Bloodright (16 page)

Lucien scowled. “As alpha, I must do what is best for my pack. Rules get in the way of that.”

“But rules prevent anarchy.”

A knock on the door abruptly halted their conversation.

Lucien wrapped Falon back in the sheet, then said, “Come in.”

Janice, one of the younger females, came in, eyes downcast, and said, “The Amorak elder, Sharia, is here.”

Lucien stiffened. “She has nothing to say that I wish to hear. Tell her to go.”

Of course, Janice did not question Lucien’s authority. But as the woman turned to close the door behind her, Falon did.

“Why do you refuse to see Sharia? She gave me to you; the least you could do is thank her.”

Lucien’s head snapped back. “Her ancient ways have no place in my modern world. I no longer give the Amorak authority over my life.”

Falon threw a hand up in the air. “Then why am I here?”

His head snapped back and he looked at her with possessive eyes. “Because you are mine.”

Falon laughed at the absurdity of what he just said. “But if you no longer honor the Blood Law, I’m free to go back to Rafael.”

“You are mine.”

“I am yours
only
if you respect the Blood Law, Lucien. There is no Lucien’s Law! There is only the Blood Law.” She moved closer to him. “You cannot have it both ways. Which is it?”

“Regardless, it changes nothing between us.”

“The hell it doesn’t! Are you purposely being obtuse? Because, I’m not a slave. I have free will. Only because Rafael lives and breathes honor did I agree to abide by the council’s decision. You chose to respect it because you knew it would deliver your vengeance. Now if you choose to reject what the Lycan nation has lived and died by the last three hundred years, you are no more fit to be alpha than Janice!”

“What do you care about the nation?”

“In case you haven’t noticed, dumbass, I might not know who my parents are, but I
am
Lycan! A Lycan who wants to live past the rising. A Lycan who wants a family. A Lycan who does not want to live in fear, cooped up in a damn compound because there are Slayers hunting outside her door.”

“You walk freely among humans.”

“Not while there is one Slayer alive.”

“Why are you talking me into the Blood Law when doing the opposite could conceivably return you to your
beloved Rafa
?”

“What has everyone—including you—been shoving down my throat?
The rising is coming,
Lucien, in case you forgot. I want to survive it and live to be an old woman. To that end, we need Rafael alive and healthy. He possesses the ring. We need you alive and healthy. You possess a cunning and strength that is unequaled. Mondragon is strong and with you and Rafael leading the packs, they will come together and fight as one. Between you two, the ring, and my powers, the united packs will go into battle, knowing they can win the day! What happens after will be determined by everything leading up to it.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, with the world free of Slayers, we will no longer walk in fear and the Blood Law will have to be redrafted to reflect the new beginning.”

“It will not change that you are mine.”

Startled by his words, Falon suddenly understood the battle Lucien fought. “Are you afraid that if you unite with Rafael to defeat the Slayers, you will lose me to him?”

“He will have another mate by the rising.”

By not answering her question, Falon knew what it was. “As I already do, but a lot can happen between now and then.”

“That is what I am afraid of.”

Ah, and the cat was finally out of the bag.

“The future is full of promise, Lucien. It will be all that we make of it.” She dropped the sheet to the floor and walked to the bathroom door. “Give me fifteen minutes and we’ll go to Sharia together.”

She shut the door behind her and let out a long breath when he did not challenge her.

Seven

AFTER SHE DRESSED and returned to him, Lucien’s anger was palpable. Falon did not understand it. He had what he wanted. Revenge. The Blood Law had not forsaken him as it had his brother. If anyone had a right to be furious, it was Rafael.

Her mood softened at just the thought of Rafa. He had a way of calming her, making her look at things more clearly. Rationally. In her gut, she knew Rafael was not the greedy power monger Lucien made him out to be. Mara had been a Slayer. Rafael had done exactly what Lucien would have done if their positions had been reversed. Because, while one brother honored the Blood Law to the letter and the other in spirit, the result was the same.

