“Lucian,” he answered the demanding phone with a clipped tone.
“Lord Nightingale, I have an update for you,” the deep gravel of Mr. Benson Pines answered from down the line.
“Go on,” Lucian’s mind snapped to attention, keen for more information about the intentions of Kyle Daxton and the supposed journalist he had been meeting with.
“The journalist checks out. A Miss. Brianna St Clare; she’s got a contract for the Herald and also writes freelance for other outlets, including some tabloids.”
Lucian released a sigh of relief. While a nosy journalist wasn’t ideal, it at least meant that Katherine’s rare and forbidden blood type wasn’t about to be discovered by the vampire authorities. She wouldn’t be taken from him, he still had time to ensure her safety on his terms.
“Go on, for what reason was Mr. Daxton meeting with her?” Lucian asked although he could already guess.
“I wasn’t able to get that much from my source, they apparently kept their voices quiet during their meeting,” Benson replied.
“Perhaps you might like to question your source further?” Lucian couldn’t believe that nothing had been overheard.
“I can assure you I was thorough in my interrogation,” his voice became firm.
The bear shifter didn’t like being questioned over his methods. Lucian mentally shrugged, it was no matter. If his assumption over the purpose of Daxton’s meeting with the journalist was correct, he would find out soon enough.
“Very well, I trust your judgment, Mr. Pines. Do you have anything else?”
“He’s called her.”
“Who?”
“Miss. Daxton. This evening, he called her. The bug placed in his phone didn’t record the conversation but we know that he spoke with her for approximately fifteen minutes tonight,” Benson explained.
“I see,” it was all he could say, his throat suddenly dry, “anything else?”
“That’s all. I will keep you posted. I’m watching his motel.”
“Very good. Keep me posted Mr. Benson. Your thoroughness is appreciated.”
Lucian ended the call and ran his hand through his still-damp hair.
Katherine knew something. She and her father were not close. He used her for his own gains and she hated him: they would not partake in just a friendly, father-daughter tete a tete. The desire to delve into her mind and take the answers he sought was all too tempting. It would be all too easy, she would most likely not even know he had gone poking around in her head. Yet he had made a promise. He swore to be honest with her and he was a man who was true to his word. But more than that, the thought of lying to her, of betraying her trust caused his heart to hurt for her.
He paced to his walk-in closet and tugged on a fresh pair of lounge pants. He would let her come to him. If she knew something and wanted to share it with him, then it was up to her to share it with him or not. The thought of her being in cahoots with her father made bile rise in his throat. His beautiful darling was so much more than that. He prayed that he hadn’t been fooled by her charm and intelligence and he hadn’t been mistaken in his judgment of her character.
As he had thought while speaking with Mr. Pines; he would find out soon enough.
Was he worried about a potential exposé? Of course not.
It wasn’t the first time someone had tried to expose a vampire for what they were. There were countless wild and outlandish reports over the years of paranormal creatures living among humankind. Most were written off as fabrications and the workings of writers with unstable minds. A few great literary fictions were in existence but the result was the same regardless: no one believed it. If any hard evidence were ever gathered it always, mysteriously disappeared, along with those who had sought to bring it to the attention of the world.
If Kyle Daxton and this, Brianna St. Clare, tried to run an expose on him, he would simply enthral them and ensure that their plans never came to fruition.
A soft knock on the door to his quarters drew his attention. The door opened soundlessly and he heard the quiet footfalls as they made their way across his room. Lucian watched from the shadows as Katherine stepped up to the balcony doors to gaze out into the dark gardens below.
She was a sight to behold. The outline of her body tantalizingly visible beneath the glossy sheen of the satin robe that was tied loosely around her. Her hair fell over her shoulders in loose curls that shone like spun gold in the moonlight that came in through the windows. He could scent her perfume, warm and spicy just like her fiery temperament, but it did nothing to disguise the trepidation that rolled off of her like a thin veil of smoke. She was anxious about something, fearful even. The thought of her fear made Lucian’s blood heat. If her father had threatened Katherine in any way, he would seek to defend her, no matter the cost.
He moved fast and stood silently behind her, the warm brush of his breath against her exposed neck causing her to utter a quiet gasp of surprise. He watched in the reflection of the window as her eyes closed in response to his presence, her shoulders relaxing.
“Lucian.”
“I had thought you were unwell my darling, I never expected to be honoured with a delight such as the one before me,” he whispered close against her ear.
“I missed you,” she replied quietly, after a moment's hesitation.
“And I you,” the words came easily, he supposed because they were true. Despite the palpable distance that he could feel between them, his home felt warmer and as though the dawn was teasing the horizon when she was with him.
“Is that the only reason you’re
