Fueled by Lust: Lucien (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Celeste Prater

  “Well, let’s hope the rods do the same thing.”

  As much as he didn’t want her near the action, he realized that no matter where he left her, danger was nearby. There was no way around it.

  “Come on. Let’s get in there. Stick close.”

  Reaching back, she pulled the knife from her waistband and kept up with him as they worked their way around the remains of the shed. If they could get around the back of the compound without attracting attention, he could get her in the ship and breathe a little easier. Makar was going to lift the ship away and blow the other Dar Kan vessel if they had the opportunity to get close enough.

  Glancing over, he noticed that Eryx had joined the others in the field. The warriors and Nawiens were in full battle with the Dar Kan and not one rod was glowing red. The slavers were swinging them like clubs or relying on their machetes. Neither was working for them. It was the first time he’d ever seen panic cross their faces. He wasn’t happy to discover that Nox Ton and his crew were missing, and scanned the grounds for him.

  Lucien blinked several times at a sight he never thought possible, even in his strangest dreams. Basilius stood shoulder to shoulder with his warriors and fought furiously beside them. Surely this was all a dream and he would wake in his bed covered in sweat from a long illness. Shaking his head at the odd path all of their lives had taken, Lucien clasped Tana’s hand firmly and skirted behind the back wall of the compound.

  Peeking around the edge of the far wall, Lucien cursed to see the remaining Dar Kan pouring from the side door and blocking the direct path to the ship. The females were in a panic while half the males herded them to their remaining ship and the others turned toward the clearing. A flash of anger ripped through his gut when he saw Nox Ton enter the Dar Kan craft and the door seal shut behind him. The coward was going to leave the remainder of the males to fend for themselves. Lucien grabbed Tana’s hand and quickly made his way behind the containers before they were spotted. Tana began tugging him toward the green one.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Getting a damn gun. I’m not going to win any fights with this stupid knife.” She slipped inside while he kept watch. Soon, she was back outside holding a long black weapon in her arms. There were smaller ones lodged in the front and back of her jeans.

  Glancing around the side of the bin, Lucien groaned. “More Dar Kans have joined the battle. My warriors are good, but not up against that many. There are too many for Makar’s group to push through.” He felt a slight shove to his back.

  “Well, go then. I’ll be right behind you.”

  Mere steps away from the clearing, the sound of loud pops took him by surprise. Tana had leaned against a tree and started firing the weapon. Her shots were precise. She was giving his warriors a chance to survive, but there were still too many to maintain the upper hand for long. He heard Tana call out.

  “Lucien, what the hell is that? It’s not the other Dar Kan ship.”

  Following her gaze, he looked up to the sky and felt a flood of relief wash through his body. The Prometheus was descending rapidly and would be upon them within minutes.

  “It’s our salvation, mellis. That’s an Insedi warship.” A familiar mental signature requested entrance. He let Imbrus into his mind and opened for the others.

  Emperor Lucien. We are extremely pleased to know that you live.

  And I’m extremely pleased that you’re here. Set down at the far end of this clearing. Anything blue, kill it.

  Understood.

  Imbrus, I must warn you. The laser pistols wouldn’t work and we were unable to mist when we arrived. You must rely on swords.

  Emperor, I saw a warrior here in the flight pod mist from his overexcitement not more than two minutes ago. We are not experiencing the same issue.

  Lucien felt his eyes widen. Willing himself to calm, he attempted to mist and knew he’d been successful as soon as he saw Tana’s face. Two lines formed between her brow and her mouth was slightly parted, but she wasn’t looking in his direction. Her gaze was firmly on the clearing. Turning, he saw that some of the others had misted as well. Altair was in a frenzied battle mode and was unable to effectively change. It didn’t matter. He was lethal in any form. The Dar Kan didn’t stand a chance. Keos was taking great pleasure in disappearing and reforming behind unsuspecting prey before slicing their heads from their bodies. The Dar Kan knew the tide had turned and began fleeing the field.

