Vision of Light [The Renegades 1] (23 page)

"Lord Jaden, nothing!” he exclaimed. “Just Jaden, my dearest lady. Here I am readily available as your companion while Lucien leaves you all lonesome."

"Have you seen him?” she asked anxiously.

"Last I saw, he was at the manor to see her Grace."

"I see.” Aislan was fit to be tied. “I dare not impose on your time too much,” she said politely, wondering at his audacity as he looked her up and down before settling on admiring her breasts. Aislan did not know many men, but she discovered quickly she did not like men who needed to charm every woman in sight.

"I made the offer, so ‘tis no imposition. May I join you for a cup of wine?"

About to protest, Aislan changed her mind, shrugged, and opened the door for him to come in. Jaden moved with easy familiarity into the small house and fetched a flask of wine and two cups.

"I'll have the maid replenish.” He pointed at the near-empty shelf before he filled a cup.

"Mayhap not too many, or one tends to drink."

"Milady, when you have to hide out, most prefer to seek oblivion.” Jaden smiled and handed her a cup.

"No, thank you, milord."

"Milord nothing. If you change your mind.” He poured himself a helping. “Tell me how you come to be with old Luc."

Aislan certainly could not tell him Lucien had beheaded her husband, gave her almost nine lives, and turned her into a nymphomaniac. How could he leave her here and run off to another woman?

"I changed my mind.” She took her cup and sipped, the spirits burning her throat pleasantly. “So,” she continued politely, “what do you do, Lord Jaden?"

"Jaden will do, my dear lady. Most women consider me a no-good libertine who drinks and gambles and chases them all around."

Aislan frowned her disapproval. “Should you sound so proud about that?"

He laughed. “'Tis easy to tease you."

"I see.” Aislan took another sip. Jaden was friendly, easy-going, and quite charming. He looked at her with hot eyes and laughter on his lips. It should be a refreshing change from Lucien, who looked at her with hot eyes, too, but whose moods swung all over the place.

She took another sip of the wine. “So, sir, what are you otherwise?” she asked when Jaden refilled her drink.

"Aside from being a skirt-chaser, I am
sorsvasus
to milord master, Kanalon. They relegate me to running mere errands."

She could not get a straight answer out of this one. “What kind of a sorcerer are you?"

"A petty one with no significant skills worth discussing.” He winked, his self-deprecation indicating the opposite as Aislan considered him thoughtfully. He projected something disturbing, yet not threatening. She sensed no evilness in him.

He turned and picked up the flask, the movements familiar. She saw in her mind the image that had upset her before. Aislan blinked and rubbed her eyes. Even though she had not seen his face in her vision, she sensed Lord Jaden was the third naked body in the picture with Lucien and the girl.

"Milady,” Jaden looked alarmed, “what is wrong?"

"You,” Aislan balked at the image of such debauchery, “and Lucien, and that girl, Ruby."

"Luc told you this?” Jaden looked surprised, then his face smoothed into a smile like the rat that he must be. He shrugged nonchalantly. “The lady insisted. She claimed to have loved both of us for many years."

"How disgusting, you and your
cousin
with each other!” Aislan could barf.

"Oh, no!” Jaden's dismay was genuine. “Not old Luc and I!” Then he laughed. “Heaven forbid, no. He is my kin, and even if he is not, I prefer women only. We both do."

"But still, at the same time—with one woman?"

"Some women considered it the ideal fantasy."

Aislan thought how Lucien had denied her all this time, refusing to make love to her because of his strange standards. All along, there was probably no sexual act left in his illustrious past that he had not already indulged in. She finished her cup and held it out for a refill.

"You drank too fast. Your head will spin."

"Lord Jaden, will you take me to Lucien?"

"Why?"

"I want to see the duchess."

Jaden scratched his head. “I recommend not. ‘Twould not be wise."

"Why not?” she challenged.

"Her Grace is a formidable lady. She will eat you for breakfast.” He shuddered with great exaggeration. “Even I do not cross her."

"Women do not scare me. Pray, degenerate sir, take me to this formidable duchess."

Hayton Temple searches for his lady.

Lucien stared at the plain note without signature or indication of its source.

