A Choice

[Lucian's POV]

The next morning, I wake up early, go to my normal morning workout with the few men that were allowed to stay with me in the cold mansion just on the outskirts of Onyx Moon territory. Of course, I was hesitant of most of them since I was certain that they were on my brother’s side, but if I wanted to keep convincing him and my father that I was being good and not trying to do anything that would threaten their position. That was how I managed to survive up until this point. That and my military prowess and my grandfather’s affections toward me, but I knew that wouldn’t last forever.

After my workout, I head back to my room, where I find a bag hanging on the door. Frowning, I reach out and take it, then dump its contents, a single vial of some blue liquid onto my palm, and a note that seems to be written by Pei.

Alpha,

This arrived this morning from the auction houses. The mistress claims that Four should take this once a day, and it should be refilled each month if you wish for her to cooperate.

Pei.

‘Cooperation,’ Aspen rumbles, his disgust flaring. ‘Think it’s what they gave her the other night?’

‘Probably.’

Crumpling the letter, I head into my room and then the bathroom, where I dump the vial and hop in the shower.

Like hell I was going to make my mate take whatever it was that damned woman wanted her to take. For all I knew, it was some poison that would kill her.

“I need to end things quickly there.” I murmur, hating that I would have to go back to such a place and put on such an act again, but if I wanted answers, I needed to continue to go.

I quickly finish washing and then change, then head out of my room just in time to see the maid that I assigned to Four standing in front of her room.

“I’ll handle this,” I announce, stepping up beside her as the door opens to reveal one of her guards. “You may go.”

“But…” The maid gasps but stops as I give her a look. “Understood.”

Satisfied, I head into the room and then look around, taking in the four men who stand around looking bored and the woman who sits in her bed watching them.

Hm, maybe I shouldn’t have done such a thing. I was certain that would have her on edge and feeling like an animal trapped in a cage.

‘Idiot,’ Aspen chuckles, only causing my frustration to grow.

“Men,” I announce, deciding that this would be my first step toward making the tiny creature I saved trust me. “You may leave.”

Nodding, they don’t argue before turning and heading out of the room.

Remaining silent, I watch them leave while wondering whether or not they have already reached out to my brother or father to tell them that I brought a woman home. Of course, it wouldn’t matter, not if I said that she was simply a toy that I bought to pass the time. But it could lead to a complicated situation later that I didn’t necessarily want to deal with.

Oh well, I would deal with what came later. For now, I needed to focus on the issue at hand, and that was getting this woman to eat and then convincing her to go on an outing with me.

You’ve gotta show her kindness. Pei’s voice announces in my head.

Right. Kindness. This was the only fucking advice that Pei had given me the night before.

Wasn’t I already showing her kindness from the moment I got her out of that place until now?

“Are you just going to stand there?” She asks, snapping me out of my head. “You look so uncomfortable.”

“Are you suggesting that I should take a seat and hang out here?” I challenge, moving forward and sitting the tray of food I hold beside her. “I don’t mind, but I was certain that you made it clear that you hate my guts.”

“I do,” she confirms, sniffing the air just as a loud rumble escapes her stomach. “Don’t misunderstand.”

“I won’t,” I smirk, realizing that she may be thawing just a bit. “Anyway, you should eat.”

Growing quiet, I wait as she examines the food, her distrust clear in her eyes, but I suppose that hunger wins in the end as she reaches out and grabs the plate and then sits it in her lap. And when she begins to shovel the food into her mouth, I feel my heart squeezing painfully over how starved she truly looks. Especially when she finishes and looks disappointed.

“Shall I have someone bring you more?” I ask as she remains silent. “There’s…”

“No,” she says quickly, licking away a bit of food that remains on her lips. “I’m fine.”

Frowning, I give her a look that screams I don’t believe you, but I don’t push her any further.

“Then if you’re done, you should go and take a shower. Everything you need is in the bathroom along with a change of clothes. Please leave your dirty clothes on the floor; one of the servants will get them and wash them.”

“No need,” she hisses, her guard slamming into place. “I don’t need all of that.”

No, maybe she didn’t, but I couldn’t stand the sight of the rags that she was wearing. Nor could I handle just how matted and greasy her hair was. Everything about her screamed abuse, and once again I find myself considering burning that fucking auction house down, but holding back despite Aspen’s whines.

“Humor me,” I say now, keeping my voice even. “How do you think it looks to others for me to make you remain here in that condition?”

Maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say, but I hoped that maybe if I made her the slightest bit angry with my words, she would defiantly do as instructed.

“They’ll think that you simply bought a nobody as a bit of fun for the time being.” She shrugs.

“I don’t recall buying a toy.” I point out, crossing my arms and throwing a leg over the other. “I remember freeing a person who was wrongly enslaved and treated as a means to gain profit.”

At my words, the woman’s eyes flash, and she opens her mouth to argue, but when she stops, I know that she is trying to hold back. Interesting. Did she decide to be cooperative? At least if she did that, then things would be slightly easier.

“Say that I believe that,” she says slowly. “That I believe that you want my help in taking out our mutual enemy, what happens after?”

“After,” I say slowly considering. “I suppose that is up to you.” I continue, earning myself a look of disbelief. “Once this is over, there is only one thing I can offer you, and that is the freedom to choose.”

“To choose what?” She asks me, cocking her head to the side.

“You can choose to leave or to stay beside me.” I respond. “I won’t force you to do either. If you decide to stay beside me, then I will make sure that you don’t want for anything. If you choose to leave, then I will do the same. Sounds like a good deal, no?”