  Lucien glanced back to the shed that Tana had destroyed. The device! Whatever alien material or technology that had controlled the cuff and rods, had disabled their innate core ability to reform as well. Fascinating. He called out to Imbrus.

  The ability has returned. Imbrus, we’re going to the Athenian to barricade ourselves inside until you can secure the field. I’ll contact you from there. Don’t let the larger vessel off this planet. Destroy it if it moves.

  As you wish.

  Reforming, Lucien sheathed his sword and motioned for Tana. “Come. The battleship will take it from here. We’ve done enough.”

  “I’ll say. That had to be the coolest thing I’ve ever witnessed. I mean one minute they were there and then nothing. Did you see those blue bastards’ faces? Not so smug now, huh?” He loved her smile. It lit her face from within.

  Lucien smiled back and clasped her hand. “Yes, they’re getting everything they deserve, thanks to you. That damn glowing ball was the reason we couldn’t mist earlier. Quick, we’re going to the Athenian until the area can be considered safe. Nox Ton has closed out a third of his males. I don’t know how they’ll react.”

  They’d taken no more than three steps before the Dar Kan vessel rose from the ground. It was then that Lucien realized Nox Ton’s true depth of depravity. He hadn’t a single care for his own species being obliterated by the fire of the engines or blown across the field as they pounded on the hull for entry. If that hadn’t proven his stupidity, the attempt to fire upon the great battleship as it hovered above the clearing confirmed it.

  One laser blast from the Prometheus and the Dar Kan race became practically extinct. The fireball extended forty meters in every direction and turned the grounded Dar Kan into ash. Lucien felt Tana’s grip tighten and her voice came out in a shaky whisper.

  “Lucien. Where are the females?”

  “I’m sorry, sweetness. Nox Ton took them on board.” His chest constricted as her eyelids shut tight and her bottom lip quivered slightly.

  “Aw, shit. Shu Tak. She was so nice to me.”

  Before he could offer comfort, her lids flipped open and her lips pursed. “Let’s get the hell out of here. I’m so damn sick of this place.”

  Lucien followed behind her and with each step realized that he was drawing closer and closer to the moment that would separate them. In more ways than one.

  Chapter 25

  The event that met them at the far edge of the Athenian would stay with Lucien for a lifetime. Later, he would know it was one of those moments that marked a turning point in understanding the fine line between friend and foe.

  His warriors were gathered around something on the ground and the sight immediately caused Lucien’s gut to flip. A Dar Kan lay to the side with his head separated from his body. It was the total evisceration of the male’s middle section that caused alarm. This was a passion kill, plain and simple. Lucien dreaded pushing the circle of wide shoulders aside so he could assess the situation. What met him caused a multitude of emotions to wage a silent war in his heart.

  A blood spattered Ulixes kneeled beside Basilius, now laying prone on the ground. Calpion stood nearby with his chin lowered and fists clenched. The fallen king’s face was as pale as the mist that floated high on the Montis Peak. One glance to his chest and Lucien knew there were scant minutes left to his life. A dagger, buried hilt-deep, rose from right above his heart, a heart that Lucien had always believed to be cold and dead. Basilius’s steel-gray eyes were focused on Ulixes’s face.

  As Lucien moved closer to the d
isturbing scene, warm brown eyes rose and he could easily see that Ulixes suffered an internal battle of emotion as well. His jaw was set hard, yet his eyes shone like polished marble. Lucien cleared his throat and thought long on his words before he spoke.

  “Did you do this, Ulixes?” The male shook his head and Eryx answered for him.

  “No, just the Dar Kan. The blue bastard took us all by surprise. I witnessed something that I never believed possible. Basilius stepped in front of Ulixes and took the blade meant for his back. It wasn’t a stumble, but a perfectly executed maneuver to save him.”

  Lucien looked down when he heard a rasping voice call out for the former Protonecian. Basilius clasped Ulixes’s forearm and tried to speak. Everyone leaned in close to hear the last words of the most hated being on their planet.

  “I am…I am sorry…for it all. All of it. I deserved this, not you.” A slight smile lifted his lips. “The beautiful female…she has come for me…I am…not worthy of this blessing.”

