“Sometimes it never ends,” Olivia admitted. “The only way it will end for us, Lucian, is if there are no more secrets between us. I need to tell you everything now. If there’s any hope for us, there has to be truth first.” Olivia sat on a rock near the river and Lucian joined her. For several minutes they just watched the reflection of the stars on the water. It was a picturesque night despite the devastation that took place earlier. “For as long as I could remember, I knew you wanted to assume your father’s place on the Council. You had all these grand ideas of how you would make things better for immortals. I knew you could do it. I wanted so much for you to do it. I also selfishly wanted you more than I wanted to live, and I couldn’t let you go even if you lost it all. I told your father that.”
“My father?”
“He came to my home three nights before we had planned to run away together. I was so looking forward to our great escape. I wanted nothing more than to be free with you. To not have to love you in secret. Your father found out about our plans. I don’t know how, but he knew. He confronted my parents. He threatened to ruin them, and it wouldn’t take much to make them destitute. He made a deal with them. He offered to sell me to Daughton in exchange for a lifetime of financial security for them as long as I stayed away from you forever. My parents gladly accepted. The deal was made. They could not have cared less about me, and they were happy that I was finally worth something to them. They demanded I marry Daughton and leave you behind. I refused. My father beat me over and over again as if he could beat me into submission, but I didn’t care. He locked me in a chamber where the prisoners were kept. You were away, so my parents knew no one would find me for days. They starved me and tormented me, but I wouldn’t give in to them. I wouldn’t give you up. Finally, my mother freed me. She told me that if I left with you now, we would all be sorry. She reminded me of the play we saw and her warning that night. She kissed me on both cheeks and told me she was sorry, and then she let me go. I grabbed my bag and met you by our beach.”
Olivia stood up to face the water. The memories of that night had haunted her for years. She never spoke of them. Reliving her greatest pain was almost too much to bear. “Do you remember anything that happened that night?”
Lucian remembered too much of that night, but not enough. No matter how hard he tried to forget, the memories haunted him. He had been so excited that whole day. He would finally escape his parents’ pressure and he would no longer have to hide his feelings. He could love Olivia freely, have children with her, and have the life he craved. He would gladly walk away from the money, the power, his family -- if he could have his love. “I remember we said the sacred words, we went to our home in the cave, and we started to make love and complete our bond.” Lucian could not recall what happened after that, but awoke days later, his mind blank of any memories of what transpired the remainder of that dreaded night.
“We were so focused on each other that we didn’t hear your father’s men approach before it was too late. You tried to protect me, but they shot you with some drug that knocked you out. Then they seized me. I screamed, trying to reach for you, but they were too strong. Your father walked in and told his men to take you home. He turned to me and told me, ‘You were warned, slut, and now you’ll pay.’ They took me to Daughton’s home and locked me inside. Daughton appeared shortly thereafter and he told me that you would hang for stealing what was his. He had bought me from my parents as well as your father, which was his right. Running away with me was considered theft and you could hang for it. He assured me he would see you hang.”
“He couldn’t do that. We were mates. That supersedes any deal he struck with our parents. The Council…”
“Would not have helped us, Lucian. Your father was the Council. He would have rather watched you hang than to sully his family name with me. Your father helped Daughton. They both wanted the same thing—for us to be apart. Your father for prideful reasons, and Daughton because he hated you so much. He wanted to destroy you.”
Lucian paced around, kicking every stone or branch in his path. “He hated me because I had everything he wanted. No matter how much wealth he amassed, he would never be regarded the same as the Santoros. That fact needled him every day until he came up with a way to take the one thing that meant everything to me.”
“I still refused him. He was so angry. He started hitting me and using his power on me, but I didn’t care. I was a slave. Beatings were normal. My continual defiance incensed him to such a degree. He jumped on top of me and I could see the look in his eyes as realization sunk in. He could sense it was my breeding period. He told me he could ensure that you would never want me again. You would never want the woman that carried his child. He made sure I conceived.”