He did not believe for one moment that Temple was alive. His sorcery master was determined to find Aislan with trickery. It would only be a matter of time before they captured her. He had to put his own distress aside and sober up quickly. Nothing else mattered except Aislan's safety.

Lucien crunched the message in his hand. However, after a short moment, he smoothed it out and carefully folded the tiny parchment before placing it in his pocket. For a long moment, he stood leaning against the wall, cursing, trying to sober up unsuccessfully. Alcohol affected sorcery adversely. He was a damn fool for putting Aislan and himself at risk.

Finally, Lucien straightened and walked towards the garden path, and then he heard footsteps behind him again. He sniffed, smelled nothing, then sniffed harder and recognized the scent. He could not resist the pull of the first woman who held his heart. Stopping, he turned to watch the regal woman approaching. She had his same dark hair and pale-colored eyes and remained as beautiful as ever. She stopped when she was near enough, folded her arms across her bosom, and regarded him as if he had just crawled out from under a rock and onto her path.

"Mother.” He went down on one knee in front of her. When she finally extended a hand, he held her fingers lightly and kissed the small knuckles, willing himself not to react to the rare occasion that allowed him to touch her. When she pulled her hand away, he stood up and took a few steps back to keep a distance.

"Jaden said you just arrived, sneaking in through the back like the rogue you are,” she sneered, but thankfully, she kept her voice low. He had no need for an audience. “It touches me deeply that you bothered to come and look for me."

"I was not looking for you, madam,” he lied politely, keeping his expression neutral, refusing to let her see how her words affected him.

"Do not address me in that tone of voice.” The duchess gave him an icy glare that made him want to cower in the face of her coldness.

"My apologies.” Lucien wished he had drunk another bottle of wine. He should not care about every word she uttered. She had blamed him for her unfortunate life, and then abandoned him when he was six years old to please her new husband. Lucien had lived without her all these years. He could not miss what he barely remembered having. “'Tis not my intention to distress you with my presence. If I had known of your visit, I would not have come here."

She sucked in a few deep breaths as if to calm herself before she gritted through her teeth. “I thought you would be thankful I allowed our peace at all. You are a grown man, Lucien. What matters who your father be?"

He should let it go. He must. Their last parting had been full of bitterness. If he wanted her in his life, he had to accept her terms.

"Which one, Mother?” He could not let it be. “I paid homage to those men. I deserve to know which one sired me, or do you even know?"

"Your impudent tongue!” She gasped and tears shone in her eyes. Pulling out a handkerchief from her sleeve, she dabbed furiously at her face. “You nearly killed me with your birth. Because of you, I could not have another child. Still, I protected you all these years. If you intend to continue to see me, you will beg for my forgiveness, you devil's son!"

Lucien struggled to gather his composure. No woman had ever been able to tear him apart as she could. He needed to get away from her before he begged for forgiveness for something beyond reason. “I hear you, Mother. We shall discuss it no more. Now, I must excuse myself."

"Lucien, do not walk away while I still speak to you!"

The wine clouding his mind made it possible for him to ignore his mother. He made his way to the labyrinth, and then came to a sudden stop, not believing his eyes. Aislan and Jaden emerged from the maze and headed in his direction.

He did not need further betrayal from the woman he loved.
Loved!
Lucien caught himself, balking.
God in heaven!

"Lucien!” Aislan pouted. Her beautiful face flushed pink, her dark blue eyes flashing in excitement as she grabbed onto Jaden's arm, teetering on her feet.

"Lucien!” his mother shouted as she barred his path.

"What the fuck have you done to her?” Lucien was ready to give Jaden a good thrashing.

"How dare you be vulgar in front of me?” The duchess slapped him hard across the face. He touched his stinging cheek in disbelief, more in shock than in pain.

"How dare you slap him, you old witch!” Aislan shrieked before she turned to Lucien. “So ‘tis what you left me and crawled back to so eagerly, this old woman! You insufferable wretch!"

Lucien had believed Aislan said whatever she thought and expressed whatever she felt only with him because she knew she had him wrapped around her finger. Apparently, she behaved in the same infuriating manner with everyone else. Still in a snit, she stormed back through the maze of flowers and thick hedges.