  Lucien briefly flicked his gaze up to Sotarios and saw the male’s lids squeezed tight and his jaw muscles clenching.

  Basilius swallowed hard and struggled for his next words. His hand slid up to grasp Ulixes’s bloody fingers. “I believe I…loved you.”

  Lucien watched the last of the mad king’s sad life fade from his eyes. They remained fixed on Ulixes’s pinched features until the male reached down and pushed them closed. He removed his hand from Basilius’s, stared at his bloodied hands for a few beats, and then leapt to his feet. Lifting his head, he looked around the tight circle of his brethren.

  “I don’t know how to understand this.” Casting his eyes down, he backed out of the circle and slowly made his way to the ship. Sotarios was not far behind.

  Silently, and without command, the warriors moved forward and lifted Basilius from the ground. Eryx turned to Calpion.

  “Select an area you want him placed and we’ll take him there. Where do you wish him buried?”

  Calpion wiped tears from his eyes, lifted his head, and blinked a few times. “No burial. My liege would not have wanted that. He was…fearful. Perhaps indoors? Yes. Could you take him to the compound? We will wrap him in a blanket and lay him in the banquet hall.”

  Lucien was surprised when Calpion quickly turned, fell to his knees, and bowed before him. His words were fast and pleading.

  “Emperor Lucien. I beg of you. Would you allow your warship to fire upon the compound? To hasten the demise of his body is preferable. Afford him rest in the afterlife that his mind never allowed when awake? I will be forever in your debt.”

  Lucien took a deep breath and felt like hanging his head. The mantle of his birth felt heavy as it was once again settled upon his shoulders.

  “Rise, Calpion. It is granted. As soon as the fire is at its height, return to the citizens of Protonecis and tell them of the king’s death. Explain how his disturbed mind found peace on this forsaken planet. Assure that all detractors of Bellator understand that continued attempts at their new king’s life will go against all that Basilius died for—his redemption. You do this and your debt is paid.”

  Nodding vigorously, Calpion rose and motioned for the other Protonecians to lead the way to the compound. He made one last bow and joined them. Lucien watched as the Nawiens followed solemnly behind the group.

  “Lucien?”

  Her low, husky voice sent shivers up his spine and he realized suddenly that the moment he’d been dreading had arrived. He couldn’t bring himself to turn and look into her eyes.

  “Yes?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  A deep tiredness sank into his muscles and he recognized it for what it was. Sadness. It had ridden him for centuries and now returned to continue its inevitable journey. He measured his words carefully.

  “It doesn’t matter, Tana. I am no more, or less, than the day we met.”

  “Look at me, Lucien.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I find it easier to talk with you when I can see your eyes. Someone I knew told me that once. He was a pretty sharp guy.”

  Shaking his head, Lucien wondered how he was going to get through the days without this intelligent woman. He hated what he had to do next. He tried to steady his voice.

  “Forget me, Tana. You don’t want any part of my world. I’ve only replaced my cell with another. Things have changed now.”

  “So. You lied to me then?”

  “I never lied, Tana. I didn’t see the point of telling you of my station. It had no bearing on our circumstances at the time.” Lucien fought to keep his gaze on the group entering the compound. His muscles trembled when her soft breath caressed the back of his arm.

  “That’s not what I’m talking about. You said something to me with such passion that I actually believed you. Now I know it was just the crazy situation, just like I thought. Very pretty words from such a pretty face. How silly of me to think you meant them. No, don’t turn around. I’ll go find Sotarios. He can walk me to the warship. I won’t bother you anymore.”

  Gods! It took the entirety of his strength to remain still as he felt her brush against his back and walk away. He wasn’t expecting to hear her beautiful voice again.

  “Oh, and Emperor?”

  “Yes, Tana?”

  “Despite the circumstances, I did enjoy our time together. And I meant every word I said.”

