Lucca (17 page)

The room was large, accommodating the
Fallens’ wings with ease and allowing them to fly toward the dome
above with its clear glass to let in daylight or reveal the night’s
sky. When the dome stood fully open, they could use this room as a
form of entry or exit.

Chaz sipped red wine with relaxed ease, his
gaze locking onto Eli over the rim of the goblet. “She will be
fine. The physicians will not hurt your mate.”

Eli gave a whisper of a smile. “I know Ryden
is in good hands.” They were there to run tests, to make sure Ryden
was okay. The wound she received last night had completely healed,
a miraculous feat in itself. Humans didn’t heal so quickly. Her
ability proved another mystery they all wanted to unravel. If she
could heal herself, would she also live longer, too?

Eli couldn’t help but thrill at the idea of
Ryden picking up Nephilim traits. He would take as many years
allotted them to be together, no matter how few they may be, but if
there were a chance they could be together for centuries, he would
celebrate the fact.

“If you do not fear for your mate then tell
me what is troubling you?”

Eli looked at his cup as if realizing for
the first time he indeed held the goblet in his hand. He placed it
down on the marble end table beside him. “I was thinking about
Lucca.”

“Lucca?” the elder’s brows rose. “Has he
caused difficulties?”

Eli leaned forward. “Lucca was there last
night when the demons attacked.”

“I see. Do you believe he orchestrated the
attack?”

Eli had thought about it long after Ryden
and he retired for the night. He went over every second of the
fight in his mind and came to the same conclusion. “No. Lucca just
happened to be there when the demons were coming after Ryden.” Eli
gave Chaz a complete account of what happened last night, leaving
nothing out. “You can see why I’m troubled. A lost cat or a person
racing their sports car too fast down the street are about the most
unnerving events to take place in Huntington Harbor, demons don’t
stage fights and extractions there.”

“You said Lucca saved Ryden from a sure
death. You are positive?” Chaz asked.

Eli nodded. “He claimed he wanted to talk to
me, but after what happened, I was in no mood to sit down for a
chat. Now I wish I had. Something is going on with him.”

Chaz finished the last of his wine and
placed his goblet next to Eli’s full glass. “Then it would be wise
to set up your chat.” The elder’s gaze held his. “But don’t be
fooled by Lucca. He’s cunning when he wants to be. His upbringing…”
A pang of remorse shadowed Chaz’s features. “Lucca’s father was
diligent in his teachings, forcing his low opinions of humans on
Lucca and punishing him when he disagreed.”

“Are you saying Lucca’s father abused him?”
Eli asked, surprised he hadn’t heard of this before.

Chaz brushed a hand over his face in a
vigorous sweep as to rid his mind of the dark thoughts that plagued
it. “I fear Lucca will never learn to respect humans.”

So this is why Chaz had encouraged him to
end Lucca’s life and not give him a second chance to redeem
himself. Lucca had tried to kill him. Grigori law gave Eli the
right to lay down the punishment for the transaction. He chose to
give Lucca a chance to live among the humans and learn to respect
them. Only then would Lucca’s banishment be lifted.

Eli’s gaze leveled on Chaz. “Lucca has
befriended a human.”

“Is that so?” Chaz didn’t seem
convinced.

“A female.”

This caught Chaz’s interest. “A female? You
are sure?”

Eli sighed. “Yes. He chose the restaurant
where we dined last night to have dinner with her. We were there to
discuss the recent preternatural killing and what Gideon uncovered
with his touch.”

“I read your report, but there was no
mention of Lucca’s presence.”

“I stuck to the facts of the case. Lucca was
not involved with the discussion.”

“I see. Go on.” Chaz waved his hand for him
to continue.

“Lucca was protective of the woman. His body
tensed and was battle ready as if he feared one of us would attack
her. I have no doubt, he would have protected this woman if any one
of us proved a threat.”

“Interesting,” Chaz agreed. “But you should
tread softly here. If I recall, you dined at Doug’s, did you
not?”

“Yes.”

“Lucca knows Doug’s is a place you favor.
Perhaps his little impromptu was staged to make you lower your
guard, to trust him for whatever reasons he may have.” He held up
his hand when Eli tried to speak, silencing him. “I’m not saying
this is the case, but I would not discount it.”

