Vision of Light [The Renegades 1] (25 page)

Lucien went directly to Jaden's chamber. He detected a womanly scent as he neared the door. Ruby. The presence of the maid in Jaden's chamber meant nothing to Lucien. Opening the door carefully, he strode inside.

Even though Lucien moved quietly, his younger cousin awoke immediately and sat up.

"Damnation, do not sneak in on me like that.” Jaden yawned and scratched his chest as he extricated himself from the girl. Ruby also awoke and stretched, her generous tits bouncing and tightening against her chest, which Lucien observed without interest. No breasts were more beautiful than Aislan's, and not because he loved everything about her body. He had known plenty of women, and none of them could compare to Aislan.

When Ruby saw Lucien, she smiled widely.

"Oh, just what I like to wake up to,” she said, spreading her thighs. “Come join us, love."

"Yes, come join us,” Jaden mocked. “Ruby insisted she had been saving herself just for the two of us. Our last threesome was the last time you were here."

"You and I need to talk. Get going."

Ruby pouted. “Oh, and a good morn to you, too."

Lucien gave her a polite, dismissive smile and did not bother to answer. He left the room and made his way down the hall. He sensed a presence.
Damnation!
He hurried.

"Lucien!” The duchess came out of her room.

He stopped out of duty. She glared at him in the same disapproving manner she always greeted him, as if he was the bane of her existence just because she pretended not to know who sired him.

"Good morn, Mother,” he said politely.

"Fine time for you to come searching for me to apologize for your abominable manners."

"My deepest apologies,” he agreed easily because what he thought did not matter to her. She would twist anything he said against him until she tied him up in knots. He had more important matters to tend to and in no mood to placate her. “Now, I bid you a good day."

"Lucien, do not walk away from me!"

He kept walking. Every conversation with her ended with her shouting, and he did not want a gathering audience of the guests who must be in most of the bedchambers. He listened, but no one seemed to be about. Lucien could hear her running after him, and he walked faster. He had to keep Aislan safe, and the duchess could make a scene that put their presence here in jeopardy.

She seemed to realize he was resolute about privacy because she did not say anything as she pursued him. He could outrun her in a flash, but Lucien knew that would infuriate her, and he did not want to provoke her. Once out in the garden, he kept walking even though he knew she expected him to stop and finish the conversation with her that would go nowhere.

"I am too old to run after you like a fool,” she panted. “Stop your disrespect this instant. Your little trollop can wait."

Lucien saw red and white stars bursting behind his eyes and swung around abruptly. “You are not to say anything against her, madam,” he said coldly. “Keep your viper tongue to yourself when it comes to my lady."

"How dare you speak to me with such disrespect!"

"How dare you judge another woman when you are unable to determine which of the dozen men you bedded on the same day is my sire?"

Her mouth flapped about like a fish out of water, and then tears shone in her eyes. Lucien felt like the bastard that Aislan had called him. He almost gave in to the need to get down on his knees and beg his mother for forgiveness. Yet, something kept him firm on his feet.

The duchess pulled the handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at each corner of her eyes. Apparently, she forgot she had already pulled this routine only last eve. He braced himself for another tirade about his birth.

"'Tis my fate. Mayhap there will never be peace between us no matter what I wished,” she lamented.

Lucien knew he was a fool, but he wanted her to be a part of his life. She married the Duke of Bonneville when Lucien was six, and she had sent him to the king, who then gave him to the
Sorsverein,
who roughed up Lucien mercilessly. She had never intervened, had never visited him, and had never allowed him to visit her. He caught glimpses of her occasionally at court, and aside from fleeting glances she sometimes bestowed his way or an occasional greeting of politeness when they crossed paths, she had never spoken to him.

Only a year ago after the duke's death did Lucien finally seek her out directly, using the façade of paying her a visit at the duke's funeral. She did not dismiss him as he expected.

Visiting her as frequently as he could for many months afterward, Lucien listened to her inexplicable bitter tirades and her caustic tongue, not knowing why she despised him, and yet, a glutton for punishment, he kept coming back for more so he could be near her.

