"You can be with your little tramp any time. I shan't be around at your convenience."
He bristled immediately. “Do not ever talk about her in that manner."
"My, my. How lucky can a woman get, a man to defend her honor? I received no such consideration even from men who were supposed to be noble, like your father who should have protected me instead of sharing me."
"Madam, for someone who does not want to talk about who fathered me, you are picking at a newly formed scab I would try to leave be. Please cease because I can only bear so much."
"You ungrateful bastard!"
She slapped him. Lucien saw it coming, and he allowed her that because it was the only real reaction he could get from her. The duchess could not feel anything for anyone except herself. Despite her own tortuous past, Aislan had retained more warmth in her one little finger than this woman had in her entire being.
With that realization, Lucien let go of the tenuous peace that could never last with his mother. He would not try anymore. He only cared about Aislan. Lucien wanted to get away, but the duchess, apparently, was not finished.
"You physically tortured me those nine months I had to carry you,” she raged. “You tore me to pieces, coming out legs first. You shall watch what you say to me because you owe me your life!"
"God in heaven,” Jaden exclaimed as he came into the clearing. “I could hear you both from my chamber. I beg your pardon, your Grace. Lucien, you should go knocking at the main entrance and announce your presence so everyone knows you are here if you insisted on arguing with your suffering mother and upsetting her. Auntie, I'll have a talk with this disrespectful son of yours. Come along!” Jaden walked on.
Lucien bade his mother a polite good day before he continued on his way. The duchess did not follow, and Lucien sighed in great relief. She was an exhausting woman to be around. He came to a small fountain off the main path where he sensed Jaden to be. Jaden had gone into the maze. Lucien followed the sensory trail until the two met up.
"This better be good for you to drag me out of bed so I can listen to your ungodly argument with your mother.” Jaden yawned lazily. “Why you two cannot make peace with each other is beyond my ken. You should do what I do with most women. Pretend they are right and agree to most everything. Just nod and smile like a wittold, and then you shall have peace. You need thick skin instead of arguing back."
"Do not advise me on how to handle women."
The two of them walked around the maze as the hedges shifted. Traver had made it impossible for anyone to walk into private territories without knowing the foot pattern.
"Do not argue with your mother, I say,” Jaden insisted. “I give in to my mother every time, and she thinks I am her angel."
"No doubt you ejected from your mother without so much as a protest."
"I would rather not discuss how I came out of my mother. Although I have to say, how anyone could blame her son for how he was born,” Jaden shook his head, “that is the damnedest I have heard. But then again, you are a difficult and ungrateful bastard. I risked my life hauling you out of Youngstone's dungeon, and nary a word I heard from you since then."
Six months ago, Jaden had communicated with Lucien telepathically and discovered his imprisonment. He had gone into South Sharland to help Lucien escape. During the past week, Lucien had sensed Jaden's attempt to communicate with him, no doubt because he had heard of Lucien's transgressions with Aislan, but Lucien had deliberately blocked the mental connection attempt. No one could help him now even if he trusted both his cousins—but only to a certain extent. The eccentric Traver did not like to get involved in any intrigue, and the rascally Jaden's loyalty extended only so far. Jaden served as a messenger for the Sorcery Circle, most of the time delivering petty news among the senior sorcerers. Jaden played the fool while taking the opportunity to see and hear everything. Lucien had seen Jaden in action often enough to know the jaunty façade hid the cunning man beneath.
"What have you heard?” Lucien asked casually.
"There were whispers you injured a few of your sorsvasus brothers, but none of them complained."
"I'll be damned. What are they up to?"
"What are who up to?"
Lucien knew his cousin knew damned well what had happened. “I expected to be hunted down by the Circle to face trial."
Jaden frowned. “Just rumors you ought to have your ass whipped for brawling with the sorsvasus over a wench, but nothing else."
How can Jaden not know about Daman? When one sorsvasus killed another who was not an outcast, the Circle would call upon all to bring the killer to justice.
"Why have you summoned me here?” Jaden asked.
