Until the Sun Falls from the Sky (The Three #1)(120)
Author: Kristen Ashley

In order to protect the knowledge he was vampire, he’d done this times too numerous to count. It was a chore that was never less than trying. And every time he wished he could simply be who he f**king was and not be forced to engage in this aggravation.

He pushed through the glass doors to Sally’s outer office. Sally looked up and smiled. Then she read his face and the smile died.

Therefore, instantly, she reported, “I’ve given them coffee and bagels, told them you called and explained your delay.”

“Thank you, Sally,” he muttered, moving to the glossy, wood panel double doors that led to his office.

“Would you like fresh coffee?” she called to his back.

He’d had nothing but Leah’s blood and he’d had her blood not knowing it was the last taste of her he’d ever have. He always savored her. If he’d known, he would have taken the time to savor more. Not just her blood, all that was her when she gave it to him.

“No coffee and no interruptions,” Lucien answered, turning the knob and pushing open the door.

He took in the room before he closed the door behind him.

Cosmo leaning against the side of his desk, arms crossed, ankles crossed. Stephanie lounging in an armchair in the seating area at the side of the room, legs crossed, coffee cup in hand. Avery and Gregor both seated on the couch, Avery’s posture relaxed but alert. Gregor, however, was lounged back like Stephanie, legs crossed, looking bored.

Lucien walked to the seating area as Cosmo pushed away from his desk and approached from the other side.

“I apologize for the delay. Traffic,” Lucien muttered, stopping at the back of the vacant armchair across from Stephanie.

“These things happen,” Gregor murmured, studying Lucien.

Lucien crossed his arms on his chest and leveled his eyes on Gregor, ignoring the others. Rude, he knew, but he didn’t give a f**k. He needed to get this done and he needed to go home and release Leah so she could begin healing from the wounds he’d willfully inflicted, enjoying every f**king second of it.

“Unfortunately I must apologize again. I know my postponements have been frustrating and today’s delay the same but the reasons for this meeting are now moot. This afternoon, I’ll be releasing Leah from her contract.”

He heard the swift hiss of Stephanie’s indrawn breath at the same time he heard Cosmo’s whispered, “What the f**k?” Both of these came with Avery growing more alert and Gregor’s gaze turning sharp.

“I’m sorry?” Gregor asked softly.

“I’m releasing Leah,” Lucien answered.

“Fucking hell, Lucien!” Stephanie snapped as she shot out of her chair. “What’s going on?”

Lucien looked to Stephanie. “It’s none of your concern.”

Her eyes got big. “None of my concern? Are you mad?”

Lucien took in a long, slow breath and held her eyes but he did not speak.

Stephanie didn’t like that, leaned forward and demanded, “Answer me! Are you mad?”

“I’ll repeat, Teffie, it’s none of your concern.”

“You are mad,” she whispered, her eyes narrowing.

“Lucien even you cannot expect to tip our culture on its head after five hundred years of convention then, weeks later, change your mind on a whim,” Cosmo put in, his voice low with anger.

Lucien’s eyes moved to Cosmo as he spoke and when he was done, he stated, “It’s not a whim.”

“What is it then?” Cosmo retorted.

“What it is, is none of your f**king concern,” Lucien shot back.

“This is unbelievable,” Stephanie hissed and Lucien looked to her.

“Teffie, calm,” Avery murmured.

Stephanie’s head was a blur when she turned to Avery and shouted, “I will not be calm! We’re on the cuff of war!”

“You’re in love with her.”

The room went still when Gregor spoke these word and Lucien’s eyes moved to him.

“Yes,” he confirmed without hesitation.

“Oh my God,” Stephanie whispered.

“Jesus f**king Christ,” Cosmo said softly.

“You know my choices Gregor,” Lucien stated calmly. “You’re the only one in this room who does. I can keep her safe but for how long? The feeding I’ve done from her, it won’t have had the chance to have much effect, give her a longer life. She has forty, fifty years left of mortal life. That’s better than living whatever length of time I can keep her alive, doing it on the run and her life ending on a scaffold while she watches me burn. You know that better than anyone in this room. Therefore, this afternoon, I’m releasing her.”

“How long have you known?” Stephanie asked quietly and Lucien’s gaze went to her.

“The minute I saw her twenty years ago,” Lucien answered.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Her voice was rising.

“Because I only admitted it to myself two minutes ago,” Lucien replied.

Stephanie closed her eyes and dropped her head.

“Why?” Cosmo asked and Lucien looked to him.

“Why?” he repeated.

“Yes, Lucien, why? If you love her, why are you releasing her?”

“You’ve never mated. Seven hundred and fifty-three years, Cosmo, you’ve been on this earth and not one woman, mortal or immortal, have you stood beside and exchanged blood and vows. When you do, you’ll know why,” Lucien returned.

“None of this was about the taming,” Cosmo accused. “It’s bullshit that you only knew two minutes ago you loved her. You’ve known it all along.”

Lucien inclined his head. “On some level, yes. But I was denying it for Leah’s safety. And bullshit it might have been Cosmo, but you knew too. So did Stephanie. And Isobel. And anyone who really knows me. If you’re honest, all of you knew I was doing this for more reasons than to tame and f**k a concubine.”

“So on some level you knew you couldn’t have her and she couldn’t have you and you did it anyway,” Cosmo reminded him.

“What I knew from what I had with Maggie was that having Leah for even a little while was better than not having her at all. Not only for me but for her. And our time together proved me right. And I knew, this time, our time together would be short. So I knew I couldn’t waste any. What I did not factor was that Leah would return my feelings so swiftly.”

At this, understanding dawned. Lucien knew it when Cosmo flinched and turned his head away.