“Lucian, you are a good man. What happened between you and Angeline?” Everything about him screamed wild, unkempt
and nomad, Storm understood that but she also wanted happiness for him, for the
tenderness he showed her, for the years of friendship he’d given Ryder. Lucian fought every day to contain the
Phoenix, Storm could only guess at the strength it took, and to do so for more
than five centuries. He deserved some
measure of happiness and relief. She
respected Lucian more every day and had been researching ways to ease the
burden, absorbing every bit of information she could find on Phoenix. As it turned out, they had arrived with the
Tuatha De, or near about that time, and had once lived in peace among
them. That was the real reason for
Damarra’s absence and why Storm refused to summon her. Her grandmother would return when she was
good and ready, not a moment sooner or later.
“Do not let the Scots hear you say
that. I would never hear the end of
it.” He winked and took her arm. “Angeline and I are not a match. She served a purpose, we made an attempt, but
we did not have much spark. It was
mutual, I assure you, precious Emerald.”
Lucian chuckled at his pet name for her, one of many, and Storm found
herself charmed once more. She almost
missed the dark look that crossed her friend’s face – almost.
“Lucian, be honest with me. It’s getting worse, isn’t it?” It seemed silly to ask when the answer was
evident in his eyes but she’d misread so much lately, since the pregnancy
really. Besides, it would be good if
Lucian just opened up to her for once the way everyone else seemed to.
Instead, Lucian turned her to face
him, hands at her shoulders, and met her gaze evenly “Storm, do not worry about
me, I have handled this for over five hundred years, I can handle it for five
hundred more without batting an eye.”
Storm swore the fire flickered furiously for a second but when she
blinked it was gone. The sounds of Kell
and Pollux arguing ended the moment. “Hell, I had better go check on the Scots
to make sure your furniture turns out right.
Trust me, Storm, it will all work out and I am in complete control.”
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