“It’s essential she doesn’t,” Gregor pressed,
Lucien looked to Avery then back to Gregor and impatiently reiterated, “She will not speak of them.”
Gregor took in a breath. Then he nodded.
Lucien wanted to get back to Leah so he demanded in the form of a request, “I wish to speak to Avery alone.”
Glances were exchanged but Rudolf and Gregor assented, said their farewells and moved to leave the room.
Gregor, however, stopped at the door.
“The Council wishes you to know that the access provided you to these documents means our debt is paid.”
“Servicing The Dominion by hunting my own and taking them to their deaths for fifty years is hardly paid by providing me access to documents that describe, however vaguely, that myself and my bride face mortal perils in a Noble War,” Lucien returned. “That is surely my due and I regard it as such. Tell The Council I consider that I still hold the marker and I will call it when I need to use it.”
Gregor held his eyes. Then he sighed. Then he tipped up his chin and left the room.
Lucien didn’t speak until he sensed they were well out of hearing distance. Then his eyes moved through the room. Not finding what he was looking for, he turned his gaze to Avery.
“Is this room monitored?” he asked.
“No,” Avery answered.
“What I wish to discuss, it would be foolish to lie,” Lucien stated quietly.
“As has been explained, very few know of The Prophesies, Lucien. This is a humidity, air and temperature controlled room that holds nothing but The Prophesies. Access to it is strictly limited. Security is state of the art. However, it does not include cameras or microphones. It wouldn’t do for security guards to be able to catch a glimpse of the parchments or hear those allowed in this room discussing them.”
Lucien nodded once.
Then he crossed his arms on his chest and stated quietly, “You’re an Ancient.”
Avery slowly closed his eyes.
He was.
Fucking hell.
“Do you know our origin?” Lucien asked and Avery opened his eyes.
“I vow to you, Lucien, that this is also a mystery to me,” Avery answered.
“Are there others older than you?” Lucien queried.
“I cannot say,” Avery demurred.
“But there are other Ancients,” Lucien went on.
“I cannot say,” Avery repeated.
“How many people know that Ancients still exist?” Lucien pushed.
“One,” Avery answered. “You.”
That was what he was looking for. An indication of trust. And he had it. This secret was more crucial to guard than The Prophesies.
Lucien took a moment.
Then he reminded him quietly, “My future bride and I risk much for this world.”
Avery studied him.
Then he whispered, “You do. And therefore I will give you another vow. There will be those who will do everything in their considerable power to keep The Sacred Triumvirate safe. But right now, this is all I can give you.”
“I have children and The Prophesies state that I will have four more. For reasons that, if The Prophesies are true, are no longer accurate, Leah and I do not use protection. If this Noble War means my bride and I will perish and our children will live without parents or worse, die themselves, I need to know what you know and take precautions.”
“You must find out along with me,” Avery replied.
“You know no more?” Lucien pressed.
Avery extended a hand to the papers on the table. “I wrote those parchments. I wrote everything I knew, Lucien, everything that came to me. If I knew more, I would gladly tell you. I don’t. Therefore, you must find out along with me.”
Lucien held his gaze and read nothing. And he knew from this that when Avery gave away the knowledge he was indeed an Ancient, this was his intention.
He tried once more by reminding him, “I lived eight hundred and twenty-two years waiting for the woman who was destined for me.”
“And we’re counting, very much, on your desire to keep hold of that destiny,” Avery returned.
“If that’s true, Avery, then you are very lucky,” Lucien whispered.
At that, Avery smiled.
Lucien didn’t smile back. He lifted his hand in a brief gesture of farewell and left the room to make his way to his mate.
* * * * *
“Okay, seriously, this is awesome!” Leah exclaimed.
She was sitting astride him. Lucien was on his back in their bed in their hotel room in Speranza, Leah straddling his hips. She was wearing a black, silk nightie adorned with thick edges of cream lace. They’d just made love and her hair was a wild tumble around her shoulders.
Prior to their making love, he’d given her an emerald cut, black diamond engagement ring. After, he told her of The Prophesies.
As was her way, her reaction surprised him.
“My pet, we’re talking about war,” he reminded her quietly.
She leaned into him, putting her hands to his chest, her face getting close to his. Hers was still excited.
“Yes, and you, me and the other four are going to kick ass,” she declared then lurched back to sitting and cried, “I can’t wait to get superhuman abilities!”
Lucien shook his head, finding he couldn’t stop himself from grinning.
Then he sat up, his grin died and he wrapped his arms around her loosely.
“My love,” he started to caution, “anything can happen in war.”
She wrapped her arms loosely around his shoulders and tipped her head to the side.
Then she asked, “Darling, are you the Mighty Vampire Lucien?”
His lips twitched but he didn’t answer.
“You are,” she whispered, her arms getting tighter. “You’re unstoppable. And you’re giving me your abilities. So we’ll be unstoppable.” Her expression grew serious as she pressed closer. “Before you get all mature vampire and impart wisdom on me, I’ll tell you, I get it. I’ve never been in a war but everyone knows wars are to be avoided. And I hate to remind you of something that upsets you but Edwina and I were attacked by four vampires. I had no power in that situation and I was terrified out of my mind. So it may be that my powers won’t be akin to a vampires’. But at least I’ll have a fighting chance.”
She was right. She’d reminded him of something that upset him.
Greatly.
Lucien didn’t share this and Leah wasn’t done.
“But I also get something else. And I’ve thought this for a long time even when you told me before that you were mostly like me. There is magic at work. And that magic, I know in my heart, led me to you. And if that’s the kind of magic we’re dealing with then it’s the good kind. And we have that on our side. And we have love on our side. And the other four will have love on their side too. And when you have our kind of love, you can’t be beat because you won’t allow yourself to be beat.”