Lucien hesitated. “I trust you'll give me a sennight before you report my whereabouts to the Sorsverein."
"What the devil are you saying? Why should I turn you in? You may not be one of my favorite people, but you are my only cousin. Give me a little credit."
"I cannot imagine you risking your hide to go against the king or the Sorsverein."
Jaden waved a dismissive hand. “They think I am a derelict already, consorting with the Crown Prince in depravity. Her Majesty would like nothing more than to castrate me as an example.” Leading off topic, Jaden cupped his crotch and shuddered.
"What's with the message?” Lucien asked coolly.
"What message, pray tell?"
"The message you delivered yester eve."
"'Tis too early in the morn for riddles."
"No one else knows I am here, Jaden."
Jaden sighed. “So what if you are up to no good? Why should I give a damn? I go drinking with Prince Jules, and King Julian accuses me of leading the Crown Prince astray. We are expected to behave like saints."
"Stop fucking with me."
Jaden continued to look clueless. Lucien pulled the parchment delivered to him by the Fulfillment and handed it over.
"Who is Hayton Temple?"
"No need to keep up the charade. I know you delivered this message."
"By God, be damned! I did no such thing.” Then Jaden made the connection. “Lady. Can this refer to Lady Aislan? Are you not in enough trouble without running off with someone else's wife on top of it?"
"The husband is dead."
"So you ran off with the widow—” Jaden stopped and glanced at the message again. “This reads like he is still alive."
"He should be dead. I killed him myself."
"Ayy! You killed a man to take his wife?"
Lucien wanted to punch Jaden in the face for keeping up with this farce. No one knew he and Aislan were at Calvacade. No one had the skill to deliver the message to him mere inches from his nose, and then leave without him being able to detect the presence. Jaden was a powerful sorcerer who moved stealthily and could not be detected.
His cousin had saved his life twice before, and Lucien had repaid the debt in kind on one occasion. However, loyalty changed given the right circumstances. Lucien took the message and put it back in his pocket.
"Do as you must.” He turned to walk away.
Jaden jumped in front of him. “Whatever trouble you are in, I'll not betray you, not even to the king. Even when you are impossible, I know your loyalty runs deep. You would never betray the king or do anything to jeopardize the Circle."
"Do not try to convince me of my loyalty. Anyhow, you damn well know I refer to another entity."
"By the saints, Lucien, you make no sense."
Lucien could not read his cousin. Jaden was either innocent or else very good. The Fulfillment was more influential than he suspected to be able to buy one of the powerful Calvacade brothers. Lucien needed time, but with the message now delivered, the Fulfillment would expect him to pay his dues soon. Double-crossing the Fulfillment with Jaden operating on the inside would have dire consequences when he still had much to do.
"If you need my help, you need only to ask,” Jaden said quietly. “I would not cause harm to you or your lady."
"I may
consider it.” He played along. The man who had saved his life had become an enemy. If he had no need of the metamorphic potion for Aislan, he would leave forthwith.
"Lucien—"
"Do as you must.” Lucien left.
Chapter 19
The Lessons
Aislan woke and fretted because Lucien was gone. The uncertainty of the entire situation made her extremely nervous, especially in this mysterious labyrinth.
The maid came with her breakfast, then tended to her hair and laced up her dress before leaving. Aislan settled down to eat her meal. She prepared her morning tea, grateful at least Lucien had taken this worry from her. Even when he had not touched her the past few days, she had kept up with her morning ritual in front of him. In the past, she never took a respite, even when Hayton was gone from the castle for weeks or months because she never knew when he would return. She could not take chances then and especially not now when life wrought with uncertainties.
Lucien came back as she almost finished breakfast. Straightening, Aislan adjusted her leaf-green silk gown where she had fussed forever in front of the mirror, making sure she would look good for him. She quickly smoothed a crease off her sleeve as if he would notice such a thing. Though already dressed, Aislan would be receptive to a little more lovemaking—or a whole lot of it.
