19. Chapter 19

Chapter nineteen

Drew

T his has to be the most unpleasant dinner of my entire life. I wish I had canceled it, but Luci had been so terrified when I announced that decision, that I backtracked. Like the idiot I am. The last thing Luci needs is to be sitting next to his abusive parents. What was I thinking?

I sigh. What is done is done. After his panic attack in the coffee shop, it is not surprising I was worried about setting him off again. Even though the way he clung to me had been darkly delicious.

I shake my head to clear it, and to focus on the here and now. I take a sip of the alcohol-free wine Katy ordered in for me. Gods, it's disgusting. But it looks like the real thing and therefore will stave off any prying questions.

We just need to get through the next few hours, then never again. Luci's parents will never be welcome in our home ever again.

I look down the length of the table to my vessel. His head is bowed and he is picking daintily at his food. His dark-colored suit is nice, but I hate everything that it signifies.

I watch him for a moment. He doesn't look at all happy, but he doesn't seem to be on the verge of a breakdown. It is the best that can be expected, I suppose.

It is startling to realize how much of his public face is a mask. All the long years of our engagement, I was fooled. Or perhaps I didn't want to see. And the taste of that thought is even more bitter than this wine. But I need to shove it aside. This dinner table is no place for wallowing in regrets. I need to concentrate and keep my wits about me.

Luci's exquisite magic is swirling within him. I think he will be ripe tomorrow, or the next day. Lust thrums through me at the thought, and I hate that desire is my reaction. I should be concerned for Luci and the extra stress being nearly full is probably causing.

"Earl Rocester is still evading capture," says my father and his annoyance is clear in his voice.

It is so hard not to look at Luci. But I can't. I can't do a single thing to arouse suspicion. The apparently random comment strikes rather too close for comfort. Of all the things my father could have chosen to talk about. For fuck's sake, luck is clearly not on my side tonight.

"That's unfortunate," I say casually.

"Blasted Revivalists are getting bolder every year!" scowls my father.

"Rocester is not a Revivalist," I say.

Damn it. I shouldn't have said a thing. Defending Barny's name is as stupid as it is pointless. Changing the topic of conversation would have been the far wiser move.

My father waves his hand dramatically in the air. "He had the audacity to break into Council property and free his dark magic practicing butler!"

"That doesn't make him a Revivalist," I insist. "Just a criminal."

Apparently, I'm incapable of learning from past mistakes. Or of shutting the hell up.

"We don't know what he is until we catch him and question him," grumbles my father.

I shake my head. "Barny is your nephew. My cousin. Don't be so quick to assign guilt."

"Bah!" exclaims my father. "We are Old Blood. Everyone is related to everyone in some way. Can't go around giving everyone free passes. "

I open my mouth, but my mother interjects with a comment about the opera, and the conversation is safely diverted to calmer topics. Sometimes my mother is not all bad. I sigh and take another sip of my fake wine.

As soon as everyone seems fully distracted by discussing this season's opera offerings, I risk a peek at Luci. I feel awful for bullying him into helping Barny, and having the whole thing brought up at the dinner table can't have been good for his nerves. Especially when he was already feeling anxious.

But he appears to be listening to the conversation attentively and politely. He doesn't look frazzled. That's a relief.

A sudden thought comes to mind and I nearly choke on my disgusting drink. My father grumbled to me and mother weeks ago about Barny and his butler's disappearance, and how the guards had been lured from their stations by a pretty girl. I'd assumed the guards had been lying because a pretty girl was less embarrassing than whatever Luci had actually done to them to get them to leave. But now that I've seen Luci in dresses, oh my goodness! Suddenly it all makes sense.

My vessel is such a minx! And I had no idea. He did all that for me. When, at that time, I'd never said a kind word to him. Despite that, he was still willing to risk everything to help me with my harebrained scheme.

Guilt, shame and regret claw like ice in my gut. I'm going to have to spend a lifetime making amends to Luci. And that's not even going to be long enough. I'll just need to pray that the fact I'm willing to try counts for something.

"Is there not a Revivalist shrine here on your property?"

