Part 8 (1/2)

Chapter 17.

Liza walked into the upscale boutique with Tricia the next morning. She wanted to get this trip over with. Not that she didn't love shopping with Tricia, she did. It was just that she really needed to talk to Vladimir, and she couldn't do that from an upscale boutique.

”How long have you been back at the manor, Liza?” Tricia asked.

”About two months. I love being home.” She told the other woman truthfully. They walked to the back of the boutique where a sales woman was pulling out a rack of ballroom gowns.

”I bet. Living so far away for such a long time must have been hard.”

”It was.” She grimaced, it had been her choice to cut ties with Lucian. It had been the hardest decision she had ever made. He had refused to touch her, and she had been unable to take it any longer.

”Where did you go?” Tricia asked. ”I know that Lucian kept watch on you.” The woman giggled.

”Ah, so you knew about the investigator following me too, huh.”

”Well my dear, you did not believe that a man as controlling as Lucian would allow you to escape.” Her tinkling laughter made Liza smile. ”He wanted to murder your live in boyfriend last year, you know.”

”What?” Liza said, unsure what Tricia was speaking of. She had not dated anyone seriously enough to live with. What was the woman talking about?

”You were dating the blonde, surfer looking guy. He gave Dominick fits those three months. Every few days the investigator would send his update and Dominick would pull his hair out trying to talk sense into Lucian. It was quite entertaining for Marcus and me. We were at the manor visiting. I always knew that you were meant to be his mate. It was the way he looked at you. Marcus still looks at me that way. And if that had not been enough, then that three month period would have been.” Tricia nodded to the sales girl who was waiting to be acknowledged. ”You may send out the models and we will narrow it down then try some on.” She informed the sales girl.

Liza realized from Tricia's description that the man that Lucian had wanted to kill must be Luke. He wasn't her lover, she thought, smiling. He was a new slayer that she had recently trained the year before. He had lived with her and Kara during that period. When the investigator was around they would pretend to be hanging out instead of what they had really been doing. Training the man to fight the demons who were touched by the dark evil that had begun to corrupt more and more demons lately.

”Luke was not my lover. We were friends. We let him stay with us for a little while.” Liza told Tricia.

”We?” She questioned.

”Kara and I.”

”Ah, yes the sweet young girl I met about a year ago, how is she?”

”She died.” Liza told her. Guilt and anger almost crus.h.i.+ng her. She had failed to protect her. The wound caused by the death of her friend was not healed. It had only been eight months since her death.

”Oh, my dear. I am so sorry. I had no idea. Are you alright?” Tricia asked, remorse and sympathy filling her face.

”Yes...well not really. I will be though. Time, as they say, heals all wounds.” Liza told her sadly.

”Yes, but some wounds are stubborn. If you need me dear, I am always here for you. I always will be. To talk or just a shoulder to cry on.” Tricia reached out squeezing her hand. ”Anytime you need me.”

Smiling sadly with tears sheening her eyes, Liza whispered, ”I know.” Tricia nodded once, tears sheening her own eyes, then she motioned to the models who were beginning to enter the room.

”Now, enough sad talk! This is supposed to be fun. Let's find dresses that will knock the socks off our men, shall we.”

”I don't think they wear socks, Tricia” Liza said, letting out a bark of laughter.

”Too right you are dear.” Tricia replied with her own tinkling laugh.

They were still laughing a few moments later when another vampire walked in from the back room wearing a ball gown in a deep red. It was fitted at the top with small straps, and the flared bottom was made of feathers dyed red. It was beautiful. The vampiress however was not one she liked at all. Liza was immediately uncomfortable. She remembered Tara from Lucian's court. She was not a nice vampire. She wasn't evil unfortunately, even though she was petty and sn.o.bbish and she hated humans.

”Oh, I see you still hang around with the King's pet, Tricia.” The woman sneered, making Tricia stiffen.

”Tara, so unfortunate to see you again.” Tricia replied.

