“What?” Eve turned around.
Her face lit up when she saw Charlie. She slid from the seat and pushed herself up to throw her arms around him. Lucien looked the other way.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Psychic, remember? I knew there was going to be some complications tonight—” His eyes flashed to Lucien. “—so I flew out to see if I could help. What’s wrong with you? You seem weak.”
“I’m fine,” Eve said and sat back down. Charlie slid in next to her.
“How did you find us here?” Eve asked.
“Again—psychic.” He grinned.
Lucien reached over and punched him in the face. All of his perfectly white teeth fell out one by one.
“How’s it going, Valium?” Charlie asked, waking Lucien from his perfect daydream.
Lucien ignored him.
“Great. Good to hear it.” Charlie poured himself a glass of water. Lucien didn’t bother telling him that the cup was already there when they sat down.
“So what happened tonight?” Charlie asked, his expression darkening. “I spoke to Alana. She said the vampires moved all of the boxes, and that the Dark Prince got away. Last time I spoke to you Eve, you sounded so confident, like it was a done deal.”
“There were complications,” Eve said. “Lucien was on his way to destroy the boxes but came back to help me. As for the Dark Prince—”
“You were there?" Charlie asked. "I specifically remember all of us agreeing that you should not be there! What were you doing fighting?”
“If you remember,” Eve said, “I can actually fight quite well.”
Charlie turned to Lucien. “Then why didn’t you let her fight and just go after the boxes?”
Lucien’s eyes moved to the fork on the table. He wondered how many times he’d have to stab Charlie before he died. He hoped it was at least a thousand.
“Lucien had his reasons,” Eve defended.
Lucien wrapped his fingers around the fork. “She would’ve died if I hadn’t helped, but that’s besides the fact. He saw her with me and now her life is in danger. They know she’s here.”
“Who’s ‘he’?” Charlie asked.
Lucien almost answered ’Aiden’, but stopped himself just in time. “The Dark Prince.”
Charlie’s hands curled into fists, and he spoke fast, "Why isn’t he dead yet? That monster has to be stopped!"
Eve placed her hand on his back, her eyes darting to the many customers seated near them. "I’m sorry about tonight. Maybe if I—"
"No," Charlie said and clenched his jaw. "I’m glad he got away. Now I’ll get the chance to kill him."
"Why do I feel this is personal for you?" Lucien asked. This was the second time he had seen Charlie get angry over the mention of the Dark Prince.
Charlie slammed his fist on the table. "Because it is personal."
Eve turned to Lucien. “You saw this Prince guy. Do you happen to know his real identity? Maybe if we knew that we could track him down.”
“His real name is Aiden," Lucien said, wondering what Aiden did to Charlie. "He’s extremely old and dangerous.”
Charlie leaned back against the seat. “Aiden. I don’t think we have him in our files.”
“You wouldn’t. He’s been trapped in a cave for the last several hundred years.”
“And how would you know that?”
“Because I’m the one who put him there.”
Eve’s eyes widened.
“So you guys go way back?” Charlie asked. “Sorority brothers or something?”
“Something like that,” Lucien said through his teeth.
"Can you find him?" Charlie asked.
"Possibly, but you don’t want anything to do with him. I’ll take care of Aiden."
Charlie looked pointedly at him. "Because you did so well the first time?"
“Did Alana say anything else?” Eve asked, mirroring the angry look in both their eyes.
It was a few seconds before Charlie finally turned away from Lucien. “Alana followed the truck containing the virus to a warehouse on the other side of Dublin. It belongs to a company called Bodian Dynamics.”
“Their name was printed on the boxes,” Lucien said.
“Why do they sound familiar?” Eve asked.
“They are a huge medical research corporation. You’ve probably heard their name in the news. They come across as this big charitable business, but they’ve been on the Deific’s watch list for decades for being involved in all kinds of questionable activity. It doesn’t surprise me that they are involved with this. Alana thinks we should destroy their building as soon as possible.”
Eve sighed. “Good.”
Lucien noticed how tired she looked and suddenly felt guilty for fighting with Charlie. His only concern should be for Eve—but then Charlie opened his mouth again.
“You look tired Eve. Let’s go find a hotel where you can get some rest. I’ll fill you in later.”
“I’ll take care of Eve," Lucien said. "You can call us in the morning."
Eve lifted her chin. “I will take care of myself. And I think it will be easier if we all stay at the same place.”
“I agree," Charlie said. "Eve, you can stay in my room, and Lucien, well, you don’t need a room, right?”
Lucien opened his mouth to say something really insulting but Eve interrupted. “I’ll get my own room. I’m done with both of you.”
38
Lucien didn’t think it was possible, but Charlie found them a motel dumpier than the restaurant. He tried to convince Eve to go somewhere else, but she wouldn’t hear of it. And that is how Lucien found himself sitting on a metal chair outside her door.
Eve’s breathing finally fell into a rhythmic patter at about four in the morning. Then there was Charlie, down one door, who had fallen asleep within minutes of going into his room. Lucien didn’t think he’d ever get used to him. It was clear by the way Charlie looked at Eve that he was in love with her.