Eli nodded. “I have no intentions to do
so.”

“Eli?”

Eli turned to see Ryden standing in the
doorway of the library, looking lovely in her dark colored dress,
tights, and boots. He rose from his seat. He glanced at Chaz and
the elder waved him on.

“Go, your mate is waiting for you.

Eli strode over to Ryden. Her eyes the color
of brown sugar regarded him curiously. Reaching her, she slid her
arm through his and leaned against him. “Don’t look so
worried.”

“I can’t help it. What did the physicians
have to say?”

“I’m perfectly fine, better than fine. They
ran the blood tests. I’m changing, Eli.”

He pulled away to look at her. “What do you
mean?”

“There are traces of the Nephilim blood in
me.” She chuckled and he knew he had not masked his worry from her.
“I’m not going to sprout wings or anything, but it seems we are
joined in more ways than one. The physicians believe it may be the
constant contact I have with your wings. Traces of angel dust are
on my skin and have seeped into my pores.” She touched his face.
“It’s okay. It won’t harm me. In fact, each caress is bringing me
closer to being immortal.”

He searched her face with concern. “Are you
all right with that?”

Her right brow lifted slightly. “Why
wouldn’t I be? Don’t you want me by your side for centuries or were
you only interested in a quick fifty year fling?” Her light-hearted
words spoke of teasing, but her eyes gave her away.

“Walk with me.” His hand slipped into hers
as they strolled down the halls lined with tapestries and other
works of art. He recalled another stroll down this hall not so long
ago, when he broke the rules and dared to reveal his true self to a
human. It could have ended badly, but the elders gave him a chance
to prove he indeed found his soul mate. “I love you, Ryden.” He
squeezed her hand and she returned the gesture. “Humans believe
immortals live forever, but it’s not true. Immortal has a loose
translation in your dictionaries. All beings die eventually.”

“I know,” she said softly, leaning into
him.

“But if it’s true and you are truly becoming
immortal, you’ll live a very long time, longer than your family,
longer than your friends. You’ll look youthful while they’ll grow
old. You won’t be able to stay with them. You’ll have to leave and
start a new life somewhere else. You can’t live among the same
humans for long. They’ll become suspicious to why you haven’t
aged.” He stopped walking, and made her look at him. “Can you
accept that? Maybe it is not too late for you. Maybe what I’ve done
to you can be reversed.” His hands were on her shoulders. His eyes
rested on her, gauging her reaction to his news. He saw the
emotions flitting across her features. She hadn’t thought this
through. In her excitement to be with him, she hadn’t realized the
sacrifice. Hell, he hadn’t known the sacrifice. He would have never
taken her away from her family and friends. What a selfish fool
he’d been. He thought he could be with her and she would still have
her life, too. He swallowed the lump in his throat. Ryden was the
last person he would ever hurt, but loving her would cause her to
sacrifice so much.

She met his gaze, her chin rising in
defiance. “I choose you. It’s always been you.”

“And your family and friends?” His doubt
spoke loudly. “What about Lana?” He knew how close she was with her
cousin. They shared each other’s secrets.

“We don’t have to pack up today, do we?”

With cosmetics and plastic surgery being
readily available to anyone who had the money, they could stay in
one area for ten years or more. “No, we don’t have to leave for
awhile.”

She nodded, drawing in a deep breath as she
did so. “I can say goodbye when it’s time. Don’t worry. You aren’t
getting rid of me so easily.” Her lips curved into a brave grin.
Her teasing was meant to disarm him, put him at ease. It was so
much like Ryden to think of him first.

He leaned down to kiss her. Her arms went
around his neck, drawing him closer. She thought he wouldn’t
notice, but he felt the tears on his cheek. He didn’t doubt she
spoke the truth. She wanted to be with him. He felt it in the way
she clutched his shoulders as if she couldn’t get enough of him. He
felt it in her caress as she gave a little of herself, an offering
only to him, but it didn’t mean she would be able to give up her
human world so easily. Her tears were for a life she’d have to
leave behind. All he could do was hold her and let her mourn.