Lucian held Olivia even as she tensed from his touch. She kept her back to him so she would not have to see the shame in his eyes. She needed his comfort. Her body was trembling at the memory of that horrid night -- the night that was supposed to be the beginning of her future with Lucian, but all her hopes and dreams of the perfect family died that evening.
Lucian rested his cheek on her hair, trying to ease Olivia’s pain. He could feel the intensity of her agony and he wanted so much to take it away, but there was nothing he could do but hold her until she felt safe again, until his love could soothe her torment.
They remained embraced for hours until Olivia found the strength to continue. “Several days later, I knew I was with child. I could sense the presence of a life inside of me. I wanted to keep it a secret. I didn’t want Daughton to know his plan worked, but he suspected as well and had a healer confirm it. He was so smug and pleased with his plan. An hour later your father appeared. He told me that I had shamed you and your whole family.” Lucian cursed, his arms quaking with rage. “He said l owed it to you to end things. That you would be killed for stealing Daughton’s property, including his bastard I carried. Even if your father could plead for mercy, you would be cast off. You could lose everything for me, and what could I give you? Another’s bastard? Even if we ran away together, I couldn’t ask you to raise Daughton’s child. It would have killed you.”
Lucian pulled away, trying to grapple with her words. His father’s duplicity, Daughton’s blackmail, and Olivia’s suffering. He fell to his knees, his face hidden behind quivering hands. Olivia knelt down beside him taking his hands in her own. She had only once seen those beautiful blue eyes shed tears, and that was the night she walked away from him. “They asked me to go to you and tell you that I chose Daughton. I knew I had to do it for your sake and for my child’s. As much as I hated Daughton and your father, I had to protect you and my baby. So I went to you on the beach. You ran to me and held me, promising me that you would protect us. Somehow I had to find the strength to tell you goodbye. I looked you in the eye and I lied to you. I told you I didn’t love you. I wanted Daughton and his money. I couldn’t run away with you and have nothing. I was tired of being poor. I wanted the riches Daughton could provide. I wanted him. You didn’t believe me. You knew I was being forced, but I had to stand firm. Then I told you the one thing you couldn’t excuse. I told you I slept with Daughton and carried his child. We were a family now and there was no place for you.”
“Because of the mating bond, I could feel the child inside of you. I knew you were carrying another man’s child. I couldn’t breathe, Livy. I wanted to die on those rocks. I wanted to hurt you, but despite everything I could never harm you. It would be easier to destroy myself. I destroyed our home and everything that I had that reminded me of you.”
“I returned to Daughton’s as commanded, but I couldn’t go back into that house. I felt dead inside. I climbed one of the cliffs near his home and I looked down where a sharp ridge was pointing just so that if I landed properly, it would pierce my heart. I jumped, but Daughton caught me before I fell. That’s why he kept me locked away. He knew I would end my life. Once Kaden was born, I had a reason to exist again.”
Lucian pushed away from her, t
rying to reconcile her words. “I didn’t want to believe you that day, but you were so cold. I couldn’t detect the lie. My heart was shattering into pieces and you didn’t seem to care. You should have told me the truth, Olivia.”
“I was trying to save you,” Olivia cried.
“I died anyway. If you had believed in the strength of our love, our bond, you would have known that I could not survive the loss of you. I would rather have died that night than spend all these years hating you and imagining you with that man. I still held out hope that it was a lie until I learned you gave him another son. Do you have any idea what that did to me? It drove me to madness. It took decades for me to reach a point where I could function normally, and even now I still struggle. These last 175 years have been torture. Death would have been a welcome reprieve from a life of believing that the woman I needed to breathe, my mate, betrayed me with my enemy.”
“I’m so sorry, Lucian.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for what you have suffered, all for the crime of loving me.”
Olivia held his face in her hands. “Can you forgive me, Lucian?” Lucian stood there like a statue. “You can’t, can you?”
“He hates you, Olivia.”