Then six months ago, he found out his mother was once a royal courtesan, that his father could be the king, or the S
orsverein
, or one of the four Lords of the Realms, or one of the four Royal Advisors. Lucien's bitter confrontation with the duchess had caused a great rift, but before anything could be resolved, his carelessness landed him in an enemy's dungeon. Cousin Jaden had discovered his location and sneaked into South Sharland to retrieve him. Lucien's lack of cooperation in gaining his own freedom had nearly cost Jaden his life.

His life had become a complicated mess, the dilemma with Aislan of utmost importance. Lucien could not deal with his mother. Now a grown man, he did not need his mother.

"If I stressed you with my presence, then please forgive me.” He strove not to show emotion. “I shan't be here long. Meanwhile, I'll do my best to stay out of your way.” He turned to walk away, but she grabbed him by the arm.

"Lucien, wait."

Glancing at her, he saw her torn expression, and he let himself fall for it, accepting the tiny crumbs she tossed his way. When she offered her hand, he took it and pressed a kiss on the back of it. He felt such a fool for letting her walk all over him, but she was his mother, and he cared about her.

"If you want peace with me, you must never ask about your father again. My life was not my choice at the time."

"Yes, Mother. As you wish.” He let go of her hand.

"'Tis for the best, Lucien. There is no reason to reopen old wounds."

"No need to,” he conceded without inflection. “I must leave now."

"I have not seen you in a very long time. I have extended my stay so we could be together. I'll be at breakfast. Join me."

She had never given him this much time of day, but he had Aislan to consider. When it came down to it, Aislan did not seem to care too much about what anyone thought of her. Lucien was not ready for them all to interact with each other, mostly because he dreaded what the two volatile women would say to each other.

"I'll not be able to,” he said apologetically.

"You can be with your little tramp any time. I shan't be around at your convenience."

He bristled immediately. “Do not ever talk about her in that manner."

"My, my. How lucky can a woman get, a man to defend her honor? I received no such consideration even from men who were supposed to be noble, like your father who should have protected me instead of sharing me."

"Madam, for someone who does not want to talk about who fathered me, you are picking at a newly formed scab I would try to leave be. Please cease because I can only bear so much."

"You ungrateful bastard!"

She slapped him. Lucien saw it coming, and he allowed her that because it was the only real reaction he could get from her. The duchess could not feel anything for anyone except herself. Despite her own tortuous past, Aislan had retained more warmth in her one little finger than this woman had in her entire being.

With that realization, Lucien let go of the tenuous peace that could never last with his mother. He would not try anymore. He only cared about Aislan. Lucien wanted to get away, but the duchess, apparently, was not finished.

"You physically tortured me those nine months I had to carry you,” she raged. “You tore me to pieces, coming out legs first. You shall watch what you say to me because you owe me your life!"

"God in heaven,” Jaden exclaimed as he came into the clearing. “I could hear you both from my chamber. I beg your pardon, your Grace. Lucien, you should go knocking at the main entrance and announce your presence so everyone knows you are here if you insisted on arguing with your suffering mother and upsetting her. Auntie, I'll have a talk with this disrespectful son of yours. Come along!” Jaden walked on.

Lucien bade his mother a polite good day before he continued on his way. The duchess did not follow, and Lucien sighed in great relief. She was an exhausting woman to be around. He came to a small fountain off the main path where he sensed Jaden to be. Jaden had gone into the maze. Lucien followed the sensory trail until the two met up.

"This better be good for you to drag me out of bed so I can listen to your ungodly argument with your mother.” Jaden yawned lazily. “Why you two cannot make peace with each other is beyond my ken. You should do what I do with most women. Pretend they are right and agree to most everything. Just nod and smile like a wittold, and then you shall have peace. You need thick skin instead of arguing back."

"Do not advise me on how to handle women."

The two of them walked around the maze as the hedges shifted. Traver had made it impossible for anyone to walk into private territories without knowing the foot pattern.