Chapter Twenty-Two

As Lucca opened his front door to retrieve
the newspaper, Juliet’s blasted cat came bounding in as if it owned
the place. “Hey, feline. Stop!” The cat ignored him completely and
jumped onto the back of his sofa, staring at him with a look of
what’s-the problem-with-you
attitude. He narrowed his eyes.
“Fine. Stay.” He pointed a finger at her. “But you’re out of here
when I leave for work. I don’t need to clean up fur balls when I
return. Among other distasteful things,” he mumbled the last part
under his breath. Just as he was about to close the door, it flew
open again with a shove as Owen came bursting in.

“There you are Tiger Lilly.”

He’d forgotten about the cat’s ridiculous
name. “See here, this isn’t a way station.”

The boy’s hand caressed his pet and the
feline reciprocated by leaning against his palm and omitting
motor-like sounds of affection. Lucca closed his door before anyone
else decided to join them.

“What’s a way station?” the boy asked, his
light silver-blue eyes widening with interest.

Lucca rolled his eyes heavenward. “I’m not a
schoolmarm and I have no intentions of becoming one.

The boy chuckled. “You’re way too large to
be schoolmarm.”

“Smartarse,” he murmured under his breath as
he headed for the kitchen. He opened his cupboard and took down the
cereal box from the bottom shelf. His kitchen had the essentials:
coffeemaker, toaster, refrigerator, and stove microwave combo. A
small pine table stood near the window. The cream colored walls
remained bare of frivolous artifacts. The kitchen served as a place
to eat and nothing more.

To his dismay, Owen followed him, his feline
padding silently behind on the tan tiled floor. “I like Cocoa
Puffs, too.” Owen eyed the box in his hands.

Wouldn’t it figure? He took down a bowl for
him and one for Owen, pouring a generous amount of cereal in each
bowl. “You probably like milk also, I suppose?”

The boy’s head bobbed up and down as he
grinned from ear to ear.

Lucca turned and opened the refrigerated to
grab the milk carton. Once he retrieved the spoons, he ordered Owen
to take a seat at the table. “Don’t spill,” he warned as he placed
the bowl in front of him and he took the seat on the other side
facing him. He opened the paper, making a big production of it,
too. After a second or two, he stared over the rim of the paper at
Owen.

The boy went to work on the cereal as if he
hadn’t eaten in days.

“You can take a breath in between bites you
know. No one’s going to steal your meal.”

Owen looked at him and grinned. “Tiger Lilly
might.” His gaze shifted to Lucca’s cereal bowl.

Lucca lowered his paper and cursed as his
gaze caught sight of the feline lapping up milk from his bowl.
“Shoo, I say. Shoo.” He waved his hand at the cat, but the feline
refused to be intimidated.

Owen chuckled with childish delight, making
Lucca’s lips curve into a smile despite his will not to encourage
the boy.

“Tiger Lilly has a mind of her own,” Owen
claimed with a mouth full of cereal.

“Hmm...” He pursed his lips together. How in
the world did he become a nursemaid to a child and defiant stray
cat who went around adopting people? “Where’s your aunt?”

“She’s taking a shower.”

The image did all kinds of things to his
libido. Wet, soap sliding over her smooth skin… He cleared his
throat, shifting in his seat. “So, she doesn’t know you’re
here?”

Before Owen could answer, the rapid quick
strokes of what could only be a desperate guardian on the hunt of
an errant boy interrupted them. He slid from his seat to answer it.
Maybe it was just him, but it seemed Juliet was a little over
protective of the boy.

He opened the door to find Juliet standing
there. She was incredible to look at even with her wet strands
plastered to her face. She looked so young without makeup to
heighten her classic beauty. Her frantic search for her nephew left
her cheeks flushed and her eyes wide with worry. She had
haphazardly pulled on a T-shirt, which she wore inside out and a
pair of shorts, leaving a generous amount of skin uncovered. Faux
diamond flip-flops adorned her delicate feet. He noticed she didn’t
paint her toes like so many females in Southern California did. He
approved of the natural look.

“I’m sorry to disturb you,” her words came
out quick but precise. “Is Owen—”

He stepped aside to let her enter. “He
arrived with a friend earlier.”

She gave him a curious look. “Friend?”

He waved his hand toward the kitchen and
followed her. Tiger Lilly sat on the table, licking her paws, while
Owen slurped the left over milk from his cereal bowl. Finished, he
looked at his aunt. A milk mustache covered his upper lip. “Lucca
invited us in for breakfast.”