Lucien tilted the chair against the motel wall. The clouds above had finally moved on, revealing a beautiful night sky. The moon, barely a sliver, seemed to smile at Lucien as if it knew something he didn’t.
From inside the room, Eve turned over. He leaned his head closer to the door and inhaled. Her lilac smell filled him and, once again, he felt great sorrow. The emotional rollercoaster he was putting Eve through wasn’t fair to her.
He should stand up and walk away right now. But he couldn’t do it. The thought of something happening to Eve was unbearable. His stomach twisted in tight knots, and a sharp pain stabbed at his heart at the mere thought of Eve suffering in any way.
Lucien closed his eyes and shook his head. A wall separated him from the only person who loved him enough to bring him joy at any cost, including her own life. A cheaply made, plastered barrier was all that stood between him and the only person he would ever love. Eve was right. He was a coward. He claimed he would do anything for her, but could he let go of the past? Could someone like him be forgiven for all that he’d done?
He stood up and faced her door. It was the only thing stopping him from being truly happy. Eve loved him. Despite who he was, she had found him and loved him. But even if she didn’t, if for some reason she suddenly stopped loving him, would it change the way he felt about her? He knew it wouldn’t. She had captured his heart completely, and no matter what happened, he would always belong to her.
Suddenly, Lucien understood why the moon was smiling. It, along with all the stars in the sky, were witnesses to Lucien almost giving up on life’s greatest gift—love. But no longer. He was finished letting the past rule his life.
He chose to live.
Lucien placed his hand on the doorknob, anxious to rush to Eve, but stopped. How could she believe him after all he’d put her through? He needed something, something special that would prove to her that he was sincere—that this time he would never leave.
He walked to the middle of the parking lot and lo
oked around, for what he didn’t know. What could he possibly find at this time of night?
Across the street, a convenience store was still open. He jogged over and opened the glass door; a bell announced his arrival. A skinny man with shaggy black hair glanced at him briefly and then returned to reading the book in his hands. Lucien walked up and down the aisles, which were mostly filled with food. He gritted his teeth. It was going to take a lot more than a Ding Dong to prove his commitment.
Two aisles over, he found a shelf containing hardware items. He stared at the few items, his mind racing. And then he knew. He only hoped that what he was about to make would be enough to convince Eve.
He quickly grabbed a package of silver wire, wire cutters and, upfront, next to the sunglasses, he found a box containing several cheaply made necklaces. He chose a necklace with a thin, black cord; a gold cross hung from its center.
After paying for the items, he walked back to the motel, while opening the package of wire. He lowered himself back into the chair in front of Eve’s door and twisted the metal wire into a tight spiral. Every so often, he’d overlap the metal to give his design texture. Using the wire cutters, he clipped the end and tucked it inside his small, circular creation.
When he was finished, a quarter-sized silver rose lay in his palm. He removed the gold cross from the black choker and looped the string through the top of the rose. He dangled it in front of him. It wasn’t a diamond, but it would have to do. He stood and quietly turned the doorknob.
Eve was asleep in the bed, covered only by a white sheet. Her eyebrows were pulled tightly together as if she were dreaming something unpleasant, but as he approached, her features softened.
“Lucien,” she whispered and opened her eyes.
He fell to his knees, his face inches from hers. He smoothed back her hair and then, as if she was a porcelain doll, gently traced the edges of her face with his fingertips.
He struggled to know what to say. What words could right all his wrongs?
“Lucien,” she said again. “Why are you here?”
He looked into her pleading green eyes and simply said what he felt. “Because it is impossible to find me anywhere else. I am yours, Eve. If I denied it again, the world would shake in anger, the stars and moon would fall from the sky, and the sun would disappear, for I will have denied true love.”
Her eyes glistened with tears. She leaned up to kiss him, but his lips were already on hers, kissing her deep and long. She attempted to pull him onto the bed, but he broke away.
“I need you to know that I will never leave you. I’ve broken your trust once already, but please know it will never happen again.” Lucien reached into his pocket and pulled out the rose necklace. “I made this for you. You said once that you first experienced beauty through the grandeur of a rose. And it was you that brought beauty into my life. So in a way, it was a rose that changed us both.”
“It’s beautiful,” Eve said while her fingers traced the silver curves. “Will you put it on me?” She turned around.
Lucien lifted her golden hair and fastened the necklace around her neck. He looked to the window. “The sun will be up soon and there’s nothing like an Irish sunrise. Will you take a walk with me so we can watch the first of many sunrises together?”
“I would love to.”
Lucien waited while she quickly changed into jeans and t-shirt. She pulled on a light knitted brown jacket.
“Will you be warm enough?” he asked.
She pulled the hood up over her head and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go.”
It was still dark outside, but Lucien could feel the rising sun approach. He held her hand as he guided her off a main road and onto a dirt path. The forest was unusually quiet with only the sounds of their steps against the cold, crisp earth.
“Tell me about Eden,” he asked suddenly.
She looked at him, eyebrows raised. “Why?”
“I just want to know what you consider heaven.”
