I watched with batted breath as Lucien made his way towards where we were sitting, his face void of any emotion. Damien walking close behind him. I knew neither trusted any of my family. It was extraordinary seeing them all sensing Lucien at the same time. A Peculiar expression came across their faces, I could not really describe the look, but it was comical to watch. It happened, one after the other. I knew they wanted to turn around and look behind them. They fought the urge to do so. I knew how each of them felt, as I often got that same feeling.
I walked into Scarlett’s family’s line of vision, Damien by my side. I meet the gaze of each and every one of the women who had entered my property. I already knew their names; I never entered a situation without some sort of knowledge. They all sat frozen in place as if they were waiting for me to strike out’
"Ladies," I nodded a greeting to them, "you're got me at a slight advantage. You all know who I am. I don't know any of you, but I'm sure that will change over time", I paused, observing each of them waiting for their response. At each nod, I carried on, "I’ve agreed to help in finding Megan, and I've no doubt Scarlett has informed you that I know what you all are."
I sat there waiting for my family’s reaction to Lucien’s greeting. They all sat there in silence. It was bloody stupid I'd never known any of them not to have anything to say. It was like they were all in a trance, and part of me understood their reactions. I had, after all, reacted in a similar way when I had first met Lucien. I knew they could feel the power that was radiating off him. The energy he possessed was incredible. Even the most powerful of men would be full at his feet and tremble in his wake. He was full of male sexual confidence. It didn't shock me that women seemed to collapse at his feet. It was as if he held them in a trance. I could sense Pamela's eyes burning into me. I ignored her. Lucien had known what I was the moment he had set sights on me. So, there wasn't any point in trying to deny it.
Pamela must have realised that I wasn't going to meet her gaze as she turned her attention to Lucien, "what, exactly has Scarlett told you about us, Mr. Sinclair?" Pamela inquired with a raised brow.
"Scarlett hasn't told me anything. She simply asked for my help, and I agreed," Lucien replied with a shrug, casually looking at his nails as if he was already bored and her words offended him.
"Lucien. May I call you Lucien? You just told us you know what we are," Pamela remarked, tilting her head to one side as she observes him, "I would like to know what you mean by that statement."
"Don't play dumb…… Pamela. You are wasting my time and patience. I know what you all are. Witches. Now, tell me are you willing to hold up the help I have agreed to give you?" I question her, did she think I was an idiot. That I wouldn’t find out as much as I possible could after I had met Scarlett.
"I can't see you doing anything for nothing," the silver haired woman pipes in, keeping those odd coloured eyes on the rest of the men in the room. Gauging their reactions.
"You're right," I agree, looking directly at the silver-haired woman they call Melissa who had interrupted the woman they call Pamela and who dressed like a gypsy. I didn't do anything for anyone without some sort of payment in return. I stood there without any guilt written across my face, "I'm not a charity. I don't agree to help anyone without getting something in return."
"What do you want from Scarlett … from us," asks one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. Her hair is so light in colour; it almost looks white; her eyes are a striking blue that stands out against her olive skin tone. I knew she must be Emma. I watch as she looks over at Scarlett, a silent message passes between them.
"The agreement is between myself and Scarlett," I reply to Emma’s question, not showing any reaction. Catching Scarlett looking towards me, I let a mocking smile appearing on my lips, daring Scarlett to give away any of our secrets "if Scarlett wants to tell you that's up to her."
All heads swung towards Scarlett. The same question was written in every single pair of eyes. They were demanding, wanting to know what we had agreed to and had Scarlett sealed their fate to the devil himself?
I shook my head; I wasn't ready to explain to my family what I had done or why. It was between Lucien and me. I'd gotten myself in this mess, and somehow, I'd get myself out. My family had no need to get further involved than they already were, and they especially didn't need to know that I'd had sex with Lucien Sinclair. I heard the curse Pamela muttered under her breath; it was blatantly obvious she didn't like what was taking place. I knew Pamela of old, she’d want to sweep me away out of this place apart from Lucien and the power he seemed to have over me, but I wasn't going to back out of the agreement myself and Lucien had made. We all needed to find out where Megan was, and any resources Lucien had would help.
"Have you any information on our sister yet?" Pamela demands, turning her attention once again to Lucien.
Lucien looks at me with a raised eyebrow, it’s plain that he’s taken a dislike towards Pamela, as a look of displeasure appears across his face at her questioning, as he announces, "I'm sure Scarlett has kept you up to date on what's going on. The Soul Keeper who took Megan has been found,"
Up to hearing this, there was a flurry of questions that are fired Lucien's way. Shit, I had not told them about the Soul Keeper. I knew that it would only worry them further. They weren't the safest of Naturals to be around. Lucien just stood there completely unperturbed, appearing unaffected, waiting for them to cease in questioning him. The whole time Lucien stood there; his eyes never left me. His unflappable confidence was apparent in how he just stood there looking like he owned every inch of the space around him. His power and strength radiated from him. I knew he was waiting for my reaction. I hadn't a clue what he expected me to say. I couldn't have got a word in edgeways anyway. When they did not receive any response from Lucien. They turned their attention back to me. I couldn't tell them anymore.
I almost smiled at Scarlett's defensive posture. My little witch was pissed off, she hid it well, but I could see through the charade. I'd had every intention to inform her that though my men had found the Soul Keeper. Another had been found in the building with him. I had not told Scarlett that my men had found the Soul Keeper dead on the floor and that a Soul Eater had been injured and on his last legs. I had, had intended in doing so before her sisters arrived. The reason I hadn't, Aria, had once again turned up unexpectedly, and I hadn't managed to get away from Aria until the last minute. Aria was becoming more of a problem than I thought. It was going to be more difficult for me to spend time with Scarlett, something my Demon or I wasn't happy about. With the marking, my Demon and I had given Scarlett. She'd be able to sense me when I was near, and eventually, we would have our own stronger personal link. A link that wouldn't be broken unless one of us died or broke the connection. I'd tried to touch the link I shared with Scarlett earlier and had briefly thought that she had sensed me, our link would only grow stronger over time.
I didn't like to admit it that I felt uneasy. As the Sovereign of my own Territory and the Regions around it, I was responsible for many. Yes, I could admit that I am a fucking bastard, but the ones who are loyal. I support and protect them. The relationship that I'd have with Scarlett would be utterly different from the one I've had with Aria. It wouldn't allow much distance between us. It would be intimate on a psychic level and would always play a large part in our life. I knew by the force and depth of the protectiveness and possessiveness that was being to hit me was going to be hard. I was beginning to feel the pull towards Scarlett, and the feeling I was having was utterly different from what I had once shared with Aria. I still was not entirely happy about it or how it has started to grow stronger inside of me or the changes that were happening.