This was not something Lucien had forgiven nor would he ever forgive.
Further, Lucien was not brimming with excitement to have his ex-partner, Julian’s mother, Cressida, in the home he shared with Leah. This was not because he didn’t enjoy an amicable relationship with Cressida. He enjoyed a lot of things about and with Cressida, things he no longer intended to enjoy. This was because Cressida was like a cat and cats liked to play with their prey and she would see Leah as prey, no doubt about it. Although Leah would need to show respect to Cressida as vampire, Cressida would not offer that same respect to Leah as concubine regardless if this was Leah’s due and Lucien’s demand. It would amuse Cressida to play with Leah and to defy Lucien’s demands. She had, since he’d known her, liked her challenges. She did it often with him and others. With Lucien, even after they’d ended their relationship, these challenges always ended physical, first as vampire combat then as something altogether more pleasant. This had carried on for centuries until Lucien had tied himself to Katrina. And this would be what she would take delight in throwing in Leah’s face.
Luckily, they’d also brought Lucien’s mother, Magdalene.
Now Lucien was close with his mother. It was a mystery Lucien had never solved how Magdalene and Etienne had coupled. Magdalene was the opposite of Lucien’s father. After years of contemplating this enigma, the only answers Lucien could come up with were that they were both very young vampires when they started their union and it lasted less than twenty years which was clearly all Magdalene could take. Unlike Lucien and Cressida, their relationship was not amicable.
Therefore, upon sensing who his company was, he’d ordered Leah to shower and get ready and fortunately she’d obeyed. He’d gone down to greet his family and then he’d called Leah’s family and taken her himself to their guest house where he’d left her. Leah had not even glimpsed his family on her way out of the house nor, unusually quiet and docile, had she questioned his actions. On his way home, he’d called Avery to ask him to go to the guest house to guard her. Then he’d come home and left his father, mother and ex in the house in order to speak to his children privately.
Which brought him to now.
Lucien looked to his son. “And you?”
Julian’s head came up as did his brows. “Me?”
“Cressida,” Lucien answered, striving for patience for Julian was being purposefully obtuse, something he did more than occasionally.
“Cressida was curious,” Julian answered and Lucien decided this was likely the truth. He also knew his son shared a close bond with his mother. It was a rare occurrence when Julian didn’t give into her every whim. It was a rare occurrence when anyone didn’t give into her every whim. The only person who didn’t was Lucien.
Lucien’s voice was low with meaning when he reminded them, “I think I spoke to you both about this.”
“You did, Father, but –” Isobel started.
“But nothing,” Lucien cut her off, “not only was your judgment poor your decisions were dangerous.”
Julian spoke quickly. “Cressida would never –”
Lucien interrupted, “Etienne would.”
Julian sighed and nodded his agreement for, indeed, Etienne would.
“People are talking,” Isobel put in, “quite a bit.”
“I’m aware of that,” Lucien informed her.
“You had to know the talk would reach Etienne’s ears,” she went on.
“Yes, I knew that as well,” Lucien replied.
“Therefore,” she continued, “when he approached me, I thought about it and decided that it would be better for him to think he was in the family fold rather than for him to maneuver outside of it.”
“Keep your enemies close,” Julian muttered, his eyes on his father.
This was, Lucien had to admit, sound logic. Regardless, it didn’t explain why they’d perpetrated a surprise visit.
“And he’ll maneuver, we all know that,” Isobel continued. “He doesn’t agree with what you’re doing even though he’s told me he does and he only wants to offer you his support and allegiance.”
“He might even be a mole,” Julian added.
“Absolutely,” Lucien agreed, turning to face his children, “which is why I understand your logic but your judgment is still in question as to why you’d bring him here.”
“We thought –” Julian began but Lucien again interrupted.
“We’ve established that you didn’t.” On his last word, he leaned slightly toward his son and saw a muscle in Julian’s cheek twitch. “That vampire should be nowhere near Leah.”
“Father,” Isobel whispered, “it was my idea. Etienne wanted to take you off guard. He said it was because he knew you would not wish his visit so he didn’t want to forewarn you of it but I know it was so he could take you and your concubine by surprise. I decided if I didn’t agree to come with him, he’d do it himself. So I talked Jule and Magdalene into coming with us and Cressida is, well… Cressida so she’s here too. Now your mortal is protected. Even Cressida wouldn’t allow Etienne to harm your concubine if he should do the impossible and get past you.”
“There are a number of ways to harm Leah,” Lucien replied. “Many of which you can’t know. However, if you’d phoned and warned me of this visit, I could have explained them to you.”
Julian was openly curious. Isobel’s face went blank which meant she was equally curious.
Julian had the brute strength of his father and thus didn’t play his cards close to his vest. He could best practically anyone (save Lucien) and, if challenged, didn’t hesitate to do so. Lucien’s son was hot-headed and acted on his emotions therefore he was lucky he was a strong, capable, intuitive fighter.
Isobel, being petite, had to rely more on her cunning for most vampires were stronger than her and almost all were bigger. Her focus, craftiness and endurance were the most dangerous weapons in her arsenal and she used them well. Also like her father.
“You’ve already tamed her,” Julian guessed.
“Indeed,” Lucien replied.
“Oh my God,” Isobel breathed. “You’ve taken her as lover? Before The Council agreed?”
Lucien’s response was to lift his chin in the affirmative.
“Brilliant,” Julian muttered failing at fighting his grin.
Isobel’s body jerked to face her brother. “Jule! Are you nuts?”
“No,” he was still grinning but now it was directed at his sister. “There are a couple tasty mortal morsels I wouldn’t mind having. It’ll be nice to have that door opened.”
Isobel’s body jerked back to face her father. “Father!” she snapped. “Listen to him! This could mean –”
“I know what it means,” Lucien cut her off, “and I don’t give a fuck.”
“Can’t wait to meet this Leah,” Julian murmured, still grinning.
Isobel ignored her brother and spoke to her father. “I understand what you’re doing, why and you know you have my loyalty, no matter what,” she paused then repeated in a voice that vibrated, “No matter what, Father. But this is too fast. Vampires everywhere are having the same thoughts as you and Jule and we’re not prepared.”
“It took me ten minutes to talk The Council into considering my request, Bel,” Lucien replied quietly. “I’m sensing they understand that they may need to reconsider things not just for me and Leah but for all vampires.”
“Yes, perhaps,” Isobel allowed. “But this is going beyond you and your mortal and Rafe and her sister and even Julian wanting to get himself some. Orlando was seen at A Feast with his concubine and they were embracing. And Hermes selected his new concubine only a week ago and, just like you, he moved in with her the night of her Bloodletting.”