The words startle me out of my thoughts. Luci's father is staring right at me. My father is squirming uncomfortably. When did the conversation drift back to Revivalists?

"Yes," I say with a warm smile, as if I don't know damn well it is a thinly veiled insult. "A couple of generations ago, a branch of the family tree was sadly involved with that cult. They got what they deserved, hence why the Count Felford title is now a subsidiary title for the Marquess du Colvert."

Luci's father nods as if this is vaguely interesting. The gall of the man. I know he is well aware of all this. Why is he bringing it up and being a jerk?

"And what befell the shrine?" he asks.

Is that what he is doing? Checking up on me? The nerve of the man! He is not here as a Council official. He is here as my in-law.

I grind my teeth. "Well hidden and well warded. As all former portals to the fey realm should be."

A loud clang rings out. Luci hastily retrieves his fork while muttering an apology.

"I see," says Luci's asshole father. "Does that mean a peek at it is out of the question?"

"I'm afraid so." If I smile any more, my face is going to crack.

My gaze flicks back to Luci. He is visibly trembling. No doubt his father being an ass, has unnerved him. Seeing him like this is stirring my simmering anger. I'd like nothing more than to scoop him up into my arms and take him away from his awful parents.

But my parents would never forgive me for making a scene. And it's only a few more hours to get through and then we will be free. I'll never invite them here again, nor accept any invitation from them. It will be fine.

If Marquess Mallory has any doubts about my ability to guard the shrine, he can take it up via official channels. I'm sure my parents will have my back. After all, they have seats on the Council too.

I shovel a forkful of my dinner into my mouth and try to appear perfectly calm. My mother steers the conversation to the terrible time she is having with her dressmaker. She receives the compliments she is fishing for, and I tune it all out.

Dinner drags on and on. Eventually, it ends and we move to the drawing room. I offer cigars to my father and Luci's. And Luci takes his place at the piano .

The ladies sit themselves on a chaise lounge and busy themselves with conversation.

The fire is burning merrily and the wind is blowing a gale outside. Despite the unpleasant company, it actually feels cozy in here. If these were people I liked, this would be a lovely evening.

A few notes tinkle out from the piano, and I look over in surprise. I don't think I've ever heard Luci play before. There is a look of rapt concentration on his face, but the music flowing from his fingers is quite lovely.

A whack on my back jolts me. "You're looking quite besotted there, my boy!" says my father.

I snatch my gaze away from Luci, but it is far too late. My father laughs, and a dark, pleased look crosses over Luci's father's face.

"Happy with the match we made for you?"

"Yes, thank you." My face feels hot. Oh gosh, am I blushing? I don't blush. That's what pretty boys do. Not me.

My father chuckles and Mallory puffs on the cigar I gave him. His dark eyes look over his son with an appraising look and I do not like it one bit.

"Perhaps you should take Lucien upstairs?" he says.

My fists clench by my side. Of all the inappropriate…wait. Luci's magic. It is brimming. Warm tendrils are spilling out across the room. Potent. Alluring. I see the moment my father senses it. He blinks and then avarice ignites in his eyes.

My fists nearly rise, but I take a deep breath. My father is a mage. Desire is a perfectly normal reaction to sensing a ripe vessel.

"If you will excuse me, gentlemen," I say, far too curtly.

I stride across the room to my vessel. My hand reaches out and rests on his wrist, silencing his playing. He startles and looks up at me with wide, green eyes. Hazy and slightly unfocused with all the magic swelling within him.

"I think it is time to go upstairs," I say softly.

His eyes widen even more, and his cheeks color. "But we have guests!" he whispers .

"And you are ripe, they will understand."

Surprise and shock flow across his beautiful face. He clearly hadn't realized how full his magic has grown.

He nods and bites his bottom lip. I help him to his feet and lead him away. On the one hand, this is fabulous timing. It's the perfect excuse to get Luci away from his parents, on the other hand, it is awkward as hell.

But my cock is already full. That part of me knows no shame at all. It only knows that Luci is ripe and I get the privilege of emptying him.

As far as my libido is concerned, tonight has turned out to be rather marvelous.