There had to be a way to prove to Lucien that Mara was a Slayer. It would be the only way the brothers could reconcile. And if they reconciled? She would be caught right in the middle of them. There was something to be said for the nonexistent life she had been living just a couple of months ago. It had been hard but uncomplicated. Now she was living in a blender on puree.

As she and Lucien walked down the metal stairway to the common room, he said, “Once this conversation with Sharia is concluded, we’re going to visit Hector, my armorer, and have you fitted for a sword.”

“I would love that!” she said, excited by the prospect of her own sword. Rafael’s had been too heavy for her. She looked up at Lucien as he looked down at her and flashed her a dark, sexy smile.
Finally
, a peek at the Lucien who made her feel as if no other women existed for him but her. Oh, God, did she just think that? Because it was not true.

“You are bloodthirsty.”

She could not help but mirror his smile. Yes, it
was
true. And she didn’t care. She didn’t care because she was quickly discovering there were more layers to Lucien Mondragon than a giant onion. Layers that intrigued her. Layers that challenged her. And that most fascinating layer at his core that revealed the true man he fought so hard to mask. She was also learning a few things about herself. She had a feral side. And she liked it. A lot. “You have that effect on me.”

He cocked a dark brow. His eyes twinkled mischievously. “I won’t forget that.”

Playfully, she touched his forearm. “If you want to live, you won’t.”

He threw his head back and laughed as they descended the last step into the large common room. He abruptly stopped when, Sharia, the gnarled and stooped spirit leader of the Amorak, turned intense brown eyes on them. Several of her people, a few Falon recognized from the council, stood nearby.

Falon felt like she just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Not only had Sharia heard Lucien’s genuine laughter, but she had also caught Falon’s mischievous smile and her playful touch. Sharia was not the only one. A good portion of the pack had gathered. They were quietly alert, but their anxiety since she chose to stay had all but evaporated. Replacing it was excited anticipation for Mondragon’s future.

Heat stung Falon’s cheeks. Did they know what had happened last night? She wanted to hide in a hole somewhere. Until she realized the pack’s demeanor was probably due to their own wild rutting last night. Despite what happened to Joachim.

Joachim?
she asked Lucien.

He is healing.

Dax?

Pulled in an hour ago with a load of AKs.

Slayers?

Four less we have to kill tomorrow.

Any of our people hurt or lost?

Lucien squeezed her hand.
All present and accounted for.

Falon exhaled sharply. Thank God.

“I see the council did not err in their decision,” the old woman said, coming toward them, her brown eyes twinkling. She nodded to Lucien. “It’s good to see you in such good spirits, Lucien.” She looked at Falon and raised a silver brow. “Life with Mondragon seems to agree with you.”

“Mondragon and I have come to a mutual understanding,” Falon said quietly. Because anything more would seem like a public stab in Rafael’s back. Yes, she accepted her place here beside Lucien, but she did not want Rafael or any of Vulkasin to think she was skipping happily through the forest. She missed Rafa. She missed Vulkasin. They had accepted her before she knew what she was, or who she was. They would always have a special place in her heart.

“Why are you here?” Lucien quietly demanded.

Do not be rude,
Falon said.

“You forget, Lucien, who it was who nursed you back to health after your parents were slain.”

“I forget nothing.”

“Your mother would be very unhappy with the disrespect you show me and the council.”

“Do not speak of my mother,” Lucien growled.

Lucien!

Stay out of this, Falon.

She was your nurse!

She has always favored Rafael. She is here for his benefit, not mine.

How can you say that? She gave me to you!

Be patient, she will reveal her real purpose and it will be about Rafe.

Jealousy does not become you.

Leave it alone.

Sharia nodded, but Falon could see the old woman was hurt.

“Vulkasin prepares to meet the northern packs. I suggest you prepare to meet your European cousins.”

“Those plans are in the works as we speak. Is there anything else you want to tell me, an alpha, I have to do?”