Olivia dropped her hand and ran back to the house.
Lucian caught up to her to before she could enter. “Olivia, wait!” She struggled, but he would not let her go. “I need a little time to deal with all of this. Be patient with me.”
“He doesn’t believe you, Olivia.”
“Do you think I’m lying?” Olivia questioned.
“No. I know you’re telling the truth, Livy, but this is more complicated than you realize. I didn’t expect this.”
“I don’t understand, Lucian.”
“Livy…” Before Lucian could continue, the front door of Julian’s house opened revealing three men dressed all in black perfectly tailored suits. Barreling through them was a gorgeous petite brunette who launched herself at Lucian.
“Darling, I’ve missed you.” She kissed him hard on the lips. “You’ve been gone for too long. These men from the Council wanted to come in person and I decided to join them. Are you ok, darling? You look upset.”
“I’m fine, Nina. Just surprised to see you.”
Nina finally released him and looked to the pale woman standing next to him. “I’m sorry to be so rude.” She extended her hand to Olivia. “I’m Nina, Lucian’s fiancée.”
“I-I’m Olivia.” Lucian’s mate, she wanted to add, but could not find the words. It was not fair for her to lay claim to a man she let go of years ago, regardless of the reasons.
“You’re the Olivia.” Nina turned to Lucian. “Did you talk to her about breaking it?”
Lucian paled. “Nina, we haven’t discussed that yet.”
“Discuss what?” Olivia asked fighting back the tears.
“This isn’t the time or place.”
“No. I think it’s the perfect time.” Olivia turned to the woman draped all over Lucian. “What did you want to ask me?”
“To break the mating bond between you two,” Nina replied.
“Shut up, Nina!” Lucian demanded.
“Hey, don’t get mad at me. I’m just answering her question.”
“Break the bond how?” Olivia questioned Nina.
“Amalia, Lucian’s pet sage, thinks she has a way to break the bond. It’s already shaky considering how long you’ve been apart, so Amalia thinks she can permanently sever it. Then, Lucian and I can move on and get married and make lots of handsome babies together. Lucian was supposed to ask you to agree.”
“He must have forgotten to mention it. We’ve been busy trying to resolve the case.” Among other things, Olivia thought, but never stated.
“I understand. I also heard that you found the real killer and your son will be free. Maybe now we can wrap all this up and Luc and I can return to Italy and plan our wedding.”
Olivia turned to go inside the house. Her body was trembling and it was getting harder to breathe. “Olivia, wait.” Lucian grabbed her, forcing her to face him. “We need to talk. I need to explain…”
“There’s nothing to explain, Luc. You have every right to move on with your life. You owe me nothing. If you want to break the bond, then I will help you. I want you to be happy and if that means Nina then so be it.”
“Olivia don’t push me away. Not now. Not after everything we’ve just been through.”
“You had no intention of forgiving me. You just wanted me to set you free this whole time. You were using me.”
Lucian clasped her shoulder, forcing her to face him. “No. I swear. Olivia, please. I had no intention of falling for you again when I came here. I didn’t expect any of this. Please…”
“Lucian.” One of the men in black approached him. “The Council is waiting. We need to resolve this matter. We have set up a videoconference in your office with the other Council members. We need to know what happened here, otherwise we will have to escort Kaden Gaspard to Italy.”
“Gaspard is innocent,” Lucian defended.
“Then, sir, I suggest you make that point clear to the Council now -- otherwise he will be taken.”
“I need a minute.”
“Sir, there is no more time.”
“Go, Lucian,” Olivia begged. “Clear my son’s name. That’s the most important thing right now.”
“If that’s what you want…but we will continue this conversation. Don’t shut me out.”
Olivia nodded and Lucian turned to leave. “I’ll be back, Livy. Wait for me.” He walked away with the men and Nina clutching his arm.