"Do not argue with your mother, I say,” Jaden insisted. “I give in to my mother every time, and she thinks I am her angel."

"No doubt you ejected from your mother without so much as a protest."

"I would rather not discuss how I came out of my mother. Although I have to say, how anyone could blame her son for how he was born,” Jaden shook his head, “that is the damnedest I have heard. But then again, you are a difficult and ungrateful bastard. I risked my life hauling you out of Youngstone's dungeon, and nary a word I heard from you since then."

Six months ago, Jaden had communicated with Lucien telepathically and discovered his imprisonment. He had gone into South Sharland to help Lucien escape. During the past week, Lucien had sensed Jaden's attempt to communicate with him, no doubt because he had heard of Lucien's transgressions with Aislan, but Lucien had deliberately blocked the mental connection attempt. No one could help him now even if he trusted both his cousins—but only to a certain extent. The eccentric Traver did not like to get involved in any intrigue, and the rascally Jaden's loyalty extended only so far. Jaden served as a messenger for the Sorcery Circle, most of the time delivering petty news among the senior sorcerers. Jaden played the fool while taking the opportunity to see and hear everything. Lucien had seen Jaden in action often enough to know the jaunty façade hid the cunning man beneath.

"What have you heard?” Lucien asked casually.

"There were whispers you injured a few of your
sorsvasus
brothers, but none of them complained."

"I'll be damned. What are they up to?"

"What are who up to?"

Lucien knew his cousin knew damned well what had happened. “I expected to be hunted down by the Circle to face trial."

Jaden frowned. “Just rumors you ought to have your ass whipped for brawling with the
sorsvasus
over a wench, but nothing else."

How can Jaden not know about Daman?
When one
sorsvasus
killed another who was not an outcast, the Circle would call upon all to bring the killer to justice.

"Why have you summoned me here?” Jaden asked.

Lucien hesitated. “I trust you'll give me a sennight before you report my whereabouts to the
Sorsverein
."

"What the devil are you saying? Why should I turn you in? You may not be one of my favorite people, but you are my only cousin. Give me a little credit."

"I cannot imagine you risking your hide to go against the king or the
Sorsverein
."

Jaden waved a dismissive hand. “They think I am a derelict already, consorting with the Crown Prince in depravity. Her Majesty would like nothing more than to castrate me as an example.” Leading off topic, Jaden cupped his crotch and shuddered.

"What's with the message?” Lucien asked coolly.

"What message, pray tell?"

"The message you delivered yester eve."

"'Tis too early in the morn for riddles."

"No one else knows I am here, Jaden."

Jaden sighed. “So what if you are up to no good? Why should I give a damn? I go drinking with Prince Jules, and King Julian accuses me of leading the Crown Prince astray. We are expected to behave like saints."

"Stop fucking with me."

Jaden continued to look clueless. Lucien pulled the parchment delivered to him by the Fulfillment and handed it over.

"Who is Hayton Temple?"

"No need to keep up the charade. I know you delivered this message."

"By God, be damned! I did no such thing.” Then Jaden made the connection. “Lady. Can this refer to Lady Aislan? Are you not in enough trouble without running off with someone else's wife on top of it?"

"The husband is dead."

"So you ran off with the widow—” Jaden stopped and glanced at the message again. “This reads like he is still alive."

"He should be dead. I killed him myself."

"Ayy! You killed a man to take his wife?"

Lucien wanted to punch Jaden in the face for keeping up with this farce. No one knew he and Aislan were at Calvacade. No one had the skill to deliver the message to him mere inches from his nose, and then leave without him being able to detect the presence. Jaden was a powerful sorcerer who moved stealthily and could not be detected.

His cousin had saved his life twice before, and Lucien had repaid the debt in kind on one occasion. However, loyalty changed given the right circumstances. Lucien took the message and put it back in his pocket.

"Do as you must.” He turned to walk away.

Jaden jumped in front of him. “Whatever trouble you are in, I'll not betray you, not even to the king. Even when you are impossible, I know your loyalty runs deep. You would never betray the king or do anything to jeopardize the Circle."