Born in Chains (Men in Chains #1)(28)
Author: Caris Roane

Yet here was a woman who, in any other setting, might have become Lily’s friend.

Lily took a sip and found the Cabernet flavor almost perfect. Adrien moved to stand near the chair in which Giselle sat. He held his goblet tight in his fist, his brows drawn together as he watched her. She sensed his uneasiness, but couldn’t figure out the cause of it.

Then she felt it, a kind of energy emanating from Giselle. She shifted her gaze to the woman, who sat with one leg tucked beneath her. Then, leaning forward as she searched Lily’s eyes, she finally murmured, “Sebastien told me you shared the bonding chains with Adrien, and I can see that you do, I can feel the bonds between you and they’re powerful. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything like this before. When did you put them on?”

Some part of Lily didn’t want to answer the question, but she felt compelled to speak anyway. “Earlier. Just after sunset when I brought Adrien out of the prison.”

“I see.” More of Giselle’s power flowed toward Lily in soft entrancing waves. “And why did you bring him out?”

Again, Lily wanted to hold back, but the words flowed out of her as she spoke about her mission, that she had to get the extinction weapon. She even told Giselle about Kiernan and Daniel—everything, except Josh.

“I can sense that you’re a tracker, that you have the locating ability. I want you to extend your powers to our system right now and focus on the weapon. What do you see?”

Lily did as she was told, closing her eyes. She reached out with her mind and focused on the weapon. She felt the familiar tendrils flow from her once more, but much stronger this time and extending in all directions. But as before nothing happened—as though she simply didn’t have enough power to get the job done.

Opening her eyes, she said, “I can feel this ability at work in me, but I can’t seem to locate the weapon.”

Giselle glanced at Adrien. “Perhaps there isn’t enough power yet for that to happen.” Shifting her gaze back to Lily, she asked. “Did you agree to your mission because of money?”

She shook her head. Panic set in. By now, she knew that Giselle had some kind of power over her, but she couldn’t reveal the whole truth. She couldn’t. Trembling set in. “Not … money.”

“Then what? Why do you do this thing? Are you afraid of Daniel?”

“Yes, that he’ll kill me. Kiernan as well.” She bit back the rest of the truth, but she broke out in a sweat.

“And what else?”

The woman’s voice cajoled and coaxed Lily, the powerful vampire waves beating at her mind, compelling her.

Lily glanced up at Adrien. Help me. I can’t tell her. Please. Make her stop.

But Adrien’s gaze was hard as he responded, mind-to-mind, We have a right to know why you’re set on destroying our kind.

I can’t tell you or anyone.

But Adrien pressed her. You’re after the weapon, acquiring it on behalf of one greedy human and one maniacal vampire. We must know what’s going on.

Please, Adrien. I’m begging you. I can’t give the reason. Too much is at stake.

“Lily,” Giselle called out, more waves pounding on her this time.

Lily turned slowly in her direction, under the strange spell all over again. “Tell me why you must find the weapon, if not for money?”

Lily’s trembling increased. Her lips formed the words. She would try to say them, but her heart forced them back. Sweat poured from her now, streaming down her face, her back. She shook hard, resisting Giselle’s power.

She couldn’t betray her son. One of the terms of her arrangement was that she keep the terms confidential. If she revealed the truth, Kiernan would kill Josh.

Suddenly a new power flowed toward her, but this time possessing and strengthening her as the blood-chain vibrated heavily. Though Giselle continued to pummel her, Lily now siphoned Adrien’s power. She could resist Giselle.

“Enough,” Alfonse said. “Giselle, stop.”

Giselle ceased suddenly and Lily weaved in her seat, but caught hold of the arm of the chair with her free hand to steady herself. That Adrien’s power still flowed through her made her feel dizzy. She met his gaze once more. Thank you.

She set her goblet down on the table next to her then wiped the sleeve of her shirt over her face. She leaned forward and put her head in her hands.

She didn’t understand why Adrien had stepped in to support her. She looked up at him once more. Why did you do it? I think she could have broken me.

I disagreed with the effort on principle. But I wish you would tell us, or at least tell me.

I can’t.

He looked as though he wanted to say more, but a young voice called out, “Uncle Adrien. I thought that was you.”

“Ah, my grandson,” Giselle murmured, pride in her voice.

But what happened next stunned Lily: The warm smile that broke over Adrien’s face transformed him completely as he turned to hold out his arms to a boy of maybe six or seven.

The lad half leaped, half flew into Adrien’s arms. He swung him in a circle, hugging him, even levitating and whirling faster so that the child laughed, the sound bouncing around the domed, carved ceiling of the large cavern.

Because of the chain, she sensed Adrien’s love for the boy. Even without the chain, though, she could see the affection on his face.

All that love. From a vampire. From Adrien.

The dizziness Lily had experienced earlier returned, but for a completely different reason.

The boy put his arms around Adrien’s neck. “I’ve missed you. We all have.”

“I’ve been away for a year, but now I’m back.”

“The alarm sounded,” the boy said, his eyes wide. “All my friends had to go into their hidden homes, did you know that?”

Adrien glanced at Alfonse. “No, I didn’t.”

The boy glanced at Lily, then his eyes widened further. “You’re a human.”

Lily nodded. “I am.”

He frowned. “But you’re just a girl. Why would the alarms sound because a female human came into Trevayne?” He glanced from Adrien to Lily then to his grandparents.

Giselle rose from her seat and took charge of him. “Come, Jean-Luc. You should have been in bed an hour ago.” The boy stared over his shoulder at Lily as he walked away, half dragged by his grandmother who promised more information about the human once he was in bed.

Jean-Luc waved and smiled at Lily, the tips of his fangs showing.

Lily waved in return, knowing that what had happened in the past few minutes had overturned her world.