“I told you he could not forgive you. Why would he want you back -- damaged goods --when he had the perfect woman waiting to be his wife? You were a fool. There are no second chances. Now, the truth has made him hate you more. Wait until he finds out about your other little secret. Not only are you a liar and a whore, but a junkie.”
The voice continued to goad her as she walked the stairs to her bedroom.
“Let me ease your pain, Livy. I can take it all away. You can sleep, Livy, and dream. Good dreams. Dreams of the life you always wanted. You can stay in that dream and never have to face the reality of Lucian and Nina. Kaden and Julian would love you in the dream. You can have the family you want. There’s nothing left here, Olivia. Your job is done. Kaden is free and now you can be free.”
Olivia reached into the secret compartment of her bag and used the key to open the box that stored the drugs – the only thing that gave her peace anymore. She had no blood to mix it in, so she poured a glass of water from the bathroom and let the leaves dilute.
She turned on her iPod and played the song that tormented her weakened heart for years, “I’ll Be Seeing You.” Billie Holiday’s soulful words were a harsh reminder of what she’d lost with Lucian. She had hoped these words would no longer haunt her as she and Lucian could have a future, but that would never be. Olivia drank the entire glass. She took out her journal and made one last entry.
Immortality is a curse. An eternity to reflect on all your mistakes. Years and years to be haunted by regret.
Goodbye, Lucian. May you find the peace and joy that I could never bring you. Maybe in the next life, we will get a second chance. I’ll wait for you by our cave. I pray that one day, I will see you again.
Before she could write more, Olivia’s eyes closed, her journal falling at her feet as Billie’s soulful words sang her to sleep. “I’ll be seeing you, Lucian,” she whispered before light faded to darkness.
IV
A frustrated Lucian explained the story again to the stubborn Council members who refused to believe that Kaden Gaspard could be innocent. “For the last time, Helena Ovron was a succubus, a demented succubus obsessed with Gaspard, and…” Lucian clutched his chest at a pain so intense that it seized his breath, causing him to collapse. Lorenzo rushed to his side.
“Lucian, what is it?”
“Olivia.” Using his supernatural speed, he raced
to Julian’s house and forced open Olivia’s door, ripping it off the hinges. He looked to the balcony and saw her body slumped in a chair. He rushed toward her and saw her angelic face sleeping contently. She wasn’t sleeping, though. He could feel her life fading as if part of him was dying with her. He lifted her from the chair and held her tightly against his chest, rocking her gently. “Wake up, Livy,” he pleaded, his voice cracking from the tears that were overwhelming him.
Reysa, Kaden, and Lorenzo appeared. Kaden rushed to his mother’s side. “What happened?”
“She won’t wake up. She’s fading.”
“We’ll get Amalia,” Lorenzo suggested. “If anyone can help, she can.”
Lucian could not speak. All he could do was focus his strength on trying to keep the woman in his arms alive -- otherwise, he would die with her. There could be no other option. He could not walk this earth without her again.
Reysa and Lorenzo returned with a confused Amalia. She approached the woman in Lucian’s arms. She grabbed the glass that had fallen and sniffed the contents. “Lucian. I’m so sorry. I can’t be absolutely certain without testing this, but it smells like mescah. If she is in a mescah-induced coma, I don’t know how to wake her.”
“You will figure something out, Amalia. You owe me.” If Lucian’s eyes were daggers, Amalia would be sliced in unrecognizable little pieces.
“I-I don’t understand.” No longer using her clinical detached voice, Amalia seemed genuinely afraid.
“I know it was you. All those years ago. You gave my father the drug that he used on me on my wedding night. It knocked me out for days, and during that time Daughton Gaspard stole everything from me. He took Olivia away, our family, our future. You helped them.”
“I had no choice, Lucian. Your father…”
“I know, but I don’t care. Fix her. If you cost me her again, so help me God I will kill you before I end my own miserable existence. Understand?” His penetrating eyes, the color of deep sapphire, underscored the menace behind those words.
Lover's Betrayal: Misfits of the Lore Series Page 25
