Page 28 of Created in Chaos
“And if I don’t want to?” I challenge Lucian. He slips his heavily tattooed hands into his pockets as if he’s completely at ease.
“I enjoy indulging you, lamb, but don’t push me on this, not when it comes to them. Pick another battle.”
I almost don’t want to call now—heck, I didn’t want to call in the first place—but his insistence only hardens my stance. “Indulging me,” I mock. “When have you indulged me?”
“The list is endless. I allowed you to work in that hellhole with everyone treating you like a maid.” He takes a step closer. “I let you walk away from me more times than I can count.” Another step. “I spent days lying next to you, smelling your skin and feeling your warmth and not touching you.” He’s standing right in front of me now, and I have to tip my head back to see him. The air feels charged, and I’m hanging onto his every corrupt word. “But most importantly” —his palm cradles my cheek gently, while his thumb caresses my lip— “I let you breathe.”
That snaps me out of my lusty stupor. “I’m supposed to be grateful you didn’t kill me?” I seethe quietly.
“If you knew what I planned before I met you, you would be.” He has the nerve to place a chaste kiss on my lips, but I bite him when he tries to pull away, which only makes him smile and lick the smear of blood off his lip.
“I don’t know who is more insane—you, or me for putting up with you.”
“Don’t fret, lamb, it will always be me. We’re both just lucky you find me irresistible.”
“Irresistible, my butt.” I tut, but there must be some truth to his statement. I can’t even stay mad at him, and he just admitted to wanting me dead. It’s not like I wasn’t aware of his feelings toward me, I just don’t think I ever really believed he would take it that far.
“Are we changing topics again? I can go into detail about how I find your ass irresistible.”
“Would you shut up?” I roll my eyes, even though on the inside, I’m flattered. I just don’t handle compliments well.
“Fine, we can discuss all the points of your anatomy later while you’re naked. Call the Umbras and leave it on speaker.” Lucian makes the final decree before dropping lazily into a black leather club chair just off the side of the bed.
“What should I say?” I glance over at Nox. He’s much more levelheaded when it comes to actually needing advice.
“I bet they will have plenty to say as soon as they know you’re calling them,” he replies.
I open up the small list of contacts on my phone and see both Rory and Astrid’s names. Before I have a chance to decide whom to call, Lucian chimes in, as if knowing my thoughts. “Astrid is the one running the show. Your grandfather is only the figurehead.”
I send a glare at the far too perceptive twin but listen to his suggestion, even though I’d much rather speak with Rory. The phone rings three times before she finally picks up. Her voice is stiff and cold when she says, “Hello.”
“Hello, Astrid. It’s Nova.” I wince at how stupid I sound.
“Nova! We’ve been worried sick about you.” Her statement somehow comes out as chastising and caring, but it’s easier to focus on the former.
“You didn’t call,” I prompt, expecting an explanation.
“I wasn’t sure you’d have your phone or that you would be permitted to speak with us. We want you to come home, Nova. How can we help you get home?” She dismisses my reminder easily. “I can have Alden at the gate in a matter of minutes.”
Lucian shakes his head slowly, but he doesn’t speak. “Have you learned anything about what happened to me or who is responsible?” I avoid her question just like she did mine.
She exhales a sigh and clicks her tongue before announcing, “Not yet. Your grandfather hasn’t slept in days. It’s worrying him so, especially with you being…there. Please help me get you home, Nova. We can ensure nothing like that ever happens again.”
“I feel like there’s so much you’re not telling me about my mom and the island,” I hedge, hoping it will loosen her lips. I don’t want to believe that the only reason she cares about me is because she wants my future.
“And there is so much I want to tell you, but not when you’re there with them. The men you are with attacked me, Nova, and they would have killed me if given the chance. They are not just misguided young men. They are dangerous. When their parents died, they needed someone to blame. Somehow, we became the focus of their ire, and now you’re caught in the crossfire. They don’t care about you, dear. They only seek to hurt us, and they are using you to do that. You must see the truth. You’re our granddaughter, our family. We love you.”
A chasm of need opens in my chest at her last words. I can’t remember the last time someone told me they loved me, and the resulting ache tells me just how much I’ve longed for those three simple words, even if I know they may not be true.
I look down at the shiny ebony floor as pinpricks of tears well in my eyes. I hate feeling desperate and needy. It only takes a moment to regain my composure, but I’m sure a nanosecond would be long enough for Lucian to suss out the weakness in me for her approval.
“They aren’t forcing me to stay here,” I reply, because it’s not like I have an argument against anything else she said.
“Whatever lies they are feeding you, Nova, they are not true.”
I look up to see Lucian roll his eyes and mouth the word, “Clever.”
“They told me about the meeting last night.” I keep my eyes locked on the volatile twin to see his reaction, but he remains calmly seated.