Badlands: Next Generation Collection, page 41
“I didn’t say I was going to marry her, Cam. I’m not entirely sure how long she will be here. Right now, it’s what I want. Is there some reason you’re so against the idea?”
“I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
He gave me a look. “Don’t profile me, I hate that shit,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I don’t have an issue with it. Or her. I’m guessing you know who she is?”
“I know who she isn’t.” Leaving the conversation to end here until the others were able to hear, I turned and walked into the room.
Bella was seated in her usual spot, a book in her hand. If Ice wasn’t working under one of the Jeeps or doing something for me, he was usually with her. That was the regular for them.
Ice was another brother to us. We’d grown up together. My sister had a fluffy throw draped over her shoulders, and one leg stretched out with the other somewhat tucked beneath her. Cam sat beside her, playfully knocking her foot off the couch.
She laughed and placed it on his lap, then looked over at me. “So, she’s staying?”
“How can you read and eavesdrop?”
“I’m an excellent multi-tasker.”
Ignoring that, I got straight to the nitty gritty. “Her name is Astraea.”
“…and I thought my name was bad,” Bella murmured.
I glared at her. “There’s nothing wrong with your name, or Star’s.”
“It’s pronounced as-tree-ah,” Ice remarked as he strolled in. “She was the virgin goddess of innocence and purity.”
“Should we be concerned that you know all of that well enough to recite it?” Cam asked.
“Concerned that I’ve got a brain full of knowledge?” he retorted, sitting right on Cam’s lap and Bella’s foot.
“Bro,” Cam laughed, shoving him onto the floor.
Bella sniffed and made a face. “You smell like decomposition.”
“He was getting rid of a body.”
I left out that I’d had him carve a Leviathan in the bitch’s forehead and that my acolytes were currently on their way to deliver her to the A.R.C personally. It was a small part of a bigger plan.
“What kind of trouble is she in?” Bella asked.
“As far as I know, she’s not in any trouble at all. They need her to secure an alliance.”
Despite the buzzing in my veins, I kept my emotions in check. There’d been rumors that two factions were looking to form a union, but no solid proof.
Until now.
Until Star.
Cam sat forward and rested his elbows on his knees. I saw it all sink in for him. Now he understood my other reason for wanting to keep her.
“That’s big…isn’t it?” Bella asked, sounding unsure.
“Hell, yeah it is,” Ice replied, standing up.
She sat her book down and swung her legs over the side of the couch. “What do we do now then? We can’t—I mean, I don’t think you should give her back?”
“I have no intention to.”
I didn’t expand on this. There was something about Star that provoked a possessive side of me. It was a part of myself I wasn’t all that acquainted with yet, and for once in my life I didn’t know what to do aside from just go with it and see what happened.
Bella chewed her lower lip. “Then what are you going to do?”
“I thought I’d start with some discord.”
“And how do you intend to do that?”
“I’m going to let them know I have her.”
Ice chuckled and Cam followed suit. Bella looked between us with a frown. “Do I even want to ask why?”
“Of course.”
She sighed and shook her head at me. “Okay, Sir Lucifer. Why?”
I grinned. “It’s time to cause a little mayhem.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I’d chewed the inside of my cheek raw. My water was empty as well as my bowl, and now I regretted eating the curry. The knots in my stomach had me worried everything would come back up. All I could think was that they were going to give me back.
I didn’t want to die, but I wasn’t terrified of it either. There were things much worse than death. The A.R.C was one of them.
Would they put me through another crucifixion or finish shipping me off to the husband I’d assuredly humiliated?
I traced my hundredth invisible pattern into the tempered glass, straining to hear any sounds. There’d been a loud thud followed by laughter about fifteen minutes ago, but nothing else since.
With a small huff, I rubbed my forehead. I should have gone to the bathroom when I had the chance. My bladder was making a point to remind me I hadn’t, and these nerves weren’t helping.
When a hand landed on my shoulder I jumped, nearly pissing myself. I knocked it away without thinking and stood up, turning to face whoever was behind me.
“Hey.” Luce held my forearms and applied just enough pressure for me to snap out of my mini panic attack.
“You’re okay,” he stated firmly.
I looked up at him, unable to speak. My heart felt as if it were going to slam out of my chest.
“You’re okay,” he repeated, stroking my arms where he held them.
I glanced over, tracking the movement of his thumb. I noted how clean and trimmed his nails were. He didn’t let me go, even as my breathing began to return to normal. I replayed what just happened and my face burst into flame. I’d let my guard down completely—one of the worst possible things I could do in this situation.
“If I say we can pretend that didn’t just happen, will you look at me?”
I met his gaze head-on, peering right into his two pools of obsidian. “But it did happen.”
He stared back at me and I got the feeling he was searching for something. But I didn’t know what. His eyes had a vocabulary that was all their own, speaking a language that soothed the damaged parts of my soul.
He brought his face closer, stopping when our lips were a mere few inches apart. “What happened?” he asked softly, playing off how I’d just reacted.
