Chapter 45 Levels of Wealth
Chapter 45 Levels of Wealth
Early the next morning, Rune noticed Lucien dragging his suitcases outside. He didn’t pay much attention to the vampire’s sudden decision to leave early, likely because Rune had been a terrible host.
He didn’t really care.
He had more pressing matters on his mind. Pack matters. And most of all, Nova.
The thought of her consumed him daily, making difficult to focus on anything else. The only time his wolf found peace was when she was near, and even then, the mate bond tugged violently, urging him to complete the mating process.
Rune wanted to. God, he wanted to. But he knew she wasn’t ready. He didn’t want to scare her. She still held resentment toward him, he could feel it, and because of that, she would never truly give herself to him. He didn’t know how to fix it.
He had asked Cassian and Maple for advice. They both suggested a romantic date.
Rune was terrible at romance, but he considered the idea anyway. What if he planned a date in the city as a surprise? Perhaps if she found herself in a familiar environment again, surrounded by something that reminded her of home, she might not resent him quite so much.
He reached out through the mind link. “Cassian. Arrange a date for me in the city.”
“Finally taking our Luna out?” Cassian’s voice was amused. “It’s about time. I was starting to worry you two would never reconcile.”
“There’s no reason to hide anymore.”
“Roger that. I’m on it.”
Rune felt something ease in his chest. He glanced upstairs. Nova was likely still asleep, and he didn’t want to disturb her. He would use the time to prepare breakfast.
Meanwhile, Nova was curled inside a suitcase in the back of Lucien’s car as they drove away from Ashfall. She had started regretting her method of escape the moment the trunk closed. After some time, Lucien still hadn’t let her out.
Luckily, he hadn’t fully zipped the luggage shut, so she managed to push it open with minimal struggle. Still, she remained trapped in the trunk. It was a good thing she wasn’t claustrophobic, or she would have already had a heart attack.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but she was certain they were far from Ashfall by now. The thought both scared and excited her. She couldn’t believe she had actually run away. What would Rune think when he found out? She was sure he would be furious.
Soon, the car came to a halt. The trunk clicked open, and Lucien’s face appeared above her, wearing a mischievous smile.
“Hello, Luna.”
“Took you long enough,” she grumbled, climbing out stiffly.
“I had to make sure we weren’t being followed. My apologies.”
They stood in a large open field. Not far away, a sleek private plan waited on the grass.
“We’re flying?”
“Of course. The city is a two-day drive from here. It’s far too uncomfortable.”
They walked toward the plane. A few people bowed to Lucien as they approached — vampires, she assumed from theur striking appearances. They barely spared Nova a glance as she boarded.
Inside, the plane was luxurious. They settled into plush seats. The door closed behind them.
Moments later, they were in the air.
A lady arrived with a tray of food and set it between them.
“You didn’t have breakfast. You should eat.” Lucien said, gesturing at the plate.
Nova was hungry, but her nerves had stolen her appetite. Her mind kept drifting back to Rune, to how he would react when he found her gone. Guilt coiled her stomach.
“I can feel you panicking.” Lucien observed.
“Can you blame me? I’ve been in Ashfall for almost two months. I wonder how they’ll react when they realize I’m missing.”
“They’ll probably think I kidnapped you.”
“Won’t that cause problems for you?”
Lucien shrugged. “That mutt and I have always had problems. It’s nothing new.”
Nova sighed and picked at her food. The meals Rune cooked had been warm and homely. This tasted different. She pushed the thought away. She shouldn’t feel guilty. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. He shouldn’t have held her against her will in the first place.
When she reached the city, she would call Jenna. Her best friend would be ecstatic to hear about supernaturals.
She finished her meal and took a sip of her drink.
Lucien watched her. “You can sleep. We’ll arrive soon.”
Nova nodded and let her eyes close. She was shaken awake sometime later.
“We’ve arrived.”
She sat up quickly, blinking against the light filtering through the windows. They descended the plane, and she looked around at the vast stretch of land before them.
“Where are we?”
Lucien gestured ahead. “My house.”
She followed his gaze to the mansion in the distance, then looked back at the runway beneath her feet.
“You have a private runway on your property?”
His expression was matter-of-fact. “Of course. Did you expect me to go to the airport?”
A minicart arrived to ferry them across the estate. Nova shook her head, reminded once again that she was standing on one she’d never known existed.
The mansion loomed closer, and when they stepped inside, servants lined the entrance in neat formation.
“Welcome, Lord Lucien,” they intoned in unison, bowing their heads.
Lucien smiled. “Thank you.” He gestured to Nova. “This is the Luna of Ashfall Pack. She’s a special guest. Treat her well.”
“Welcome, Luna.”
Nova managed a nervous smile. “Thank you.”
Lucien led her through the interior. His home was nothing like Rune’s. It was vibrant, filled with paintings, antiques, and sculptures that seemed to breathe color into every room. Servants moved quietly through the halls, attending to unseen tasks.
“Before I drop you at the station,” Lucien said, “I want us to have a little chat.”
Nova nodded. It was too late to be cautious. She was already here.
He led her to a private study, a room with floor-to-ceiling windows that opened onto a balcony overlooking the sprawling estate.
“Where is your pack?” She asked.
Lucien chuckled. “Vampire don’t live like werewolves. We don’t stay together. They answer to me when needed, but they’re free to come and go. Right now, most of them are embedded in human society, playing their respective roles.”
Nova settled into the chair across him. “So. What do you want to talk about?”
Lucien leaned forward, resting his arms on the table between them.