She smiled warmly as Lucien came to the table. He was dressed casually in the usual brown tunic daywear, black boots, and adorned with his weapons, as always. Today, he left his dark hair loose. The wavy strands fell past his shoulders and looked slightly tousled, as if he had not done more than comb his fingers through them. Tenseness etched the handsome features, and a worried frown marred the dark brows. Aislan wanted to kiss away the tension from the firm, wide lips until they softened and rewarded her with more delicious kisses.
She lifted her face, parting her lips, but he ignored her waiting mouth and settled in the chair across from her. Aislan stared at him in exasperation as he hurried through his tepid meal, practically swallowing it whole.
"Let us visit Traver."
Without so much as a warm smile her direction after their night of passionate lovemaking, her impossibly erratic lover stood up, grabbed her hand, and off they went towards Lord Traver's laboratory.
"We need to talk about your pendulating demeanor!” she declared in a pique.
"Not now.” He walked quickly. Because he held her hand almost intimately, a few of his fingers weaving with hers instead of his usual, around-the-wrist, impersonal touch, Aislan held off on her lecture.
They entered the laboratory where Lord Traver mixed potions in glass flasks. Aislan's throat closed up immediately upon the mere sight of them.
Lord Traver turned when he heard them enter. The man exuded magnetism, but she did not feel the breathlessness and excitement or rush of emotions and desire Lucien's presence always gave her. In her eyes, Lucien outshined them all with his dark good looks and sexual charisma. He was the only man who mattered to her, who had weaved his way into her body and her soul.
"Good morn, milady.” Lord Traver smiled politely. “Lucien.” He nodded and indicated a chair. “Milady will be more comfortable there."
Clinging to Lucien's muscular arm, Aislan wanted to shrivel up at the frightening prospect of a transformation.
"'Tis all right.” Lucien tried to ease her into the chair, gentle but insistent.
"What will be done to me?” she asked fearfully, wanting to faint from cowardice as she held tight onto his arm. He took her hand and rubbed warmth into the back of it.
"I need to extract a blood sample,” Lord Traver said.
Aislan shrank further into the chair at the thought of her blood all over the place.
"'Twill only be a few drops."
She wedged her free hand under her thigh. “What exactly will you do to me?” she insisted.
"Aislan, we are fortunate Traver agrees to this,” Lucien said.
"Then you let yourself be experimented on."
"'Tis not an experiment. Traver has done this many times already successfully."
The confusing flash of images in Aislan's vision told her otherwise. She saw the shape-shifted wolf that Lucien had killed and imagined herself turning into a wolf.
"'Tis not meant for me.” She got to her feet. Lucien eased her back down and knelt at her feet to look at her as she wiped the tears from her face, not caring if she came across as pitiful. Even though he kept hold of her hand while his other settled on her kneecap, caressing it, his touch did not reassure her about the transformation. She refused to shape-shift into a wolf. Her body already a mess, she could not deal with fangs and fur on top of everything else.
Lord Traver got down on one knee in front of her so the two men knelt side by side as if they both were ready to ask for her hand. “Milady,” he said gently. “The potion will alter your physical appearance only temporarily. It also adds iron to your blood, but only enough to mislead Trackers who have targeted you."
Transformation into an animal would be too much to ask of any woman.
"'Twill not work on me. I do not want to be a wolf.” She imagined herself howling at the moon.
Lord Traver lifted a quizzical brow. “You will not shape-shift into any animal. Your facial features will alter slightly. You may not be as beautiful as you are now, but you will remain a woman. You will look like—another woman."
Aislan touched her face and imagined herself plain. Lucien watched her all the time because he found her beautiful. He desired her because of her physical appearance. No matter how he would insist otherwise, would he look at her the same way if her face altered? She could not bear it if he did not find her beautiful anymore.
"I do not want to.” She set her mouth mutinously.
"Aislan, please.” Lucien gave her a pleading look.