She laughed. “It was hardly heaven, but it was very beautiful and saved me from a lot of pain more times than I can remember.”
“What did it look like?”
“It was a golden island surrounded by sea-green waters. Beautiful flowers grew all along the beach.”
He narrowed his eyes.
She smiled. “I know flowers do not normally grow on the beach, but it’s my world, remember? Wait until I tell you about the dolphins, then you’ll really look at me strange.”
He wrapped his arm around her. “Never!”
She continued to speak of Eden. She described it so clearly that Lucien could easily imagine every detail of her perfect escape.
“You’ll have to take me there some day,” he said.
She nodded her head, considering the idea. “I will.”
After they’d walked about a mile, he stopped and looked around.
“Are we lost?” she asked.
“Not in the least. Come on, this way.”
He pulled her off the trail and up a steep incline. The tall trees were thin and spread out; almost all of them had lost their fall leaves. But as they moved up the hill, the trees grew closer together, and the ground became cluttered with thick underbrush and fallen limbs. He glanced at her many times, watching for any indication that she might need his help, but there was none.
“We’re almost there,” he told her.
As they neared the top, the woods opened to a rocky landing. The sky was already starting to change colors in anticipation for the rising sun.
“Will the sun hurt you?” she asked.
“It will weaken me, but not when I’m with you. Being with you seems to give me added power.”
Eve flinched at his words.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Is that why you’re with me? For the power?”
“What? No!” He took her by the arms. “I don’t care for the power. Take it from me. Take all that I have. I only want to be with you. You must believe me.”
“I do, I’m sorry.” She leaned against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin upon the crown of her head.
Just then, the top of the sun broke through the night sky. The rays tore through the darkness and exploded the sky in a bright orange fire.
“It’s breathtaking,” Eve whispered.
Lucien swallowed hard. It was time to tell her the truth. “I need to tell you about my past, about what I did.”
She shook her head. “Not now, maybe not ever. It doesn’t matter to me what you did or who you were. You’re different now. Let’s just enjoy this moment. It’s so beautiful up here.”
Lucien wrapped his arms tightly around her, deciding not to spoil the moment. He would tell her the truth and soon, regardless of what she said.
All of a sudden, her body tensed and she stopped breathing. Lucien frowned and looked down at her. She was pale as a ghost.
“What is it?” he asked.
She didn’t speak. Her eyes stared beyond him.
“Eve?”
Fear turned her whole expression almost as if someone was pouring it upon her. He turned to see what she was looking at.
Not far off, he found the source—a black wolf.
39
“It’s only a wolf. It won’t hurt you,” Lucien said, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from it. Her whole body shook.
“Please, get me out of here,” she whispered.
If it had not been for his sensitive hearing, he would not have heard her soft voice. He didn’t question why, didn’t try to convince her that there was nothing to fear. As far as he knew, she wasn’t afraid of anything, so to see her in such a state worried him.
Lucien picked her up and raced through the woods back to the motel. The entire way, her body shook as if she was freezing. Once inside the room, he held onto her tightly, waiting for any dizziness to pass that she might be experiencing from his run, then gently placed her on the bed.
He was about to ask her what
was wrong when someone knocked on the door. Before Lucien could answer it, Charlie cracked it open and said, “Eve?”
“Come in,” she said, her voice shaky.
Charlie opened the door all of the way. A shadow passed over his face when he saw Lucien.
“I was coming to wake you up, but I guess I didn’t need to.” He frowned at the sight of Eve. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
He moved to her side and put his arm around her.
She stood. “I’m fine. We went for a walk and I thought I saw something, but it was nothing. Really, I’m fine.”
Lucien thought her smile looked forced.
Charlie whirled on Lucien. “Do you really think it was smart taking her outside knowing Aidan is looking for her?”
“She was safe,” Lucien said.
“Why? Because she was with you? What if you’d been ambushed by several vampires? What then?”
“Please, stop,” Eve said. “I appreciate your concern Charlie, but nothing happened. I am completely safe with Lucien. He would never let anything happen to me.”
“Fine, whatever.” He turned toward Lucien. “We have a meeting later tonight to discuss how to destroy the boxes, but first we need to watch the warehouse to see who comes in and out of it. As much as I don’t want you there, I think you should come. We need all the help we can get right now, and you might pick up on something I miss.”
Lucien glanced at Eve who appeared to be back to normal, but something about her still felt off. “You’re coming too, right?”
“Actually, can I skip out? I’m not feeling very well.” She put up her hand, speaking quickly. “Nothing to worry about. I just feel a little light headed.”
Lucien noticed she was avoiding eye contact with both Charlie and himself. He crossed the room to her. “I want you with me. I can’t protect you if you’re not with me.”
Charlie agreed. “He’s right.”
“Really, I’m not feeling well,” she said. “I’m going to stay here.”
Charlie was shaking his head. “Can you at least go to the Deific office? You can rest there while we’re watching the Bodian warehouse. It may take all day.”
Eve glanced at the clock on the wall. Lucien would’ve given anything to read her mind.
The Devil's Angel (Devil Series Book 2) Page 22
