“Doesn’t seem fine to me,” Stephanie shot back. “Leah looks like Leah, gorgeous as ever. And she smells like Leah. And she walks like Leah. And talks somewhat like Leah. But she’s not Leah.”
Finally Lucien’s eyes focused on his friend. “This isn’t any of your business, Teffie.”
Stephanie was one of the very few (in fact, there were only two, her and Cosmo) who would look at Lucien’s face at that moment and issue a challenge.
And that was what she did.
“Well, I beg to differ. Leah’s become my friend and I’m worried. I’ve been over there twice this week. It’s like I drove into Stepford and it’s eerie. I don’t like it and Edwina is none too happy either.”
“Everything will be fine,” Lucien said, turning to look back toward the hall.
“I hope so, Luce, and I hope you make it soon. Because there is no way a woman like that can hold back that much without exploding and I’m not certain even you will want to be around when she lets it all out.”
Lucien sliced a glance at her, the tone of his voice making his words crystal clear. “We’re done talking about this.”
Stephanie held his gaze for long moments then changed the subject to one that was only slightly less annoying.
“Rumors are flying,” she informed him.
“Rumors always fly,” Lucien returned dismissively.
“Not rumors like this,” she retorted. “Heard word that The Council is going to open an investigation tomorrow into what you’re doing with Leah.”
Lucien glanced back at the hall with unconcern. “I’ve heard that too.”
“Well, I bet you haven’t heard that Rafe told Dante who told Hamish who told me that he’s considering moving in with Lana Buchanan.”
Lucien’s narrowed eyes sliced back to Stephanie.
“Thought that’d get your attention,” she muttered.
“Tell me you’re joking,” he demanded.
She shook her head.
“What’s he thinking?” Lucien ground out.
“I’m guessing the same thing as you. He wants more than Lana’s blood. The Buchanans are a tasty lot. I had one myself years ago, I know. You boys like different smells though and you want to get yourselves some of that.”
Lucien’s body moved, turning toward Stephanie in a way that made her tense.
“Are you bored, Teffie? Do you want me to challenge you?”
“I’m saying it like it is,” she returned.
“If all I wanted was a piece of ass, I would have seduced Leah twenty years ago.”
“Oh right,” Stephanie scoffed, “you want the taming.”
Lucien, who, these days with Leah behaving the way she was, had little patience, lost the little he had.
“What are you driving at?” he clipped.
“What I’m driving at, Lucien, is I’m all for this. Vampires being vampires. These ridiculous rules being shattered to smithereens. I want the hunt, just like we all do. I miss it. I yearn for it. The problem I have, right now, with you, is that you’ve gone off target. You’re messing with Leah and things are obviously not right.”
“Stay out of it, Teffie,” he warned.
“She’s changed,” Stephanie shot back.
“She’s changed before. You know how it is, how they fight it. She’ll change again.”
“I suspect she will but are you prepared for when she does?”
For the first time in days, Lucien smiled. Stephanie growled.
Then she hissed, “You don’t get it, do you?”
Lucien’s smile grew arrogant. “Not right now but I’m going to.”
Stephanie leaned in. “What, exactly, do you think she’s working so damned hard to protect herself from, Lucien? Have you ever thought of that? You’ve tamed many mortals, what happened with the one who gave you the toughest fight?”
The smile died from his face and Lucien felt himself flinch. Stephanie saw it and went in for the kill.
Speaking quietly, she said, “That’s right, she fell in love with you. Luckily for Maggie, you fell in love with her too and you could make her your mate. That isn’t an option for Leah. So what happens to her when she directs all that feeling and life-force inside her at you then, when you’re done with her, where does she go from there?”
I love you.
The words spoken in Leah’s heartfelt whisper, like they did time and again, day after day, came unbidden into his head.
Lucien didn’t like what he was feeling.
“Stay out of it, Teffie.”
“I’m in it, we all are.” She got closer. “If Rafe moves in with Lana, takes her as a lover, The Council is not going to look kindly on what you’re doing with Leah. They might have before, to pay back their debt but this is spreading. They’ll want to nip it in the bud and the best way to do that is shut down its source.”
“I’ll talk to Rafe.”
“Yes? And what will you say?”
Lucien held Stephanie’s gaze and made a decision.
“I’ll congratulate him on his new home.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re talking about revolution.”
“Why are you acting surprised?” Lucien asked. “You knew that was a possibility from the beginning.”
She threw up a hand. “This is happening too fast, Luce. We’re not prepared.”
“It already happened, Teffie. I drew the line the minute you and Cosmo sheltered Leah from anyone declaring their intentions at her Selection. Since then everyone’s been taking their positions on their side of the line. The Council will have to take that into consideration when they make their judgment.”
“You think they’ll roll over?”
“I think they must understand on some level that their traditions are antiquated and I’m counting on them being forward thinking.”
“And if they’re not?”
Lucien leveled his eyes at her. “You took your position on the line, Teffie, are you changing your mind?”
“When I chose my side, I didn’t know Leah.”
Lucien’s brows drew together. “And what does this have to do with Leah?”
He watched, surprised, as Stephanie’s face grew pale, her mouth went slack and her eyes slid from his.
“Teffie?” he prompted.
Her eyes slid back and she whispered, “You have to ask that? You?”
Lucien, unfortunately, chose not to respond.