“Lucian, she tried to help us,” Katherine reasoned.
“I know. I won’t harm her,” he replied, releasing Katherine from his hold to pace over to where her father was wheezing and coughing on the floor.
Lucian crouched and pulled the sunglasses from her father’s eyes. The moment he looked up, Lucian captured him under his influence, commanding him to remain prostrate on the floor.
“What would you have me do with him if you do not want him dead?” Lucian stood and turned to Katherine, she joined him at his side, her eyes taking in the crumpled man on the floor with detached consideration.
“I honestly don’t care what happens to him now. I just don’t want him anywhere near us ever again,” she took Lucian’s bloodied hand in her own and he gazed down at their interwoven fingers.
“Killing him would achieve that,” he pointed out, his need for violence against the man still pulsing in his veins.
She shook her head, her golden hair hanging limply around her shoulders. “I don’t want that hanging over us. I just want him gone, I’m done with him having any influence over my life. I want to be free of him.”
Lucian nodded his understanding. As much as his dark soul still called for the man’s blood to be spilt, he wouldn’t go against her wishes. She was the light that chased away the shadows, to ignore her wants would be to embrace the darkness that he so desperately wanted to escape.
“Stand up, Mr. Daxton,” Lucian ordered and waited while the man got to his feet with a slight wobble.
“You will leave this place and return to the city with no recollection of your association with me,” He bored his order into the man’s subconscious making it take root and begin to grow.
“The name Katherine Daxton will mean nothing to you. If ever you are reminded of your daughter you will deny her existence, as far as you’re concerned you never had a daughter.”
Katherine gripped his hand tighter and took a long fortifying breath.
“Your debt is cleared, Mr. Daxton. Now get out, and never return.”
The man turned on his heel and without a backward glance walked out of the hall.
Katherine’s shoulders slumped and she leaned into his side, “I can’t believe he’s gone. It’s over.”
“It’s not quite over,” Lucian nodded in the direction of the journalist.
The woman stood perfectly still as she had been instructed, her bag clutched in her hands, her deep chocolate brown eyes staring into nothing.
“I know you need to make her forget,” Katherine sighed, “but, can you be gentle with her?”
“She made a poor choice in allying herself with your father,” Lucian frowned,
“He’s a conman and a scammer. I’ve no doubt he did a good job of convincing her to go along with it all.”
“Very well, I’ll make sure she doesn’t remember. But we’ll need to wipe her phone of any evidence. She has been filming everything, she likely still is,” Lucian conceded.
“OK, I’ll wipe her phone, you clear her memories.”
They stepped forward together and while Lucian spoke his commands into her mind, Katherine reached into her pocket and took out the woman’s phone, deleting the footage before dropping the phone back into her pocket and securing it with the button.
The woman blinked a few times and took a few stumbling steps backwards.
“I...” she began, rubbing at her head, “I don’t understand.” She looked about her with confused and frightened eyes.
“There is nothing for you to understand,” Lucian spoke softly to her, her eyes glazing over once more, “you need to leave. Now.”
She nodded absently and walked out of the great door and into the misty fog that still surrounded Tumbricane like a heavy veil.
Lucian turned and met Katherine’s eyes that were filled with apprehension. He frowned and cupped her face in his hands, she leaned into his touch and closed her eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Lucian. I’m sorry for-”
He hushed her immediately. There would be time for words, but for now, he needed to reassure himself that she was once again, safe and cared for. He kissed her lips softly before lifting her into his arms and taking her to his room.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Katherine
Katherine stood in a trance-like state of bliss, her eyes closed as the hot spray of the shower flowed over her. Lucian’s fingers were gently massaging her scalp and the familiar and comforting scent of argan oil soothed her. He hadn’t said another word to her, but simply undressed her and ushered her into the rainfall of the overhead shower and then stripped out of the clothes that bore the blood of her father, and climbed in behind her.
She knew the spell would break soon. They would have to face each other and they would both need to bare their souls. She wanted to explain her actions, she wanted to demand answers for the way he had so cruelly dismissed her and why he was now tending to her with such cherishing caresses. Her snarky and suspicious mind tried to convince her that this wouldn’t last, that he would toss her aside again. But her heart for once was standing its ground. It refused to give up on the possibility that Lucian loved her. This time she wouldn’t walk away so easily from the promise of what there was between them.
For now, she would enjoy the moment. Relish the closeness and the feel of his body pressed against hers and the way he pulled her in tightly and pressed his lips to her shoulder.
They stayed that way for a while longer, her back to his chest, the warm water trickling over them. Eventually, Katherine turned in his hold and they shared a look that said the moment needed to end. With a silent nod, Lucian stepped back and led her out of the shower and wrapped her in a fluffy white bathrobe, and pulled out a large towel for himself to wrap around his waist.
Katherine took a deep