Jaden caught him by the arm before he could run after Aislan. “How now, calm down, old man."

"Damn you.” He knocked away the detaining hand. “How could you bring her here and upset her? How dare you get her drunk!"

Jaden looked confounded. “She insisted on meeting the duchess. I did not realize she took her for someone else. She kept drinking. I stopped her when I realized she was more angry with you and not simply entertaining me."

Lucien did not believe Jaden's exaggerated innocence. The wily, ingratiating bastard's carefully worded barb was meant to rile him. Jaden and Aislan—the two of them deserved each other! “I have not finished with you yet,” he threatened. Before he could go after Aislan, his mother grabbed him by the arm.

"And neither have I finished with you! You owe me an apology. I'll not have you run out on me like the last time and disappear for another half year."

Lucien glared at her. “'Twas not my choice to disappear, madam."

"Once Jaden rescued your worthless hide, you could have at least come back and shown your respect!” She dismissed his imprisonment as if he had taken a leisure journey.

"It touches me profoundly that you care after all these years. I thank you, dearest, beloved Mother. I must now bid you good eve."

He ignored both his mother and his cousin gaping at him. Lucien's concentration focused solely on Aislan. With her eidetic memory, she would navigate the labyrinth system easily. The vultures awaited and would descend upon her as soon as she stepped outside Calvacade.

Damn the impossible, stubborn wench for her total disregard of the danger she was in, he raged as he rushed after her.

Aislan did not run back to Lilypad. She would walk to Victania if she had to. The moonlight lit her way as she wove through the vegetation. She slowed down deliberately and felt immense gratification when Lucien caught up with her.

"What is wrong with you?” he demanded.

"Oh, go back to your woman!” She turned and smacked him on the chest.

"Please, spare me. ‘Twas my mother."

The fight went out of her immediately. “Oh!” Aislan pressed her hands against her cheeks. “Oh—my—goodness! Oh, ‘tis not good!"

"No, not too good."

"Oh. Oh, my. I am sorry."

"You do not want to make her an enemy."

"'Tis not like she would have anything to do with me anyway."

"True.” He took her by the wrist and walked her back to Lilypad.

Because of her blurry vision, Aislan wanted to go to sleep. Once inside Lilypad, he went to the bed and pulled down the cover, flipping it to the end of the bed. Aislan tugged at her dress and started unlacing.

"Your libido overworking with too many men around?” he asked cruelly.

Aislan stopped dead, feeling as if he had punched her in the stomach. Where had that come from? He had been receptive prior to the arrival of the maids when she was filthy. Now that she had cleaned up and smelled as fresh as a flower, he decided to revert to abstinence. How could it be so difficult to seduce a man whose sexual tastes bordered on everything forbidden, or had he already relieved himself with Ruby?

"I am not the degenerate one, you wretch,” she declared, then calmed down again. She did not want to argue with him. She only wanted him to hold her and make love to her again, so she reached for him and slid her arms about his waist. “Lucien—"

"I told you, you impossible wench, no more sex. You have your hands. Work your frustration off yourself.” He walked away.

"Oh! You—you hypocrite! And on top of it, as crude as ever!"

He turned back. “Crude? What is crude about masturbation?"

"You should not talk that way.” Though no stranger to masturbation, one should not talk about such subject.

"Surely you jest! Your modesty is ludicrous at this point."

"You despicable bastard!"

For some reason, that enraged him. He walked towards her, and she backed away from the menace in his expression.

"Bastard?” he gritted through his teeth. “Do you know what crudity is? Let me show you."

Grabbing her by the arm, he propelled her backward until she plopped on the bed on her back. He pulled up her skirt and pushed aside her undergarments until her crotch lay bare. Excited he had finally touched her, Aislan was not alarmed by his cold determination. He would warm up to her quickly and become affectionate. He always did. Taking her hand, he pressed her palm between her legs, rubbing it against her clit.

"Lucien!” She gasped, trying to sit up, but he placed a hand against her breasts to stop her from sitting up while he kept a steady pressure against her clit. Despite the ignominious position, tension built in the bundle of nerves until she writhed. As she neared climax, he stopped suddenly.