Page 71
Story: The Siren
The rain poured down in Nirvana and on Lucienne’s face as the helicopter landed in front of her.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Aida’s condition stabilized. Lucienne asked Nurse Mary to check on her nanny every half hour before walking out of the special-care patient room in Sphinxes’ medical facility.
She went to look for Vladimir. She hadn’t seen him for over a week, ever since she left for Nirvana. Standing on the east tower of the castle, Lucienne looked over her island. The sunny sky was an electric blue; the beach endless ivory; the sea a quiescent gem. She walked down the broad stone stairs. The trees around the castle were lavish, their green foliage swaying in the breeze. It would be a nice picnic day, but Vladimir wasn’t available. He’d been avoiding her.
“Ziyi,” Lucienne called into her Eidolon phone, “where’s Prince Vladimir?”
“Tracking him now,” Ziyi said. “Huh, he’s in the fencing room this time. He’s been using the recruits as punching bags in the training room. I don’t even want to be in the same building with him. The man’s been like a foul beast all week. He isn’t fun anymore.”
“Thanks for the updates,” Lucienne said, ready to hang up.
“Wait, Lucia,” Ziyi said. “I need to talk to you about some boy issues.”
“Boy issues will need to wait. Tell me at breakfast tomorrow.” Lucienne hung up, heading toward the gym in the west wing. Her finger punched Kian’s number, and Kian picked up on the first ring.
“Who poisoned Aida?” Lucienne asked.
“We believe Hauk is behind it.”
“So my half-brother finally crawled out of his hole.”
“We expected sooner or later he’d reconnect with his old ties in the Red Mansion,” Kian said. “We already knew Rick Lam was a traitor.”
“Take him out.”
“But we decided to leave your cousin for now.”
“We have men inside the Sealers’ cult,” Lucienne said. She had planted one of her loyal cousins in the enemy’s lair before she had been crowned Siren. “We must send our message, and I want whoever hurt my nanny dead.” Her eyes grew hard. “I’ll join you in hunting down Hauk Lam once I take care of the Ashburn business. It won’t be long.”
“I’m leaving for Chicago tomorrow to handle Rick personally,” Kian said.
Lucienne sighed. She would have to go back to the Red Mansion for another war, if she wanted to secure her and her people’s future. When Jed passed away, she had shown mercy to her enemies, most of them her uncles and cousins. And now they had regrouped.
“I’ll triple the security when you come,” Kian added.
“You’ll triple the security now! You know they want you as much as they want me.”
“They can’t get me. Worry no more.”
“Promise me you’ll keep the best men around you. Take Orlando, Duncan, and the others with you. I have Vladimir here.”
“I already have the best men with me,” Kian said. Lucienne heard in the background his men approaching him and briefing him, and Kian answering with grunts. Then he said into the phone, “I’ll talk to you later, kid,” and hung up.
Lucienne arrived at the training area. She changed to a silver saber jacket and gloves and entered the pine-floored fencing room.
Tac ta. Tac ta.Sabers clashed and then separated. Vladimir, in a black saber jacket and mask, launched an attack at lightning speed. Duncan, one of the best swordsmen, was forced to step a few feet back.
“Leave us, Duncan,” Lucienne said. “And report to Kian McQuillen.”
Duncan bowed slightly and took off his mask. “Yes, Lucia.” He threw a sympathetic look at Vladimir and hurried off.
Vladimir removed his mask and stared at Lucienne. She stared back without a word. A lock of his wheat-colored hair dangled on the corner of his eyes. In them, she saw concealed joy at the sight of her, until hurt surfaced. Following the wounded look was a spark of anger. It didn’t take long for his anger to darken the amber fire in his eyes.
Lucienne wanted to brush the stray hair from his eyes and nestle against his hard chest, but he would just push her away. So, calculating and coolly, Lucienne drank him in. He hadn’t had a haircut since she’d last seen him; neither had he shaved.
Trying not to let Vladimir’s wild beauty deviate her from her purpose, Lucienne evened her breath as she went to select a saber amid the fifty varieties that lined the wall. And she took her time.
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