"Now, what could I have missed with you two wooing the lady so devoutly?” Lord Jaden's voice came from the doorway, and all three occupants in the room turned to him. Lucien got to his feet, his mouth pinched. He glared at Lord Jaden with barely concealed hostility, his long, lean body tight with tension.
Lord Traver also got to his feet.
"You did not handle this too well.” Jaden came into the room. “You need to spend more time with women instead of your chemistry set. You do not tell a beautiful lady you will transform her from butterfly to moth, brother."
"Aislan is right. ‘Tis not a good idea after all. Come, milady.” Lucien drew her to her feet, and she clung to his arm as her only anchor.
"What is the matter with you two?” Traver looked between Lucien and Jaden.
"Now, now, cousin. Calm down.” Jaden looked instantly contrite. “I am on your side. You want to hide Lady Aislan? Who better than I would understand this process?” He turned to Aislan. “My brilliant brother is an alchemy sorcerer. He can create miracles. I am the inspiration for it all.” He spread his arms. “When you have such a handsome source, how could you be anything but a butterfly, as beautiful as ever?"
Aislan looked him over curiously. “You contribute to this—potion?"
"In a manner of speaking.” Jaden smiled.
Both Lucien and Lord Traver stood unmoving like two stone statues. Aislan looked from one man to another, and then pressed the front of her entire body along Lucien's arm. “You play me for a fool,” she told Jaden coldly.
Jaden's smile faded, his amber eyes no longer twinkling. “No, milady, I would not. No Tracker can find me. Cousin here will confirm that."
She turned to Lucien. “I trust you. What do you say?"
Lucien exchanged a glance with Jaden. “'Tis true. I cannot find him."
Jaden returned Lucien's glacial look with a blank one. Despite Jaden's rascally behavior, Aislan's sensed no evilness in him. However, if Lucien did not trust Jaden, then Aislan would not, either. Her instincts could be completely wrong. She had done a few foolish things based on instincts.
"You should go through with your original plan,” Jaden suggested coolly. �
�You have no other option since you are pressed for time."
If anything, Lucien turned white. Aislan cast Jaden a look of dislike for whatever he did that made Lucien look positively sick with distrust. Lucien gave Traver an almost accusing look.
"What?” Traver looked between the two men with obvious confusion. “Whatever problems you two have with each other, I did not say anything."
"I only referred to the message,” Jaden said in a tone too bland. Aislan now knew her instincts about Jaden's goodness had to be wrong. The rat was lying about something.
Jaden continued in his trademark cool tone, “I assumed you wanted to keep Lady Aislan from being found because you ran off with her. A little drastic to hide her, but she is the most beautiful lady, so I can imagine your infatuation with her."
Lucien looked ready to throttle Jaden who, in Aislan's opinion, sounded utterly ludicrous in his simple assessment of the situation.
"You will have to trust me,” Jaden told Lucien before he turned to Aislan and smiled. “Now, please, milady. Do not look at me with such distrust, for I would die before I allow any harm to come to a lady. The potion will only work if my glib brother can mix your blood with his magic and keep you safe. If it makes you comfortable, I'll leave. See. I am gone."
Only Aislan watched him leave. When she turned her focus on Lucien, he and Traver exchanged a glance, and Traver shrugged as he waited for whatever the outcome.
Lucien looked resigned as he turned back to her. “'Tis needed, Aislan. I have tracked you twice. One of the wolves tracked you. Any Tracker can find you. We have traveled a long way here for this. Without this, I will fail to protect you, and everything will be for naught. We put Traver at risk, too, if we are found here."
Aislan did not know what to do. Their being here put Lord Traver in jeopardy. He had gone out of his way to help her, a perfect stranger. What else could she do now? What choice did she have?
Lord Traver picked up a long, thin needle and held it over the flame of a large candle. Lucien propelled Aislan back to the chair and remained standing by her side. She hung onto his arm with one hand while offering her other hand tentatively as if she expected it to be cut off. For the first time since she met him, a small smile flitted across Lord Traver's face, probably because of the pathetic sight she must be presenting.
Vision of Light [The Renegades 1] Page 20