Liza remained seated trying to ignore the other woman. She wanted to stand up and introduce her to her sword. She had never forgotten the year the woman had embarra.s.sed her in front of half the ball seven years ago. It had been her first ball, and Lucian had invited Tara to be his date. He had never slept with the woman thankfully, but the scene she had created in the ballroom that night had broken Liza's young heart. If it hadn't been for Tricia and Lucas she would have never been able to walk back into that ball with her head held high. The woman had been spiteful and pushed her into the small fountain in the courtyard. She had looked like a drowned rat, and when she had entered the ball to inform Lucian he had laughed at her appearance. That had nearly broken her young heart. If Tricia hadn't swooped in with Lucas in tow pulling her aside and using her power to dry out the dress, she would have died of embarra.s.sment.

Lucian had discovered his date's part of that scene later and been livid. Tricia glared at Tricia.

”Ah, well you should be nice to me I will soon be your queen.” Tara turned a smug smile on them, a cold b.i.t.c.hiness in her eyes. Liza wanted to kill the other woman for suggesting that she was getting anywhere near Lucian. He was her mate. Liza's hand gripped the edge of the striped couch she sat on. Her nails digging into the fabric to prevent her from pulling her swords and killing the idiotic woman.

Tricia, bless her heart began to laugh so hard tears formed in her eyes, and she looked at the other woman with tears of mirth escaping her eyes. ”That is the dumbest statement that I have ever heard you utter, Tara. You will never be my queen.”

Tara's eyes narrowed and she glared at the woman, completely ignoring Liza. ”I will be your queen! I have a spell that will make Lucian love me, and then I will be your queen and you will be forced to bow down to me. And she will be thrown out into the human world where pets belong.” The woman informed them.

Liza's hand moved before she even finished speaking to draw her swords. No one would steal Lucian from her. No one.

”No, those are to stay sheathed.” Tricia said, surprising Liza from her killing rage, and capturing her hands before they found her swords. Liza was shocked, Tricia knew. She knew that Liza was a slayer. Dominick must have told her, she realized.

”Let me handle this dear. I think your secret needs to stay hidden, yes?” Tricia shared a meaningful look with her. Liza nodded. Although she didn't want to agree the woman was right. She couldn't reveal her secret here.

Tricia turned back to the woman who still stood in front of them with a smug smile on her face. ”I do believe that you speak of treason, Tara.” Tricia coldly stated as she stood moving towards the now paling woman.

Liza smiled.

”No...I-I that is not what I meant to say.” Tara was backing away from Tricia.

”I believe it was. Which means I can kill you here and now and no one will question my decision when I tell them it was because you spoke of dark spells and treason.” Tricia smiled, coldly.

There was a sudden commotion at the door to the dressing rooms and male voices were heard. Liza turned surprised when the five guards who had been sent with them to protect them flowed into the room. Their swords drawn. Lucas moved to her side standing beside her where she sat on the couch.

”Our King sensed your distress. He wants you to open the bond immediately.” Lucas growled.

Liza was shocked. He had felt her anger? She still had a tight hold on the bond and it seemed impossible for him to have felt it from this distance. Lucas's phone began to ring. ”s.h.i.+t, please Liza. He will show up here, and if this is not resolved he will kill whoever is upsetting you.”

I am fine, Lucian.

Are you? His voice inside her was sarcastic, and disbelieving. Your anger, and your pain have been making me crazy for the last ten minutes. I will not allow you to feel this way. What is happening?

Nothing I am fine. Call them off. Now.

Lucas lifted the phone to his ear. Tara was struggling against the hold Tricia had on her arm. Only when she heard Lucas speak of the bond did she stop.

”He mated a human!” She shrieked, jerking hard and moving towards Liza. Liza didn't flinch, she knew that the woman would be dead if she touched her. She also knew that even if she didn't kill the woman, then the guards were going to capture her.

Kitten, if she touches you I will personally kill her.

Liza sighed. Opening the bond had allowed him to read the situation in the small boutique.