Sharia wobbled, as if Lucien’s words had hit her, knocking her off balance. Falon rushed to her side just as Lucien did. Gently, they set her down on a nearby chair. Falon glanced at Lucien and caught the flash of concern in his golden eyes when the elder grabbed his forearm for support. Then it was gone. But she had seen it. It proved once again that Lucien’s anger was full of hot air, manufactured to protect himself from—what? Being cast in his brother’s shadow?

Sharia shooed them away and said, “The Slayers are converging and the vipers are recruiting. We were stopped by two large groups of that scourge on motorcycles coming down the mountain road.”

Falon felt Lucien’s anger spark. “They are being managed here in the flatlands. Mondragon slew four Slayers in Lodi this morning, stripped them of their weapons, and confiscated the twenty-four AKs they had just taken possession of. We also cut off their major arms supplier. Another hunting party will leave at dusk, followed by another at dawn.”

“You will need more than a hunting party.”

Lucien swiped his hand across his face, a gesture of irritation. Falon hid a smile since he was so frequently irritated. It must be difficult being so angry at the world
and
dealing with such a subspecies as humans.

“With all due respect,
niña
, I have been killing Slayers and more recently vipers quite expeditiously. While my brother chooses to ride in like the cavalry, Mondragon prefers the more subtle guerilla approach.”

Niña?

Must you question everything?

Everything.

Mondragon roots are Basque.
Niña
is a Spanish term of endearment for aunt or godmother.

But you do not believe in God.

Not your Christian God.

I’m glad you showed her respect.

I’m glad you’re glad. Now can we get on with it?

Falon smiled but did not hide it this time. Sharia watched in fascinated silence. Apparently, Falon and Lucien had been so engrossed in their little mental convo, their expressions were as plain as if they had said it out loud.

The old woman looked directly at Falon, then at Lucien and frowned. Something ominous lurked behind her eyes. The hair on the back of Falon’s neck shot straight up.

“What?” Lucien asked.

Sharia looked behind her to Maleek and the handful of Amorak that had accompanied her. They nodded in unison.

“Now,” Sharia said quietly. “The real reason for our visit. Rafael is—not the same.”

Falon’s heart plummeted. “What do you mean?” she asked, stepping closer to the old woman. Please, God, let him be okay. She could not bear it if he was hurt or ill.

“I fear he is going mad.”

Falon gasped.

“Let him,” Lucien said flatly.

“No, Lucien!” Falon cried. “
No!
He is your brother! He is the man I love! Do not be so cruel and cavalier.”

Lucien’s face reddened furiously. Falon grabbed his hands. When he jerked them away, she grabbed them tighter. “Look at me, damn it!”

When he refused, she grabbed his chin and forced him to. “I know it hurts you that I love him. I’m sorry for that pain. I’m sorry for this whole damn mess! But I have chosen to stay with Mondragon. I will not betray your trust, Luca. I need you to believe that. Now, if you can, I need you to look past your emotions and see the world as it really is. You, me—” She swept her arm out to include Mondragon and Amorak. “Them. The entire nation needs Rafael alive and focused right now.”

Sharia nodded. “If Rafael does not recover, his loss will cripple the Lycan nation.”

“With the Eye of Fenrir on my hand, there will be no need for Rafael,” Lucien said flatly.

Falon was at her emotional edge. He was the most stubborn, prideful man alive. She grabbed his shirt and pleaded. “You’re wrong, Lucien! How do you think it will look to the nation if one of the premier alphas goes mad? It will send the message that if
he
cannot handle the pressure of this crisis, no one can!”

Lucien grasped her hands. “Maybe he can’t handle it.” He looked past Falon to the Amorak. “Did it occur to anyone that maybe the mighty golden alpha, Rafael Vulkasin, crashed and burned under the pressure?”

He turned back to Falon. His eyes softened. “I will not crash or burn. With the ring, Falon, and you by my side, we can lead the nation to victory!”

Mondragon nodded, loudly voicing their agreement.

“You are wrong, Lucien. It will take the power of the three,” Sharia said, looking directly at Lucien and then Falon. “Mondragon, Vulkasin, and the woman that stands between them. United. As one. It will be the
only
way to survive the wrath of Fenrir.”