My heart sped up for an entirely different reason, and my stomach somersaulted. As if he sensed the change, he dropped his hands and stepped away.
“I need you to come with me.”
“Okay…”
I expected him to turn and walk like Cam had done and leave me to follow.
Instead, he took hold of my hand and began to lead me.
His hold was firm and secure, the sheer size of his palm swallowing mine. We went back up the stairs, going left at the top. A few doors down, he was pushing open the only one that sat at the end of the hall. He led me inside and shut the door before letting my hand go.
I knew right away this was his bedroom. The masculine woodsy scent was all him and the aesthetic was fitting. There was a massive bed and two nightstands centered against the main wall with matching furniture placed accordingly against the others. Everything in here was dark except for a few lime green accents.
I looked up at the black chandelier that hung right above his bed. It was an obvious custom piece someone had put a lot of time and detail into.
The Savage insignia was evident in the intricate design. It was surreal to be amongst them, the man beside me specifically.
“You’ll stay here,” Luce stated, recapturing my attention.
I took another quick look around the room then glanced over to where he was standing. I hadn’t noticed him moving away.
“Alone?”
“Bathroom is through there.” He waved a hand in its general direction, ignoring my question. “Remote’s on the dresser.”
I twisted at the hip, seeing a TV that I’d overlooked. When I turned to face him again, he was pulling open the door and preparing to leave.
“Is that it?”
“Not much else left to explain. Don’t try to escape and don’t fuck up my shit.”
He stepped into the hall and pulled the door closed behind him. I swallowed and rubbed my arm to ward off a chill. It was stupid, I know, but I’d almost believed we’d had moment just a few minutes ago. It was definitely something, yet nothing like I’d ever experienced before. Everything with him had been thus far.
I wasn’t sure what was going to happen to me, but for the time being I was off the streets. I headed towards the bathroom, taking advantage of this opportunity to think.
I think I was in some kind of fancy warehouse.
A relatively large one.
Peering through one of the bedroom windows, I was up high enough that I could see there wasn’t anything ahead but open plains. Sleek, black boxcars were stacked on top of one another and serving as a fence.
Barbed wire had been attached to the tops of them. When the sun beamed off it just the right way, you could see electrical currents running through its silver wires. Everything was connected by two heavy gates, each situated between a guard post.
Every few minutes, people in long, black hooded robes passed beneath the window. I couldn’t see their faces to tell if they were men or women. My guess was on the former. I assumed these were the acolytes Luce had mentioned.
I’d heard about them as well, but this was my first time seeing any up close.
This place was clearly designed to keep people out, but it also meant I was sufficiently locked in. Maybe there was a rear exit, but I wasn’t going to hold my breath on that.
Upon hearing the bedroom door opening, I moved from behind the curtain and let it fall back into place. Luce walked in, his shirt damp and a few tendrils of sweat rolling down his temple. My eyes sought out his with an annoyingly magnetic urgency.
“See anything interesting?”
You mean other than you? I shook my head, wondering what he’d been doing to look like this.
“I’ve been outside. It’s a peak day.”
That meant it was ridiculously hot out, more so than usual.
His tanned skin had already let me know he spent lots of time in the sun, but peak days could easily kill someone. The Badlands was temperamental like that.
“Do you always do this?”
He pushed the door shut and turned the lock. “Do what?”
“Answer private thoughts.”
“Your thoughts aren’t quiet. I know exactly what you’re thinking every time I look at your face.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Denial is a fool’s way to cope, little dove.”
Dove?
He turned towards his bathroom, reaching behind his back to remove his shirt. A minute later the shower clicked on. To so casually strip down and expose himself let me know he didn’t consider me any kind of threat.
Why should he?
The stories of Lucifuge Deville were widespread and well-known. Inherently cruel and cold-hearted were commonly used terms in reference of his personality.
I hadn’t experienced that from him. He had essentially kidnapped me, yes. He didn’t object to putting me in a cage, and he’d all but ordered me to stay in his bedroom. The last one I couldn’t fault him for. He had no reason to trust me and even less to give me the freedom to wander around his home.
He was intense.
But I could handle intense…or so I thought. He returned to the bedroom after about twenty minutes.
By then, I had moved to the suede ottoman at the foot of his bed. He came strolling into the room with a simple blue towel wrapped around his waist. I told myself not to stare, which was the equivalent of telling myself not to breathe.
There was well defined V that accentuated the path from his hips to what was beneath the towel. The right side of his body was inked from chest to lower stomach, each of his eight abs framed by solid lines and defined ridges.
My stomach did a small flip as he brushed past me. Whatever he’d washed up with had a woodsy scent with a hint of cinnamon. I followed him with my eyes. There was only one tattoo on his back, but it was so large it took up the whole thing. It was his Baphomet, without the circle.
The goat held up one hand, making a symbol of sorts. The darkly shaded ink highlighted the definition of his muscles. His entire body was a beautiful work of art and dedication. I couldn’t fathom what it took to look like this. I could barely manage three sit-ups.
