” He says pleasantly, emptying a sachet of sugar into his cup and stirring idly.
“And I do hope this would be the last of its kind.” She says. “involving me, of course.”
He chuckles. He can’t help himself. Blackthorn must be lucky to have the loyalty of such a female at his disposal.
“So now that we quite understand each other, I would reallyappreciate if you could leave me alone.” She says finally, placing her hands on the table to leave.
“I understand that you're a mistress who owes Blackthorn nothing. You're not his mate.”
Coriander’s lips tighten at this, but she remains silent.
“I don’t understand something.” He says, his words making her still. “Why are you so loyal to your protector? And what makes you think I can’t do as good as he is doing with you? Who knows, you might enjoy my company with time.”
She looks insulted, although that had not been his intention. “Believe it or not, Mr. Kade, u am not exactly groveling and praying for another protector. Mine serves me just fine. And as for your company,” her voice trails up and she sweeps her gaze over him as though she had examined him and found him lacking. “I think I have had enough of it.”
Alec stares at himself in the mirror, anger coursing through him. He wants to let it go. To let her go. What makes Blackthorn so special? He knows that Corrigan could easily choose any protector. He knows she was once a beta’s daughter, so why would she remain with a rogue turned alpha who obviously does not have the same refinement as she does? Does it give her a high, being with the famous Lucien Blackthorn? Is it Lucien’s money?
Unanswered questions are killing him. Along with images flashing through his head of Corrigan with Lucien. He wants to punch something. What makes her feel so high and mighty? In what areas does Lucien excel that he lacks?
“You don’t listen, do you?” Alec hears Xavier’s dry tone behind him and scowls, knotting his tie.
“Is there something wrong with the door?” Alec asks sarcastically. “Because I think you might have forgotten that you were supposed to knock it.”
“You didn't lock it.” Xavier says simply, shrugging. “So you're going to watch her play once again, right?”
“What I do or what I don't is none of your business.” Alec ground out.
“When it could jeopardize the pack, it becomes my business.”
“The negotiations are happening tonight. Blackthorn had them shifted. That's why I'm going.”
Xavier doesn't seem convinced. “And of course, you don't care that she is going to be playing, right?
“What do you want from me?” Alec asks, exasperated, o putting in his cuff links.
“How about staying out of trouble with Lucien and leaving Corrigan alone?” Xavier says reasonably. “There are so many females. Why does it have to be this one?
“I don't know!” Alec explodes.
Xavier doesn't flinch. “Get your act together. We need this.”
With that, he walks out of the room.