  Lucien sucked in a breath. By the time he swiveled around, she was gone. He willed his feet to move forward despite his brain screaming to rush inside the vessel and snatch her up. It was done. There was no turning back. She would forget him in time, though he knew he would never lose her image from his mind. Lucien watched with no emotion as the Prometheus’s warriors poured from the bowels of the ship and lay waste to any Dar Kan that had escaped the flames of their leader’s vessel. He felt as dead inside as the bodies that lay scattered about the field.

  * * * *

  Tana stuck her arm out and planted her hand firmly against the wall of the ship. The moment had been so surreal and unnerving she’d actually thought she might pass out. Taking a few deep breaths, she lifted her head, pushed away from the wall, and tried to figure out where to start looking for Sotarios. If she didn’t get on that big warship and find a room to hole up in, she knew she was going to do something she’d regret. It had taken everything inside to keep from going back and kicking that stupid son of a bitch’s legs out from underneath him.

  Her heart was already shredded to hell and back by that gut-wrenching scene with Ulixes, and then to find out Lucien was the freaking emperor of an entire planet had been too much to absorb. Her mind had told her to check out, stand by the sidelines, and just observe. She watched as a silent witness while Lucien basically pulled his sword and stabbed that poor, pathetic, overweight redhead right in the pitiful piece of meat thumping wildly in her chest. He’d never turned around, but those words were sharp and sliced with precision.

  Tana stumbled into a large room and snapped right out of her pity party. Ulixes was leaning over a sink and vigorously washing his hands while Sotarios patted his back and spoke in low tones to him. She was instantly glad she couldn’t hear what was being said or she might burst into tears. This whole freaking day was sad beyond measure. Tana could tell the poor guy’s hands were completely clean, yet he continued to scrub them. Eventually, Sotarios pulled them gently from the water and wrapped them in a towel. Ulixes seemed to pull himself out of whatever held him catatonic and rose to his full height. He began drying his hands.

  “Thank you, Sotarios. I’m fine. I’ll be okay. It was just…very disturbing. Are you okay?”

  Sotarios nodded and leaned against the counter. “Yes. I truly am. My mother told me this would happen. That Basilius was not long for this world and it shouldn’t be by my hand. I’d thought perhaps the beast would have taken him down. Now I know why she held compassion for him. She knew that he would redeem himself. He had to save your life.”

  Ulixes couldn’t ma
intain his bravado for long and Tana watched as his shoulders slumped. He placed the towel by the sink and looked at Sotarios.

  “Let us go to the warship. I don’t want to be on the Athenian any longer. We’ve spent entirely too much time here already. I need to see something different.”

  Sotarios’s smile was a welcome sight. Tana cleared her throat. “Uh, guys? Sorry, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you. I want to go to the warship, too. Will you take me?”

  Both men turned and smiled at her. Ulixes looked relieved to have something else to think about and moved toward her.

  “Of course. Where’s Lucien?”

  Swallowing hard and trying not to look like the jilted prom queen, Tana gave a little chuckle. “I guess he’s doing his emperor thing. I don’t want to get in his way. He knows that I came looking for you. I know it’s going to get crazy around here. I just want a room, a shower, and then a bed. I’m a simple girl.”

  Sotarios sighed. “Ah, that sounds great. I’m looking forward to standing under hot water all by myself and sleeping on a mattress that’s thicker than a book. Yes, let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Tana felt immense relief to see that Lucien was nowhere in sight when they walked out of the Athenian. Glancing up to the huge warship taking up most of the clearing, she was glad that it was large enough to get lost in. If she had her way, she’d never have to see Lucien Tarquinius’s face again.

  * * * *

  Kallon felt his muscles quivering in excitement as he waited by the clinic doorway. Imbrus had informed him the group of lost warriors were boarding the ship. Their first stop would be the clinic before they were given rooms. The emperor had already visited after he’d spoken to the Trejani. Kallon had been happy to see he’d faired rather well considering the circumstances. The old wounds to his back were a thing of the past now. Kallon knew better than ask as to how he’d acquired them. Even though the emperor smiled and greeted him warmly, Kallon knew his mood was tenuous at best. The clenched jaw and deep sadness in his eyes belied the calm front he tried to portray. Kallon hoped the memories of this horrid place would fade quickly for him.