With no warning, he dropped his towel. If he meant to shock me, he’d failed. I stared at his ass for all of three seconds before meeting his gaze in the reflection of the dresser mirror.
“That’s the second time you’ve eye-fucked me so hard I could feel it. I’m starting to feel a little violated.”
My brows slanted. “That isn’t what I’m doing.”
“Next you’ll say you’re not helplessly attracted to me.”
“I’m not…?”
“People who lie to me tend to lose their tongues or their lives, sometimes both.”
“You won’t kill me.” I stiffened as soon as the words fell from my mouth. I hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
He stared me down in the mirror, not responding to my stupidity.
Irritated by my own foolishness, I stared at a spot on the floor that was suddenly of interest.
I didn’t fear Lucifuge, but I was downright terrified of the things he could do to me. If those tales about him were true, he wasn’t a merciful killer.
I peered over when I heard him pull open one of his upper drawers. He lifted out a pair of black briefs and socks then disappeared into what I guessed was a closet. When he reemerged, he was dressed in another dark shirt and jeans. Without so much as a glance in my direction, he went back to his bathroom.
I marginally relaxed, expelling a quiet breath. What was wrong with me? I never made dumb mistakes like that, especially when they could cost me my life. A feeling deeply rooted in my gut made me want to believe the words I’d spoken, but I knew how crazy that was.
At A.R.C they wouldn’t dare kill me. The Savages were nothing like them. They didn’t need me alive. Luce entered the room again, this time with his boots on and his dark hair neatly styled.
I should have expected what happened next. The spot I’d been so busy staring at vanished as he took its place, crossing right over the line of my personal space without shame. He hunched over so we were at eye level and planted his fists on either side of the ottoman, effectively caging me in.
“What makes you think I won’t kill you?”
There was no way I could answer that.
“Aw, little dove. Don’t tell me you’re swayed by every man that’s nice to you.”
This was what he considered nice? He brought his face closer to mine, and as I leaned back so that there was some space between our dangerously close to touching lips, I was hit with a rush of déjà vu. He’d done this same thing downstairs.
“Relax. I don’t like it when my girls scream too soon. That’s more Cam’s preference. He’s got demons that feed on terror and carnage. Me? I like getting inside their heads. When they lower their guard and start to think they’re safe, that’s the perfect opportunity to make a move.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“No reason, really. I just wanted to see how you’d react.” He stepped away, taking his body heat with him. “I’ll be back in a few hours.” I caught a small glimpse of an irritatingly cocky smirk as he walked out.
I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to laugh or be angry that he clearly got satisfaction from toying with me.
CHAPTER TWELVE
My stubbornly rebellious nature was daring me to open the bedroom door and walk down the stairs.
Common sense told me to sit here and not do anything stupid. I had been doing the latter for hours now. The sun was no longer in the sky. I’d had to turn on a lamp so I wasn’t sitting in the dark.
The marks on my back weren’t helping my mood.
I knew the irritation meant the lashes were healing, but the urge to scratch had me seeking out a distraction that wasn’t there. I’d never paid much attention to this before. I had learned to ignore it and always had other things to focus on.
Right now, all I could think about was what would be happening to me. Luce had hinted at keeping me here twice now. I needed confirmation. And motive. There had to be a reason why he’d do that. I racked my brain for what that could be but got nothing.
I massaged my temples to alleviate the pounding that had started in my head. The door swung open and Luce walked in with Cam right behind him.
“Have you been sitting there this whole time?” Luce asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice. “It’s been hours.”
Cam sat down on the ottoman beside me and offered a bottle of water.
It was cold and appeared unopened, so I accepted with a quiet thanks.
“Why didn’t you turn on the TV?” He waved towards the sleek black box hanging on the wall.
“I didn’t want to touch his stuff.” I twisted the cap off the water and took a sip.
I was relieved to see Cam again. I didn’t think I was necessarily safer being around him, but the vibe was different.
With Luce, I felt as if he would pick me apart piece by piece until all my defenses were gone and I was at his mercy. With Cam, I imagined he’d just fuck me up and be done, which was basically what Luce had told me before walking out of the room earlier.
“I told you where the remote was. That wasn’t a clear indicator you could touch it?”
“No, because you could walk in here and twist me doing so to your benefit.”
“That’s got to be a world record.” Cam laughed softly. “She’s figuring you out already.”
Luce circled around the ottoman and sat on the edge of his bed, as close as he could get to me. Being somewhat sandwiched between the two of them was a little overwhelming. I wasn’t sure who to look at. There was the chaotic, magnetic pull to Luce, or the calmness of Cam. I decided to focus on my water instead.
“How did you get away from the A.R.C?” Cam asked.
“I ran.”
“Why?” This came from Luce.
“I…I didn’t want to marry whomever it was they were giving me to.”
“You’re sure that’s what it was about?”
I looked between the two of them. Where were they going with this line of questioning? I decided to be as up front as I could. Lying wasn’t going to do me many favors right now. If this was cause for them to give me back, well, I’d have to go from there.
