Page 117 of Retribution

“Fuck yeah!” Lucas yells, coming into the house.

Yawning, I glance down at Leila who is happily strapped to Isolde’s body, sleeping again after having her bottle.

“What are you so excited about?” Isolde asks, smiling.

“I figured out how to keep someone from fucking with your heats,” Lucas says intently. “I mean, I’m pretty sure. I haven’t had time to test it.”

“Will it kill me if you let me be the test subject?” she teases him.

Lucas has a vial in his hand and he shakes his head. “No, it won’t. I just don’t know how long it’ll effectively last. However, I figured out how to make the ingredients for it while I was sleeping.”

Oliver shakes his head as he drinks his coffee. “Is it possible to be attracted to your brain?” he asks. “Cause it’s damn sexy, Lucas.”

“It really is,” Isolde says, blushing. I can smell how appreciative she is and grin as she shifts in her seat. “So how do I take this?”

“Bottoms up, darlin’,” Lucas says, handing the small vial to her. “It’s cooled down and safe to drink now. Patience was a bitch, but necessary.”

Isolde takes the vial and puts it to her lips, tipping her head back without hesitation.

“Well, we’ll check off trusting Lucas with her life today,” Grant growls.

“You know I wouldn’t give her something that could hurt her,” Lucas says, rolling his eyes. “In a perfect world, I would test this on animals first.”

“The world isn’t perfect,” Isolde says, making a face. “It tasted bitter.”

“I didn’t get a chance to doctor it with something to make it taste better,” Lucas says, appearing chagrined.

“It doesn’t bother me,” she promises, handing the vial back to him. “Is this where you’ve been?”

“It is. I woke up out of a dead sleep and had to go to the lab,” he admits. “It was the most intense experience I’ve ever had. I’ve been on edge about taking you into the city for some reason.”

Isolde raises her brow in surprise and I chime in.

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” I add. “There’s this heavy weight on my chest that I can’t shake. No matter how much I try, I have this feeling that something is going to happen today.”

“Should I not go?” Isolde asks, concerned as she looks down at our baby.

“No, I think you should come,” Lucas says. “I feel a little better knowing you have extra protection, along with your weapons. We’re just going to the office, dinner, and then home. That’s it.”

“Okay,” she says, blowing out a breath. “You’re infecting me with your anxiety, guys. They’re not my emotions, but they’re bleeding into me.”

“Rein it back, boys,” Oliver growls. While he’s pensive, he’s not going to tell Isolde what to do. Lucas is right. She can handle herself.

A blushing flower she is not.

Taking a deep breath, I force myself to calm down and lock down my emotions. Slowly, Isolde relaxes, and she nods.

“Thank you,” she rasps.

“I’m going to shower and then get dressed. Are you ready to go?” Lucas asks.

“I have to fix my hair,” Isolde says, making a face.

“It looks great,” Lucas says, confused.

“I have to put it up. Right now, I keep pushing it away from Leila’s face or she’ll grab it and yank it. It’ll give me a place to hide a few weapons in my hair as well.”

“Like Mary Poppins but in your hair?” Oliver asks slowly.